There are as many reasons to go on Kenya safaris as there are experiences awaiting visitors to this incredibly varied country. From the semi-arid north to the plains of the Mara, and not forgetting the Indian Ocean coast, Kenya is a study in contrasts – and all of them wonderful.
Nairobi is emerging as a cultural and artistic hub with a vibe and energy of its own. From there, light aircraft wing their way over mountains, deserts and even rainforests to deliver travellers to luxury lodges and classic mobile camps ideally situated for maximum exposure to wildlife.
In Kenya, almost anything is possible. Spending the morning watching wildebeest running a reptilian gauntlet and an evening stroll through the surf in the shadow of a colonial fort – in the same day? Kenya can do that, and so much more besides.
It’s impossible to describe Kenya safaris without referencing the Great Wildebeest Migration, but even the Masai Mara’s seismic relocation faces competition from other iconic destinations, including Amboseli, Tsavo and the irresistibly named Hell’s Gate.
Kenya is a country where old and new rubs shoulders with relative ease: traditionally dressed Maasai and Samburu tribesmen navigate city streets and tree-studded savannah with equal aplomb.
Amboseli itself is reason to travel to Amboseli! Even before visitors start to notice the area’s abundant wildlife, they inevitably find their eyes drawn to the looming mass of Kilimanjaro. While the mountain itself – thanks to a quirk of colonial-era mapmaking – is actually in neighboring Tanzania, Amboseli is so close to the border that the mountain is an integral – and wonderful – part of Amboseli safaris.
Closer to ground level, some of Amboseli’s key attractions also command respect – and may require you to look up again. Amboseli has a deserved reputation for frequent encounters with elephant herds, and was placed firmly on the pachyderm map by the research efforts of Dr Cynthia Moss.
One of Moss’ principal subjects, a matriarch she named Echo, was arguably the most studied wild elephant of all. Although Echo’s trumpets no longer ring out across Amboseli, her descendants continue to dwarf and delight guests in equal measure.
Of course, there’s more to Amboseli than the mountain – the park was created to protect vital swampland habitats, which offer incredible birding. These swamps also create a marked contrast with the dry fossil lake bed that is another key feature of Amboseli. Indeed, the name derives from a Masai word meaning salty, dusty place’.
Lake Naivasha is one of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley Lakes, and despite its relative lack of depth, it’s home to numerous hippos and hundreds of bird species – as well as being an important stopover for migratory birds. The lake is best-known for its incredible pink flush of flamingos, but these are merely the icing on the cake.
The landscape surrounding Lake Naivasha consists of an incredible mosaic of swamps (which expand and retreat with the seasons), acacia forests and the high Rift Valley cliffs, which provide nesting sites for many of the area’s bird species.
As with any reliable water source in Africa, Lake Naivasha exerts a magnetic pull on wildlife, making Lake Naivasha safaris a wonderful way to see not just numbers, but a fascinating diversity of species.
Lake Naivasha is a wonderfully dynamic ecosystem; visitors at different times of the year, comparing notes, could be forgiven for thinking that they had in fact been to different places.
Staying at a luxury safari lodge on the shores of Lake Naivasha (an address historically popular with European settlers in Kenya) means that guests find themselves ideally placed to enjoy additional safari adventures, including guided day excursions to Hell’s Gate and lakes Elmenteita and Nakuru.
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Amboseli National Park is located in Loitoktok District, Rift Valley Province of Kenya.
The park is 39,206 hectares (392 km2; 151 sq. mi) in size at the core of an 8,000 square kilometers (3,100 sq. mi) ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border.
The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants among other wildlife species. Other attraction of the park includes opportunities to meet the Maasai people and also offers spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
In Amboseli’s case it is big skies and far horizons combined with swampy springs and dry and dusty earth trampled by hundreds of animals.
Amboseli has an endless underground water supply filtered through thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Kilimanjaro’s ice cap, which funnel into two clear water springs in the heart of the park.
However, the climatic pendulum can swing from drought to flood, and in the early 1990’s ceaseless rain changed Amboseli into a swamp. A few years later the rains failed and the grass-covered plains turned to dust.
SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE.
Samburu National Reserve is a rugged and semi-desert park located in Samburu district in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The park neighbors the homes of the Samburu tribe of Kenya, a tribe known for their remote culture, pastoral and nomadic way of life.
Due to its remote distance and the fact that it was inaccessible for many years, the park has retained a naturally serene and quiet feeling. Besides the numerous wildlife found in this game reserve, the park is also a bird haven.
The park measures approximately 104sq. kilometers (approx. 65sq. miles) in size, this unfenced savannah grassland is roughly 350km (217 miles) from Nairobi. It is relatively small in size compared to other Kenyan parks, such as Tsavo or Masai Mara.
The Uaso Nyiro River cuts through this reserve, drawing a big population of Kenya animals to the park. The river bustles with activity from its huge population of Nile crocodile.
The reserve’s topography is mainly open savannah (grassland) with clusters of acacia trees, forest, thorn trees and grassland vegetation. Samburu National Reserve was one of the two areas in which conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness. Their story was made famous by the bestselling book and award-winning movie “Born Free”.
MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Maasai Mara (Masai Mara) is situated in south-west Kenya and is one of Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserves. Together with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania it forms Africa’s most diverse, incredible and most spectacular eco-systems and possibly the world’s top safari big game viewing eco-system.
WILDEBEEST MIGRATION: Make sure you have your safari book planned out that includes the Maasai Mara. I am sure you have heard the wildebeest migration is nothing short of amazing. It is one of the things you have to add to your bucket list. Best time to be in Kenya for it is JULY – OCTOBER.
- SAFARIS: Have a look at the extensive list of safaris for you to choose from. Enquire on 2 or 3 safaris and wait to hear from them.
- ACCOMMODATION: There is a wide selection of places to stay in and around the Maasai Mara and the conservancies surrounding it. The conservancies surrounding the Maasai Mara have restricted number of vehicles allowing a more private game viewing of wildlife.
MAP: Have a look at our map; we have most of the properties in the Maasai Mara accurately located. Zoom out to see all the properties we have across Eastern and Southern Africa
Maasai Mara National Reserve stretches 1,510 sq km (580 sq miles) and raises 1,500-2,170 meters above sea level. Add the conservancies and the area is at least twice the size. It hosts over 95 species of mammals and over 570 recorded species of birds. This is the World Cup of Wildlife, and together with the Serengeti National Park there is no better place to witness the best wildlife viewing in the world!
- DISTANCE
It’s about 270 km from the capital Nairobi City and takes about 4-5 hours by road or 40-45 minutes by flight. The road is great for the most part. There is a section from Narok town to Sekenani Gate that is dirt road but fairly good. The other road through Lemek and Aitong town is not good at all and very bumpy.
- BEST TIME TO VISIT
With the wildebeest migration in JULY – OCTOBER, this is the best time to see this incredible movement of animals. Although it is not guaranteed that the wildebeest get to Maasai Mara, it has yet to let us down. Also, December to February is great times as it is dryer and good for the Big Cats.
NOTE: The Maasai Mara is an all year round destination with the big cats, and all the big game still in the Maasai Mara Ecosystem.
- RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF DAYS
Due the amount to be seen in the reserve we feel a THREE to FOUR day safari is suitable for just the Maasai Mara. If you are interested in photography the longer you stay the more chance of getting the ultimate photo.
