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