What to expect on safari in Kenya

What to expect on Kenyan safaris starts from your interest, as Kenya has much to offer. Kenya's most famous safari event is the excellent Wildebeest migration from Serengeti in Tanzania into Masai Mara National Reserve. This Kenya safari adventure has a timeline and is not easy to plan for since its starting and end times are still assumptions. 

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The Marine life on the Kenyan coast is a hot spot for holidaymakers, especially during winter. You can spend your summer holiday by the beaches of Kenya in some of the homes or hotels close to the Indian Ocean. You can visit the coral reef park and watch amazing aquatic animals like dolphins.

The rich culture of the people of Kenya, especially the Masai, preserves their norms even with the influx of modernity. A visit to their homesteads leaves a lot to admire about their uniqueness. 

Kenya shares the glaciated mountain Kilimanjaro with its all-year-around snowcapped top. Even Mountain Kenya is snowcapped all year. The great Rift Valley arm in Kenya is scenic, with punctuations of Rift Valley lakes like Lake Nakuru, Lake Turkana, and others. 

For transport in Kenya, the country has three main international airports: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Moi International Airport in Mombasa, and Eldoret. Kenya also has a National flag carrier that operates various international destinations. Kenya also has a good network of domestic flight services to different destinations in this vast country.

Taxi services are also available for public transport, from the airport to the local taxis and bus services that go up the country.

In terms of weather, expect warm and humid temperatures in the coastal areas, cool and humid in the central highlands, and hot and dry in the northern and eastern parts of Kenya. The hottest temperatures in Kenya are in the arid North, east, and west of Lake Turkana, with over 34 degrees centigrade sometimes.

Kiswahiri is the commercial language spoken in Kenya, so you may learn a few words to blend in with the local people while on safari in Kenya.

Where Can You Expect to Go On Safari In Kenya?

Tsavo East and West National Parks

This is the oldest Kenyan National Park extending to the coast and is a biosphere reserve too. This park has a significant history in World War I as the German and British troops battled for supremacy here. Tsavo National Park is rich in flora and fauna.

While in this park on a game drive, you may spot lions, leopards, zebras, waterbucks, bushbucks, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, warthogs, and many other wild animals.

The long list of wildlife is awed to the various habitats like the bushy grasslands, open plains, semi-arid acacia scrub, woodland, green swathes, and much more.

Masai Mara national reserve

Masai Mara is the world-famous Kenya safari destination because of the mysterious great wildebeest migration. From July to September, many wild animals cross from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania via the Mara River into Masai Mara National Reserve. This animal exodus's starting and ending dates make it one of the world's natural wonders.

Apart from the season of the great wildebeest migration, Masai Mara National Reserve is a place to visit all year around. During the game drives in this park, you may encounter animals like lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, cape buffaloes, elephants, zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, hartebeests, warthogs and others.

Kisite Marine National Park

The Kisite Marine National Park of Kenya is located in shallow water at the southernmost point on the Kenya coastline. To get to this marine park, you can go by motorboat or boat from Shimon.

The coral reefs in this park are estimated to run 3 to 4 kilometers along the coast from Mpunguti Island to the coral island of Kisite.

During your visit to Kisite Marine National Park, you may spot dolphins, bonito Fri, gate Mackerel, and many others.

Amboseli National Park

This park may experience a semi-dessert environment but has a water collecting area resulting from the water that melts from Mountain Kilimanjaro and sips through the several rocks converging into two clear water springs.

During the extremely dry season, there is a shimmering dry lakebed where false mirages of populated horizons with herds of Zebras and wildebeest hover in front of visitors.

While on a game drive in Amboseli National Park, you may spot zebras, impalas, cape buffaloes, lions, bushbucks, waterbucks, hyenas, and leopards. In this park, you can also do walking safaris.

Lake Nakuru National Park

For the best flamingo experience in Kenya, Lake Nakuru has you covered, as you may spot lesser flamingos that turn the shoreline of this lake Pink. Other bird species are also attracted to the coastline of Lake Nakuru.

You can also do a game drive on Lake Nakuru National Park, where you may have a chance to spot impalas, reedbucks, dikdik, Klipspringer, bushbucks, waterbucks, black and white rhinos, elands, lions, leopards, herds of elephants and so many others.

Nairobi National Park

About a few kilometers from Nairobi city, about 7 kilometers, you get to Nairobi National Park. This park hosts over 100 mammal species. While on a game drive in this park, you may get a chance to see the black rhinos, wildebeest, warthogs, and others.

This is also a seasonal national park, but the Rhinos are permanent residents.

Meru National Park

Meru National Park boasts of its stunning beauty and diverse woodlands at about 3000 feet on the slopes of the Nyambeni Mountains. This park is watered by over 13 rivers and several mountains-fed streams. Its vast open plains are dotted by doum palms.

