​​Safari in Kenya - Where to go and what to do. The Yes and No at at a safari

Info's and travel advice for safaris in Kenya... Recommended, before traveling to Kenya: Malaria prophylaxis and yellow fever. 

​Please NOTE the  Dawn - to - Dusk Rule:
This dawn-to-dusk rule is followed in places such as National Parks and Game Reserves, where no game drives are allowed after dusk. 

​​Safari holidays are an increasingly popular holiday activity. They involve the primary goal of watching wild animals in their natural habitat.

Safari in Kenya - Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

​What is the meaning of a "Safari"; A safari is an overland journey.
Safari may also refer to: Safari park, a drive-through animal park also Safari Park, usually located within one of the National Parks of Kenya.
As pro tip, a safari is always recommended as a guided sightseeing tour, due safety reasons.

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​Remember, that Kenya is full of wildlife!
Not just large predator animals, but also reptiles, snakes, some scorpions and spiders.

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​Safaris in Kenya are exciting and exploring : Incredible wildlife, unique landscapes with warm and friendly people.

Kenya is one of the most visited countries of Africa. Image by Emilian Danaila from Pixabay

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Welcome to Kenya!

​And we can assure you, it does not matter how many wildlife documentaries you may have watched, nothing prepares you for the real sightseeing safari.

Going On A Journey

In Swahili, the everyday language of East Africa, the word itself translates as “going on a journey”.

Nowhere are animals so visible as on the high plains of the Maasai Mara and Serengeti of Kenya and Tanzania.

​Maasai Mara National Reserve is a large game reserve in Narok County, Kenya, (Rift Valley Province) contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Mara Region, Tanzania. 

​A single-entry tourist visa for Kenya costs around £30

​Can`t wait to go on Safari? Well, it takes only about eight hours to fly directly from London to Nairobi. Catching an overnight flight from Heathrow you could transfer to a light aircraft next morning, and be on your way in the bush in time for brunch. The visa is alid for three months from the day of entry and can be obtained when going through customs at Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi. Such arrangements are possible in Nairobi, because Kenya’s safari industry is backed up by an efficient tourist infrastructure with a amazing choice of camps and lodges to suit all budgets. Kenya is, after all the country, where modern safaris were invented back in the Twenties.

But travelling by road helps keep the cost down and is a good way of seeing more of the great African landscape, people and wildlife.

April and May

When not to go: April and May are best avoided, as this is the climax time of East Africa’s rainy season, when bush roads become impassable and camps close down.

Massai Mara National Reserve

​Kenya’s most popular safari destination is the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The filming location the BBC’s Big Cat Diary, and there is nowhere better for close encounters with lions, cheetahs and leopards. Recommended travel time between July and October, as you will see the wildebeest migration, the greatest wildlife show on earth, when the herds spend the dry season crossing and recrossing the Mara River in their search for fresh grazing. 

​Very different are the dry country parks of northern Kenya. Samburu is renowned for elephants, Meru was the home of Elsa, the Born Free lioness, and Lake Nakuru National Park is a showcase for flamingos and rhinos. Tsavo is so big it is split into two parks, Tsavo East and Tsavo West, and combines well with a trip to Kenya’s glorious Indian Ocean coast. Also well worth considering are Laikipia, Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills.

Important Health Advice

​Make sure your immunisations are up to date, specifically for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Diphtheria and Tetanus.

Malaria tropical and other Malaria types are widespread, so antimalarial tablets are essential, and immunisation against yellow fever is recommended.
An insect repellent containing DEET will help keep mosquitoes at bay. Don`t walk around in short shirts and trousers! Go for lightweight cottons, long trousers and shirts with long sleeves to protect against thorns and insect bites. ​Drink only bottled water, which is available at all camps and lodges.

Never wear white, and avoid bright colours. Instead, be a chameleon and blend into the landscape with animal-friendly greens and khakis. Never dress in camouflage clothing (associated with the military) or anything black or blue (both colours are known to attract tsetse flies).

Important Safety Advice

1. ​Always listen to your tour guide. 
2. Zip up your tent and never take food into it. 
3. When out on a game drive, remember that animals are used to vehicles; but don’t be noisy or make sudden movements. 
4. Stay inside the vehicle (ask your driver or guide if you need to make a “bush stop”). 
5. Don’t sit on the roof. It’s not cool – it’s stupid. 
6. Watch out for thorns and overhanging branches when driving. 
7. If you’re on foot, don’t run. Only prey animals run! 
8. Don’t mess with baboons. 
9. Obey the safety rules in your camp or lodge. 
10. Don’t walk around at night and make sure you are escorted back to your tent or room after dinner.

Direct Flights

British Airways (0844 493 0787; britishairways.com) and Kenya Airways (0871 989 1198; kenya-airways.com) both fly non-stop from Heathrow to Nairobi in about eight hours. Flying overnight avoids the expense of a hotel. 

Recommended Travel Book

​Brian Jackman looks back over 40 years of travels in Africa in his book, Savannah Diaries. To buy a copy visit bradtguides.com 

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