Top Five Safari Kenya Tours
The Kenya tours safari circuit is one of the best in Africa containing national
parks and game reserves that consistently provide great wildlife sightings and
experiences coupled with high quality accommodation.
But within the country itself there are certain areas that are better than
others to go on safari in.
So, according to the trip reports received at African Safari Journals, forums,
my twenty plus years of personal safari experience and the general consensus in
the safari industry, these are the top five Kenya tours national parks to visit...
Along with the Serengeti in Tanzania, this is without a doubt the premier game
viewing destination in Africa because of the quality and quantity of wildlife
sightings to be found here.
This sometimes works against it because in certain places it can be overrun with
Kenya tours safari vehicles all jostling for the best position around a bemused
lion pride or leopard in a tree.
But if predators are what you seek from a Kenya safari then this reserve will
deliver them in spades in the form of lion, cheetah, hyena and even regular
leopard sightings if you know the right areas.
And of course the massive wildebeest migration where up to a million of these
ugly antelope trek north from the Serengeti plains across the river into the
Masai Mara to find fresher grazing is an awesome spectacle.
Between July and August (reliant on seasonal rains) is the time to find the
wildebeest in this area.
Taking a hot air balloon ride over the plains which is a magical experience and
you are spoiled with a champagne breakfast when you land.
View Masai Mara travel reviews »
2. Samburu National Park
On Samburu Kenya tours you will notice that the area is a lot drier and
hotter than parks to the south due to the climate warming and the only thing
that saves this park from being completely arid is the Ewaso Ngiro river which
runs through it.
This river will provide you with lots of wildlife sightings because the animals
are drawn to it to drink and the park is relatively small which concentrates the
animals and makes them easy to find.
The conditions have spawned some wildlife that are particularly suited to this
area like the gerenuk which looks like a cross between a giraffe and an antelope
because of its long neck, gravy's zebra (stripes don't go all the way under the
belly) and reticulated giraffe which have a geometric pattern on their coat
unlike other giraffes.
And then there are the leopards which seem to make a habit of moving around
during the day unlike other areas where they are mostly nocturnal.
View Samburu travel reviews »
3. Aberdares National Park Kenya Tours
This park is set in the Aberdares mountain range which ensures that it has thick
woodland forests, waterfalls and ice cold streams filled with trout contained
within its boundaries.
It is home to two well known tree house hotels, the Ark and Treetops (click for travel reviews and price comparisons at TripAdvisor), which have
walkways and accommodation raised above the ground beside floodlit waterholes
with salt licks. You don't need to go on a drive to find wildlife on Kenya tours
here because they come to you.
All you have to do is stay close to the waterholes at the lodges and you will
see elephant, lion, hyena, various antelope and rhino. There is also a viewing
hide below ground level which gives you some unique views as the animals quench
their thirst.
And after a strenuous days Kenya safari tour wildlife viewing from the platforms with
a drink in your hand, you can go back to your room with the confident knowledge
that if a particularly good sighting is going on at the waterhole like a
leopard, lion or hyena you will be alerted by a bell (one ring for lion, two for
leopard etc) which will ensure you don't miss any of the action.
If you are tempted to go on a game drive you might spot the elusive bongo
antelope and some of the monkeys that make their home in the Aberdare forest.
View Aberdares travel reviews »
4. Amboseli National Park
Situated close to Mt Kilimanjaro this national park will afford you some awesome
views of elephant, giraffe, hippo and antelope with the majestic snow topped
mountain as a backdrop.
Streams from the mountain feed swamp areas which support a rich variety of
wildlife and birds such as pelicans, bee-eaters, eagles and kingfishers.
It doesn't have the regularity and consistency for predator sightings that Kenya
tours in the Mara provide but lion, leopard and cheetah are seen as well
as old bull elephants with some of the biggest ivory tusks in Africa.
Rhino used to be found in this area but unfortunately they are now extinct due
to poaching activity.
View Amboseli travel reviews »
5. Tsavo East and West National Parks
This is the largest national park in Kenya and is divided into Tsavo West which
is the most developed part and East where some of the land is accessible but the
rest is off limits to the public due to poaching.
If you are looking to get away from the masses of tourists and do your wildlife
viewing in relative isolation and peace then Kenya tours in Tsavo are a good
place to do it.
There have been over 500 species of bird recorded in Tsavo west including the
migratory species so this provides a visual feast for birders.
Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary (Ngulia Lodge reviews and price comparisons at TripAdvisor) gives you the opportunity to spot the scarce and
temperamental black rhino (42 recorded) in 70 sq kilometres surrounded by
electric fence for their protection.
The underwater viewing chamber at Mzima Springs will give you an insight into
what hippos do underwater and you will spot a number of other species of game
there all attracted by the life giving water.
View Tsavo travel reviews »
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