Club Cult of Africa
SAFARI IN MASAI MARA, AMBOSELI, SAMBURU, RIFT VALLEY MOUNTAINS AND LAKE, MOMBASA BEACH REST, PRIVATE RESERVATIONS
TOURS TO KENYA -
SAFARI AND REST ON THE OCEAN
KENYA-TANZANIA JUNE-OCTOBERGREAT MIGRATION SAFARI
The migration of antelopes and zebras is a drama of life and death, lurking predators, happy rescues, this is the rumble of the hooves of a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras.
Ungulates make their circular cycle from Serengeti to Masai Mara and back, this cycle never stops.
The apogee is "Crossing" - this is the crossing of the river, when antelopes jump into the water in a single rush, where crocodiles and hippos are waiting for them.
On the shore, they become easy prey for lions. Hyenas and other predators flock to the feast.
They say migration is a great show of nature, which no screen of the world can convey - you must see it live, with your own eyes.
BREAKFAST WITH GIRAFFES
Would you like to have breakfast with giraffes? We will help. Click for more details and you will learn about how to get to the legendary hotel, how much it costs, how many days to go, and what you can combine with.
Wake up on your birthday and hug the giraffe that stuck its head right in your room window to greet you! Truly - this is indescribable emotions and pure delight! Yes, the hotel is not cheap, but the experience is worth it!
Expert help
Antonina
What`s Up +7 915 343-21-21
+7 495-281-53-57
travel@cultafrica.ru
Ask your questions Discuss your trip to Africa with one of our specialists
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HOW TO PLAN YOUR SAFARI TOUR AND HOLIDAY IN KENYA
Eyes run wild when you start planning your tour. In addition to the popular and promoted sites featured on many sites, there are many other places to visit in Kenya where there are no crowds of tourists. Private concessions, conservation projects, quirky hotels and excursions.
Based on our experience and the questions that clients most often ask us, we offer a small guide with useful information about parks, beaches, seasons, hotels, prices and of course tours in Kenya that you may like
Kenya is kind and helpful people.
The population of about 50 million is divided into 40 ethnic groups, each with its own language, cultural and religious traditions. For example, at one end of the country, while living in a hotel, among the staff you can meet a woman with roots from Oman, and on the other side you can meet a hotel manager whose great-grandfather was from Punjab (he emigrated to build the legendary railway from Nairobi to Mombasa) ... In Kenya, you will surely meet the most famous ethno - the Maasai, who grow in villages where they still use just a wooden stick to protect sheep from predators (although a special shape is very popular to take as souvenirs). The Masai are the most recognizable people of East Africa. Their colorful traditional dress makes them unmistakable. And today, in the 21st century, the Maasai still adhere to traditions, although now it is already becoming a brand that many travelers want to see
Kenya Animals Needs No Advertising
Kenya's animals don't need advertising, anyone who has watched The Lion King can easily imagine all the inhabitants. This is a megafauna from giraffes with hippos to millions of herds of ungulates that migrate every year. Kenyans love and cherish their nature and have lived in the neighborhood from time immemorial. Hunting in Kenya was banned 40 years ago.
The animals are already accustomed to and are not afraid of cars, in addition to the classic one you can go on a walking safari or horse tours. Most tourists choose tours to Kenya just for the safari to see animals.
Kenya has a large elephant population as well as a growing population of black rhinos. Chimpanzees and rare wild dogs can be seen in some reserves. And of course, Kenyan lions, leopards and cheetahs can be seen almost everywhere, from the park in the vicinity of Nairobi to the remote northern deserts.
Natural resources
A country of extraordinary diversity
The endless expanses of plain savannah, contrast with the hills, where tea and coffee plantations are spread. A necklace of Great Rift Rift lakes spills into the rocky deserts to the north. In the middle of the country, right at the equator, stands the second highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kenya. And in the south, we will find ourselves on the white beaches of Mombasa and Malindi, surrounded by palm trees, where the flavor of the thousand-year history of Swahili has been preserved to this day.
Kenya is versatile. If you want to understand it, try different tastes, include at least 4 different regions in your trip. Do not rush from one park to another too quickly, it is better to stay longer in each place and enjoy all the delights that it has to offer. Optimally 2-3 nights.
Tours, useful information
Masai Mara is Kenya's most famous and most visited nature reserve. First of all famous for the great migration and record number of Big Cats (lions, leopards, cheetahs). This park is definitely the one with the largest number of animals. But during the migration period, madness reads here. Thousands of tourists strive to see nature shows, hotels are becoming more expensive, with places it is difficult. This can only be avoided if you choose to live in private concessions surrounding Masai Mara, get everything the same, but without the crowd. It is worth noting that such a vacation is exclusive and costs more than classic lodges in the national park.
