Kenya - January 2025 - Tsavo East - Tsavo West - Samburu - Meru NP - Aberdare NP

Hi Gérard, Thanks for pointing out the eagle—I’ll fix that!

Like Didier, you were lucky enough to spot a serval in the Aberdares... one of my unrealized dreams still...

Hi there, could you share your usual guide’s WhatsApp number, please? 😊 I was in Kenya recently and want to go back solo this time. My main reason for loving this country—aside from its wildlife and landscapes—is the mild temperatures (20–25°C max) in the many national parks that are at higher altitudes. Thanks in advance!

Hi there,

Since advertising isn’t allowed on the forum, I won’t be sharing our guide’s contact details—sorry about that!

A few photos from Aberdare to wrap up this travel journal.

The buffaloes are impressive:









The elephants too:







A mountain bee-eater:





Jackson’s francolin:

Hi Sylvie, according to my Kenyan guide, those are the most aggressive white buffaloes. Your photos are stunning, but I hope you had a serious zoom lens to take them from a distance—because if you were up close with the elephants, you took some reckless risks. Best regards!!!

Hi Sylvie,

Two beautiful elephants, including the one (probably her!) with the colorful back!! Another stunning bee-eater, a "variant" I wasn’t familiar with. Such lovely encounters. Thanks.

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Can’t wait for early October...

Thanks for appreciating the photos! No worries, the lens is sufficient (between 200 and 800mm) to avoid getting too close to the animals and disturbing them.

I was in Kenya recently and honestly, I didn’t feel safe even though the 4x4 was properly locked and the guide was really competent. When you’re hemmed in by other 4x4s—like 8 to 10 of them—around elephants, lions, or other wildlife, there’s no way to back up or leave if an animal loses its cool. But I’m still dying to go back, especially since the temperatures are so mild at higher altitudes. It’s key to avoid the scorching heat, especially in Africa.

Thanks Alain,

We continue with an augur buzzard.



Fischer’s lovebird – male



White-headed buffalo weavers





A male harnessed bushbuck



At the lodge "The Ark," there’s a hide on the ground floor that lets you take photos of animals coming to the watering hole. Okay, it’s not exactly "wildlife photography" anymore, but it does let you observe them without disturbing them.



Lots of Defassa waterbucks:

A few more photos taken from the hide in the evening:

Harnessed bushbucks:





Genet



That’s it for the last images from this trip.

On our way back to Nairobi, there were heavy rains, and we found out our Air France flight was delayed by 12 hours. Since Ben isn’t retired yet, this forced him to adjust his schedule. We were transferred to the Argyle Hotel (near the airport and much more luxurious than the accommodations we usually book). Plus, the delay got us compensation... enough to treat ourselves to another flight... back to Kenya ;)

A big thank you to everyone who followed this travel journal: *Kwaheri* (goodbye in Swahili) and have a great weekend!

Thanks Sylvie for this really enjoyable travel journal to follow. Looking forward to the next one! [;)]

I thought the weather conditions didn’t allow for compensation 🤪... unless your delay had another reason

Good evening,

Another stunning marvel of nature, this Guib harnaché!! And that encounter with the Collious and their very unique way of perching...

Thanks, Sylvie, for the whole story. Happy planning for your next trip/safari!

Best,

Puma2A

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Hi Muriel,

So it wasn’t weather-related after all that disrupted this flight. The plane coming from Paris had a technical issue that required a change of aircraft. The pilots hadn’t had enough rest by the time they arrived in Nairobi.

We’re familiar with the problem because we still have an ongoing complaint with Air France from our 2023 trip. Our first flight was canceled due to weather, but there was a second issue because we couldn’t take the flight Air France rebooked us on (check-in deadline problem at CDG with Ethiopian Airlines). We ended up losing two days of our safari. We filed a complaint with the tourism and travel mediator, who advised Air France to compensate us for the second part of the trip, but so far, Air France has refused to follow that recommendation...

We had therefore lost 2 days of safari.

I still remember that misadventure. Hopefully the refund will be quicker this time!

Hi everyone. This link might help a lot of people, I hope (everything is explained for getting a refund no matter the circumstances), as long as you follow it to the letter. (And it’s free!) 😊 https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/

Thanks for this useful link [:)]

Thanks Sylvie for this travel journal, always a pleasure to see and revisit images of Kenya 😊 That genet is gorgeous 👍

We’d lost 2 days of safari.

I remember that mishap. Hopefully the refund will be quicker this time!

Hi Muriel,

Yes, this time the refund was really quick. The issue was clearly identified and wasn’t a "weather-related cause." All I had to do was submit an online request on the Air France website.

That works well for you then! [:)]

Hi Sylvie,

In a month, we’re leaving for a trip very similar to the one you described here. The eTA was a bit of a hassle, but it’s done and approved.

