8 Questions About Kenya Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony is a writer and photographer who co-writes Lonely Planet’s guide to Kenya, writes on the country for magazines and newspapers around the world, and has been exploring the country for more than a decade.

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When is the best time to visit Kenya?

“June to October is an excellent time for Kenya tours. During these months, the weather is generally dry (although it can get really hot in October and the tail-end of September) and most trails are open. This also coincides with the wildebeest and zebra migration in the Masai Mara. This is the dry season, and as it progresses, water sources for animals tend to dry up and become fewer, drawing animals in numbers to those that remain. One downside is that, apart from June (which is one of my favorite months to visit), high-season prices apply. Crowds are also larger – in some parks, the queue of safari vehicles can take away something from your experience, and some areas of the Masai Mara can be completely overwhelmed with vehicles during the migration. Visiting from November to February also has its devotees – migrating birds arrive, the rains rarely disrupt travel, and the country is also transformed into a lovely shade of green. Most travelers avoid March to May because heavy rains are always possible and can transform safari trails into muddy bogs. That said, prices are lower and I visited once in April and was lucky to find very few other visitors (except for local visitors around Easter) and clear skies.”

Why visit Kenya, and what are the major attractions?

“Outstanding wildlife is the main reason to visit Kenya. While many visitors come for the migration, Kenya is excellent year-round, with a large number of world-class national parks – apart from the Masai Mara, there’s Amboseli, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo East and Tsavo West – where superb wildlife-watching is almost guaranteed. It all adds up to Kenyan safari possibilities of great variety. Kenya is Big Five territory, with healthy populations of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino, but the birdlife is also outstanding, as is the cultural element – this is the land of the Maasai, Samburu, Turkana and others. The sheer number of habitats, too, make for wonderful scenery – endless horizons in the Masai Mara, tropical forests in Kakamega, the starkly beautiful parks of the north, and peerless Kilimanjaro views from Amboseli.”

What does a Kenyan safari cost?

“It all depends on what sort of safari you want and can afford. Kenya has more variety than most other African safari destinations, with excellent options from the lower end of the pricing scale (from US$175 per person per day) to luxury Kenya safaris (up to US$1000). While accommodation is partly what will determine cost for many travelers, it can also depend on how you wish to travel between the various parks – air transfers, usually via Nairobi, can be expensive, but dramatically reduce the amount of time you’ll spend on the road, thereby maximizing the amount of time you’ll get to spend in the parks themselves. Remember also that most Kenya safari packages will include transport, accommodation, all meals and activities (including game drives).”

› Factors influencing the cost of a safari 3

How is the wildlife viewing in Kenya?

“It can vary from park to park. Most of the more popular parks that you can visit on a Kenya tour – Amboseli, Masai Mara, Samburu and Lake Nakuru – have fabulous wildlife-watching opportunities. Dense wildlife populations in all of these parks make them good all-round safari destinations that enable you to see as many animals (and different species) as you can in a short period of time. Other parks are more specialist – such as the birds and primates of Kakamega, and the sitatunga in Saiwa Swamp – allowing you to tick off a hard-to-find species, usually without the crowds. And a more exclusive Kenyan safari experience is possible in the conservancies of Laikipia – you pay more, but, with the exception of Ol Pejeta Conservancy, crowds are non-existent and wildlife watching is excellent. At most of these conservancies, you can get off-road as well, meaning that you’ll get a lot closer to the animals than you will in a national park.”

› More about viewing Kenya's wildlife & Animals 4

How safe is Kenya for tourists?

“For the most part, a Kenya safari is safe, but there are some important things to know. Nairobi and, to a lesser extent, some other Kenyan cities have a reputation for violent crime. I’ve spent a significant amount of time in Nairobi and elsewhere and have never once had a problem, but it does happen often enough to mean that you should always be careful and follow local advice when it comes to these cities. Another potential danger comes from traveling on the country’s roads – the accident rate is extremely high. You can minimize the danger by spending as little time as you can in Nairobi and other cities – Kenya’s charm rarely resides in its major urban centers – by never traveling at night and by flying between the parks. The danger from wild animals is minimal; most Kenya safari trips and operators have excellent safety records, and you should be fine if you follow the safety briefings and instructions from guides.”

How do I select a reliable Kenya tour operator?

“The best way to choose a Kenya safari is to read all about the safari experiences of other travelers – the chances are that their reviews will answer many of your questions (before you’ve asked them) as well as speak to the professionalism of the various operators with whom they’ve traveled. Otherwise, it’s extremely important that you contact any tour companies with whom you are considering traveling before you make a booking, and ask any questions you may have. This could be anything from the mode of transport, frequency of meals or daily safari schedules to the languages spoken by your guide or how many other travelers will be in your vehicle. Be as specific as you can. Not all operators offer customized Kenya tours, it’s true, but there’s no substitute for being informed. The operator’s willingness to answer questions can be a good guide to their dealings with people on safari.”