How many parks to include in a safari tour and how much time to spend in each?
Cape Town
Panorama Route Mpumalanga
Everyone has their own pace of travel, so everything is individual here. In our opinion, it is better to look at several places, but good than trying to capture everything and see out of the corner of your eye. From our experience, for the first trip from 3 to 7 days on a safari, this is optimal. You can start with one park, if you have time then turn on three or four. You will see all the animals, and you will not get too tired. Longer safari tours are suitable for those who really love animals, nature and intense movement.
If you don't like long journeys, flights are for you. They save a lot of time and are very beautiful in themselves, since mini-aircraft fly at low altitude and you can enjoy the views .
Safari starts early in the morning - everything is subject to the natural rhythms of animal activity. Each safari lasts about 3-3.5 hours. If a full day in the park, then you have a morning and evening safari. At lunchtime, rest in the lodge, during the day all animals are passive, you can take a refreshing dip in the pool, read a book on the terrace overlooking the hippos splashing in the river, or indulge in an afternoon nap.
Such safari days will constitute the active part of your trip, plus take into account the days of moving from one park to another, as a rule, these days safari is obtained only in the morning, the rest is the road, accommodation in a new place, rest.
Is a tour to Kenya expensive?
Getting to know the national parks and reserves of Kenya - it costs money, for example, just to enter and stay in Mesai Mara park one day you have to pay $ 80. An average day of a private safari will cost $ 500 per person (including entry to the park, car, guide, accommodation and three meals a day). On the ocean, it depends on the hotel and the season, you can find a room for $ 100 (we are not talking about guest houses and budget hotels for hippies, such clients rarely turn to the services of tour operators in Africa). If you travel in a group of 4 people, the savings are about one and a half times, that is, about $ 350 per person per safari day.
Add some adventure to your trip!
What is a truck?
In simple words, a truck is a hybrid of a powerful truck with a bus.
There are two types of track links. One for small groups, luxury class, maximum 12 people.
The second type accommodates 23 people.
When is the best time to travel to Kenya, seasons?
Weather
Kenya's weather is unpredictable, but there are usually two rainy seasons: "long rains" (April-May) and "short rains" (November-mid-December). The climate on the coast is more consistent and easier to predict. In the highlands, it rains every month, and drought in the north. Temperatures also vary greatly from region to region. On the ocean it is humid all year round, +28 degrees of air and water, in the shroud in summer the average temperature is + 24-28, in the morning and at night + 15. In winter, a couple of degrees lower. Still, Kenya is on the equator and there are no such drops and cold weather as in South Africa, Namibia or Botswana.
Seasons
Traditionally, the most popular months for a tour in Kenya are considered "dry" months from July to October (high season, which also coincides with the summer holidays, which means high prices) and from January to March. The reason is that during these months it is easier to find animals in sparse vegetation and near water sources. But true connoisseurs and photographers know that light is always better after rain, when dust is nailed to the ground, and the air is clear, the sky is clear, the animals are well-groomed and well-fed. In the spring months, there is also the period of birth of cubs, watching which is pure tenderness. Or the sun, beams through the dramatic rainy sky, shimmers with a palette of colors, and falls on the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro (in hot dry months, the peak is often hazy).
Also, the peak season is the period of Christmas and New Year's holidays, when prices reach their climax, and there is a battle for rooms in hotels.
From July to October, Kenya celebrates the most spectacular event in the animal kingdom: the migration of millions of wildebeests and zebras to Masai Mara.
You can go to Masai Mara in late September or October, when the main wave of tourists dies down and you can still catch the remaining migrating herds.
November and early December are a very good time for a tour to Kenya, the prices are the lowest, there are almost no tourists, the rains are not too heavy.
For beach holidays and diving, March and October are considered the best, the water in the ocean is the most transparent.
Amboseli National Park is the second most popular park in Kenya. Located 230 km from Nairobi on the border with Tanzania. One of the most picturesque in East Africa. We seem to know all about him from the BBC series, but the park behind the scenes is a continuous battle to preserve the fragile biosystem. Safari in Amboseli is an obligatory part of the tour to Kenya, after Masai Mara and Nakuru with Naivasha.
