ON SAFARI
- Kenya
Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park
The Aberdare National Park is perhaps most famous for the so-called ‘tree lodges’ of which Treetops is the best known. The park encompasses the Aberdare range of mountains which form the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley and rise to a height of over 13,000ft. Safaris take place on the eastern slopes (the Rift side is far too rugged for extensive travel). The lower slopes of montane forest has one of the densest concentrations of wildlife found anywhere in Kenya, whilst the beautiful Afro-alpine moorland above 10,000 feet is reminiscent of Scotland with rolling heather, giant lobelia, groundsel and wild flowers, waterfalls and trout streams. The overnight ‘tree lodges’ are popular with minivan tours, and although there is a limited choice of accommodation, the park deserves more time to explore it to its full extent. Forest denizens include giant forest hog, bushpig, sykes and black colobus monkey, and perhaps even the rare bongo antelope which was once fairly common.
For further information on holidays to the Aberdare safari region please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari experts.
- Kenya
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park
Just 180kms south-east from Nairobi, and with Mount Kilimanjaro as the impressive scenic back drop, Amboseli is one of Kenya’s best known parks and offers superb game-viewing, especially for elephant which have been studied here for many years by people such as Cynthia Moss.
Lying at an altitude of nearly 4,000’ at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, the terrain in Amboseli consists mainly of scrub and fragile saline grass as the dry, volcanic ash will support little more. There are a few patches of acacia woodland, whilst the melting snows of Kilimanjaro feed rivers and springs which in turn supply water to Amboseli’s swamps and the (seasonal) lake. The mountain makes a scenic backdrop for photographing the variety of animals that are seen here. The Maasai people are also very much a part of life in Amboseli and they are often seen grazing their cattle on the community lands which surround the park. Some of these community lands have developed into conservancies, and whilst wildlife numbers are still growing, they do offer a more exclusive Amboseli safari away from the busier core areas of the park itself.
For further information on Amboseli safaris and surrounding areas please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our friendly safari specialists.
- Kenya
The Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley
Running from north to south through the heart of Kenya, the Great Rift Valley is most famous for the alkaline and fresh water lakes which are found along its length at various intervals – Turkana in the north, followed by Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru, Elmentaita, Naivasha to Natron on the border with Tanzania.
The alkaline lakes such as Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Elmentaita and Lake Natron are rich in blue-green algae which attracts vast flocks of greater and lesser flamingos, whilst the less alkaline lakes Baringo and Turkana are home to populations of hippo and crocodile, and together with Lake Naivasha (fresh water) a wide range of water birds. The two lakes most commonly visited are Nakuru and Naivasha.
Lake Naivasha is the highest of the lakes, at 6000’ above sea level, and although surrounded by volcanic mountains, the lake is fresh water. It covers an area of around 115 sq.kms., and is one of the most picturesque in Africa. More than 300 species of birds can be seen. To the south of the lake lies the dormant volcano, Longonot (which can be climbed), and Hell’s Gate Gorge National Park, whilst to the west, numerous, infrequently visited, smaller crater lakes can be found. On the south shore of the lake is Elsamere, Joy Adamson’s former home and now a Conservation Centre. Naivasha is the centre of the Kenyan cut-flower industry.
Of all the Great Rift Valley Lakes, the 200 sq. km. Nakuru National Park is most associated with traditional big game-viewing. The lakeshore and surrounding acacia woodland is a sanctuary for wildlife, especially both black and white rhino, and the rare Rothschild giraffe. However, the park is perhaps best known for the pink sheen which covers the lake – the flamingo population. Whilst Lake Nakuru is a beautiful park with great game-viewing, its location (proximity to Nairobi and on the main route for safaris visiting both the north and Masai Mara) and small size does lay it open to being busy and over-crowded.
For further information on safaris to the Great Rift Valley and surrounding areas please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari experts.
