Before my first trip to
Kenya, I’d done a little reading, but nothing could have really prepared me for
what I was about to experience. When our tiny 12-seater touched down on the
dirt runway in Amboseli National Park, roughly 140 miles
south of Nairobi, I was giddy with excitement. Zebra calves were leaping in the
air, and two giraffe heads peeked out nervously from behind an acacia tree. In
fact, the plane was forced to circle the airstrip three times before landing,
due to wandering animals.
I was immediately thrown
into the wild. Not that I would’ve had it any other way — on the dusty drive
over to Ol Donyo Lodge, I scanned the landscape like I
was seeing Earth for the first time: flat, dry, streaked with gold and green,
and above it all, hidden behind a cloud, Mount Kilimanjaro, the continent’s
tallest peak. Within a few hours of settling in, I watched as monkeys, impala,
elephants and giraffe all paraded by, less than 200 feet from my bed.
“Most people here are
first-time guests,” said Jackson Lemunge, my guide on the first day, “And those
who are repeat guests are back for a reason. They want to see the same thing.”
In Swahili, safari
literally means “journey,” and for most of us, a place like Kenya is about as
far from home as you can get. The element of surprise is a cornerstone of the
whole experience. Still, there are a few items of business you’ll want to get
under your belt. Unless otherwise noted, this list references the safari
experience in general, so the following guidelines will help you with any trip,
whether you’re traveling in Kenya, Botswana or South Africa.
Figure out your visa situation
Tourist visas are
required for American travelers entering Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, but not for Botswana or South Africa. In most cases, they can be
purchased online and printed out ahead of time. It’s best to be prepared
— I was able to buy my visa in-person at Jomo Kenyaata International
Airport when I arrived in Nairobi, but I had to pay the $50 fee in cash. Credit
cards weren’t accepted, and the ATM in the arrivals hall wasn’t very reliable.
Don’t leave vaccines until the last minute
It’s a good idea to make
an appointment with your doctor at least one month before a trip to Africa,
since some vaccines take a few weeks to kick in. Like in other developing parts
of the world, typhoid is a risk here, as is hepatitis A and yellow fever, so all of those vaccines are recommended. As for malaria,
your doctor will be able to talk you through the different antimalarial pills.
Some travelers, myself included, after learning about adverse side effects like
nausea and intense dreams, opt not to take any. Instead, I relied on
nonpharmaceutical prevention methods: bed nets while sleeping, exposing as
little skin as possible during dusk hours (when mosquitoes are most active) and
treating my clothes with Permethrin spray before my trip.
If you’re unsure about
which vaccines are required, Passport Health is a good resource,
whether you’re traveling to Africa or anywhere else.
Pack light
Here’s the quick advice:
pack as little as possible. Not only will the small planes refuse bags heavier
than 33 pounds, you simply don’t need a lot of stuff. You’re dressing for
comfort here, not style.
During the morning and
afternoon, when you’re out on game drives, plan on lightweight, light-colored
pants and a t-shirt. I’ve heard several theories on why neutral tones are
recommended (they won’t show dirt and dust, mosquitoes can’t camouflage easily
against them), but that’s the standard. It gets chilly in the evenings, so pack
layers. You’ll also need a wide-brim hat (Tilley is
a solid brand) and good walking boots (they’re more resilient against the dust,
and will be needed if you go on any walking safaris). For women, a pashmina is
a good idea, too.
Bring a sweater, a
raincoat, some high-factor sunscreen, insect repellent with DEET, a flashlight
and some wet wipes. All lodges will provide bottled water, though only the
high-end ones tend to supply extras like binoculars and plug adapters.
Know how to amuse yourself
Since animals are most
active when the sun’s going up or coming down, game drives
typically happen early in the morning and late in the afternoon. That
leaves plenty of downtime during midday and after dinner. And since most lodges
and camps use generators, which only run in the morning and late evening, you
can’t always rely on electricity for entertainment. Instead, plan on board
games, a pack of cards, a book or magazine (this is your chance to catch up on
all those old New Yorkers you have lying around), or good,
old-fashioned conversation to pass the time.
Bring a real camera...
This may sound obvious,
but when you’re riding horseback through the plains of southern Kenya and
giraffe are casually sauntering by like supermodels at a Victoria’s Secret
after-party, you’re going to want a camera. A real one, with a good lens and
some spare memory cards. I assumed my puny iPhone 6S would have the bandwidth
to capture all the spectacular scenery and wildlife I was seeing, and that was
a mistake.
One day in Maasai Mara,
after staking out for 15 minutes next to a tree with a leopard in it, the damn
thing climbed down and came within two feet of our Jeep. I could’ve reached
down and pet him on the head, he was that close. My Instagram video was certainly
nothing to laugh at, but compared to the guy next to me snapping away with his
Nikon, I felt like an amateur.
...and a notepad, too
Call me a nerd (or a
journalist), but I can’t help writing down all the useful bits of information I
learn while on the road. In Kenya, I had my mind blown practically every hour.
Did you know elands (a kind of antelope) can jump 7 feet high in the air from
standstill? Or that cheetahs, the fastest animal in the world, can accelerate
to 90 km/hour in just 3 seconds? Or that a single elephant creates 155 kg of
dung on the daily? Once I got home, my notes made it easier to annoy friends
with a truly random stream of fun — and useless — safari facts. (As it turns
out, the hunting habits of lions sound way less interesting when you’re not
actually seeing the hunt take place.)