About 1500 elephants and about 50 lions live here, but there are more than 35000 Maasai and 2 million cows and sheep, whom they graze in the neighborhood. Previously, these lands were all owned by the Masai, but in 1974 the government decided to fence off these lands in an attempt to keep the growing population of Masai cows from overgrazing. Naturally, the Masai did not like this, since they lost their most fat lands. The Masai killed lions to protect cows and traditionally as a sign of becoming adults. In 1993, the park was closed due to a deplorable state. This helped the biosystem to recover. Elephants and lions are back.
The word Amboseli is translated from Swahili as "dusty place, flat place", and indeed here you can see small whirlpools. The park lies at the foot of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Groundwater comes to the surface in some places, forming swampy oases, a favorite resting place for elephants and buffaloes. The other part of the park is dominated by flat salt marshes and desert areas, where sometimes you can even see a real mirage. And the question arises: how do so many animals survive here. This park revives life, and legends about it spread far beyond its borders. Combines conveniently with Tsavo Park and safari tours in Tanzania.
East and West Tsavo Parks. The combination of these parks is the largest protected area in Kenya, occupying 4% of the entire country. There are any animals and birds that live in the "southern hemisphere of Kenya." The East and West parks are separated by the Nairobi-Mombasa railway, and their landscapes are strikingly different. East Tsavo is predominantly flat, with baobabs and large herds of elephants covered in red dust. The Western Park is dominated by forests mixed with plains, gorges and fields of solidified black lava. It is interesting to see the springs of Mzima, an oasis of crystal water surrounded by date palms. There is a bunker for watching hippos underwater. These parks are 4-5 hours drive from Nairobi or Mombasa. From Mombasa you can come here for a one-day safari, or spend 2-3 nights and get a classic African safari not far from the ocean. Best visited during dry months (January to March and June to October).
What do lodges and camps like on safaris look like, where to live there?
Tourism in Kenya is highly developed, with hotels and lodges of every level and budget. It is believed that the lodge was invented by Eric Walter, who built the treetop house in Aberdare in 1932. The cost of living usually includes three meals a day (full board, FB). Camps are an alternative to classic lodges. You get a personal tent with all the amenities. Here you will hear all the sounds of nature and will be closer to it, while all the amenities are in the room. These camps can be budget, crass or luxury.
There is usually a restaurant area, bar, library, swimming pool. Accommodation prices vary from $ 300 to $ 1,500 per night per person, including accommodation, three meals a day, two safaris per day (there may be other guests of the lodge in the car (on average 4-6 people), if you want individually, you can book a personal car with a guide from a lodge, the price is from 500 shares per day. In expensive lodges usually have their own safari cars and professional guides. Nairobi also has a huge selection of hotels for tourists and corporate tours to Kenya.
Hotel with giraffes, Hemingways, Tribe.
What to see
Panorama Route Mpumalanga
Cape Town
How to get around on safari, transport, flights?
Matatas - local minibuses carry the population on the main highways, but they will not take you to parks or reserves. Uber works in Nairobi, but be prepared for hellish traffic jams. Therefore, it is important to book transport and safari in advance. You can order a private safari with a personal safari guide and a car that will take you from park to park and on safari. If you do not like to spend a lot of time in the car on the crossings - a developed network of domestic mini-aviation works for you. Regular and charter flights are at your service. In both cases, we will help and suggest the best route and logistics.
What is Kenyan cuisine like?
Caution - delicious food! If you are traveling to Kenya on a safari, get ready to put on a couple of pounds, meals at the lodges full board or all inclusive. The menu is international. Theme nights such as African BBQ are regularly organized. Every hotel has a vegetarian section or à la carte buffet. In Nairobi, as a cosmopolitan city, you can find restaurants with any cuisine in the world from Mexican to Japanese. On the coast, under the influence of India and the Middle East, exotic Swahili cuisine has formed, where seafood, coconut, turmeric and other spices are mixed.
For the locals, the traditional breakfast is tea with milk, white bread, and for the wealthier, with eggs and sausages. The main dish of the day - ugali (ugali) corn porridge with meat or vegetable sauce (ideally with fried goat meat and vegetable salsa with chili), it is recommended to drink beer. This is a special traditional dish that any Kenyan associates with his home.
Is Kenya Mass Tourism?
There are no charters yet - the destination is not massive. But in the high season and for migration in Masai Mara, there are really a lot of cars and tourists. If you want to avoid the crowds, you should choose hotels in private concessions that do not allow other people's cars to enter their territory. Then you will get into the migration and avoid queues. It is not necessary to concentrate only on Masai Mara, there are other reserves where there are much fewer tourists, and the animals are the same (for example Laikipia, for more information on parks, see the section on safari and rarely visited reserves in Kenya). You can also choose a low season for travel, the tour will be cheaper, and there are fewer tourists.
