Safari holidays in East Africa: Where, which, how?


If you are planning your first safari holiday there are a baffling number of options and destinations. How do you know which one to choose or where to go? We spend lots of time discussing options, destinations and accommodation with our clients, ensuring that they get the most out of their holiday and their budget. So here is a small initial guide to some of the options to help you understand some of the decisions that have to be made.


Where?


The main safari holiday destinations in East Africa are Kenya and Tanzania, with Uganda and Rwanda famous for their primate viewing. Ethiopia is famous for its landscapes, culture and history.


Safari in Kenya:


One of the most popular countries to safari and for a good reason; there is plenty of game and it is comparatively easy to see. The National Parks and reserves are for the most part large but not vast, meaning that the game is more concentrated. There is also a great variety of terrain.


The most famous safari destination is the The Masai Mara, situated in the south-west of Kenya. This is a reserve, 400 sq. km of protected land which the Masai people can still graze but where the game is safe. It has recently been expanded with additional land on the northern border being put into the control of conservation areas, the Masai villages managing the animals often in partnership with a safari camp or lodge to directly benefit from the safari tourism. This has led to the creation of some beautiful and low-impact new camps such at the Karen Blixen Camp.


Mt. Kenya and the Aberdares National Parks offer a great variety of flora and terrain, climbing from the plains to high alpine zones. Amboseli is famous for its wonderful views of Mount Kilimanjaro while the large tracts of Tsavo East and West are popular for safaris from the Mombasa coast. In Central Kenya is Samburu, much drier and more arid than the parks of the south and with its own unique flora and fauna. Lake Nakuru is a great place to see Rhino while Lake Naivasha is world-renown for its vast flocks of flamingos.


The advantage of a safari holiday in Kenya is that the distances are not too great so it’s possible to visit several parks on the same tour. The roads may not be up to European standards but recent improvements, specifically to the main trunk road that links Nairobi to Naivasha and Nakuru, means that journeys which a few years ago took five hours now take under three. On a short 4-5 night safari trip it is possible to spend a couple of nights in the Rift Valley, visiting the Lakes, and then 2-3 nights in the Mara game-viewing. Extend the holiday by a couple more nights and you can visit Mt. Kenya or Sweetwaters, a private reserve. This can be done in a private vehicle driven by your own guide who stays with you from your arrival to departure. The advantage of a private safari is that you can stop whenever you wish, whether that is to take a picture of a view or animal, or stop at a shop or café. You also, of course, always have a window seat and free access to the roof hatch which all our vehicle on Kenyan safaris have.


Tanzania


Safari in Tanzania offers huge parks and the most game of any country in Africa. Less visited than Kenya the safari is more remote, larger distances and open space. It is hope to some of the world’s best game reserves.


The Serengeti lies directly south of the Kenyan-Tanzania border and combines with the Masai Mara in Kenya to create a vast area of wildlife habitat. It is between these areas that the wildebeest migrate every year, one of the great wildlife spectacles of the world. On many of our safaris we use 2 camps on visits to the Serengeti so you can appreciate the size and variety of the Park.


Another world-famous Park is the Ngorongoro Crater, an ancient Caldera whose weather-worn crater is now home to tens of thousands of animals. With no lodges allowed in the crater, many of the lodges are perched on the rim offering spectacular views from many of the rooms. Safari is done on day-trips down to the crater floor.


Other parks in the North are Lake Manyara and Tarangire, and these four parks form what is known as the Northern circuit, a safari tour that can be undertaken in 7-8 nights by private vehicle. On our safari holidays your private vehicle is a 4x4, reflecting the rougher terrain than in Kenya. It really makes a memorable safari holiday, driving through these vast areas with the whole landscape to yourself.


The south of Tanzania also contains vast reserves but is much less visited than the north, giving it a real pioneer feel. Ruaha and the Selous offer safari that is wild and exciting and is a popular destination for those enjoying their second or third trip with us and are looking for something wilder. The camps are just as comfortable but are often smaller and under canvas (albeit still with a proper bed and bathroom.)


Uganda


While Uganda does possess some excellent game-viewing, specifically in Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is primarily famous for its primates. Kibale reserve is one of the best places in the world to trek in search of chimpanzees and on a safari holiday in Uganda this can be easily combined with a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable forest to see Gorillas. To go Gorilla trekking it is necessary to buy a permit – currently US$750 per person per day. There is no guarantee that you will see them and it will certainly involve a long hard trek to try to do so, but most visits are successful and the hard work is rewarded with up to one hour in their presence.


Rwanda


Rwanda is also famous for primates, the most popular gorilla viewing destination being the Volcanoes National Park. Its main advantage over Uganda is that access to here is much easier than to Bwindi, meaning that clients who have less time will find Rwanda an easier option for an add-on holiday to see gorillas after a safari in Kenya or Tanzania.


Ethiopia


Ethiopia is one of the most fascinating and beautiful countries in the world. It is home to the Simien and Bale mountains, has the Rift valley running through it which is dotted with colourful lakes an also the Omo valley and its unique cultures. T the north of Addis Adaba lies Lake Tana and the Blue Nile falls, the spectacular start of the Blue Nile. The town of Gondor is studded with medieval castles, Lalibela has churches carved from the rock and Axum was home to the Queen of Sheba and is now said to house the Ark of the Covenant. It is an African holiday like no other but one of the most fascinating holidays you will ever have.



Camping or Lodge safari?


Camping on our safari holidays in Africa is no like camping with the scouts! Most camps have canvas tents that are built over hardwood floors and are covered by thatched roofs. They are luxuriously furnished with large beds, desks and sofas and have proper en suite bathrooms and toilets. They have permanent restaurants and bars and beautiful gardens. The joy is that with the canvas walls you get the feeling at night of being where you are: Africa. You can hear lions roaring at they hunt, hippos grazing the lawns and a host of other nocturnal animals going about their business, all which safely tucked up in your bed.


The lodges we use are comfortable and atmospheric, in great locations and offering superb views often from your room itself. Night time is quieter but they al have lovely terraces and open-plan bar areas that you can set out on in the evening to enjoy the sounds of the bush.


Drive-in or fly-in safaris?


In East Africa we normally recommend driving safaris. While this does, on some trips, involve a fair amount of travelling, it gives you a greater insight and understanding into the country. There is more to these countries than just the wildlife. On nearly all our safari holidays in Kenya and Tanzania you will get a private vehicle and guide, whether you are travelling as a couple, family or larger group. This means you can stop whenever you want to see tings that interest you - if you are a teacher you can stop at a school, if you are a farmer you can stop any study the crops. It also means you get to know your guide who can help you understand what its like to live in that country and answer questions not only on the flora and fauna but also everyday life.


In Kenya we use standard safari vehicles and in Tanzania 4x4 vehicles which reflects the type of driving and terrain encountered in each destination.


On some safaris we do use flights. We may, for example, fly you back from the Serengeti to Arusha or from the Masai Mara to Nairobi in order to save time on a tight schedule. E also use flights to get you from your safari to your beach extension should you be travelling on to Mombasa or Zanzibar. We also use flights on our shorter weekend safaris and safari breaks up from the coast.


The most important thing when planning a safari holiday is to let us know what it is you are interested in. Some people want to see the Big 5, others are specifically interested in elephants or rhino. Some are photographers, others ornithologists or botanists. Once we know what you are interested in, we can help you visit the right places at the right time in the right way to ensure you have a safari experience to remember forever.