20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The World's Greatest Wildlife Spectacle That Should Be at the Top of Everyone's Bucket List
The Maasai Mara is the classic picture of Africa everyone imagines and my favorite of the four parks visited on my recent three week trip (also visited Nairobi and Lake Nakuru in Kenya, Etosha in Namibia.) A full day game drive in the Maasai Mara included dozens upon dozens of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebra, antelope, etc., two quality sightings of pride of lions(including a male and female right on the side of the road and a pride with cubs eating a carcass), a river full of hippos and crocodiles, lots of birds, beautiful landscape, a visit to the border with Tanzania and a visit to the Maasai Village. Perhaps the biggest surprise was a distant peak at the Great Wildebeest Migration across the Tanzania border in Serengeti National Park (we were well informed we came a couple weeks too early to see the migration.) This is truly the most amazing wildlife spectacle on earth and the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Also, affordable safari tours and lodging is readily available. The roads are a bit bumpy and big cat sightings lead to lots of jeeps but those are very meager prices to pay for a perfect day.
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Serengeti National Park by Charles A
Huge park that has enough room for everyone to spread out. Lots of animals if your driver is good enough to find them. Only once did we encounter a crowd of vehicles and that was around a recent kill by a pride of lions. Beautiful park. We did the balloon safari option and it was freakin amazing to see the park and animals from above.
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Charles A
My only complaint would be how crowded the crater gets. They don't limit the number of vehicles allowed in the park. There are limited roads, so the traffic can get quite heavy on those. This does ensure that the animals get bothered less though. Lots of animals to see and very natural and beautiful setting.
IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Serengeti National Park by Anil Kumar (India)
Best National Park in the world to see unlimited wild animals (including the big five). This never ending savannah grassland is out of the world experience.
IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Anil Kumar (India)
Its pure magic, straight out of fantasy. In the crater, you can see clouds below yourself with thousands of animals wandering around.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was an amazing experience that I wouldn't mind doing again. ❤️
Place worth visiting, you literally feel nature at its best and the sense of freedom is worth every Rand it's the place to be.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
People are friendly and gracious in Kenya
We were picked up at our hotel in Nairobi (Kozi Suites, which is an acceptable place to sleep), and had a safari to Amboseli, Naivasha, Lake Nakura, and Masai Mara. The parks are beautiful and well maintained. Animals were plentiful (except leopards, we were not able to find any) and they did not seem to mind the Land Rovers. The flamingos which are usually at Lake Nakura have migrated to another lake, so we did not see too many.
There are many safari companies to choose from, we chose well, Ramja Safaris. Our guide was excellent and had private education as well as over 20 years experience, he knew what he was doing and where all the best picture taking spots were. The lodges were excellent and the staff were gracious. Remember to tip as this is a poor country and a tip goes a long way. .
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Life Changing
I recently went on a four day safari to Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru as well as a half day tour of Nairobi National Park. Kenya is exactly how I imagined Africa to be and better. There is nothing like being next to a herd of two dozen elephants roaming and feeding, having a male lion look you in the eye, seeing a leopard pop out of a bush or unexpectedly seeing a serval with kittens. Kenya has great tourism infrastructure and the guides are incredibly knowledgeable, passionate and dedicated. The landscape is magnificent from the open plains to the mountains and lakes of the Great Rift Valley. Go here- it will change your life.
Here is a list of the species we saw:
African Elephant
Maasai Giraffe/Rothschilds Giraffe
African Lion
African Leopard
White Rhinoceros
African Buffalo
River Hippopotamus
Plains Zebra
Blue Wildebeest
Serval
Spotted Hyena
Black Backed Jackal
Warthog
Olive Baboon
Vervet Monkey
Banded Mongoose
Rock Hyrax
Bush Hyrax
Common Eland
Defassa Waterbuck
Impala
Thomson’s Gazelle
Grants Gazelle
Topi
Coke’s Hartebeest
Ostrich
Greater Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo
Secretary Bird
White Backed Vulture
Kori Bustard
Fishing Eagle
Created Roller
Goshawk
East African Crowned Crane
Saddle Billed Stork
Guinea Fowl
Hadada Ibis
Marabou Stork
Yellow Billed Stork
Kingfisher
Nile Crocodile
FI
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience!
We contacted Balu Travel for a 3 day safari in Masai Mara in June. We had an amazing experience as we also had an amazing guide, Steve, who was very knowledgeable and went the extra mile to offer us the most on each day. We saw the Big Four (as we couldn’t see the rhino this time ;) ), a beautiful sunrise and sunset and mesmerising landscapes. The accommodation at Mara Olodare was good, clean, spacious, the beds were comfortable and the food was also good. On the last day we visited a Maasai village and it was also a great experience.
IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Tanzania by Anil Kumar (India)
Northern Tanzania circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara) are the best in the world for highest density of wild animals.