Safaris

Safaris

If you’re in Kenya going for a safari trip to one of the big parks is an unmissable experience.

Advice for solo travellers & nomads considering safaris

  • Ask in our WhatsApp group if anyone else is planning a safari;
  • Don’t book before you have arrived in Kenya, local agencies will be significantly better value than international options;
  • When booking make sure that your car will be a Land Cruiser with a radio, this will significantly increase your chances of seeing animals as the drivers all talk to each other;
  • Cost is primarily driven by the number of days and your level of accommodation, if looking at multi-day consider one day in more fancy in-park accommodation and 1-2 days outside the park in better value options;
  • Do not try and visit too many parks in one go, even going to two parks across four days is a stretch and a lot of driving;

Shimba Hills Reserve

The closest park to Diani Shimba hills is only around 45 minutes by car. It’s very easy to organise a trip there and they have a great selection of wildlife.

While it is one of the smaller parks and does not have any big cats it does have a great selection of wildlife and is right on our doorstep. Great for a day out and can be combined with a visit to Sheldrick waterfalls.

Animals include: Endangered Sable Antelope, Elephants, Giraffes, Leopard, Genet, Civet cat, Hyenas, Waterbuck, Bush pig, Buffalo, African Bush Baby, Bushbuck, Coastal Black and white Colobus, Blue Duiker, Bush Duiker, Red Duiker, Greater Galago,Black-faced Vervet Monkey, Sykes Monkey, Serval cat, Black and Red Shrew.

Tsavo West & East National Park

Tsavo park is around a 4-5 hour drive from Diani. Tsavo East is the largest national park in Kenya making the two combined a great place to see a huge range of wildlife.

Accomodation examples

  • Satoa Camp – Tented camp inside the park – High end
  • Voi Lodge – Hotel on the edge of the park with watering hole ±22k
  • Taita Rocks Hotel – Basic hotel outside the park, good value

Animals include: Leopard, Cheetah, Wild dogs, Buffalo, Rhino (v.rare to see), Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Lion,Crocodile, Mongoose, Hyrax, Dik- dik, Lesser Kudu, and Nocturnal Porcupine. Prolific birdlife features 600 species.

Amboseli National Park

One of the smaller parks Amboseli boasts an amazing range of animals in a relatively small space. This is great if you’re short on time as a single day with a few game drives and you will usually get to see a lot of wildlife.

Its best known for its elephant population with over 1,000 living in the park and the amazing backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Animals include: Leopard, Cheetah, Wild dogs, Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Lion, Crocodile, Mongoose, Hyrax, Dik- dik, Lesser Kudu, and Nocturnal Porcupine. Prolific birdlife features 600 species.

Masai Mara

The Maasai Mara, often called simply “The Mara,” is a renowned wildlife reserve in southwestern Kenya, contiguous with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. This iconic safari destination is famous for its incredible biodiversity and stunning landscapes, which include rolling savannahs, acacia trees, and the Mara River.

One of its most spectacular events is the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and other herbivores cross the plains in search of fresh grazing grounds, attracting numerous predators and offering an unparalleled wildlife spectacle.

Animals include: The Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and approx 120 rhinos), as well as cheetahs, zebras, and countless other species.