Kenya Safari Tours and Packages from Canada

There is no quick way to reach Kenya from Canada, so make the trip long enough to justify the journey. Seven nights is a sensible minimum and nine or ten gives you room to add the north or the coast. With a route of 19 hours or more from Toronto, and longer from the west coast, a very short safari leaves you tired for most of it.

Where you sleep and who guides you decide how good the trip is. Our head guides, Boniface Kamau and John Mithamo, each have more than 20 years in these parks. Every trip is private, with your own vehicle and guide from start to finish.

Do Canadians Need a Visa for Kenya?

Canadian passport holders need an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before they fly. Kenya’s official eTA portal lists Canada as eTA required. The standard eTA costs US$30 and is generally processed within three business days. An expedited application costs US$100 more and is processed immediately.

Everyone in your group needs their own eTA. Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and one blank page, and the form asks for a photo, contact details, your itinerary and your accommodation confirmation. Apply only through the official site, at least two weeks before you fly.

Flights from Canada to Kenya

There are no direct flights from Toronto to Nairobi. The fastest routes take about 19 hours with one stop, such as Ethiopian Airlines through Addis Ababa. Air Canada, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Etihad also serve the route with connections. Recent return fares from Toronto have run around C$1,335 to C$1,620, and February and March have been among the cheaper months.

Nairobi is seven or eight hours ahead of Toronto and ten or eleven ahead of Vancouver, depending on the time of year. Try to land a day before your safari starts. We can book a Nairobi hotel for that night, and the 7-day luxury safari already builds in an arrival day.

How Many Days to Plan

Seven days covers Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. Nine days lets you go north to Samburu and Ol Pejeta as well, which adds reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and one of the best places in Kenya to look for rhino.

With two weeks, our 14-day safari and beach trip adds five nights at Diani Beach. If you are travelling with children, our family safaris keep drive days shorter.

Best Time to Travel from Canada

July and August fit the Canadian school summer and overlap with the wildebeest migration in the Mara, which usually arrives from late July. This is the busiest time of the year, so book well ahead.

January and February are a good escape from winter, with a short dry season and strong game viewing. March break can work too, with quieter parks and lower lodge rates, but the long rains usually begin around this time of year, so ask us about your dates before you commit.

Before you book, read the Government of Canada’s travel advice for Kenya and check how your insurance treats it. Tell us if anything there concerns you and we will talk through your route.