During the 1980s, Meru National Park was one of the poachers' prime areas, and so many wild animals were killed for trophies. While in this park, you may spot herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, and reedbucks. The list of bird species in this park is huge.

Samburu and Buffalo Spring National Park

Samburu and Buffalo Spring National Park comprise rounded and rugged hills and undulating plains. The mix of wood and grassland with riverine forest and swamp offer a home to various wild animals.

During a game drive in this national park, you may have a chance to spot grey'sgrey's zebras, herds of elephants, Oryx, Somali Ostriches, Reticulated Giraffes, and others.

Shimba Hill National Park

Shimba Hills National Park has a unique botanically rich coastal rainforest. While here, you can spot the Kenyan orchids. You can see the sable Antelopes with their handsome near-black coats and spectacular horns. While in the park, the best spot for seeing wildlife is in the flat grasslands close to Sheldrick's Sheldrick's Falls.

 Masai Cultural Visit

The Masai's unique culture makes them stand out from all the people of Kenya. They are cattle keepers and live in homesteads in Manyattas. They have held onto their cultural norms for a long time and are unafraid to share their secrets with visitors.

You may be engaged in their traditional dance and allowed to wear some of their renowned attires. Beadwork is one of their best artworks, as they can make shoes, bags, dog tags, and much more. You can purchase these as souvenirs. This is one of the ways of supporting their livelihood.

When is the best time to go on a safari in Kenya?

Kenya is open for a safari anytime, but the most desired season is the great wildebeest migration time. This season usually hits its peak during July, August, and September.

Kenya's peak safari tourism season is around the same time: June, July, August, September, December, and January. Demand for Kenyan safaris to almost every National park or coastline is high.

This season, the availability of accommodation to book is on high completion both in the town or city center and within the safari destinations. If you hope to travel for a Kenyan safari in this period, make your accommodation reservation in advance to avoid last-minute inconvenience when the best options are overbooked.

The low Kenya safari season is usually March, April, May, and November, but if you are yearning for some quiet and exclusive treatment while on safari, you may use this opportunity. Sometimes, you may have the lodge to yourself and the lodge staff, so all the attention is pointed to your presence. You can take the best photos if you want, with no obstruction from other tourists.

Is Kenya safe for a safari?

Kenya is safe for safaris as the Kenya Wildlife Service has well-trained ranger guides to protect the wild animals, their habitat, and visitors. They coordinate with the other Kenya security agencies to give tourists the security need.

While walking in the streets of Kenya, do not walk around with your precious items like jewelry or large sums of money because you may attract the wrong company.

Don't get out of your safari vehicle while on safari because you may make a good meal for the carnivores in the wilderness.

Children must always be under your watch while in the safari parks of Kenya so that they are not lost or eaten by wild animals.

How sure can I be to see animals while on safari in Kenya?

During the game drives, there is a probability of seeing certain animals. This vast wilderness is where wild animals are not choreographed to be in front of humans. These animals live their free life, so take every moment on safari as it comes.

We advise clients to have an open mind while on safaris. Do not focus on spotting particular animals, as the wild is open, and you cannot go off track just to see the animal you wish to find. The Kenya National Parks have a variety of animals you can spot. Enrich your Kenya safari experience by being open-minded and not limiting your scope of what to see.

Ensure you get up early for a game drive in the game parks of Kenya, as this may offer you better chances of spotting animals as they emerge from their night hideouts to go to their feeding locations.

What are the Guidelines for a safari in Kenya?

The Kenya Wildlife Service aims to preserve and protect wildlife and their habitats. During the safari in Kenya, you must follow the guidelines given.

• Honor the speed limit while on game drive in the Kenya National game parks to prevent animal and tourist accidents. Driving off track is not accepted unless with permission from Kenya Wildlife Service.
• Never disturb the wild animals by hooting at them as you may cause them to run away, yet other tourists would like to have some moments with them just like you have. When you find them crossing, stop and wait for them. Some may charge at you when you sound the vehicle horn, which is dangerous.
• Don't come with dogs or other pets into the park as chances of getting an infection from the wild animals or the pet may happen, which is quite dangerous to conservation.
• Keep all your litter in your car like plastic wraps, as these alter the nature of the environment where these animals thrive.
• Carrying ammunition in the park is not acceptable because you may be triggered to use it and kill the wild animals or anyone in your company.
• Never pick flowers or trample on the vegetation in the parks, as you destroy the environment where animals thrive. Don't pack anything from the park, but just take pictures while on safari and leave them on the vehicle tire prints.
• Retain all official verification receipts at exit so you are not inconvenienced. 
• All the park gates are open from 0700 hrs to 1900 hours.

Contact us to plan your Kenya Safari today.