Kenya Safari
Escape to the Wild
Embarking on a safari in Kenya is like stepping into a National Geographic magazine. It's an adventure into Africa's wilderness, where nature sets the pace and each sunrise promises new discoveries. Kenya's diverse landscapes range from the savannahs of the Masai Mara to the rugged Aberdare Mountains and lush forests.
Your journey reveals Kenya's wild spaces, painted in gold and green. Each safari is filled with sights and sounds: a lion's roar at dusk, the thunder of wildebeest hooves, and the rustle of acacia leaves. Guided by Maasai trackers and expert naturalists, you'll explore game reserves and national parks, encountering the Big Five and many other species. Beyond wildlife, Kenya's indigenous peoples, like the Maasai and Samburu, add cultural richness to your safari experience.
How To Choose A Camp
Choosing the right camp for your safari adventure in Kenya is essential for ensuring a memorable and comfortable experience. First and foremost, consider the location of the camp. Opt for a camp strategically situated within or near renowned national parks or conservancies, offering easy access to prime wildlife viewing areas. Whether it's the iconic Masai Mara, the rugged Amboseli, or the remote Samburu, selecting a camp in close proximity to these natural habitats enhances your chances of witnessing breathtaking wildlife encounters up close.
Next, evaluate the amenities and services offered by the camp. While some travelers prefer the rustic charm of traditional tented camps, others may seek more luxurious accommodations with modern comforts. Assess factors such as tent quality, bathroom facilities, dining options, and additional amenities like swimming pools.
Please inquire for a more robust list. Below are some highlights!
Ol Malo
Ol Malo Camp is situated on the edge of Kenya's Laikipia Plateau, offering stunning panoramic views of rugged landscapes and the Ewaso Nyiro River. This family-owned retreat features beautifully crafted cottages with private verandas perfect for wildlife spotting. Unique accommodation options include a night in the Leopard Hide or under the stars in the Treehouse. Guests can enjoy a variety of special activities, including horseback riding, camel treks, helicopter excursions, and guided bush walks, providing close encounters with elephants, giraffes, and other wildlife. For the adventurous, Ol Malo offers a challenging run-hike known as the “Three Peaks Challenge.” The family-run establishment has also fostered strong relationships with nearby tribes, offering exclusive visits to experience their culture and heritage.
Mara Bushtops & Serengeti Bushtops
Mara and Serengeti Bushtops Camps provide a sophisticated safari experience in two of Africa's most iconic wildlife reserves. Located in the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, these camps offer luxurious tented accommodations with private decks overlooking wildlife-filled savannahs. Each tent is elegantly furnished, combining comfort with adventure and equipped with modern amenities. Guests can enjoy thrilling game drives to witness the Great Migration and encounter lions, elephants, and other wildlife. The Bushtops Camps also feature full-service restaurants, spas, a fitness center, personal jacuzzis, an extensive wine cellar, and more, ensuring ultimate luxury in the heart of the wild.
Angama Mara
Angama Camp is perched 1,000 feet above the Maasai Mara, offering stunning views of the Mara plains through its tents' floor-to-ceiling windows. Inspired by the film Out of Africa, the camp combines romance with adventure in its design and location. Dining options are diverse, including à la carte menus, picnics on the kopje, and sundowners with panoramic vistas. Guests can indulge in game drives, hot air ballooning, safari walks, spa treatments, and other personalized experiences, ensuring a memorable stay.
Giraffe Manor & The Safari Collection
A safari experience with The Safari Collection, featuring Giraffe Manor, makes the Safari experience seamless. Start your journey at Giraffe Manor, a charming boutique hotel in Nairobi known for its resident herd of Rothschild giraffes. Here, guests enjoy intimate interactions as giraffes wander the grounds, often poking their heads into the breakfast room for a treat.
After your stay at Giraffe Manor, continue your adventure with The Safari Collection’s other properties, such as Sasaab, Solio Lodge, or Sala's Camp. Each location offers luxurious accommodations and thrilling wildlife encounters. At Sasaab, explore the rugged Samburu landscape on game drives and camel safaris. Solio Lodge, situated on a private rhino sanctuary, provides close-up views of rhinos and other Big Five animals. Sala's Camp, located in the Masai Mara, offers front-row seats to the Great Migration and daily game drives led by expert guides.
Activities
Camps offer a diverse array of activities to enrich your experience. While the focal point often lies in immersive Game Drives through nearby wildlife reserves, there are additional offerings to enhance your stay.
Game Drives
A game drive in Kenya offers an exciting safari experience, allowing you to explore wildlife-filled landscapes and search for iconic animals. Early morning drives let you see the savannah come to life at dawn, with great visibility for spotting wildlife at watering holes. Night drives reveal nocturnal creatures emerging under powerful spotlights. Each drive provides a different view of Kenya's diverse ecosystem.
Bush Walks
A bush walk provides a close-up and immersive way to experience Africa's natural beauty and wildlife. Guided by experienced rangers, these walks take you off the beaten path and into the heart of the wilderness, offering a deeper connection to nature and a better understanding of the ecosystem. On a bush walk, you'll leave behind the noise of engines and safari vehicles, and instead, enjoy the sounds of your footsteps, rustling grass, and bird calls.
Horse or Camel Safari
Some camps offer safaris on horseback or camelback, providing a unique way to explore the wilderness. You'll traverse rugged terrain and ancient trails while connecting with nature in a special way. Riding horses or camels, you'll journey through diverse landscapes, from open savannahs to dense forests, guided by experts.
Helicopter Tours
A helicopter safari in Kenya provides a unique and thrilling way to see the country's diverse landscapes and wildlife. As you fly above the savannah, you'll enjoy breathtaking aerial views of top safari destinations. Helicopter safaris cover large areas quickly, reaching remote locations where wildlife is undisturbed.
