35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Elephants and baobabs galore - there was something to see every minute we were out on the road.
Wildlife - to see herds and herds of elephants - and a mix of sizes within each herd - is truly magnificent. Tarangire is the place to see elephants, especially after calving season. We went in December and had two game drives - one in the late afternoon and one in the early morning. The early morning one was better as the elephants were all seeking shade in the afternoon sun and so did not venture near the roads. (Cars are not allowed to leave the roads). There were many highlights but one was something you don't even think of looking for: two dung beetles rolling their ball of dung. Another was a dancing crane. Maybe it wasn't dancing but it was moving so gracefully and elegantly it was like a dance.
Parts of the park were flooded after the heavy rains of November and early December but the accessible areas were very varied in terrain and scenery. It is not a very big park and you can see parts that will already feel familiar on your second drive.
We stayed at the Tarangire Lodge within the National Park - it is a simple but beautiful lodge with a huge outdoor seating area overlooking the river. It is on a hill and so you can see for miles around. Come equipped with binoculars of course. Good food even for vegetarians. This lodge is not as big as some so there was a cosy feeling in the dining room.
Our trip had been organised through Shah Tours in Moshi as we did a package for Kilimanjaro, Tarangire and Ngorongoro. The safari car was quite good with the open roof but these seem to be standard with most companies that provide such game drives. The guide could have been better but again there are so many local national park guides that are well informed. The drive from Moshi via Arusha to Tarangire was remarkable too - you see so many Masai dressed in the most colourful cloth and little children splashing about in the water.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent but crowded
The Ngorongoro Crater offers both amazing experiences and large crowds due to its smaller size. It's one of the best places in Tanzania to see rhinos, and in general the wildlife is very accustomed to vehicles so you can get a close view of interesting behavior. On the downside, everyone makes it a stop on their safari, so it can get quite busy. We had a rhino near the road on our trip, and I counted at least 35 vehicles jockeying for position to see it. Certainly not a feeling of being out in the wilderness!
The most convenient safari in Kenya
If you are in Nairobi and have a free morning, there's no excuse not to visit this great park.
Just a few minutes from downtown Nairobi, this park offers sightings of lions, black rhino, zebras, giraffes, cape buffalo, wildebeest, hippos, ostrich, and more. The park is small when compared to other destinations in Kenya, so you won't see elephants roaming around (co-located with the park is an elephant orphanage that is highly recommended). Purchase your ticket at the front gate off of Langata Road. When I visited, the non-resident rate was USD 60 per person. There is a minor charge for your vehicle if you self-drive.
Many companies offer guided tours around the park, and this might be your best bet to maximize your chances of seeing lots of animals. I opted to skip the guide and driver and drove myself around the park. It is easy to get around and there are plenty of signs. With Nairobi's skyline to the north of the park visible from much of the area, it's easy to keep your bearings. The park is fenced on the north side to keep the animals from roaming into downtown. The roads can be very rough far into the park -- I would highly recommend a high clearance vehicle if you opt to drive yourself, and do so slowly. Make sure you have a good condition spare tire, jack, and tire iron just in case those rough roads result in a flat tire. I was glad I had mine handy.
Wildlife density in this park may not be what it is in some other Kenyan parks, but I was satisfied with my morning game drive. I saw two lions right away after entering on the western side of the park. On the day I visited, the eastern part of the park seemed to have more zebra and giraffes than the western part. Wildebeest, cape buffalo, various kinds of deer, impala, eland, and ostrich were plentiful throughout the park. I had a brief sighting of a black rhino before it moved out of sight. Even without a guide, I was happy with my experience and animal sightings.
Bring snacks, plenty of water, and most importantly your camera - you'll need it.
Kenya has a ton of safari opportunities that will beat Nairobi National Park when it comes to wildlife, scenic beauty, and bush vibe. However, the close proximity of this park to Nairobi and the ease of access make it a great option for anyone spending a day or two (or even a few hours) in the city. As a new resident of Nairobi, I see myself returning to this park monthly.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a lifetime
The same as Mr.Ulf Pålsson wrote before.
