9 EASY STEPS TO PLAN A SAFARI IN KENYA

From the Swahili safari means journey and it’s quite the journey since the moment you start planning to the moment you get to see the animals in their natural habitat.

As you probably noted from my safari stories, I loved my safari in Kenya and truly believe that I will come back. Getting to see the wildest animals during the rush of adrenaline of the game drives was out of this world!

So, throughout the next steps I ‘m hoping to give you some tips on how to plan your own safari in Kenya.

STEP 1: IS A SAFARI FOR ME?

If you are thinking to go on a safari you should think in first place if this is an activity you would like. The days go around spotting the animals and a safari is nothing like going to the zoo. Sometimes you see the animals, sometimes you don’t.

The wildlife is unpredictable: you can see them matting, feeding and if you get shocked with a lion eating a zebra, think that you are the one that went there to see them in their natural habitat and they are just doing what it’s in their nature.

Also, keep in mind that the days are long, sometimes waking up at 04:00 am and going to sleep later in the night, with constant drives around bumpy “roads” and dust.

STEP 2: WHEN TO GO?

You will find most advice on ‘when to go’ is during the dry season, which corresponds to December to March, the region’s summer. But nothing stops you from going during the winter time, which goes from June to September.

From what I have asked to the locals it’s pretty much dry for most year, but obviously, it’s hotter during the summer time.

Another thing you may consider important is things like the Great Migration between July and October where millions of animals go from Serengeti, Tanzania to Maasai Mara, Kenya.

STEP 3: WHAT TYPE OF SAFARI – BUDGET OR LUXURY?

It’s up to you what you want and how much money you want to spend. Unless you actually want to spend a lot of time in the camp/lodge or you are celebrating something special you really don’t need much luxury.

From my 6 day safari I can tell you that I spend only one afternoon in camp and that was on the last day.

[highlight]BUDGET SAFARI[/highlight]

You can either choose to do raw camping, where you will have a movable tent with sleeping beds and cook for yourself or you can choose to be in a fixed tent with a bed on a lodge where meals will be cooked for you.

Either option, expect to have no internet, only some hours of the day with electricity and most probably cold showers. The game drives will be in a group.

[highlight]LUXURY SAFARI[/highlight]

You can expect pretty much everything from this. From stylish tents, spa treatments, gourmet meals, free laundry, air-conditioned and 24hours internet. Some of this super luxury lodges can reach 1000$ per night or more!

Normally the game drives are private with just the guide and you in the car and even getting a plane from park to park.

STEP 4: DEFINE YOUR BUDGET

If you are thinking that a safari will be too expensive, like I did before, forget that! This experience can be for everyone’s budget, you just have to define how much you can spend and then find something that fits the budget.

Usually when you book a safari, everything will be included, such as meals, game drives, transportation from place to place, accommodation and sometimes extra snacks.

For my 6 day safari going to 3 different parks I have paid US$ 1050 and I only spend extra money to visit the Maasai Mara village (US$ 10) plus some snacks (US$ 20) (you can buy these in advance to save some money).

STEP 5: CHOOSING A TOUR COMPANY

This is probably the most important step of all and will involve some hours of research.

[highlight]WHAT TO SEE[/highlight] 

Before you search for tour companies, do a little bit of research about the parks and reserves that these companies are offering. Two important things you should know:

• A national park is used for conservation purposes and owned by the state. In these parks you are not allowed to get off the road and the vehicle must be on the defined road at all times.
• A game reserve it’s a place where the ecosystems are protected. In these reserves you are allowed to drive off road to get closer to the animals which sometimes can make the all experience very different than just see the animals on a distance.

[highlight]READ THE REVIEWS[/highlight] 

I read the reviews (mostly on TripAdvisor) from dozens of companies. Then selected a few with the best reviews and value for money and checked their websites looking into their packages and offers. I was able to eliminate some after this.

[highlight]COMPARE COSTS[/highlight] 

After selecting about 10 companies I emailed them with my budget and what I wanted to see. For example I email them saying: ‘I want to do a safari, 6 to 7 days and go to Maasai Mara and Amboseli’ and also gave details about the type of accommodation saying that I wanted at least in one of the parks stay in a basic tent.

With their answers I was able to pick Flash Mctours as our safari company. They were flexible on what we wanted and Peter from the company sort of created an itinerary according to our wishes.

Our guides from Flash Mctours were incredible and had great knowledge on the parks and the animals.

Lawrence was our guide in Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru and he knew exactly how to spot each different animal. He would see a tree and know that a leopard would be sleeping there. He was also very quick to drive to new spots and would share with other drivers by radio the location of where we saw the animals, which I thought it was very kind.

Edward was our second guide for Amboseli and he was also very willing to go with our wishes to focus on certain animals. Without their knowledge I probably hadn’t learn half about the animals and their routines and that is also part of the safari experience.

[highlight]THE ACCOMMODATIONS[/highlight] 

When deciding for which company to go, please go and research their accommodations. Keep in mind that sometimes what is too cheap may be very disappointing. When checking some of the accommodation’s suggested by one of the companies we found by the reviews that they were very low hygiene standards.

My experiences were good and exactly what we wanted. We started off in Lenchada Tourist Camp, Maasai Maraa, in a basic tented camp like we wanted and then move on to Kibo Safari Camp a bit more resort look alike but still with fixed tents.

STEP 6: STAYING HEALTHY

Visit the Travel clinic in your area, they normally advice you on what you should do, depending on the area you are travelling to. When it comes to take vaccines, keep in mind that many take several weeks to provide full protection, so don’t make this last minute.

[highlight]MANDATORY VACCINES[/highlight] Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A

[highlight]OPTIONAL VACCINES[/highlight] Tetanus and Typhoid

[highlight]OPTIONAL PROTECTION[/highlight] Anti-malaria tablets

[highlight]RECOMMENDED MOSQUITO REPELLENT[/highlight] IRF 4 and 50% DEET

STEP 7: VISAS

Apply for a visa at least one-two months before you go at http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html

The single visa to entry in Kenya costs $ 50. If you are planning to continue your travels you can apply for the East African Visa, which allows you to entry in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda with one single payment of 100$.

STEP 8: PACKING FOR A SAFARI

Packing for a safari is probably the easiest ever! Just use simple clothes and overall you don’t need too much, even things like make-up or accessories you can just take the most basic. Read more here.

STEP 9: BASIC VOCABULARY BEFORE YOU GO

GAME The wild animals you will see on the safari.

GAME DRIVE Activity of driving in a vehicle looking for the animals.

WALKING SAFARI A safari on foot where you will see more the vegetation’s and small animals. Usually the guide will decide if it’s safe and where to do this.

THE BIG 5  A term used for the main 5 predators – Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Elephant and Rhino.

GREETINGS IN SWAHILI

Hello – Jambo

Welcome – Karibu

Goodbye – Kwaheri

My name is – Jina langu

 

ANIMALS NAMES IN SWAHILI

Lion – Simba

Rhino – Vifaru

Hippo – Kiboko

Leopard – Chui

Cheetah – Duma

Giraffe – Twiga

Hyena – Fisi

Buffalo – Nyati

Elephant – Tembo

 

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Have you done a safari or have plans to? Tell me your experiences and plans!

 

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