The experience with karibu has exceeded all my expectations , God bless you.
The wildlife, scenery, weather, accommodations, transportation, our guide, all were excelent however the food could improve but not bad either.
Just go.
1. Wildlife
You get to see what you only saw in books and TV. The animals feel more real than when you see them in zoos.
2. Scenery
I can only speak for Nairobi, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara and the roads in between. I loved all of it. Nairobi is not as prim as Tokyo, which in a way adds to its vibrancy. Lake Nakuru gives you green forests. Masai Mara is the typical savanna plain you imagined but never really got to know. The roads in between gives you a glimpse into what Kenya is really like, with lots of villages, plantations, livestock, empty fields and lots and lots of dirt road.
3. Weather
Early October is pleasant and not so extreme, both in Nairobi and in the wild. Chilly in morning and night(13 degrees Celsius), warm in day(about 24 degrees). Mostly dry with occasional rain.
4. Accommodations
Accommodations in Nairobi are relatively inexpensive if you are from a developed country. However, you really need to research how much time it takes from your hotel to the airport. Because of traffic jams and roads that go roundabout, it takes more time to get to the airport than, for example, Google Map's estimation based on straight distance. Look into other travelers' reviews.
Accommodations in the safari area depend on how much money you spend. Safaribookings sort them into Budget, Mid-range and Luxury. I can only speak for Mid to Luxury(Sarova Lion Hill, Mara Serena Lodge). They provide great services, up to standards of good hotels in big cities. However, I think their real value is in their location. Lodges or camps on hills provide breathtaking views. Sometimes wild animals such as hyrax or baboons wander about near your room(so keep your windows closed, and get your camera ready for a close shot).
5. Food
Food is actually quite nice. Kenyan cuisine came across as hearty and healthy to me. Try staples like sukumawiki(a vegetable dish tastes something like kale and spinach) and ugali(steamed starch that is the Kenyan equivalent of rice in Asian food. They give you fork, but try them with your hands like the locals do if you want more cultural experience; it's oddly satisfying to handle your food like a bit of clay to soften it). The influence of Indian food is really strong too - you will find bits of Indian cuisine pretty much everywhere. You can also experience Ethiopian food in Nairobi, they have some good restaurants. And try tea. Kenyan black tea is great. They also have good coffee.
6. Transportation
As I mentioned in 'accommodations', traffic situation in Nairobi isn't great. Give yourself enough time for moving around when you plan your trip. And you really need to take into account the ever-present dirt cloud and extreme bumpiness if you go by car to the safari region.
I recommend Uber in city and safari vehicle driven by a hired guide/driver outside the city. Reasons are because, in Nairobi, you stand out too much if you take local public transportation, and outside Nairobi, the road conditions are so bad you need a big vehicle made for such roads, and a local guide/driver who will be in charge of things so that you won't find yourself stranded in middle of nowhere if your car breaks down(I saw three safari vehicles with flat tires on the road. There is always a chance of a breakdown not only because are the roads bad but also because cars in Kenya are usually old and much worn down in the first place).
Of course, you can simply take airplane from Nairobi to Masai Mara(I think it costs about 300-400 USD, I'm not too sure). It would then take about an hour and you would have a view from above but miss out on the 6 hour trip, it really depends on your preference and budget.
7. Guide
Stephen, my driver for safari was also my guide. He is good at his job. He speaks good English(Kenyans usually speak English well because English is an official language there), gives enough commentary and explanation about things when needed but doesn't really tire you with too much talk. He knows his way around well and is both a good driver on the road and a good guide on the safari(we got to see all of Big 5 plus cheetas).
8. Other Highlights
If you go to Masai Mara, balloon safari is a great idea. It is definitely worth the money(430-450 USD).
I recommend that you try to buy or borrow good cameras and get some practice months before the trip. If you have a phone with a good camera it's usually fine, but sometimes you want to zoom in or open your aperture a bit more to give your photo some style and so on. Action cams(such as Go-Pros) are a great idea too, since you sometimes want to take videos of things while moving in a car on a bumpy road. It also helps that action cameras usually have a wide-angle lens that allows to capture more of the vast scenery.
ES
Email Miguel Peran | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful
Kenya is a fantástic country with an amazing wildlife. The acomodación in tentada was correct and food normal. Our guide Richie aré the best and i recommended him to all!
Amazing place . Nice people and beautiful scenery
We really had our best experience ever. The trip was very nice and like an eye opening experience. We loved everything about Kenya. We love you very much and we hope to see you soon.
Brief safari in Kenya
We visited Kenya for a few days before going to Tanzania. We spent some time in Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara Park. All safaris were excellent and although I had heard a lot about Tanzania surpassing Kenya in wildlife, we had similar experiences. Fantastic landscape, lots of wild animals and birds, and excellent service from Serene East Africa Safaris. I recommend a 4x4 Jeep and not a van, because the roads are not in good condition. Finally, we visited Mombasa, which really did not meet our expectations, we found Zanzibar much better.
US
Email Ariel Smith | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Stunning wildlife, untouched nature, friendly people.
The weather was perfect, warm days and cool nights. Staying in the bush at lodges was an amazing experience- wildlife right outside your balcony! Food was delicious, and restaurants were always accommodating to my food allergies. Our guides did their absolute best to find our favorite animals (giraffes and rhinos)!
CA
Email alain campagna | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
If you want to see animal choose Kenya
Lodge perfect, staff so friendly, food excellent and the reserve are so different but they have all something special
Mis-informatiom
I wouldn't put a lot of trust in SafariBookings. They keep sending me these surveys to fill out on my trip to Kenya. I've never been to Kenya and Never had a tour with these folks. I'd steer clear of this outfit.
RU
Email Alexey Vasyutinskiy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect place to see at least once in ur life.
Great landscapes. Amazing animals. Unbelievable wildlife. But at the same time very poor people around.
Email Bettie Lubbe | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A wonderful country with abundance of wildlife, scenic drives and friendly people.
We had a fantastic guide - Mutemi from Dennisia Safaris. This made our experience just so much better. He knew all the parks we visited on the palm of his hand and knew where to drive to find the animals. We had lion sightings on a daily basis. The parks are packed with wildlife and they easy to spot. We visited Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. Although the Mara is synonym with Kenya, Amboseli is an extraordinary park and it's highly recommended that it should be on your itinerary. I cannot wait to return.