- Kenya
The Mathews Range
The Mathews Range
Northern Kenya is dominated by arid desert and it is therefore quite a surprise to find lush riverine valleys and thick forested slopes in the heart of it all, but the Mathews Range is just that. Careful management of certain areas at the southern end of the range has created a huge growth in animal numbers, especially the elephants which have previously been victims of poaching. A visit to the Mathews Range should not be about game-viewing alone (except possibly the elephants), but rather more about the wilderness, scenery, exclusivity, walking and cultural interaction that can be enjoyed (including the famous ‘singing wells’). When people claim Kenya is ‘over-crowded’ with tourists, they clearly do not know about places such as the wonderful Namunyak Conservancy in the Mathews.
For further information and advice on safaris in the Mathews Range please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari experts.
- Kenya
Tsavo National Park(s)
Tsavo National Park(s)
The combined East and West sides (bisected by the main Nairobi to Mombasa road) of Tsavo create a huge wilderness area which has high concentrations of game. Generally, Tsavo West (and the adjacent Taita Hills area) does tend to attract large numbers of visitors travelling by minivan from the coastal resorts around Mombasa and Diani, and the area around Voi in Tsavo East is equally busy, but there are one or two properties and seasonal tented camps which offer a good safari experience. At present, the vast tract of Tsavo East north of the Galana River is closed to the public.
For further information on Tsavo safaris please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari experts.
- Kenya
Chyulu Hills
Chyulu Hills
The Chyulu’s are a beautiful range of hills lying to the north-east of Kilimanjaro. They are of volcanic origin, and at their base, several forested volcanic lava flows snake out across the surrounding plains to create a varied and interesting landscape. There are also a number of granite hills dotted across the plains which add further to the scenic experience. Although a little further away from Kilimanjaro, this region offers a far more exclusive alternative to Amboseli.
The game-viewing is not as guaranteed, but the scenery is stunning and the safari experience more personalised. The eastern side of the hills are gazetted as a National Park, whilst the western side comprises a Conservation area owned by a number of Maasai group ranches. It’s the latter which houses most of the safari options – excellent horse riding safaris through the hills and along the plains towards Kilimanjaro are complimented by a couple of lodges offering game drives (night and day) and walks.
For further information on safaris in the Chyulu Hills please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari experts.
- Kenya
Meru National Park
Meru National Park
Meru, together with the adjacent Bisanadi, Mwingi and Rahole national reserves and Kora National Park, lies to the north-east of Mount Kenya and covers a huge area (Meru itself is 870 sq.kms). The north-west of the park is significantly wetter and more hilly, whilst to the south-east the land flattens (the elevation varies from 1,500’ to 4,000’). The region consists of semi-arid savannah where the wildlife is found in scattered ‘pockets’ near the many swamps and nine watercourses. These occur mainly in the northern and western parts of the Park, forming lovely palm-fringed oases with clear streams.
There are five major vegetation types/habitats to be found in Meru and this accounts for the wide variety of animals and birds to be seen, including species found in the drier northern regions – reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, lesser kudu, Grevy’s zebra, and gerenuk.
Meru suffered terribly during the heavy poaching years of the 1980’s, and subsequently, has not been a major tourist destination for as long as other destinations in Kenya. The game-viewing is good, if a little unpredictable at times, but with very few camps or lodges, Meru does offer real exclusivity.
For further information on safaris to Meru National Park please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari experts.
- Kenya
The Laikipia Region including The Lewa Conservancy
The Laikipia Region
This huge tract of wilderness, running from Mount Kenya & Samburu in the east to the Great Rift Valley in the west, is made up of a variety of private ranches, game sanctuaries, rhino sanctuaries, wildlife orphanages and community lands. The diverse landscape is dominated by rugged hills, lava plateaus and rocky escarpments that give way to the semi-arid savannahs of the north.
Some areas offer first-class game-viewing, such as the Ol Pejeta and Lewa Downs conservancies, whilst others offer much more of a wilderness experience. The scenery is stunning throughout, and a Laikipia safari will generally offer very exclusive experiences and high levels of personal hosting.
