CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hard to pick, but Tarangire could be my favourite park.
We arrived the night before, staying at the Kirurumu Tented Camp. This was the nicest place we stayed on our trip, but also had the worst road of our trip leading to it. Reception is an elegant, airy building with a central corridor. Glass doors lead into an Internet room and the manager’s office. We were greeted with mango juice and hot cloths, and Maasai porters carried our bags to #10. Steps leading to a concrete verandah, canvas walls with sliding glass doors, three beds with nets, white duvets with colorful cloth blankets at foot of each bed, and a very spacious bathroom, with a flush toilet better than the one we have at home, and 2 sinks with facecloths! Plus a shower with enough hot water for the three of us. Paradise.
We settled in. Maasai men escorted us through darkening paths to the dining tent, which was surrounded with bushes covered in what looked like blue petunias. We had our best meal yet. A scrumptious butternut squash soup, tender pork chops in a tasty brown sauce, with lightly cooked green beans, carrots, and potato slices. An apricot walnut crumble cake for dessert. And the dining tent is fun, beautifully set with Maasai necklaces forming the placemats. Because the kitchen is in a separate building, they use silver plate covers to transport dishes. Great service – and playful. The waiter counted us in - 1, 2, 3 - and we would simultaneously remove the plate cover to reveal the food underneath. There is also a comfortable couch and a library of African books. So glad to have two nights here.
Tarangire National Park has a really nice entrance gate - well tended gardens, clean bathrooms, and a very tall wooden observation platform.
We begin the game drive. The weather is cool, and intermittently overcast. First off we see waterbucks. Then two different varieties of giraffe, a hilarious family of striped mongoose and two families of warthogs that let us take a good look at them before they trotted off - one had really big tusks. Then a family of dwarf yellow mongoose living in a termite mound. Speaking of which, termite mounds were everywhere, as were weaver nests, hanging from all the trees.
The Baobab trees are wonderful, looking very elvish to me. The grass long and green. Flowering bushes everywhere, covered in white petunia-like blossoms with delicate pink interiors. Little blue and yellow flowers by the side of the road, acacia trees, baobab trees, palm trees. The whole impression is of lushness and fertility.
We notice several vehicles gathered in the distance. Over we go. A female lion is wandering among the vehicles. Then we see the dead buffalo about 10 feet off the road. We notice some entrails and various organs about 5 feet from the road, and a big hole in the rear end of the buffalo. The female lion crosses the road and disappears into a thicket about 30 feet away.
A flock of African white-backed vultures arrive - why do they always pick the bare ugly trees? It’s like vulture central-casting. A Ranger Safaris' vehicle drives off the road, over to the thicket where the lioness had gone. A guide in another vehicle says there are more than 10 lions including a male in there. I was disgusted by the off-roading, but at least no one followed them.
The other vehicles leave and we settle in to wait. Thadei (our wonderful Safari Infinity guide) says the vultures will eventually go to the buffalo and that will draw the lions out. We back away from the carcass to give the vultures space. Sure enough, they start to circle! Eventually a couple of them land. We hear a loud grumble from the lion area, and look to see three females and a male emerge from the thicket. The vultures depart quickly.
The lions slowly make their way down to the carcass, with the male lion spraying copiously on his way. We notice a fourth lioness that must have been in the tall grass by the carcass all along. A female lion poops in the road and scrapes dirt over it like a cat. Then all five of them range themselves a yard or two from the carcass and just lie in the grass. Gerry says it’s a sentry system! One of the females returns to the clump - maybe there are cubs there.
One lioness nuzzles against another, purring. She then goes over to the male lion, licks him, rubs against him, then lies down and waves her tail enticingly. He licks her. She gets up, walks off and he follows. I hear a tourist say "they are going to get a room". But no, they just lie down a few feet from each other and start to doze, looking comfortable. We remain another 15 minutes or so, then decide to move on and check back later.
First thing we run into is a huge troop of baboons. There are many, many babies, including one that looks less than a week old. Some run along beside their moms, others ride on their backs, and still others cling to their mother's bellies. They are going to cross the river. It’s a wonderful sight - hundreds of baboons crossing the water, a few even walking on two feet. Some skirmishes, lots of squealing, shrieking and chucking sounds. The great baboon migration. Four reddish elephants in the background looking majestic.
We see a male ostrich with pink neck and legs - mating-ready apparently.
Lunch at the Matete lookout. The river is far below us. We watch a herd of elephants cross it as we eat. I am happy to see a green apple in my box. I put it and a bag of peanuts aside. Thadei leaves the table. Suddenly there is a thump and I look up to see a vervet monkey springing away, my green apple clenched firmly in his mouth. He lands on the fence across from me. Nick and I are in fits of laughter - nicely played, monkey!
The rest of the day is an easy pace. Just looking around. We see two battling waterbucks, a turquoise kingfisher, a hamercop stork, two monitor lizards swimming around, a saddle beak stork, a beautiful blue roller, flocks of teeny orange birds that look like flying poppies, a dik-dik, and a tawny eagle.
I love this park. The rolling hills, the trees, the river, the flowers. It's like a classic picture of Africa. Near the river, there are tall single stalks with one delicate purple blossom on top. The Tarangire River seemed to be drying up fast – it was flat and winding, but with a big expanse of sand on either side.
