Kenyan Safari Guide

Organised Safaris
Kenya is the land of the safari. The experience of staying in the original African outback with nothing except your tent between you and all that glorious nature is something every self-respecting traveler must have. It would be, let us say, unusual, if you went to Kenya and did not go on a safari.

You can choose to ‘rough it out’ on a camping safari, or you can stay in relative luxury in a game lodge or a well-equipped camping site with all your creature comforts—running water, iced drinks, good service, toilets that flush! Of course, the price for these will be much higher. If you're planning on a camping trip, don’t expect to be able to take showers everyday or eat fantastic meals. Also expect to help out with cooking/cleaning. The price for a camping safari (which will include all camping gear except seeping bags) ranges from US$80 per day for a short safari (three days) to less per day for a longer safari (five days or more). It is recommended that you go on a longer safari if you have the time, to really derive value from your safaris. For example, a four-day safari would cover Amboseli and Tsavo national parks, or Sumburu and Buffalo Springs. A six-day safari would cover the lakes plus Masai Mara national park, and would be ideeeeeeal! You can also choose to go on a Camel Safari or a Walking safari if you do not fancy the idea of long vehicle rides. A Do-it-yourself safari is recommended for those who have definite ideas of where they want to go, and are confident of tackling emergencies like vehicle breakdown or equipment theft or navigation nightmares.

Important-Choose your safari company with care-make inquiries in Nairobi, and speak to the locals if you can. One rule regarding safari companies is that they should preferably run their own vehicles—otherwise you can end up being shunted from one safari company to another by agents, or have your itinerary changed without being informed. The best, though not foolproof, way to avoid this is by choosing a reputable company.

There is also the option of going on a ‘game drive’—these last for about two-three hours. Please note that the best drives are those that are in the early morning or in the late afternoon—these are the best times for sighting animals.