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