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Kenya, the grand old dame of safari style, remains a popular safari destination for its elegant accommodation options, and for the wealth of activities that may be enjoyed here against the backdrop of glorious African landscape. An air of enduring timelessness remains with you during your Kenyan safari, and haunts you back at home, making many return here year after year. There is nothing quite like a safari in Kenya.
Kenya is at the forefront of the safari industry and still has its nose ahead in terms of game and varied accommodation options. It has long been a mecca for those wanting to see in person the Great Migration made famous by various BBC documentaries and the National Geographic channel. Kenya also offers a wider range of activities than most other African countries, from traditional game drives to helicopter safaris, golfing and deep sea fishing.
The best of Kenya's wildlife is crammed into the relatively small and very famous Masai Mara National Reserve, where the BBC's Big Cat Diary was filmed. The Masai Mara remains a thriving wildlife hotspot, although as a result of its fame there are plenty of tourists to be seen along with the wildlife.
We cannot stress enough that the key to a good Kenya safari is to stay mainly off the beaten track, with just a few days in the busier peak areas such as the Masai Mara and Amboseli. We love the quieter north of the country and it offers some top class safari destinations as well as the private “ranch” concessions unique to Kenya (Lake Turkana, the Matthews Range, Laikipia, Lewa Downs, Samburu). A combination of three of these destinations, staying three or so nights at each, works very well.
The Masai Mara requires particular care; the range and density of big five game here are outstanding but visitor numbers are correspondingly high – it is not unusual to see numerous vehicles crowded around a single sighting. We know the most exclusive and private camps, where you can still get an authentic game viewing experience and where, if you are lucky, you might end up sipping a gin and tonic outside your tent whilst watching the Great Wildebeest Migration…
Ol Donyo is one of our favourite lodges in Kenya, and our hands down pick from the Chyulu Hills. You can enjoy a really diverse safari experience here with amazing horse riding, walking and night drives to quench every safari thirst!
In the famous Masai Mara sits a one of a kind camp, Rekero. Owner run, and with a feeling of absolute intimacy is the luxury of this camp, and this is only inside the walls! Outside in the bush, the guiding is phenomenal as their expertise has been gathered over many years of providing guests with amazing safaris.
If you are interested in Kenya for its timeless and classic safari experience of a bygone era, then we would recommend Cottar's 1920's Camp. Here you will be smoozed by the elegance and romance of the lodge, and driven around in a 1920's replica car of the time - a really novel yet reminiscent touch.
These are only a few, for other options please give us a call for an up to date run down of the very best!
The variation on offer in Kenya is unrivalled, it’s as simple as that. Want to game drive through the wildebeest masses of the Great Migration and watch the herds charge across the Mara River? Want to climb Mount Kenya and marvel at the wilderness below? How about game viewing from a horse in Lewa, or quad biking through the hills of Laikipia? There really is something for absolutely everyone, from younger children to veteran safari goers – Kenya is the original safari destination and has never looked back.
This is so easily done. Not only does Kenya have some wonderful Indian Ocean coastal areas of its own north of Mombasa, it is just a stones throw from idyllic Zanzibar. For Kenya coastline options, Lamu has historically been the place to go. Recently, the Kenyan Coast has come out of a turbulent few years, and is very much once again opening its arms to tourism. Watch out Zanzibar! Either the Kenyan Coast or Zanzibar are incredibly easy to reach! And if you don’t mind paying a premium an travelling further then heading out to the Seychelles is by no means out of the question.
The Great Migration of almost 2 million wildebeest, zebras and other grazers makes it way up from the Serengeti in Tanzania into the Masai Mara in Kenya from July until November. To witness this phenomenal natural spectacle is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.
Kenya is a really amazing place for enjoying a wide range of safari activities because of it's hugely diverse landscapes of lakelands, valleys, desert, mountain highlands and great big rivers. Riding, boating, camel treks, flying safaris, quad biking, night drives and walking safaris are just a few adventures which can be enjoyed without crossing the borders at all.