What is a beach holiday in Kenya?
The coast of Kenya is considered one of the most beautiful, here you can relax, wash away the dust and fatigue after an intensive safari. 500 km of white beaches, palm trees, coral reef, always warm and calm ocean at your feet all year round (although if you want to enjoy the beach not only from the bar window, then choose the "dry" months for a tour to Kenya). The most popular are the southern beaches of Giani, Tiwi - here are the best hotels, turquoise water, the ebb and flow are not strongly felt. For lovers of fishing and diving, Malindi (north) and Watamu are suitable places. The beaches in Malindi are not so snow-white, but this is a paradise for lovers of antique furniture, rare fabrics and souvenir boutiques, if you have a free day, you can come here from Mombasa for an excursion. In addition to relaxing on the beach, you can find more active activities. Go on an excursion to the village, or the ruins of Gedi (13-17 century), or snorkel. Deep sea fishing and diving, surfing and much more are possible. The hotels also organize cultural and entertainment events, most have SPA.
Great Rift Valley Lakes (Nakuru, Naivasha, Elementaita, Bogoria, Baringo)
Aberdare National Park. Located 2.5 hours from Nairobi in the Aberare mountain range. Famous for its unique lodges on stilts overlooking the watering hole. One of them was visited by the royal family, it can be called historical. You don't even need to go on a safari, everything can be seen from specially equipped terraces. Here you can see different types of monkeys, including colobus. Elephants, buffaloes, countless antelopes come to the waterfall. Towards the night, the movement at the watering hole comes to life, predators and nocturnal inhabitants (dzhenets, hyenas and other inhabitants of the forest) come out. Most tourists stay at the lodge for one night and watch the animals, but if you add one more night, you can take a walk in the mountain forest of stunning beauty.
Kenya north of the equator
Samburu National Wildlife Refuge. The equator divides the land into the northern and southern hemispheres, and passes through Kenya. Samburu Nature Reserve is already in the northern part. The climate here is arid, which is immediately striking after the green hills of Amboseli or the fertile lands of the Kenyan highlands. The landscapes of Samburu are grand. The reserve stands on the Evas Nyiro River, and forms an oasis with shady forests. Here you can see rare endemic animals and they are called - Sambur Five. It includes heirlooms, reticulated giraffes, buckwheat zebras, Somali ostrich and baseus oryx. In addition, there is a large population of elephants, lions, cheetahs, if you are lucky you can see the leopard and wild African dogs. The atmosphere of the park is harmony and silence. Half of all tourists do not reach here, so there is no accumulation of cars and safaris more exclusive. 325 km from Nairobi, can be reached in 5 hours or fly on a regular flight. It is convenient to combine Mount Kenya, Ol Pageta with the parks, there are flights connecting Samburu with Masai Mara, allowing you to visit both parks without long trips. It is better to visit during the dry months (from January to March and from June to October).
Kenya National Park. The highest peak in Kenya (5199 m), and the second in all of Africa is located at the equator, covered with glaciers. It is an extinct volcano that, according to legends, is home to a deity of the local Kikuyi people.
For mountain trekking and climbing lovers, Mount Kenya is a great travel destination. Climbing requires inventory and basic skills, but there are not as many people here as on Kilimanjaro, and it costs less.
But if you are not a fan of mountain climbing, the park has beautiful lodges where you can relax and get closer to nature. Walk in the woods, fish for trout, play golf and get acquainted with wildlife in the neighboring reserves.
VIP TOURS TO KENYA
COMBINED TOURS IN KENYA - VICTORIA WATERFALLS, South Africa, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA
Expert help
Antonina
What`s Up +7 915 343-21-21
+7 495-281-53-57
travel@cultafrica.ru
Ask your questions Discuss your trip to Africa with one of our specialists
Our destinations
Botswana, Zambia, Morocco, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Cat Divouar, Guinea Bissau
Is it safe, but in cities?
Yes! Tourist trips to Kenya are comfortable and safe these days.
In large cities, it is no more dangerous than in Moscow and London. In Nairobi, we usually spend one night upon arrival or before departure. A large selection of modern and historic hotels for every taste. Many restaurants, shopping centers, nightclubs. The city has a center for giraffes, an elephant nursery, several manor-museums, and a national park of the same name. Another major city, the port of Mombasa, you can come here on a tour on the way to your beach hotel. The historical quarter and the old fortress of Fort Jesus (15th century) are of interest. There is no beach holiday in the port itself, it is a rather busy, dusty city where life is in full swing.
