A visit to Kenya, East Africa is well worth the trip!
A country full of big smiles, incredible wildlife, muddy 4×4 adventures and so much more, that will steal a piece of your heart. Kenya, you were worth the wait!
A little piece of Africa that stole my heart
Kenya had been on my travel bucket list for a long time. As the head of Africa Calls I had sold countless safari packages to clients but had never experienced the country for myself. I almost felt like a cheat recommending places to clients when I had not experienced them for myself.
So I set off to Kenya for 8 days of exploration with two of my travel buddy gurus.
As we arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International in Nairobi, Kenya, we were greeted with big smiles and white teeth. These people are very warm and friendly and have a way of making you feel at home straight away.
Nairobi: Where the adventure begins
Francis our driver/guide was fantastic. He was our personal encyclopaedia on wheels. He knew more about the places we visited than Wikipedia.
Our first day consisted of visiting nine different hotels. The accommodations range from 4 star hotels to 5 star luxury hotels. There is something for everyone’s taste and budget, be it a city based hotel or something more safari based.
I particularly liked the Ole Sereni Hotel on the edge of the Nairobi National Park. It had lots of traditional African touches with lots of tribal artwork throughout the hotel. It is also very conveniently located near both Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the domestic Wilson Airport.
We had the most wonderful lunch at the Radisson Blu. My only comment would be that I was unable to do it justice as I had just had some major dental work in South Africa but my two travel companions more than made up for my lack of enthusiasm for the food.
Heading north: Discovering a different side of Kenya
The second day of our journey we traveled north to Samburu National Reserve, about 330km from Nairobi and 6 hours on the road. We drove past Mount Kenya on the way but she was hiding behind clouds.
As an African, I thought I knew my wildlife pretty well. Kenya quickly proved me wrong! I was introduced to some remarkable northern species, including the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Each had its own distinctive character, and spotting animals I hadn’t encountered before made the experience all the more exciting.
This itinerary also included the Lewa Conservancy, Shaba National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha and of course the Masai Mara.
Each location we visited offered so many different views, wildlife and experiences to relish, and most of all, moments of reflection and appreciation of where we were.
Rain, mud and a very capable driver!
October and November are generally associated with Kenya’s short rains, but we experienced far more than we bargained for.
The water in the streams started to flow and soon we were driving through rivers. Some of the bridges were rather scary as we crossed them. The roads were also very challenging and I was so glad that we had Francis as our driver. He was very capable and had nerves of steel.
And then came the Masai Mara.
The plains were covered in mud and our Land Cruiser, being a 4×4, managed to pull through some sticky situations. We even helped other vehicles on the road on several occasions.
Francis and Terrance, our travel companion for the trip, were in their element driving the Land Cruiser on the muddy roads of the Masai Mara. Give these guys a muddy road and a 4×4 and you will see their adventure side come alive.
For my part, I was quite happy to let Francis and Terrance revel in their element, while I periodically closed my eyes to shut out the frightening scenes. I’m no sissy but there are some things that even I cannot handle!
Wildlife that takes your breath away
The wildlife was amazing throughout our journey, even in the rainy season. All the different animals in the different reserves and conservancies were amazing to see and made me realize what an incredible natural heritage Africa has.
I got to see 5 rhinos in total (3 of them were black rhinos and 2 of them were white rhinos). I tried to capture some photos of them but they just don’t do them any justice as they have such a huge presence.
The work of Kenya’s conservation is crucial to the protection of wildlife and natural areas. Responsible tourism is key to supporting these efforts and ensuring that the future generation will get to see these amazing animals in the wild.
The beauty of a Kenyan safari is that you never know what is around the next corner. You can be traveling along and suddenly find yourself in the middle of a herd of wildlife, or you can be traveling along and find yourself in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Behind the scenes: A travel guru’s working adventure
This trip was educational for me. It gave me the chance to inspect properties and meet the people behind the experiences and services that I can recommend to my clients.
We visited 45 properties in total in 7 days and traveled about 1,400km.
Exhausting? Absolutely.
Worth it? Without a doubt.
Long distances to travel but lots of energy needed. When there is so much to see, great people to meet, amazing lodges to stay in and lots of wildlife to see around every corner, then it is all worth it. Even the early alarms.
Most importantly, I returned with a much deeper appreciation of Kenya and the experiences it offers. I could now recommend it to my clients not just from brochures and industry knowledge, but from personal experience.
So, is Kenya worth visiting?
Absolutely and then some!
Whether you are looking for wide-open plains of the Masai Mara, the unique and diverse wildlife found in the Samburu region, the lakes of the Rift Valley or some of the best hotels and lodges to unwind after a day of adventure, Kenya has something for everyone.
It’s a country of warm smiles, of unforgettable wildlife, of so many different landscapes and of so many adventures that sometimes do not go as planned. But that is what makes them so special.
At Africa Calls we help you find the experience that is right for you. Kenya was definitely right for me and I would love to help you find it too.
Your African adventure is calling. Will you answer?
“Let Africa Calls turn your dream of Kenya into a journey you’ll remember for a lifetime.”
