Steps to take to book a safari in Kenya

To book a Kenya safari, you must know your interest, as Kenya has a lot on the safari plate. Kenya is famous for its game safaris, especially the great wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Although this is a periodic event that may happen normally between July and September, it is the highlight of game safaris in Kenya.

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Hiking the mountain of Kenya is exceptional; it is a block that stands alone and offers a stunning view of its surroundings. You need advance booking for mountaineering on Mountain Kenya so that all necessary arrangements can be made in advance. Mountaineering Mountain Kenya is not a walk-in and Kenya safari activity.

The sparkling look of the Kenyan coastline and its unique activities is heart-melting. While on the Mombasa coast, you may engage in water activities like scuba diving, Kayaking, ship and boat cruising, snorkeling, sunbathing at the beaches, sports fishing, and visiting the coral reef park at Kisite Marine National Park.

Birding while on Kenyan safari is exceptional, offering you the chance to spot unique bird species like the lesser flamingos of Lake Nakuru that shade its shoreline pink. 

The Masai culture is unique in Kenya, and it is worth visiting the Masai homesteads to know more about the running of their day-to-day lives. Although modernization is overpowering most African cultures, the Masai are conservative with their lives amidst all this.

Most Kenya safari destinations are under the management and supervision of the Kenya Wildlife Service set in 1990. Its body has the mandate to conserve wildlife and wilderness management in Kenya

How to Book Kenya Safari Step By Step.

Step 1: Select Kenya Safari activities

Game safaris in Kenya are critical activities for most visitors, but you need to select which destination you wish to visit. Some Kenya game safari destinations include Masai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park, Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, and Shimba Hills National Reserve.

You need to pay park entrance fees before entering the Kenyan National Park. This is one way to support the conservation of Kenya's national parks and continue with park maintenance. You can also engage in balloon safaris while on a Kenyan safari.

For a marine safari experience in Kenya, you may visit the Kisite Marine National Park, with over 45 varieties of coral, which provides a chance for dolphin watching, schools of bonito and frigate mackerel, freshwater porpoises close to Shimon, and much more. Rent a home from the absentee land loads of Lamu to spend a holiday by the beachside.

Birding safari in Kenya, where you may have a chance to see flocks of birds along the shores of different lakes like Lake Elmentaita, which is often flocked by Pelicans, Lake Nakuru with thousands of lesser flamingos, and much more. According to ornithologists, Kenya has recorded over 1000 bird species, and the list keeps growing as more discoveries are happening.

Masai cultural tour in Kenya, where you spend time with the Masai locals stuck with their culture. They are cattle keepers, and this is the main economic activity. The women are the homekeepers and do most of the housework, including building the Manyattas.  

When you engage in the walking safari in Kenya, you are escorted by the Masai as the ranger guides. You get to meet the people and appreciate the nature of the wilderness. It is very exciting to walk in the countryside and immerse yourself in the daily life of the local people.

Visit the Nairobi National Museum with antiquities of Kenyan History. This Museum was set up in 1910 by East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society to preserve and store collections and specimens of naturalists and colonial settlers. The children have the snake park where they can see cobras, mambas, huge Nile crocodiles, paleobotany, and others. A history of Kenya may be seen in this Nairobi National Museum.

Step2 Book Accommodation of The Kenya Safari Destinations 

Booking accommodation to use while on Kenya safaris is very important as where you sleep contributes to the overall feeling after the safari. If you are destined to visit Kenya in the peak season, reserve accommodation in advance. The peak tourism season in Kenya is normally June, July, August, September, and December. 

If you are looking for the great wildebeest migration experience, you need to reserve accommodation in Masai Mara National Reserve or on the outskirts of this park. Normally, many accommodation bookings of all categories range from upmarket facilities to mid-range to basic facilities.

To feel comfortable while on safari in the wilderness of Kenya, you need to book accommodation in advance according to the destinations you visit.

Step 3: Book Transport to use on Kenya safari

While in Kenya, you can get around various safari destinations by the available means. Road transport is the means of transport used to get around Kenya to the safari destinations. You need to hire a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition driven by an experienced driver guide. The terrain in some game parks is rough and dusty during the very hot weather, so you need a vehicle in good condition that can withstand the weather.

Air transport to different Kenya safari destinations and charter flight services are available on domestic scheduled flights. You need to book your seat on the scheduled flight in advance to avoid last-minute disappointments. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can help you book flights to the various Kenya safari destinations you choose.

Rail transport to the Kenyan destination is picking the interests of travelers and is another means to consider while on safari in Kenya.

