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Although a safari in Africa is likely to be one of the best experiences you will ever have, knowing which country to opt for can be confusing. The major safari holiday locations in Africa include Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia, however, many believe the best safaris can be found in Kenya.
Why a Kenya Safari?
In fact there are plenty of good reasons why Kenya remains one of the more popular safari destinations. However, the two main ones are perhaps that Kenya not only has a wealth and variety of game but it is also, for the most part, well within view. In addition, Kenya safari holidays means experiencing a huge diversity of terrain and although, on average, the reserves and National Parks are very large, they are not exactly vast. Therefore the game tends to be considerably more concentrated.
The Best Destinations
Out of all the various reserves in Kenya, the Masai Mara is perhaps the most famous and certainly the most popular for wildlife holidays in the region. Located in the south-west, this reserve consists of over 400 square kilometres of protected land that still allows the Masai people to graze. The game here is nonetheless safe.
Recent expansions that includes extra land along the northern-most border which has been added to the conservation area allows the Masai villages to manage the animals alongside a safari camp, which ensures they benefit directly from the tourism generated by safari. The result of this arrangement is that many low-impact, beautiful camps, such as the Karen Blixen Camp, have been created.
Alternative destinations for safari in the south include the region around Mt. Kenya and the Aberdares National Park. These areas provide a huge diversity of both terrain and flora in addition to some great challenges as you climb from the lowly plains to the heights of the alpines. Spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro are available from Amboseli whilst the massive plains of Tsavo West and East are favourite destinations for safaris, especially those from the Mombasa coast.
Central Kenya also has its share of great safari destinations. Included here is Samburu, which as a reserve is both much more arid and drier than those in the south. Samburu also boasts its own unique fauna and flora. Alternatively, the region around Lake Nakuru is fantastic for experiencing Rhino whilst Lake Naivasha is known throughout the world for its massive gatherings of beautiful flamingos.
Further Advantages
Further advantages of Kenya safari holidays include the fact that the distances between parks is not huge. It is therefore perfectly feasible to visit numerous reserves as part of the same tour. At the same time, although many recent improvements have been made to the country’s roads they are not exactly similar to those we are used to in the west. Nonetheless, the recent improvements, especially on the main road that links Nairobi, Naivasha and Nakuru, have ensured that many journey times have now been considerably reduced.
For ideas on an ideal tour, spend a few nights in the Rift Valley, where you can visit the plethora of splendid lakes, before passing a few nights in the Mara region for some game-viewing. If desired you could always then extend the holiday and make a visit to Mount Kenya or the private reserve of Sweetwaters. You can opt for doing this in a private vehicle that will be driven by a guide of your own. This has the obvious advantage of allowing you to stop, perhaps to take photos, whenever you wish.
About the author: Ben Scriber writes for a variety of related websites and blogs regarding travel. Although his interests are many, his main subject continues to be that of activity vacations such as wildlife holidays.
