The African destination TUI says is ‘one to watch’ with new flights, cheap hotels and 35C winters
A COUNTRY in Africa has been named “one to watch” by TUI with holidays booming and new flights launching.
Kenya is one of the few places in the world where holidaymakers can spot the big five in their native habitat.
There are other reasons to visit the East African nation, including its scenic coastline along the Indian Ocean, the cultures of its local tribes and its warm climate.
Neil Swanson, TUI UK&I Managing Director, told Sun Online Travel: “Kenya is an incredible destination offering breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich culture making it a truly unique place to explore.
“Since re-launching Kenya as a destination in 2023, it’s no surprise demand has been booming and continuing to soar.
“Our Highlights of Kenya tour has seen an outstanding +236 per cent uplift for Winter 2024/25 and +151 per cent for Summer 2025.
“Our new A Taste of Kenya Safari is already seeing strong sales for both seasons.
“This itinerary offers a more relaxed safari experience, with additional beach time to unwind at the end of the adventure.
“It’s clear customers have a real appetite for this destination, so we are currently exploring new ways to enhance our offering such as private safaris or immersive lodge experiences, so it’s definitely a destination to watch.”
Other airlines have been launching new routes between the UK and Kenya.
Flag carrier Kenya Airways is launching a new route from London Gatwick Airport to Nairobi later this year.
While the airline already operates a route from London Heathrow, Kenya Airways is expanding its UK flights.
The new route will launch on July 3, operating three times per week.
From safaris and tropical coastlines to good value all-inclusive holidays, Kenya seems to have it all.
It is home to some of the best safari experiences in the world.
This is because it’s one of the few places where visitors can spot lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos in their natural habitat.
Its scenic coastline along the Indian Ocean is also popular with those who snorkel and scuba dive.
Kenya is also popular with tourists thanks to its culture where holidaymakers can learn more about the customs of local tribes.
One of those places is the Lamu Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Visitors can take a day excursion to Nairobi National Park and visit the giraffe centre.
The Kenyan capital of Nairobi benefits from a milder climate, with temperatures ranging between 10C and 26C.
Meanwhile, temperatures in other parts of the country, like Mombasa, range from 23C to 35C throughout the year.
The dry season runs between May and October, making it the best time to visit.
Sun Online Travel have found 11-night breaks on the Highlights of Kenya Tour with TUI starting from £2989 per person in April.
Meanwhile, 10-night breaks on the tour operator’s Taste of Kenya Safari start from £2092 per person.
Three and four-star hotels in the Kenyan capital are highly affordable, with Sun Online Travel finding overnight stays from £35 per person per night.
What's it like to visit Kenya with TUI?
THE Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited Kenya last year, here’s what she thought…
“If an elephant comes, they run,” our guide told us as we watched the local kids playing football dangerously close to the animal.
We certainly found this out for ourselves just a few days later when a huge male elephant tried to charge us off the road.
But seeing creatures up this close is exactly the point of my trip — and it’s part of TUI’s recently launched safari-beach holidays in Kenya.
These new packages are an affordable way to see East African wildlife, complete with fully guided jeep tours.
It’s safe to say our twice-daily safari rides left me in awe every time.
And along the way, we stayed at beautiful lodges with one of the best being Amboseli Serena, in the middle of the park.
At the back of the hotel — more animals. At the front? The towering Mount Kilimanjaro, just a few miles from the Tanzania border.
Despite it being a cloudy day, the snow-capped top peeked out through the clouds, intimidatingly tall at 19,340ft compared to the nearby hills.
Another unmissable hotel is the famous Salt Lick Safari Lodge, with fairytale rooms overlooking the elephant-loved watering holes.
But this isn’t how a trip with TUI ends — as it includes a beach holiday near Mombasa, too.
We stayed at the Baobab Beach Resort & Spa with three swimming pools, including an infinity pool overlooking the sea.
Here’s another exotic island about to be easier to get to with TUI flights.
And one of Africa’s cheapest islands has TUI flights as well as new hotels.