Highly Recommend!!
Pool, Jacuzzi, Spa
Many camps offer guests the opportunity to decompress after a full day of wildlife viewing. Private Jacuzzis, pools and spa treatments are available at many camps.
Local Village or School Visit
Visiting a village or school in Kenya gives you a unique chance to experience local culture and daily life. During your visit, you can participate in various activities like traditional ceremonies, preparing local meals, weaving baskets, or making crafts, gaining insight into local customs and heritage. A school visit offers a look at the role of education in shaping Kenya’s future. You'll meet enthusiastic students, and you might interact with them, share stories, play games, or join a lesson.
Sundowners
A sundowner in Kenya is a classic safari experience, allowing you to relax and celebrate the day’s adventures as the sun sets over the African landscape with a cocktail in hand. Whether you're on a rocky outcrop, by a peaceful watering hole, or in a safari vehicle, you’ll enjoy the anticipation as the sun sinks below the horizon. A sundowner is more than just a drink at dusk; it’s a celebration of life, nature’s beauty, and the unique moments shared in the African wilderness.
Dining
Depending on the type of safari accommodation you choose, dining is typically inclusive and options can vary from formal dining, to elegant bush dinners, to hearty meals served in camp dining tents or open-air pavilions.
Travelers looking for more standard restaurant style dining experiences should opt for lodges, which can offer a more traditional setting with a fusion of international and local flavors.
For smaller more rustic camps, bush picnics and sundowner snacks are popular dining options. These alfresco meals are often enjoyed during game drives, allowing guests to savor delicious bites while surrounded by the sights and sounds of the African wilderness. Picture stopping beside a tranquil watering hole as the sun dips below the horizon, toasting to another day of unforgettable safari experiences with a glass of fine wine and delectable canapés.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Game Drive to Camp
Lunch at Lodge upon arrival
Game Drive
Sundowners
Dinner
Day 2
Horse Safari
Lunch
Downtime around lodge
Bush Walk to Sundowners
Dinner
Day 3
Breakfast
Late morning Game Drive
Lunch
Camel Ride
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Local wonders visit (caves, valleys, etc.)
Lunch
Spa or Jacuzzi
Afternoon Game Drive
In Tent Private Dining
Day 5
All Day Helicopter
Lunch on Destination
Downtime around lodge
Dinner
Logistics
Suggested Safari Packing
Muted colors are recommended for game-viewing. Game-drives are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon, which can be very cold.
Here is a suggested packing list for Safari:
Muted colors such as khaki, green, and beige. Any dark colors like blue and black should be avoided, as it attracts tsetse flies.
A mix of short-sleeved and long-sleeved t-shirts. Long sleeves will help shield you from the sun, mosquitoes, and tsetse flies.
Comfortable bottoms, such as shorts, a long skirt, jeans, or safari trousers. Long pants are ideal for walks through the brush and sun protection during the day, while casual trousers, a long dress or skirt is perfect for downtime around camp.
Jacket, sweater, lightweight water-proof jacket.
Swim and pool-wear.
Comfortable walking shoes and sandals or easy slip-on shoes for relaxing around camp.
Sun block, sunglasses, wide brim hat, moisturizer, lip-balm, and strong insect repellent.
When to Visit
Kenya offers fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year, but the timing can affect the type of sightings you encounter and the overall experience.
Dry Season (June to October): This period is often referred to as the "high season," and is one of the best times for safaris in Kenya. Wildlife congregates around water sources, making it easier to spot animals around rivers and waterholes. The vegetation is less dense, offering better visibility for wildlife viewing. The weather is generally dry and sunny, with cooler temperatures in the mornings and evenings.
Great Migration (July to October): If witnessing the Great Migration is on your bucket list, consider visiting Kenya during this time. Millions of wildebeest and other herbivores migrate from Tanzania's Serengeti National Park to Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve in search of greener pastures, creating one of the most spectacular wildlife spectacles on Earth.
Green Season (November to May): Also known as the "low season" or "rainy season," this period offers its own unique safari experience. The landscape transforms into lush greenery, and newborn animals dot the savannah, providing excellent opportunities for wildlife photography. Birdwatching is particularly rewarding during this time, as migratory birds flock to Kenya. While rain showers are common, they are usually short-lived and don't significantly affect safari activities.
Good Things to Know
Luggage Allowance: You will be traveling in vehicles and aircrafts with limited space. Luggage should be packed in soft bags weighing no more than 33 lbs. Hard suitcases are often times not allowed.
Plastic Bags: Kenya and Tanzania have banned all single-use plastic bags, including duty-free bags, which will be confiscated at the airport. Violators face fines up to KSh4,000,000 (approx. USD 38,000) or up to four years in prison.
Clothing: There are several Islamic communities throughout Kenya. It is advisable to cover up shoulders and legs while spending time in certain settlements. Beach and swimwear is acceptable near beaches and pools, however, it’s advised to cover up before entering villages and towns.
Required Documentation
To travel to Kenya, you typically need the following travel documentation:
Passport: Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Kenya. Ensure you at least two consecutive blank visa pages (not endorsement pages) in your passport. We would recommend three or four blank pages if you are traveling through more than one country. If there is insufficient space in the passport then entry could be denied.
Visa: Most travelers need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to visit Kenya, which can be applied for online and received electronically. Check your visa requirements based on citizenship, as some nationalities are exempt. Submit the eTA at least two weeks before travel, though applications open up to three months in advance.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate: Travelers coming from or transiting through countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission may need to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate and/or vaccination upon entry to Kenya.
Return Ticket: Immigration authorities may ask for proof of onward travel, such as a return ticket, to confirm that you plan to leave Kenya within the allowed period.
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