Get to know your guide
Which brings me to an
important aspect of any safari: your guide. For three days in Chyulu Hills
National Park, my group was led around by Lemunge, a deeply knowledgeable
Maasai man who was also an aspiring wildlife photographer. When it got cold, he
unpacked blankets for us to wrap ourselves in. When he spotted a lion paw print
in the dirt road, he drove out of his way to find it.
Once, at the end of a
daunting trek through some lava tubes up in Chyulu Hills, we enjoyed
an impromptu cocktail hour, with drinks poured from a makeshift bar on the hood
of our Jeep. This is typical. As the only staffer who spends the entire day
with you, your guide acts as a driver, storyteller, bartender, chaperone and
naturalist, all rolled into one. The better relationship you have, the smoother
and more enriching your safari will be. (As for tipping, that’s at your own
discretion, though $10 per person per day is what’s recommended, and can be
given in USD or Kenyan Shillings on the final day.)
Show some manners
A sign was posted around
one of the lodges we visited in Samburu National Reserve, Elephant Bedroom Camp, that read: “Wild Animals Are Dangerous!
Guests Are Advised To Keep To the Floodlit Path After Dark.” This was entirely
for our benefit: Elephants, which are beautiful but can get aggressive when
startled or threatened, roam freely through the property at all hours of the
day. Once, on my way to dinner, a staffer scolded me for traveling the short
distance between my tent and the dining room unattended. Didn’t I know Mantiga,
a 26-year-old bull, was chomping on some leaves nearby? I gave a nervous smile
as the guard, armed with a rifle, escorted me the rest of the way.
The same goes for pretty
much everything else about being on safari: Be respectful. When the guide tells
you not to wander to the edge of the river because crocodiles could be hiding
in mud holes along the banks, or not to stick your arms out of the Jeep, you
listen. These animals aren’t trained performers and this isn’t a zoo. You’re in
their home, you play by their rules.
Drink up
Having said that, your
safari guide wants you to relax. That’s why every afternoon, like clockwork, in
the space between the second game drive and dinner, there’s something called a
“sundowner,” which usually consists of gin and tonic, but other spirits have
been known to make an appearance.
The ritual dates back
to British colonial rule, but apparently no one’s
grown tired of it yet. And why would they? Driving out to a spectacular
location in the middle of nowhere for unlimited booze while the sun goes down —
that’s an excellent way to close out the day. Plus, after rumbling around for
hours in a hot Jeep scouring the bush for black rhinos and leopards, you’re
going to have plenty of stories to swap.
Stoke your curiosity
“Village visits,” often
a built-in part of the itinerary, are one of the non-animal activities you’ll
do on safari. The style and fee (usually around $20 per person) varies from
country to country, but typically consists of a coordinated visit to a rural
tribe, with some or all of the money going back to the village. You’ll be
greeted with a traditional dance, performed by natives in their bright red
tunics and beaded jewelry. This is followed by a walk through the dwellings
(which, in our case, consisted of a dozen mud-and-stick huts) and a chance to
purchase souvenirs like necklaces, wooden statues and tribal masks.
Yes, the whole thing
felt a little staged. But rather than stand around gawking uncomfortably, I
treated this like cultural immersion 101. I had a million questions about
tribal life in rural Kenya, and here were people who could give me direct
answers. With our guide acting as translator, I fired away: is it true they
drank cow’s blood? (Yes, but only mixed with milk.) How many wives can a man
take? (Up to five.) What holds those huts together? (Cow poop.)
Save money with an off-season visit
The July wildebeest
migration is a sight to behold. But don’t limit your safari
to one month of the year. In Maasai Mara, arguably Kenya’s best and busiest
terrain for wildlife spotting, the lions, leopards and elephants are here
year-round, and they’re often easier to see when the migration isn’t happening,
said Tyler Davis, the director at Angama Mara. In fact, the rainy season (March
to May) can actually be a great time to visit. “You’ll have the whole Mara to
yourself. The fields are super green, the animals are fat, and the
thunderstorms each afternoon are incredible to watch,” he said. Not to mention,
there are discounted rates.
Most hotels in the area
hover around $400 to $600 a night during peak season (July to October), but in
the off season, those prices drop significantly. Which is how you could end up
with an all-inclusive stay at one of Kenya’s most exclusive lodges with private
balconies, a 24-hour open bar in the lobby and gourmet cuisine, all for half
the price.
At the invitation of the Kenya Tourism Board, destinations editor Eric Moya recently traveled throughout the East African nation, visiting several of its wildlife parks and reserves. Pictured, a sundowner safari with Ol Donyo Lodge, located on a private conservancy among the Chyulu Hills outside Amboseli National Park.
Impalas on the Ol Donyo grounds. 
A Masai giraffe spotted during an Ol Donyo safari. 
Cheetah brothers watch a fellow resident during an Ol Donyo safari. 
Grevy's zebras at the Samburu National Reserve. The Grevy's is distinguished by its narrower stripes. 
A waterbuck picks up speed in Maasai Mara National Reserve. 
A herd of buffalo in Maasai Mara. 
Lion cubs in Maasai Mara. 
A hippo pauses while grazing in Maasai Mara. 
A pack of elephants in Maasai Mara. 
A female lion guards a recent kill nearby in Maasai Mara. 
Meanwhile, hyenas wait for the lion to abandon her prize. 
A rhino in Maasai Mara. 
A leopard eyes potential prey in the distance in Maasai Mara.
