For many travelers, the words "Africa" and "safari" are firmly perceived as the closest synonyms. And how not to remember this, planning a trip to the eastern coast of the ancient continent. Let's try to understand the intricacies of a safari in Kenya .
What is a safari?
To begin with, the word "safari" is literally translated from "Swahili" in Arabic as "journey". Let's not argue, for many years the European colonizers used this term for the name of hunting for outlandish and rare animals, but in the 21st century the subtleties of linguistics and local legislation brought everything back into place. Today safari is a beautiful journey through the savannah, where wild animals of various species live.
Kenya and Tanzania are two countries with huge national parks, which is why most of the safari is held here. Since by law any hunting in Kenya is prohibited, you can book a safari tour and enjoy a beautiful spectacle.
Types of safaris
A car safari is a group classic safari in Kenya , which most tour-firms will offer you. But cars are different: SUV, minivan and others.
- Off-road car with an open top is the most popular kind of safari in Kenya. By the way, such machines are developed specifically: jeeps are fully open or partially open, with a hatch on the roof. The choice of the machine is carried out by the company consciously, depending on which animals live where you are going.
- Minivans on design are simpler, more accessible, used for large groups and therefore somewhat cheaper. There is a disadvantage: the hatch on the roof is too small, usually accommodates 2-3 tourists, so you have to constantly change. The second point: if you are planning to visit the largest lion pride in the Masai Mara reserve, then this car does not suit you, it simply will not pass through the swampy road in the right direction.
- Other cars are, as a rule, some kind of hybrid between trailers and SUVs. In this transport, you can participate in special long-term safari tours in Kenya from a week or more. It is worth noting that in some parks it is allowed to use an ordinary passenger car. But this is the only option for an independent safari in Kenya. Your walk will be short and short, and the licensed guides in such cars do not sit down: no one wants to get stuck in the savannah, where you can meet a predator.
Safari from the air is an option for those who are afraid of approaching predators even in a closed car. The option to look at the savannah from a bird's eye view is not so bad, especially in the period of large migration of animals, for example, zebras and antelopes. Light airplanes and helicopters are used for air safaris, but the most romantic option is to fly in a hot air balloon. It flies lower than aircraft, and slower, which allows for good viewing of animals and making a good photo. By the way, flights on balloons at dawn are very popular.
Water safari in Kenya - options for river and lake cruises to explore certain animals and birds, are carried out on motor boats. Another type of water transport here is not practiced, because in the country there are no wide and deep rivers, like neighboring countries. In some parks in Kenya you can be offered options for mini-safari by canoe and rowing boats. But these extreme types of travel are possible only with the most experienced guides: practically all crocodiles of the country are inhabited by crocodiles or dangerous hippos.
An easy safari is usually a walking tour accompanied by a guide and armed Masai or Ranger. But in Kenya this kind of familiarity with nature is practiced very little, only in the reserve "Gateway of Hell" and in the oasis of Mzima, where there are no predators. Sometimes for such walks you can be offered to sit on a horse, a camel or rent a bike.
Night safari - a walk in the savannah in search of night animals. The guide is "armed" with a large powerful lantern, looking for animals, to which side the machine then turns, illuminating the predator with bright headlights. To the surprise of many, at night the savanna lives as actively as it does during the day.
Option of safari "without leaving the room" - in the capital of Kenya Nairobi there is an interesting version of safari with animals for lazy tourists, and even without an excursion. The fact is that in the hotel Giraffe Manor the counter of the institution are the giraffes, who like to peer through the windows and eat delicious from your table. The demand for the hotel is very large, and there are very few such rooms, hurry.
The cost of safari in Kenya
The question of the price of a safari in Kenya is, of course, topical, but secondary after the choice of the park and the tour. The cost itself ranges from $ 200-220 per person per day for easy walks up to $ 3,500-4,000 per week with flights between two or three national parks. On average, we recommend focusing on $ 400 per person for about 3-4 days - this is the most popular option.
If you want to book a safari tour in Kenya with a Russian speaking guide, you will need to pay approximately $ 100-150 per group. For its friendly company it's easier to find a tour and a guide already on the ground upon arrival, as a rule, it will be somewhat cheaper.
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