One great asset to the region is the variety of activities available, and across the Laikipia it is possible to undertake camel safaris and walking trails, horse-riding safaris, general game-viewing by vehicle including night drives, lion and wild dog radio tracking, scenic helicopter flights, as well as coming into contact with local Maasai and Samburu peoples, and their community projects (the Il’Ngwesi and Tassia lodges are fine examples of tourism benefitting the local communities). The Laikipia is a perfect destination for a family safari holiday.
For more information on safaris in the Laikipia region please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari experts.
- Kenya
Accommodation
Accommodation options in Kenya
Kenya offers a very wide range of accommodation options. For the adventurous, there are well-organised but simple ‘fly-camping’ options, usually associated with walking or horse-riding safaris. At the luxury end of the market, there are various properties that offer very high levels of comfort, but the ‘wow’ factor in these places tends to come more from style, location and exclusivity, rather than the ‘technical’ luxury and sophistication on offer. Traditional luxury mobile safaris offer exclusivity and a taste of what exploratory safaris used to be like, but travelling in this manner tends now to be an expensive way to see the country, unless you have a reasonable size party.
Kenya is perhaps better known for offering superb hospitality, particularly in the many ‘bush homesteads’ and ‘seasonal tented camps’ scattered around the country, some of which are very intimate and can be booked on an exclusive basis for families or private groups. Exclusive brick/solid build safari lodges are found in limited areas, whilst a wide range of permanent tented lodges are available throughout the country, most notably in the Masai Mara, where can vary greatly in terms of size, style and comfort. Although we tend not to recommend the larger, more commercial properties, Kenya does offer a variety of mainstream safari hotels.
On the coast, the hotel options are equally varied, with a few very exclusive ‘beach retreats’ in remote, unspoilt settings, and a large number of more mainstream beach hotels in the more traditional beach centres. Private beach houses are widely available along the coast and on Lamu.
Please find below a variety of individual properties and safari options available in Kenya, listed by accommodation style and where appropriate, by region. Simply click on the name to visit the property website. To learn more about the individual accommodation styles, please visit our ‘Accommodation on Safari’ section off our home page. Please contact us for up to date information and opinions on all properties, or for suggestions for your trip.
Fly-camping & Tented Camps
Tented Safari Camps
Tented Safari Camps
Tented Safari Lodges
Tented Safari Lodges
Tented Safari Lodges
Safari Lodges
Safari Lodges
Bush Homesteads
Community lodges
Private Safari Houses
Private Safari Houses
Beach Retreats
Beach Hotels
Beach Houses
- Kenya
Pricing
Kenya Prices
Traditionally, Kenya is one of the better value safari destinations in Africa, offering a wide variety of products and safari options to consider.
Typically, a tailor-made two week ‘safari and beach’ holiday from the UK will start at around £3000 per person, though £4000 – £5000 per person is more usual, especially if a week or more is spent on safari. If you travel in an upgrade class on an airline, spend longer on safari or choose exclusive, upmarket properties, costs can easily go upwards of £5000 per person.
Even though many safari options are expensive, we are always very conscious of ‘value for money’ and only use properties which deliver an experience to match their costs. It is perhaps ironic that in Africa, you probably have most chance of not getting ‘value for money’ by trying too hard to keep costs down. We appreciate that Africa is expensive and that the animals do not change according to the price tag of your holiday, but in a wide variety of ways, you do tend to get what you pay for.
Sometimes the cheaper options still offer a good experience and real value for money. However, it is also very common for poor quality safaris to be only slightly cheaper than good quality products which offer a vastly superior experience. A safari which offers value for money should not be confused with a cheap safari. Sometimes you need to pay just a little bit more to make all the difference.
If you are planning your first safari, we suggest you look at our Planning a Safari section. We do not offer mainstream package tours (minibus tours), coastal package tours or cheap camping trips.