Water transport while on a Kenyan safari is available, too, especially for activities on the coast. You need to hire a boat to get you to the various safari destinations of Kenya, like the Kisite Marine National Park.

Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris for transport and other logistics booking during the Kenya safari. 

Step 4: Book Kenyan Visa

Those who must have a visa before visiting Kenya must apply for one in advance. You can use the online Kenyan visa booking platform or visit the Kenyan consular in your country. You can use the assistance of your travel agency to find out if people from your country need a Kenyan visa. You can book a tourist visa, business visa, and other types of visa arrangements available in Kenya.

You can book the East African tourist visa if you are traveling to Uganda or Rwanda and need a visa for either country. This allows you entry into these three countries without having to re-apply for a visa.

Although you can obtain a visa at immigration in Kenya, there is a lot of time wasted on arrival, which may sabotage the starting time of your Kenya safari. It is best to apply for your Kenyan visa before the safari starts.

When is the best time to book a Kenyan Safari?

The best time to visit Kenya is when you are ready because the country is open for all activities all year. The dry season, however, is the most preferred in June, July, August, September, December, and January. The tracks in the National Parks are passable, and animals can easily be spotted with the low level of grass in the game parks.

During the game drive in Kenyan destinations, you may spot animals like leopards, cheetahs, lions, herds of elephants, black rhinos, waterbucks, bushbucks, elands, impalas, zebras, wildebeests, hartebeest, hyenas and so many others. Although not all these animals are common to all Kenya's national parks, some are specialized to certain national parks.

As for the low Kenya tourism season, which is March, April, May, and November, there are fewer safari bookings to the Kenya destinations. Suppose you are searching for exclusivity with less disturbance from other safari vehicles on the tracks of the game parks in Kenya. In that case, this is the best opportunity to take advantage of.

Many infants are born in the low season because the grass is higher to protect them from possible predators. In case you are interested in watching new births, the low season is the perfect season for you to encounter this uncommon occurrence.

A variety of accommodations are available to you during the low-season Kenyan safari, and in case you wish for an upgrade at a fair price, this may be your perfect Kenyan safari booking time. Some safari service provider may lower their costs to break even during the low season.

How safe is Kenya for a safari?

Kenya is safe for safaris because there are trained ranger guides from the Kenya Wildlife Service. They are there to protect the wild animals, habitat, and visitors. They work closely with other Kenya security organs to keep law and order in and around the safari destinations. 

While on safari in Kenya, you need to pay attention to the rules of this adventure, like no stepping out of your vehicle while on a game drive, hooting at the wild animals that may throw them into a rampage, no stepping out for shot calls, and much more.

As a tourist, you must protect yourself from petty thieves while on the streets in the town centers of Kenya, keep away your precious jewelry, and never count large sums of money in the public eye.

Drive within the advised speed limits per the Kenya Wildlife Services while on a game drive to avoid knocking down animals. 

What is the Return Time From Game Drive in Kenya

Return time from a game drive in Kenya varies with the time you start the drive and destination. It is best to start the game drive in Kenya early in the morning when the early risers have energy from their night hideouts to go to their feeding locations, and nocturnals return home for the day. The late evening is perfect timing for safaris in most Kenya safari destinations.

Locating the wild animals in Kenya depends on factors like the weather conditions of the day, level of the grass, presence of predators for the herbivores, and much more. You need to carry a pair of binoculars to get a clearer view of the drama in the wilderness.

When you locate the wild animals, keep your engines low and avoid noise making because this may scare away these animals, so other tourists may not have a chance to see them.

Depending on what you wish to see, you can take as much time in the wild as you want as long as you return for lunch and toilet breaks. Remember to carry enough water to rehydrate from the scorching sun.

What is the Packing list for Kenya Safari?

• Safari shoes, especially if you have to walk as the ground is sometimes very hot, and your feet must be protected from the rough surfaces in the wilderness.
• Insect repellant to keep away biting insects that may cross your way like tsetse flies
• Safari hat or cap to protect your head from the dust and buzzing insects
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from buzzing insects.
• Some warmers because most safari destinations in Kenya experience cold conditions in the early morning and late afternoon.
• Safari wears in colors that are wilderness-friendly in colors like khaki, tan, and others. Avoid using colors that can attract stinging insects, like blue, black, and white.
• Extra batteries are fully charged to exchange in case your one runs low.
• Duffel bag so that you can carry your belongings in case you have to help yourself.
• Some cash for on-ground purchases, such as credit cards, are not easy to use in Africa because of the lengthy process of collecting money from them.
• Snacks to munch on during safari in case you get hungry.
•  A camera to keep memorable moments while on safari in Kenya.

Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris to plan your Kenya Safari today.