What type of accommodation can I expect on a safari?

“As a general rule, the higher your Kenya safari prices, the better you can expect your accommodation to be. At the lower end, campsites are usually basic, sometimes crowded and not always in the best locations within the national parks or reserves, but they are well priced and often have ample facilities such as showers and toilets. Lodges are the mainstays of the Kenya safari scene and the quality varies considerably – many lodges within the reserves and national parks have excellent locations but are ageing and in need of renovation, while others are luxurious and recently overhauled. In tented camps, including mobile camps, you’ll sleep in large, walk-in tents – they’re like lodge rooms in terms of size but with canvas for walls and floor. Canvas tents mean that you can hear the sounds of the African night. Hopefully you won’t hear the sounds of your neighboring guests if the tents are nicely spaced. Most lodge rooms and tents of this kind have comfortable (not camp) beds, sometimes a desk and usually a private bathroom; some even have an outdoor shower with no roof but walls that protect your modesty. Particularly in tented camps, you’ll most likely need to recharge your devices not in your room but at a power station in the main public area.”

What can I expect from an African safari in Kenya?

“Most days out on safari begin with a quiet African voice waking you well before sunrise. After dressing quickly, and having a coffee or tea, you head out for a few hours in a safari vehicle (with other guests, a driver, guide and sometimes a tracker) looking for wildlife – this time, and the last hours before sunset, are ideal for watching wildlife. You’ll return to the lodge or camp mid- to late morning for a proper sit-down breakfast. A few hours of relaxation, followed by lunch, then a few hours more doing very little occupies the hottest part of the day, when even animals retreat into the shade. Afternoon tea, often known as High Tea in a nod to colonial-era safari traditions, happens around 3 PM or 3:30 PM, then it’s back out looking for wildlife until after dark. Just before sunset, you’ll stop for another safari institution, the ‘Sundowner’, when you’ll watch the sunset while nursing the drink of your choice. You arrive back in camp in time to freshen up, then it’s dinner and off to bed, before it all starts again very early the next morning.”

Kenya Safari Reviews

4.6/5 718 Reviews

Expert

Stuart Butler –

Stuart is a travel writer and author of numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

East Africa’s Most varied Nation

5/5

Kenya is the original home of the safari. This is the land of the world renowned Masai Mara National Reserve where tawny coloured lions feast off the hundreds of thousands of wildebeest that annually migrate into the country from...

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Expert

Alan Murphy –

Alan is a travel writer and author of over 20 Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Southern Africa and Zambia & Malawi.

A Safari Behemoth

5/5

In some ways, Kenya rates as the best country for safaris in Africa. That is a contentious statement and many would argue that Tanzania should be given that title. Whichever way you go, Kenya is undeniably a destination which will fulfill...

Full Review

Jude and Mick –

Reviewed: Aug 16, 2019

We loved Kenya

5/5

Everything about this holiday was fantastic! We decided on Spirit of Kenya for our safari and this proved to be a very good decision. Liaison with Tiago from the start in deciding on the itinerary, accommodation etc was outstanding with...

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ratpacker –

Reviewed: Aug 16, 2019

Trip of a lifetime to see epic migration

5/5

The safari was beyond my expectations in terms of the scenery, wildlife. The migration is on a scale that is hard to describe in words. If you love watching NatGeo, you'll love it! In fact we barely used binoculars since the animals were...

Full Review

Karl Jahnke –

Reviewed: Aug 15, 2019

Neverending story

5/5

Wildlife, scenery, and weather are excellent. Relationship between price and accommodations levels have been very good. Food has been abundant and good. Our transportation and guide excellent. Classic Journeys Africa is a very good...

Full Review

Suzanne –

Reviewed: Aug 13, 2019

Amazing trip from beginning to end!

5/5

We recently came back from an amazing customized tour with Africa MCflash tours in July. From start to finish everything went very well. We were pleased with all of our accommodations, the food, Safari vehicle, and the wildlife was...

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8 Questions About Kenya Safaris

Answered by

Anthony Ham

8 Questions About Kenya Safaris

When is the best time to visit Kenya?

Why visit Kenya, and what are the major attractions?

What does a Kenyan safari cost?

How is the wildlife viewing in Kenya?

How safe is Kenya for tourists?

How do I select a reliable Kenya tour operator?

What type of accommodation can I expect on a safari?

What can I expect from an African safari in Kenya?

Kenya Safari Reviews

East Africa’s Most varied Nation

A Safari Behemoth

We loved Kenya

Trip of a lifetime to see epic migration

Neverending story

Amazing trip from beginning to end!