From history: for many years Kenya fought against Somali radical groups, as a result received terrorist attacks aimed at the local population in response. The last terrorist attack on a tourist site was in 2003 on a hotel owned by Israelis. Now the country has a security degree like in the UK or France.
Are there language barriers?
English is the main language for the majority of the educated population of Kenya. Mixed with Swahili, it is the language of streets and markets. Local tribal languages are spoken in the villages. Many people speak three languages - native, Swahili and English (compulsory in school).
In Kenya, in any case, they will understand you, even if your English is not very good and you will be explained by the language of facial expressions and gestures. Akuna-Matata is the main motto and principle of travel in Kenya. There is another important Swahil word that is useful to remember and absorb - pole pole (in Russian, field is a field) - which means - slowly, there is no need to rush. Locals absorb this rhythm with their mother's milk, so don't expect high-speed service from Kenyans. Only champion athletes run in this country.
Is self-drive possible in Kenya.
In theory, this is feasible, but car rental is extremely poorly developed here, and the psychology of the local population's economy is based on the idea that the rich should help the poor, use their services and pay accordingly. And those who do not want to be left unattended. However, there are no obstacles to taking a car and driving through the parks, the price is on average $ 100 per day (you just need to take into account bad roads, crazy long-range trucks and narrow lanes, the absence of road signs and signs, as well as refueling in some areas). But if you hire a good local guide, your trip will be brighter, life will become easier, and the cost of his services will pay off handsomely. There is always someone to stay in the car while you go out to take pictures or go to the market for fresh fruit, show the way and not let you go astray.
Well, most of our clients prefer to take off any responsibilities and headaches for organizing a tour. Searching, studying endless streams of information on the Internet (where many sources have long lost their relevance) takes a lot of time and energy. Therefore, we, as professionals, are allowed to do all the work, especially when it comes to traveling with children, parents or VIP trips. It is convenient and profitable.
What money should I take with me?
You can pay with cash or cards. Most places accept dollars. It is very useful to take with you small bills of 1, 2, 5, 10 dollars, they will come in handy for tips. The local currency is shillings, a small amount can be changed but usually not necessary.
What is a about communication?
Kenya is in the mainstream of a digital boom. Almost every Kenyan has a mobile phone. Any tourist can count on communication with any part of the world, most lodges have free wi-fi. If you need to stay connected anywhere, we recommend ordering or purchasing a SIM card on the spot.
Are there cultural or religious restrictions?
Kenya is a very tolerant country focused on tourism, anyone will feel comfortable here. Most of the population is Christians, Islam prevails on the coast, a small number of Hindu communities, Sikhs. When you go to a village, a school, a guide to the market will always tell you how to dress so as not to cause antagonism or discomfort. On the beaches you can dress as you like, only if you go on an excursion to Mombasa, you can cover your shoulders and legs (and protect yourself from dust and the sun and you won’t touch the feelings of local people). For people of non-traditional orientation in public places it is better not to advertise their relationship, but on safari in hotels, camps and lodges you can feel at ease, no one will ever think of somehow restricting you. Smokers should always check where smoking is allowed, many hotels and safari lodges do not allow smoking in rooms.
Are there health risks, are vaccinations needed?
Most of Kenya, with its life-giving climate, is healthy. Malaria is no longer spreading as before, the risk is minimal, and for those on safari, it is practically zero. Therefore, prevention is advisory in nature (repellents, pills if desired). Kenya does not require compulsory vaccination, except when you enter the country from Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, West African countries (then you will need to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate with you). We recommend that you have medical insurance, just in case (if you don't have your own, we will arrange it). It is worth noting that Kenya boasts the highest level of medicine among the African countries of the sub-Saharan belt.
Is Kenya Safari Tour Suitable for Seniors?
Safari tours are not the cheapest pleasure, so here you can easily meet pensioners who go on a safari for the first time at the age of 70-80. If you are in good physical shape, able to climb, descend the stairs - such tours will only bring pleasure and a charge of new energy. Tourists spend most of their time on safari in a comfortable car, the rest of the time they sit at a table or around a fire. Take care of the increased insurance, and always take the medicines that you take at home with you.
Is it safe for one girl to travel to Kenya?
Absolutely, but better with a guide. Better yet, join a group, more fun and more budget. (tours by trucks)
How about an adventure away from the tourist infrastructure?
Those who take a journey away from the beaten path will be rewarded! Unique tribes, villages, schools, you can see from the inside. Contact us, we will offer ideas on how to do this.