the magic of kenya
They say that you can leave Africa, but Africa never leaves you. Traveling to Africa can be life-changing, and a trip to Kenya is more than just a safari. It is the ultimate African experience, incorporating unique luxury safari camps and exciting animal encounters with multi-cultural inspired culinary fare and a vibrant culture. Traveling to this exceptional corner of the world will provide inspiration and remind you that travel feeds the soul.
Choosing the right safari operator to coordinate services throughout Kenya is the most essential component of planning your trip to this continent. I was fortunate to travel with Micato Safaris, a top luxury tour operator. Flawless execution, surprise experiences, and pillow gifts sprinkled throughout the itinerary exceeded my expectations of this incredible safari company.
Getting There
With direct flights from JFK to Nairobi, getting to Kenya is fairly simple. An overnight flight in Business Class on Kenya Airways provides plenty of space and a comfortable bed so that you can arrive feeling refreshed. There were many movies to choose from and the service was excellent.
Nairobi
Nairobi is an excellent launch point for safaris. It is a fascinating city that mixes a modern aesthetic with the possibility of cultural experiences. There are opportunities for those who want to give back or learn about the ongoing mission work designed to help the disadvantaged in Nairobi.
Traveling from Nairobi to our hotel, we observed many people walking along the road, and our driver explained that they were probably traveling home from work. It is typical for Kenyans to walk most places. While public transportation is available, most people don’t own cars and consider a 3-5 mile walk to be a short distance.
Our hotel, Hemingways, was the perfect home base for exploring Nairobi and the surrounding areas. It is a resort-style oasis located outside of Nairobi, with a lovely pool, spa, and beautiful rooms with netted beds and gorgeous bathrooms.
From Hemingways, we were able to visit the original home of Karen Blixen. She wrote the book “Out of Africa”, a story about her life and romance with Denys Finch Hatton. It was an interesting stop learning about her writing, artwork, and life in Kenya.
We also had our first animal encounter at The Giraffe Center, located approximately 40 minutes from Nairobi and 15 minutes from the hotel. We were able to feed the Rothschild giraffes, which were on the verge of extinction before the founders started a program of breeding giraffes in captivity. The Rothschild giraffes are easily identifiable by their white “socks”.
Nairobi also provides a convenient jumping off point for a chartered bush plane flight to the Maasai Mara. A Birdseye view over the city of Nairobi, the mountains and the Maasai Mara is an extra benefit of boarding the bush plane to start a safari. Landing on a dirt strip was exhilarating, and working with a lot of families, it occurred to me what a thrill this would be for children and teens.
Safari Camps
Staying at a safari camp is a truly unique experience that cannot be replicated. Whether you prefer to stay in a luxury tent or more basic accommodations, there are options for every vacation vision. Our experienced team can help guide you in choosing the right lodging.
Unlike South Africa, most Kenyan safari camps feature tented accommodations. It is quite common to find luxurious bathrooms with indoor plumbing, plunge pools, and private patios. Most safari camps are all-inclusive of food, drinks, and game drives.
Our first stop, Sand River Lodge, is an oasis of peace, luxury, and classic design, reminiscent of the exclusive permanent tented camps of the 1920s. You are truly in the wild, with 16 tents set on an unfenced reserve. Leaving your tent alone early in the morning or at night can be dangerous, so you must use your walkie talkie to call for an escort. The food here was delicious and outdoor dining was an experience not soon forgotten.
Finch Hattons is another amazing safari camp named after the famous character played by Robert Redford in Out of Africa. The luxury tented camp and spa with 2 glamorous pools overlook the volcanic region with views of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
If eating well on safari is a concern, you need not worry. Top-notch international cuisine was a highlight of staying at Finch Hattons.
Lewa Safari Camp is located in a private conservancy north of Kenya known for rhinoceros and close up animal viewing. The lodge is rustic and a true tented camp, with basic accommodations and inside bathrooms, yet comfortable beds. The cuisine here is delicious and had a more local authentic flair.
Game Drives
Most travelers that go on safari are anticipating seeing the Big Five: Lions, leopards, elephants, African buffalo, and rhinoceroses. The term was coined by early big game hunters who considered these the most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt.
