[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.18.2″][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0|0px|27px|0px|false|false” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https://loveyourwanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/DSC00245-2.jpg” _builder_version=”3.18.2″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.18.2″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.18.2″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.18.2″]
Safari: expedition to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitat
Kenya Translation: A once-in-a-lifetime adventure to find lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo in between city, beach, and natural wildlife
An African safari has always been top of my bucket list, but it’s also been followed by a “how can I make it affordable?” and “yikes it’s that much?”. While cost tends to scare any traveler – It’s one of those trips that make you say every penny is worth it. My trip to Kenya was such an adventure that made me grow in unexpected ways.
So why did I choose Kenya? Kenya boasts some of the world’s best known safaris and beaches in the world. It has a stunning geography that spans city, rural, beach and wildlife. Beyond its lush & rich geography, the animals and culture will make you love it even more. Kenya is a great place to consider for an African safari. If you are considering a safari, here are my 10 Tips before you book your Kenyan Safari.
- Decide what type of trip you want – do you want all adventure, a mix of adventure & city-life, or a mix of adventure, city and beach? This is critical to helping you decide what safari route to go with. We chose the latter and travelled from Nairobi through national parks to get to Diani Beach
- Your safari company will make or break your trip. THIS IS SO KEY. We were so lucky to have a great safari company (Natural World Safaris), who not only went out of their way to ensure we saw all the animals we could but also took care of us in a sticky situation (more below).
- Spring for a jeep. Our first lodge, Ol’Tukai Lodge in Amboseli had a flash flood the day before we got there which made the road difficult to drive over. There were so many safari vans and smaller cars that weren’t able to get to the lodge because the car couldn’t handle the drive. We even picked up people who were stranded and brought them to the lodge. Moreover, once you spend 5-7 hours in the jeep, you will be very thankful
- Masi Mara and Ambolseli National Parks should be top of your list. One of the things that I learned the hard way is the Masai is the place to see animals regardless of what season you go. We ended up not doing the Masi Mara (opps!) because we wanted to drive through Kenya to the coast.
- Stay at a resort with a pool, whether you are a swimmer or not. Kenya is HOT and it was lovely to spend our down time cooling off in the pool. Plus the pools at some resorts are amazing
- Book your safari first and early! Depending on when you go, national parks and the resorts may be booked up as safaris can be quite crowded and its very possible to not be able to get your safari if you book last minute
- Be upfront with your game driver on what you want to see. One of the biggest lessons I learned on safari is there is no guarantee you will see everything you want to. It’s nothing like a zoo and your game driver has to know what you want to find and spot the animals. We told our driver George that seeing lions was the ultimate prize. Since he knew we wanted to see it, he was on the lookout to find it. Our last day, he was able to get us 6 feet away from a pride of lions and their cubs after a kill. It was one of the most magical experiences
- Take precautions. In cities, make sure you close the windows and lock all the doors in your vehicle – even when its hot. Kenya is a wonderful country filled with great people, but it’s important to note that there is a lot of poverty in Kenya. I let my guard down after a 4 day safari in the car in transit and ultimately paid the price by having my purse stolen. Theft by moving vehicle is very common for not only tourists but people who live there. As in all countries, you just need to be careful and aware
- Separate travel insurance is a must (yes, that’s insurance beyond just your credit card). I learned this the hard way. As we were driving from the end of our safari to Diani beach, my purse was stolen off my lap in a moving vehicle. Sadly it had my passport and over $250 worth of medicine, clothing, and random technology. It’s a lesson in no matter if you think you don’t need it, it’s good to just have it
- Be open to adventure! One of the most beautiful things that travel can give you is perspective. When I got my purse stolen, we had to cancel our Diani Beach stay, so I could get a new passport at the US embassy in Nairobi. At the time I was stressed and upset, but looking back it taught me so much on what I can do to help others through a travel snafu.
Are you thinking about planning a trip to Kenya for a safari? Let me know how I can help by leaving a comment below or for those of you who would love to go without the stress of planning, I can plan your adventure.
Love, Kristie
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
