Often a huge "bucket list" item of seasoned travelers and novices alike, a Kenyan safari is worth the time, energy and money to experience one of the most memorable adventures possible!
Learn about the heart of Africa while searching for some of the world's most sought-after animals, among them lions, giraffes, hippos and monkeys. After a full day on the trail relax and take in revel in the memories in posh accommodations as you create a shared experience that's impossible to forget.
Click "READ MORE" below to find out more about this trip!
Learn about the heart of Africa while searching for some of the world's most sought-after animals, among them lions, giraffes, hippos and monkeys. After a full day on the trail relax and take in revel in the memories in posh accommodations as you create a shared experience that's impossible to forget.
Click "READ MORE" below to find out more about this trip!
Amazing- what more can I say? We took this adventure with Abercrombie and Kent. They are a premier supplier of this type of travel in Africa.
We arrived at the Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club- high on the slopes of Mt. Kenya, Africa’s 2nd highest mountain. The luxurious rooms, with fireplaces, in the park like setting were lovely. This is a full service resort compete with golf, pools, spa, horseback riding, hiking and more. It was founded by William Holden as a club for celebrities and big game hunters. It is located right on the Equator.
Time to experience the game reserves! We started in Samburu a few hours’ drive from Mt. Kenya.
What a thrill as we saw our first of the “Big Five”.. Elephants! Lots of them, in the Uaso Nyiro River with all of their family and babies. After our game drive we checked into the Heritage Samburu Intrepids Club where we stayed for two nights. This was a luxurious “tented camp” right on the river. The rooms have fluffy beds with mosquito nets, polished wooden floors, marble bathrooms and large wooden decks with padded chairs to relax in as you view the river. Nothing camping about this…except the sides of our room were soft sided canvas.
The Samburu has scrub brush and trees that give the animals cover. Our sighting of the leopard was a thrill, as this could have been the one animal that we might have missed, our second animal in the “Big Five”.(my son was the one who sighted this!) Each day we had multiple game drives for about 2-3 hours each. We also visited a local Samburu village with shows put on for us by the men, women and children. We got to dance along with them and view their village and purchase local handicrafts.
For our next location, we boarded our small plane and flew over the Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. This is in southern Kenya along the Tanzanian border forming the northern extension of the Greater Serengeti ecosystem. This topography was different as the savannahs were vast. We could see for miles across the plain. The animals were not as hidden and easier to view. We did see the rest of the “Big Five” here finding the black rhino, the cape buffalo and lion. A big surprise were the almost tame cheetahs, that would jump right on the open roof of the land rovers we traveled in.
We stayed for two nights at the Heritage Mara Interpids Club- similar to the Samburu lodging. Again we experienced multiple game drives each day, had evening lectures and great meals. They even included afternoon tea with freshly made crepes. Yum.
For our final day on the safari we moved to the Sanctuary Oleonana Tented Camp, again on the river with great views of the hippos- my favorite! They were right outside our rooms. Management from Abercrombie and Kent met us for our cocktail party and farewell dinner.
Sadly, our adventure was coming to an end. We left the Mara and flew back to Nairobi where we had a tasty luncheon of local specialties and then boarded our long flight back home. We flew both Kenya Air and Air Ethiopia . We were really impressed with both. Can you imagine getting a full hot meal with wine or beer on flight that only is 1 ½ hours?
A few comments:
Which tour company?- When taking a safari use a travel agent who will recommend a reputable company. Abercrombie and Kent own their vehicles and insure they are all serviced regularly. We had to pull several smaller vehicles out of the mud that were stuck in the savannah after the rain.
Animals- too many to list here. We saw over 38 different animals and birds. Just ask me. I kept a running list and took pictures and movies of all. (yes my new IPAD is full)
When to go? The best months in this area are July and August for the great migration. Over a million wildebeest march north with zebras and gazelles to graze on the Mara’s lush grasses. Mid December to February is also good for the weather and viewing. We were there in the normally rainy month of April and had rain only one day. That day, the river did flood some and A&K ordered us two planes to fly us 10 minutes to our next location, instead of having us cross the bridge in our land rovers.
I hope you get to experience a safari someday. It truly was the trip of a lifetime
We arrived at the Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club- high on the slopes of Mt. Kenya, Africa’s 2nd highest mountain. The luxurious rooms, with fireplaces, in the park like setting were lovely. This is a full service resort compete with golf, pools, spa, horseback riding, hiking and more. It was founded by William Holden as a club for celebrities and big game hunters. It is located right on the Equator.
Time to experience the game reserves! We started in Samburu a few hours’ drive from Mt. Kenya.
What a thrill as we saw our first of the “Big Five”.. Elephants! Lots of them, in the Uaso Nyiro River with all of their family and babies. After our game drive we checked into the Heritage Samburu Intrepids Club where we stayed for two nights. This was a luxurious “tented camp” right on the river. The rooms have fluffy beds with mosquito nets, polished wooden floors, marble bathrooms and large wooden decks with padded chairs to relax in as you view the river. Nothing camping about this…except the sides of our room were soft sided canvas.
The Samburu has scrub brush and trees that give the animals cover. Our sighting of the leopard was a thrill, as this could have been the one animal that we might have missed, our second animal in the “Big Five”.(my son was the one who sighted this!) Each day we had multiple game drives for about 2-3 hours each. We also visited a local Samburu village with shows put on for us by the men, women and children. We got to dance along with them and view their village and purchase local handicrafts.
For our next location, we boarded our small plane and flew over the Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. This is in southern Kenya along the Tanzanian border forming the northern extension of the Greater Serengeti ecosystem. This topography was different as the savannahs were vast. We could see for miles across the plain. The animals were not as hidden and easier to view. We did see the rest of the “Big Five” here finding the black rhino, the cape buffalo and lion. A big surprise were the almost tame cheetahs, that would jump right on the open roof of the land rovers we traveled in.
We stayed for two nights at the Heritage Mara Interpids Club- similar to the Samburu lodging. Again we experienced multiple game drives each day, had evening lectures and great meals. They even included afternoon tea with freshly made crepes. Yum.
For our final day on the safari we moved to the Sanctuary Oleonana Tented Camp, again on the river with great views of the hippos- my favorite! They were right outside our rooms. Management from Abercrombie and Kent met us for our cocktail party and farewell dinner.
Sadly, our adventure was coming to an end. We left the Mara and flew back to Nairobi where we had a tasty luncheon of local specialties and then boarded our long flight back home. We flew both Kenya Air and Air Ethiopia . We were really impressed with both. Can you imagine getting a full hot meal with wine or beer on flight that only is 1 ½ hours?
A few comments:
Which tour company?- When taking a safari use a travel agent who will recommend a reputable company. Abercrombie and Kent own their vehicles and insure they are all serviced regularly. We had to pull several smaller vehicles out of the mud that were stuck in the savannah after the rain.
Animals- too many to list here. We saw over 38 different animals and birds. Just ask me. I kept a running list and took pictures and movies of all. (yes my new IPAD is full)
When to go? The best months in this area are July and August for the great migration. Over a million wildebeest march north with zebras and gazelles to graze on the Mara’s lush grasses. Mid December to February is also good for the weather and viewing. We were there in the normally rainy month of April and had rain only one day. That day, the river did flood some and A&K ordered us two planes to fly us 10 minutes to our next location, instead of having us cross the bridge in our land rovers.
I hope you get to experience a safari someday. It truly was the trip of a lifetime
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