Kenya Safaris

Kenya Safaris

Kenya Safaris: Kenya is the ancient birthplace of the East African safari, a nation of wide savannah grasslands teeming with fascinating mega-fauna such as Big Cats, the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhino), and everything in between. Other than that, the sceneries here are soul-stirring, with deserts in the north, lush forests in the west, Rift Valley lakes in the center, and a tropical coast in the east. This results in an experienced safari industry eager to show you a seemingly unending parade of animals against one of Africa’s most magnificent landscapes.

The major reason to visit Kenya is to see the incredible wildlife. While many visitors come for the migration, Kenya is fantastic all year round, with a plethora of world-class national parks – in addition to the Masai Mara, there’s Amboseli, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo East and Tsavo West – where spectacular wildlife-watching is nearly assured. All of this adds up to a wide range of Kenyan safari options.

Kenya is a Big Five country, with thriving elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhino populations, but the birdlife is also exceptional, as is the cultural component – this is the home of the Maasai, Samburu, Turkana, and others. The sheer variety of ecosystems creates stunning scenery, with boundless horizons in the Masai Mara, tropical woods in Kakamega, starkly magnificent parks in the north, and unrivaled Kilimanjaro in the backdrop from Amboseli national park.

When is the best time to go on a Kenya Safari?

Kenya safaris are ideal from June to October. The weather is normally dry during these months (though it can become pretty hot in October and the tail end of September), and most trails are open. This also corresponds with the migration of wildebeest and zebra in the Masai Mara. This is the dry season, and as it advances, animal water sources tend to dry up and become fewer, attracting more animals to those that remain.

One disadvantage is that, with the exception of June (which is one of my favorite months to visit), high-season costs apply. Crowds are also greater – in some parks, the wait for safari vehicles might detract from your experience and during the migration, and some regions of the Masai Mara can become completely inundated with cars.

Visitors flock from November to February because migratory birds arrive, rains rarely delay travel, and the land turns a gorgeous shade of green. Most visitors avoid the months of March to May since severe rains are always expected and can turn safari routes into muddy bogs. However, rates are lower, and I came in April when there were few other people (save for locals around Easter period) and a clear sky.

Wildlife Viewing during Kenya Safaris

It varies from park to park. Most of the most prominent parks in Kenya, such as Amboseli, Masai Mara, Samburu, and Lake Nakuru, provide excellent wildlife viewing possibilities. All of these parks have dense wildlife populations, making them excellent all-around safari sites for seeing as many animals (and varied types) as possible in a short amount of time.

Other parks, like Kakamega birds and primates and Saiwa Swamp’s Sitatunga, are more specialized, allowing you to cross off a difficult-to-find species while avoiding crowds. And, with the exception of Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a more intimate Kenyan safari experience is offered in the conservancies of Laikipia – you pay more, but crowds are non-existent and animal viewing is fantastic. Most of these conservancies allow off-roading, which means you’ll get far closer to the animals than you would in a national park.

What to expect from Kenya Safaris?

Most safari days begin with a calm African voice waking you up long before daybreak. After a fast change of clothes and a cup of coffee or tea, you travel out for a few hours in a safari vehicle (with other guests, a driver, guide, and occasionally a tracker) in search of wildlife – this time, and the final few hours before sunset, are great for wildlife viewing.

You’ll return to the lodge or camp in the late morning or early afternoon for a traditional sit-down breakfast. The warmest portion of the day, when even animals flee into the shade, is occupied by a few hours of rest, followed by lunch, and then a few hours more doing very nothing. Afternoon tea, commonly referred to as High Tea in a tribute to colonial-era safari traditions, is served at 3 p.m. or 3:30 p.m., followed by a return to the hunt for wildlife until after dark.

Just before nightfall, you’ll stop for another safari tradition, the ‘Sundowner,’ where you may watch the sunset while sipping your favorite drink. You get back to camp in time to freshen up before supper and night, before it all starts over again very early the next morning.