| The popular image of safari, especially | | | | Nairobi by road.At the same distance |
| in the west, is inseparable from Kenya. | | | | from Nairobi as Lake Nakuru is the |
| Earlier in the last century, gifted | | | | Aberdares National Park. The park has a |
| writers such as Ernest Hemingway and | | | | diverse topography that includes |
| Karen Blixen brought to life the vivid | | | | waterfalls, rain forests and the rivers |
| images and uplifting life experience | | | | that supply water to Nairobi’s |
| that constitutes a Kenyan safari. It is | | | | millions. The flora and fauna is quite |
| at this time that leading celebrities of | | | | unique and is not found elsewhere in the |
| the day such as Teddy Roosevelt and | | | | country, expect on Mount Kenya. Leopard, |
| Prince Edward traveled to Kenya on | | | | elephant, rhino and the rare bongo can |
| safari. And so the safari gained a | | | | all be found here. But dense vegetation |
| certain snob appeal. The famous went | | | | and inclement weather makes it difficult |
| because it was expected of them. And | | | | to spot animals. You are however |
| those on the make because the safari was | | | | guaranteed to see some animals |
| part of the certification they needed on | | | | especially elephants and buffalos at the |
| the way up. If you want to take a peek | | | | floodlit waterholes of the two famous |
| into the mood and character of the | | | | tree hotels, The Ark and |
| players at that time, read | | | | Treetops.Students of the history of the |
| Hemingway’s intriguing short story | | | | British royal family will recall that it |
| “The Short Happy Life of Francis | | | | was at the Treetops in 1952, where the |
| Macomber”.In our day however, a | | | | then Princess Elizabeth was staying on |
| Kenya safari is accessible to many more | | | | honeymoon when her father, King George |
| people. Despite competition from other | | | | VI, died. She descended from Treetops to |
| destinations, Kenya remains the heart of | | | | assume the backbreaking role of |
| the African safari experience. The | | | | presiding over the far-flung dominions |
| magnificence and diversity of the | | | | and colonies of the empire. If you stay |
| wildlife and landscape is unsurpassed. | | | | at the Treetops you are bound to meet |
| You are guaranteed to tick off the full | | | | with some of her fans.Though not as |
| roster of the big five –lion, | | | | famous as the Mara, Samburu National |
| buffalo, leopard, rhino and elephant. | | | | Park is another wildlife haven. Here you |
| Other less well-known but essential and | | | | will spot lions, elephants, cheetahs and |
| chartered members of the savannah | | | | the elusive leopard. Some animals are |
| ecosystem are also abundant. The | | | | unique to this northern park: Grevy's |
| landscape kaleidoscope rolls out the | | | | zebra, reticulated giraffe, kudu and |
| magnificent rift valley, the central | | | | gerenuk. You will find the semiarid |
| highlands, the savannah grasslands, snow | | | | landscape quite dramatic. On your trip |
| capped Mount Kenya and the desolate | | | | to Samburu, you may also want to take in |
| moonscape of the north. This is perhaps | | | | the nearby Shaba and Buffalo Springs |
| why the experts advise all those | | | | game reserves. In addition, this is the |
| faithful lovers of wildlife and nature | | | | place to take a camel safari. Samburu is |
| that at least once in their lifetime | | | | three hours from Nairobi by road.Tsavo |
| they must partake of a Kenyan | | | | is so huge, all of 20,000 sq km, that it |
| safari.Kenya has over 50 national parks | | | | is administered as two units: Tsavo West |
| and game reserves where wildlife is | | | | and Tsavo East. This is the park that is |
| protected. But as you already suspect, | | | | closest to Mombasa at the coast. The |
| on the average safari you cannot hope to | | | | park is three and a half hours away from |
| cover all of them. It is therefore a | | | | Nairobi by road. You will find large |
| good thing that you get very good value | | | | herds of elephant, especially in Tsavo |
| by visiting only a few of them. This is | | | | East. Tsavo West is filled with |
| unless of course you have a lot of time | | | | crocodiles, vervet monkeys, antelope, |
| and can afford to take off the beaten | | | | baboons, giraffes and hippos. It is in |
| track. The most popular and from which | | | | Tsavo that poachers were most successful |
| those with limited time and budget need | | | | in their bloody racket and this saw a |
| to pick from are- Maasai Mara, Amboseli, | | | | dramatic fall in elephant population. |
| Lake Nakuru, Aberdares, Samburu and | | | | The good guys have in recent years |
| Tsavo. Top in the off-the-beaten track | | | | gained the upper hand and numbers are |
| category for either wildlife or back to | | | | recovering.But Kenyan authorities are |
| nature activities are- Kakamega Forest, | | | | still extremely wary of the future of |
| Marsabit, Meru, Mount Kenya, Mount Elgon | | | | the elephant in Tsavo. The country is |
| and Shimba Hills.Maasai Mara is the big | | | | very active in seeking a permanent ban |
| one. This is where you must go even when | | | | on the international ivory trade. I wish |
| all the time you can spare is two | | | | at this point to declare to all that I |
| nights. This is mostly where all those | | | | am a great fan of the African elephant. |
| wildlife videos on Kenya are filmed. The | | | | I believe this to be the true king of |
| Mara, as the Maasai Mara Game Reserve is | | | | the jungle and not that overrated |
| commonly known, is part of the ecosystem | | | | pretender, the lion. You may recall from |