Best regards,

And for you, when’s it happening?

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Hi Sylvie, I just read and admired all your photos and thought I’d reach out with a few questions. We’re regulars in Africa, but this will be our first time in Kenya. With the help of some guidebooks, we’ve planned this itinerary (skipping the Masai Mara since we were in the Serengeti last year): Lake Naivasha: 2 nights Lake Bogoria: 2 nights Aberdare: 3 nights Samburu: 3 nights Meru: 2 nights Tsavo West: 3 nights Tsavo East: 2 nights Amboseli: 3 nights

We’re renting a vehicle with a rooftop tent and heading out on our own, no guide. We plan to camp, with 1 or 2 nights in a lodge for showers and to give our backs a break! I’m a bit unsure about Lake Bogoria—is it doable? Thanks so much for your help! Have a great Sunday, Brigitte

Hello,

Since advertising isn't allowed on the forum, I can't post our guide's contact details, sorry

Hi, could you send me your guide's contact info in a PM, please? Thanks!!!

Hi Sylvie, I just read and admired all your photos, and I’m reaching out with a few questions. We’re regulars in Africa, but this will be our first time in Kenya. With the help of guidebooks, we’ve planned this itinerary (skipping the Masai Mara since we were in the Serengeti last year): Lake Naivasha: 2 nights Lake Bogoria: 2 nights Aberdare: 3 nights Samburu: 3 nights Meru: 2 nights Tsavo West: 3 nights Tsavo East: 2 nights Amboseli: 3 nights

We’re renting a vehicle with a rooftop tent and traveling solo, without a guide. We plan to camp, with 1 or 2 nights in a lodge for showers and to rest our backs! I’m a bit unsure about Lake Bogoria. Is it doable? Thanks for your help! Have a great Sunday, Brigitte

Hi Brigitte,

We’ve just returned from another safari—so many photos to sort through because the wildlife encounters were amazing!

Regarding your plans, it’s been 15 years since we last visited Bogoria or Baringo. I remember that back then, the direct route from Samburu wasn’t safe—you had to go via Nakuru. I’m not sure if that route has been secured since… There are still conflicts and livestock thefts in the area.

The drive from Samburu to Meru takes less than 3 hours. However, you’ll need to plan a stop between Meru and Tsavo East (Embu, for example). It’s better to start with Tsavo East, then West, to get closer to Amboseli.

When is your trip planned for?

A little personal tip: In Samburu, you can camp at https://www.sambururiversidecamp.com/. The facilities are cleaner than the public campsite (which is nearby). Wilson cooks really well. Tell him you’re friends of Ben and Sylvie, and he might take you to see the kudus that hang out just a few dozen meters from the camp.

Also, note that you can now move between Samburu and Buffalo Springs without paying the reserve entrance fee again. You can use the bridge connecting the two reserves—it’s 500 meters from the camp.

Have a fantastic trip!

Tell him you’re from Ben and Sylvie and he might take you to see the kudus that are settled just a few dozen meters from the camp.

Hi, We caught a glimpse—just 2-3 seconds—of these two female greater kudus near the camp exit one morning a week ago, but didn’t have time to take any photos. They were the only greater kudus we saw during our stay. I mentioned to the manager when we arrived that you’d recommended his camp, but he never offered to take us closer (are they in an enclosure???)

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Hi Alain,

Were you at Samburu Riverside? Usually MPS goes to Sopa Lodge, if I remember correctly?

The kudus are completely free. They can move around as they please but often stay close to the camp because they feel safe there... When we were there, they were with their young just a few dozen meters from the camp. Maybe you didn’t explicitly tell Wilson that you’d like to get closer to them? Otherwise, I think he would’ve taken you...

You were at Samburu Riverside? Usually MPS goes to Sopa Lodge, right?

- I had planned my itinerary and chosen the lodges/camps based on your tips and recommendations!!

- And when we saw those Greater Kudu females, no one imagined for a second that by asking the manager, it would be possible to see them up close... We didn’t see any others in the 4 reserves we visited. On the other hand, I finally managed to get photos of Lesser Kudu pretty much everywhere else (which I’d never been able to do on all my previous safaris).

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Hello,

Everyone in this forum is eagerly awaiting your latest travel report.

I might post one here too about our Kenyan trip, but I’ll wait until after yours.

Best regards, Puma2A



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Hello,

Everyone on this forum is eagerly awaiting your new report on your latest trip.

...

Hi everyone, and thanks Alain,

This latest safari was truly packed with incredible encounters, and sorting through the photos is taking me ages... Plus, there are so many images that I’m not sure which site I’ll use for this new travel journal (Voyage Forum’s limit is 300)...



Meru NP