A typical day at a safari camp might start with an early wake-up call and a 6:30 a.m. departure for the morning game drive. After a couple of hours in your safari vehicle, a luxurious breakfast is served, either back at camp or at a surprise “bush breakfast” location along the way. The rest of the day can be spent relaxing around camp and enjoying downtime at the pool or spa. After a leisurely lunch, you may head back out for your late afternoon/early evening game drive and an opportunity to see those nocturnal species.
I do like how it’s so much easier to look across the plains and see animals here as compared to South Africa where there is more bush. The number of animals we saw was amazing; prides of lions, a leopard in a tree with its kill, herds of elephants. Endless.
A major ingredient of an awe-inspiring game drive is the guide. Guides are highly trained to identify hundreds of animal and plant species, along with birdcalls, tracks, scat, and carcasses, enabling them to track animals and determine where they might be found in the bush. Their extensive knowledge will not only help you see the Big 5, but also the hundreds of lesser known species of plants and animals that would be missed without their guidance.
We typically book our clients on safaris that allow a maximum of 6 guests per vehicle so that everyone has a window seat and an excellent view. The vehicles are stocked with extra blankets in case you catch a chilly day.
Sundowners
One of the most quintessential parts of a trip to Africa is the traditional sundowner. These typically take place at the end of an evening game drive, and are the African equivalent of happy hour with an amazing view. Whether included as part of a safari with a tour operator like Micato, or set up through one of our local contacts, the magic is in the setting.
Sundowners can vary in their presentation, from camp chairs overlooking the African bush, to a more simple set up with drinks served from a table attached to the safari vehicle. Our first game drive ended with a sundowner overlooking the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
On our final game drive, after spotting the beautiful black-maned lion, we were treated to a sundowner on a hillside with a spectacular view of the Lewa Wildlife Conservatory. Watching the sunset over the savannah after seeing this captivating creature in the wild was magical.
Ballooning
In addition to Game Drives, another amazing way to see animals is Ballooning. The experience is breathtaking - floating over a savannah for miles while viewing tons of animals. You can see the scope of the land in a way that isn’t possible on land. Getting there is somewhat trying, as it requires a 4:30 departure and a long drive, but you are rewarded with an amazing breakfast after your journey ends. Ballooning is a great option for a group of adventurous adults or carefree couples.
Village Visits
The culture of Kenya is in the history of the Masai warriors, who live on the land with the animals in primitive huts. It is one of the most fascinating parts of any visit to east Africa. We had a chance to interact with a Maasai warrior and ask him questions about the modern-day Massi lifestyle. While education has become more valued and important, they still choose to live in huts with dirt floors and measure their wealth by the number of cows they have. It is a fascinating part of the culture and is an experience that adults and children alike will never forget.
Current Travel to Kenya
You might wonder if it’s safe to travel to Kenya right now. Africa was very quick to shut down at the beginning of the pandemic. They have dealt with epidemics in the past and knew what was at stake. For this reason, Kenya has done very well managing Covid 19. In fact, they have some of the most effective protocols of anywhere in the world.
To travel to Kenya, everyone that boards the plane must have a negative Covid test. Once there, masks are mandatory indoors and outdoors and most dining is outdoors by nature of the fact that it is just an outdoor culture. Now is a wonderful time to be in Kenya because things are open but there are fewer tourists. Game viewing will never be better than it is right now and travelers returning from Kenya say that they felt safer there than anywhere else they’ve been. So, if you are ready to travel, it is the perfect time to go. Our agency continues to work with companies that are providing flexibility in booking in case anything changes.
Our Kenya adventure ended with a day room and cocktails at a Nairobi hotel before heading home on an overnight flight. Soaking up the African sun and reflecting on this amazing opportunity left me feeling grateful for this experience. The safari, rustic tents, an opportunity to learn about Kenyan culture all contributed to this magical trip. Africa will stay with me forever!
We can plan a magical journey for you too! Let’s Get Started!
While this trip was sponsored by Micato, the views in this blog post are my own.