I want to watch some elephants for a while. This is not so easy. Two big ones cover themselves in mud, but they move away as soon as they are done. Thadei says the elephants here are wary of people, since they sometimes come into conflict with the agriculturalists outside the park. It's not surprising - even a single elephant could pretty much ruin a crop.
One elephant even looks like it might charge. We move on, find another group down the track, and watch some mothers and babies for a while. A little one rests its head on Mom's leg. Awww.
We decide to go back and see what's happening in lion land. To our utter delight, there are three small cubs tearing away at the organs on the ground, which are looking surprisingly fresh after a day in the sun. The kittens have a pretty hard time chewing - they don't seem to be able to get much of a mouthful.
The poor buffalo is looking emptier. There is another big hole near its neck. There are MANY flies. Only one female lion is nearby. We surmise the rest of them must be back in the bush fort.
Sure enough, slowly they emerge and come down to join the party. We count six juveniles, and three females. The cubs wander off to some nearby water, and are joined by the juveniles and one of the moms.
Three females start chewing on the buffalo. There is a small altercation. Two of them leave, and one remains tugging and scraping at the carcass. Clearly there is a hole in the side we can't see - she sticks her head inside and we can hear the chewing. Every time she pulls it out we see the blood on her face.
She tries to turn the carcass over by using its leg as a lever. It's too hard for her, and she looks around for help. Everyone is at the water. The male lion emerges from the thicket, and paces his way down to the lower field, spraying vigorously every few yards. He makes a wide circle, and then lies down near the crowd at the water.
The female lion is clearly going to succeed in turning the buffalo over. It seems we could stay there watching all night, because there is still a lot of buffalo to eat, and many lions to eat it. Not to mention the vultures. But the afternoon is getting on, and even though it is our last game drive, we want to have time for a shower and beer before supper and packing. Reluctantly we move off and go back to the lodge, stopping only briefly to check out a male and female buffalo weaver.
We return to camp around 5, happy to have a little time in our lovely tent before supper. We all shower, and sit on the porch with a beer, chatting and looking at photos.
Supper tonight is cream of pumpkin soup, Tilapia, and crème caramel. Not as delicious as the night before, but still good. Thadei drops in just as we are leaving. We arrange to leave at 8 am the next day. Can't believe the safari is ending!
Excellent service and amazing safaris -- took great care of me!
I went on a safari with KET on my own (had a long weekend free in Nairobi in between work travel), and I was a bit nervous about being in a new place on my own. KET took great care of me, and I felt safe and in great hands all the time. The service was door to door (they picked me up and dropped me off at my hotel in town) and the safari itself (at Masai Mara park) was amazing. I stayed at the Mara Sarova Lodge, which was absolutely stunning. We saw so much wildlife, and the driver was knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. I would definitely recommend KET and plan to use them again!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beautiful scenery and kind people
Kenya has some wonderful scenery. Especially in the Masai Mara, the views are endless and unforgettable. Sightings of animals are common, I was able to spot cheetahs, lions, giraffes, elephants, and many zebras. In lake Nakuru they have a large rhino population. I managed to see some white rhinos from close by. The quality of tourism accommodations and services in general, is very high. I booked my tour with Africa Marvel Tours, I very much recommend booking with them. I did a solo trip, and would also recommend that.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by Cindy B.
The most incredible place I have ever been. Animals abound, and can be viewed doing all the natural things that they do: eating, sleeping, hunting, caring for young and giving birth. It is wild, exciting, and beautiful. Unreal how close the vehicles can get to the animals, and they give little notice. Kind of a magical place.
OM
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing once in a life must do, there’s something for everyone and so diverse, exceptional.
Surprisingly, everything is relatively nearby in the Western Cape making sightseeing and getting around easy. The sightseeing bus is great value and it’s worth hiring a car too. Stick to the main routes and you’re fine. Very welcoming and family friendly, with loads of options every day. We will be going again - the food is amazing too!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Cindy B.
Smaller area to cover - especially after being in parks like the Serengeti, but there is no need to search for wildlife! At the time of our visit, it was a bit more crowded with tourists than what we had encountered in other parks. The drive into and out of the crater is worth the visit alone! Amazing!
MX
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wild
Amazing experience in the nationals parks, we saw a lot of wildlife and learn through our guide jimmi from lenchada tours a lot about kenyan culture and biodiversity. The tours are all very similar in all agencies and the tours and places where we stay as accommodation had all requirements and good food in all of them and some have even pool to enjoy. I didn't feel unsafe in nairobi however always be cautious as every big city and when you go to shop people will always try to sell you something so be mindfull as they initially offer an elevate price but this can be negotiable in all places. I went in july so the weather was great as was chill in the morning and not very hot in afternoon. In general was a great experience recomended for solo travellers or in family. You will definitely enjoy just always keep your guide about your itinerary as when you take share tours people may have different ones.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Cindy B.
So much beauty! Wildlife abounds! Each time you start to think the search for another animal is starting to take time, something appears!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beautiful people, beautiful nature
We were told Botswana was amazing but expensive. While it was pricier than other destinations, we found reasonably priced "budget safari" options and were handsomely rewarded with close wildlife encounters, informative local guides, and the deep peace of both the Okavango Delta and various open spaces of enormous national parks. Highly recommended!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Arusha National Park by Cindy B.
Beautiful and lush, loved this park! Lower number of game to see, but we were never disappointed - still saw lots of wildlife.