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