Podcast conversation with Warren Wright.
Warren was fresh back from a trip to Kenya and gave us up-to-date insights on the country’s wildlife, experiences, and lodges. As I have my own family safari planned to Kenya for next summer, I shared a few of the things we’ll be doing and some of the places we’ll be staying.
Kenya is known for its wildlife including wildebeest, cheetah, lion, elephant, hippos and it’s one of the best places to see rhinos. One of the crazy things I learned today from Warren is that during one time of the year 1 1/2 million wildebeests are giving birth within 3-4 days! Just imagine what that would be like to witness.
EXPERIENCES
Of course, there are game drives. But in Kenya, there are so many more things to do!
- Game walks
- Horse back riding
- Mountain biking
- Learning to use a Masai bow and arrow
- Picnics
- Sundowners
- Spending time with the Masai and Samburu tribes
- Beading and jewelry making
- Fly camping under the stars
- ATV riding
Some of Warren’s favorites include:
- Visiting the Elephant Orphanages
- The Great Migration
- Observing the singing wells
- Camel trekking and fly camping
- Mountain biking or horse riding amongst the wildlife
OTT (over the top ideas)
- The only way to see the North of Kenya without spending days by road or by staying in below par accommodations is by doing a day trip by helicopter to visit the Sugata Valley and Lake Turkana.
- Other helicopter excursions could be up to the slopes of the second highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kenya for some trout fishing in Lake Alice, and a picnic lunch before heading back to the lodge in the afternoon.
- Take flight in a replica of the yellow biplane Robert Redford flew in the classic film “out of Africa” over the savanna.
- Private viewing of Out of Africa on a projector screen over dinner in a room filled with props from the movie.
- Private romantic picnics.
- A hot Air balloon safari over the Masai Mara during the migration to get a different perspective of what a million wildebeest look like spread out over the plains.
A few of our favorite lodges, camps, and hotels:
Nairobi:
There are so many safari camps and the right one for you is dependent on a variety of factors. I love seeking out lodges with starbeds, pools, and non-safari, downtime activities for my family clients.
Masai Mara:
Others:
- Sirikoi Lewa Wilderness **Evening horse and camel rides to see zebra and giraffe
- Segera Retreat **has the muppet-looking treehouse
- Ol Donyo – (R&C)
Takeaway tips/info
- Kenya has two rainy seasons each year, the long rains from March to May and the short rains from October to December.
- Kenya can be easily combined with a gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda.
- It can also easily be combined with Tanzania to give the best possible chance of seeing the migration.
- Although we don’t include it much, for keen big game fisherman Kenya offers excellent sailfish, marlin, and tuna fishing mainly from September to March.
- The Great Migration occurs normally from August to October in The Masai Mara.
Interested in a brainstorming about a trip to Kenya? Fill out the trip inquiry form HERE.