Safari to Kenya

Get ready to give your heart to incredible Kenya. A visit to East Africa will leave you forever changed for the better. You’ve heard this before for a multitude of destinations but Kenya is the real thing and Africa is calling.

Where do you even begin? Do you settle on one country or add more to your itinerary? In our case, we were scuba diving in the Red Sea a week prior and heading down to Kenya was an easy choice. Taking a red-eye flight from Cairo had us in Kenya by sun up. Our tour partner left our scuba gear in their closet in Nairobi and we were headed off to the local airport to hop one of many flights aboard Safarilink Airways. There are many national reserves in Kenya therefore having it as your main country or home base allows for you to see the country as if it were many countries in one landmass. Jumping off to Botswana or Tanzania is a breeze as well.

Honestly, you are here for the animals mixed with a bit of r & r both at your fingertips. We started in Amboseli National Reserve in a beautiful lodge. We had famous bull elephant Tusker Tim bathing in the pond by the pool daily and the lodge was on its’ own conservatory which is a key element to getting the most out of your safari experience. Tim was a remarkable Amboseli elephant and one of the last bit tuskers dying at age 50 in 2020. He roamed with the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro behind him and we were so lucky to have him as part of the story of our trip.

Amboseli is a firm contrast to our next stop, the Masai Mara National Reserve also called The Mara. Amboseli’s animals are typically easy to find and the families of elephants who roam this area were abound and multi-generational. We saw so many baby Ellies this time of year the Richter scale for cuteness was on overdrive. In contract the Masai Mara is all about rolling grasslands and wide open spaces. Think about the movie Out of Africa and you are spot on . Our lodge was located very close to where much of the film was shot with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep (1985). We loved having different locales to experience with so much wildlife to boot. Some of the best game drives are early in the morning; a quick biscuit and coffee to-go aboard your truck to keep your belly happy and you are off. Upon your return you’ll have a full breakfast and perhaps a nap or dip in the pool. We loved sunset into evening game drives where the lions spotted us with their glowing eyes. Ending the drive on the riverbank filled with noisy hippos was truly something we will never forget. Simply know you are here for the animals and follow the instructions from the stellar guides on when and where to spot them, you can sleep later!

A safari vacation really is for everyone. You can experience it on different levels as well. Perhaps you prefer a spa day or lounging by the pool having a Tusker Cider or gin and tonic while your family is off in the wild. Maybe you need a good lie in and want most of your game drives after breakfast. It can happen anyway you like and at your own pace. I could have spent all day and night with my binoculars, Sony camera, hat, dirt in my hair and my jaw dropped soaking up as much of Kenya as possible. Kenya is stamped on my heart.

The Journey Set will match you with the lodge and safari that is right for your budget and your pace. You can never plan too early for African safari and timing is key. Always book through The Journey Set to score your amenities with your stay!

Arriving at the Safari Link Airstrip, Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya

Gateway City: Nairobi, Kenya (NBO)

Best Time of Year to Visit: Kenya is a year-round destination. We visited during the Christmas holidays and it was a treat to see the lodges decorated for the season. The weather was perfect. If you want to catch the great migration it can begin in July with the river crossing occurring in August through September. It’s quite a sight but can also lend to lazy animals with so many prey easily displayed in front of them and booked lodges. We enjoyed seeing animals truly on the hunt outside of the migration period.

Enjoying a Gorgeous Sundowner Sunset in Amboseli

East African Safari’s Are Perfect For:
- Couples
- Families
- Solo Travel
- Soft Adventure Travel
- Multi-Generational Travel

Breakfast in the Masai Mara After An Early Game Drive

Best Dining Experience: The photo above says it best!

The Elephants of Amboseli National Reserve, Our Tented Camp Masai Mara

The Journey Set Recommends: Since our trip was at the holiday, we witnessed many families with smaller children travelling together. Some prefer to wait for children to be mature enough to have patience on game drives especially when you could journey out for hours and not see what you are looking for. This takes patience and the ability to enjoy the ride. Keeping that in mind we wish to take our girls on this epic journey before they get too old as they are great travelers and we know they would treasure seeing these animals in their magical natural habitats. Bottom line, you know your kids best. I cannot recommend a safari enough as one of the most unique and memorable trips to take as a family. Knowing the best lodges that match kids needs is what The Journey Set excels at. If your family can make the time, don’t hesitate any longer to take the trip of a lifetime!
A visit to the esteemed David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a must do which I recommend on the backend of your vacation. You may have seen this story on 60 Minutes (CBS) or read about their heartwarming work in years past. By adopting your elephant, you get afterhours access to the haven for orphaned elephants and rhinos. We jumped on adopting Dololo who we were able to visit and got up close and personal with Emoli who was nothing but trouble!