| that includes the equally famous | | | | the movie “The Man-eaters of |
| Serengeti of Tanzania. Covering 320 | | | | Tsavo” how cowardly lions |
| square kilometers, it is nested in the | | | | disrupted the building of the railway in |
| southwestern corner of the country. The | | | | the Tsavo area by feeding on the |
| Mara offers wildlife in such variety and | | | | workforce. Would true royalty be |
| abundance that it is difficult to | | | | involved in such a disgraceful |
| believe. On a two-night visit, I saw | | | | affair?Kenya is a year round safari |
| lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, | | | | destination. The rains come around |
| giraffe, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, | | | | April- May and November-December. This |
| warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, | | | | does not however, much affect the |
| buffalo, leopard, nine kinds of | | | | travelers’ ability to get around. |
| antelopes and elephant. The birds are | | | | This is except for the heavily forested |
| also in plenty –secretary birds, | | | | Aberdares. In the wet season the roads |
| cranes, stork, vultures and ostriches.It | | | | in the Aberdares are extremely slippery |
| is in the Mara that perhaps the most | | | | and the park is at times actually closed |
| spectacular event of the natural world | | | | down. Generally the best time to go on |
| takes place. I refer to the annual | | | | safari is over the drier months when the |
| migration of millions of wildebeest and | | | | grass is short and sighting animals is |
| zebra from the Serengeti in search of | | | | so much easier. But in areas such as the |
| water and pasture. The timing of the | | | | Mara, the animals are so plentiful that |
| phenomena is conditional on the rains | | | | you are going to see lots of them |
| and occurs between June and August. The | | | | regardless of the season. The peak |
| reverse journey is usually taken in | | | | tourist season falls around January to |
| October. With or without the migration | | | | February and July to August. April to |
| the Mara has abundant numbers of | | | | June is the low season and prices for |
| resident animals and you are sure to | | | | accommodation in the lodges can be as |
| have a good wildlife viewing experience | | | | much as 40% lower than in the high |
| whatever time of the year you visit. If | | | | season.Accommodation on safari varies |
| you have sufficient funds, consider | | | | from basic camping to luxury lodges and |
| taking a balloon trip over the reserve. | | | | tented camps. Out there in the bush, you |
| This popular and thoroughly memorable | | | | will be pleasantly surprised that all |
| ride usually commences before dawn and | | | | the trimmings of 5 star accommodations |
| includes a champagne breakfast. The Mara | | | | are available. But if you want to rough |
| is 5 hours from Nairobi by road and 45 | | | | it out, you will find campsites in |
| minutes by light aircraft.Amboseli | | | | almost all the game reserves and |
| National Park sits on the lower slopes | | | | national parks. Info on Kenya hotels, |
| of mighty Kilimanjaro whose peak is | | | | lodges & resorts accommodation options |
| across the border in Tanzania. It is | | | | is available online.It is generally |
| quite an experience to see the | | | | recommended to take an escorted Kenya |
| Kilimanjaro hovering above the clouds in | | | | safari tour package that includes |
| an early morning. As the keen | | | | transport, park fees and accommodation. |
| photography enthusiast can already | | | | The reason for this is that the tour |
| imagine, the mountain gives a dramatic | | | | guides are usually well versed about the |
| backdrop for animal pictures. Amboseli | | | | animals, where to find them and how to |
| is renowned for its huge elephant herds. | | | | get there and have other such useful |
| You will also see buffalo, black rhino, | | | | local knowledge. Have a look at some |
| zebra, wildebeest and other plain | | | | offers of various durations and |
| animals. Lions and other cats can be | | | | budgets.But if you have a lot of time |
| seen but are less plentiful here than in | | | | and need more freedom as you get around, |
| the Mara. The park is 3 hours from | | | | then hire a vehicle in either Nairobi or |
| Nairobi by road and can be approached | | | | Mombasa. For Kenya car rental there is a |
| through Namanga, the border post between | | | | choice between self-drive and chauffer |
| Kenya and Tanzania.Lake Nakuru’s | | | | driven vehicles. On safari, wear light |
| claim to fame is anchored on its | | | | cottons and linen. Warmer clothing is |
| flamingo’s and the over 400 | | | | needed for the evenings and for your |
| species of birds found here. The lake | | | | early morning game drive. Some rainwear |
| itself is a soda lake on the floor of | | | | is advisable between March and June and |
| the rift valley. The sight of the at | | | | October and December.You should bring |
| times millions of flamingos is quite | | | | along a decent pair of sunglasses. The |
| spectacular. From a distance the lake | | | | glare you experience in bright tropical |
| appears ringed in pink. Lake Nakuru is | | | | light is a new and uncomfortable |
| also host to a sanctuary for the | | | | experience for most. It is also a good |
| endangered black and white rhino. Lions, | | | | idea to carry a pair of binoculars. They |
| Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo and | | | | are very useful for spotting animals and |
| baboons are all residents here. The park | | | | will earn you the envy of your less |
| is the most accessible of Kenya’s | | | | knowledgeable traveling companions. |
| bigger parks and is only two hours from | | | | |