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