Elephant conservation in Kenya is huge with the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust - because Kenya is at the forefront of African safari tourism, you can be certain that by choosing Kenya you are also protecting the wildlife which you are paying to see.
One feature where Kenya excels is the wonderful private homesteads and smaller game ranches scattered throughout Laikipia and the north, where clients can fish, ride, paint, relax and soak up the east African panorama. The homestead experience is unique to Kenya.
After a safari it is always important to relax and recuperate before your flight home, and Kenya is one of those fantastic East African countries which has a vast coast of white beaches and glittering waters... Not to mention a bit of much needed sunshine! You do not have to endure long, uncomfortable flights as the best beaches are only a short hop away. For those of you wishing to dodge the crowds, also a short hop away is Tanzanian islands such as Zanzibar, and a few private island options which we also highly recommend.
The price of a safari lodge generally includes park fees, which go towards conservation and protection, as well as all of your safari activities – game drives, walking safaris and boating safaris to name but a few. All of these are done with skilled and knowledgeable guides.
Lodges range from around USD $400 per person per night for a superb safari in the heart of the action, in very comfortable but fairly basic accommodation, all the way up to just shy of $2,500 for some of the incredibly opulent Mara lodges. When looking at the trip as a whole, including the logistical costs, a week long trip combining a couple of safari areas can range anywhere from USD $3,500 all the way up to $12,000.
Introducing Odyssey Explorer
Welcome to our new itinerary-building app! Odyssey Explorer allows you to browse a range of popular itinerary templates and tailor them to suit your budget and tastes. Once you are happy with your route template, Odyssey Explorer gives you the freedom to select and change your accommodation in each destination. It is an excellent tool for you to get an instant price for your dream trip before you work with a Tanzania expert to fine-tune it and make it into a reality.
As with all of East Africa, there are only two seasons – dry and rainy. The peak of dry season is from July to October and by most this is regarded as the best time, it is certainly when game is at its most prevalent and when the Great Wildebeest Migration is pushing into the Masai Mara on their annual journey.
However, November through to March can be an amazing time too, there are some short rains in November so the landscapes turn from dusty brown to a beautiful green, the Laikipia area in particular flourishes at the beginning of the year. Bear in mind that travelling outside of peak season can be both cheaper and far less busy – meaning you have some of these incredible wildernesses to yourself! All months are mainly nice and sunny apart from April and May when the long rains appear. June is another great month to travel.
It is not all about the Masai Mara! Although definitely a major part of any Kenya safari, the rest of the country has so much to offer too.
Avoid the busy game reserves and look at staying in some of the quieter conservancies. Here you can have a truly wild safari year round!
Look at combining at least a couple of areas, not only do you get a more varied experience, you can also benefit from some great ‘combo’ deals if you choose the right camps.
Avoid the big hotels. The bustle of a 60 room hotel in the middle of a National Park can ruin your wilderness experience.
Think about bookending your safari with some time at the beach – East Africa is blessed with some spectacular coast as well as the wildlife.
Ed and his colleagues were incredibly patient and knowledgable creating the perfect safari trip to Kenya and Tanzania this October, if I travel to Africa again I will certainly use them again. Highly recommended!
A perfect knowledge of how this vast and wounderful country should be exlored, with the kind of indepth experience you value as an experienced traveller!
All arrangements went as planned on our incredible Kenya safari and the advice we received prior to the trip was most helpful. We saw so many big cats we couldn’t believe it.
These guys are the real deal. We had never been to Africa, and they made sure that our trip was seamless and exactly what we were looking for. I cannot wait to travel with them again. Five stats squarely deserved.
We really enjoy our first experience with Africa Odyssey, given that we are experienced african travelers but with another company we were a bit nervous of the outcome with African Odyssey. But I must admit that everything went smoothly and that we had a wonderful time!!