Both good and negative thoughts, however an experience that we will never forgett.
Best regards,
Mr Ulf and Mrs Marie Pålsson
The breathtaking beauty of the desert left me speechless.
I had high hopes of the park as a I like deserts. But the colours and shapes of the landscape far exceeded my expectations. I loved the Namib desert. It is surprising how animals can survive in such a harsh environment but they do. The sight of Oryx (in my view the most beautiful of the antelopes) set against the massive, golden dunes will stay with me forever. The lodge we stayed in was the friendliest and prettiest in our whole trip.
MY
Review about Lake Bogoria National Reserve by Ludoc007
Mainly large flocks of Flamingos, occasional wildlife
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Isabell
The park was quite nice, but after beeing in the Serengeti and Tarangire NP it had no "wow effect" on us. We still enjoyed a visit, but be aware that you won't necessarily see a lion even if the park claims to be the place where you can find lions on trees (which we saw before at Serengeti).
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Arusha National Park by Isabell
We didn't see that much animals at Arusha National Park (though it's always a matter of luck). But we still enjoyed the different landscape and beauty of this national park. We also booked a walking safari to the waterfall which was really a great experience. It's definitely something totally different (and worth doing) as you feel more like beeing a part of the nature than you would do sitting in a car. Moreover here you can find animals you won't see at the Serengeti such as colobus monkeys.
Great Trip - Can't Wait To Go Again!
Enjoyed a wonderful 8-day Kenyan Safari with three friends in March 2015 which was booked by Jacinta Amina at Breezy Tours & Travel. First night was in Nairobi followed by two nights at Elephant Bedroom Camp, a luxury tented camp in northern Kenya that was absolutely my favorite and I could have stayed there the whole time! Next a night in Proini Rhino Camp, the most primitive of the camps, with an exciting bushwalk accompanied by the Maasai Warriors and a game drive in an open side vehicle with a stop for “sundowners” at sunset. Then on to Sarova Lion Hill Lodge at Lake Nakuru for two nights to see the flocks of flamingos and enjoy the nightly local entertainment. Our last camp was Sarova Mara Game Camp in Maasai Mara ~ wow! Lions, leopards, cheetah, elephants, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest…you name it they had it! Our drive Peter Wainaina was exceptional and helped us get to all the right spots for the very best photos. The only issue we experienced was half of the payment for the hot air balloon safari portion of our trip was Enjoyed a wonderful 8-day Kenyan Safari with three friends in March 2015 which was booked by Jacinta Amina at Breezy Tours & Travel. First night was in Nairobi followed by two nights at Elephant Bedroom Camp, a luxury tented camp in northern Kenya that was absolutely my favorite and I could have stayed there the whole time! Next a night in Proini Rhino Camp, the most primitive of the camps, with an exciting bushwalk accompanied by the Maasai Warriors and a game drive in an open side vehicle with a stop for “sundowners” at sunset. Then on to Sarova Lion Hill Lodge at Lake Nakuru for two nights to see the flocks of flamingos and enjoy the nightly local entertainment. Our last camp was Sarova Mara Game Camp in Maasai Mara ~ wow! Lions, leopards, cheetah, elephants, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest…you name it they had it! Our drive Peter Wainaina was exceptional and helped us get to all the right spots for the very best photos. The only issue we experienced was half of the payment for the hot air balloon safari portion of our trip was NOT paid to the vendor, so only 2 of the 4 travelers were able to experience what should have been the highlight of our trip, and then it took Breezy Tours & Travel almost two months to wire the appropriate refund, but it was finally received along with repeated apologies. Bottom line – great trip and I can’t wait to go again!
IN
June may not be the best time to visit
June, being the time of the year just before the Migration, was not the best time to visit. The grass was very high and smaller big cats like Cheetahs and Leopards were impossible to spot in the grass growth.
Still the bigger wildlife like Wildebeests, Buffaloes, Elephants and Giraffes were almost common without compromising on the 'wild' feel. Lions were quite easy to spot but the Male lions were quite elusive.