Solo trip to Kenya: questions about lodges and safaris

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to go to Kenya next year for a safari trip across a few parks. I’ll be traveling solo!

I’m having trouble understanding how lodges and safaris work! My first questions are:

1-Do I need to find an agency that handles lodges and safaris? Or 2-Should I book lodges through Expedia or similar and then reserve activities (safaris or others) that these lodges offer?

This will help me figure out how to organize everything and whether I should focus on an agency or the lodges themselves.

Thanks!

Hello Xenonypsylon There are different ways to organize your safari in Kenya:

-Either you book through an agency or an independent guide with whom you define an itinerary and accommodations. They’ll then provide you with a quote that generally includes: vehicle rental and guide services, park and reserve entry fees, and full-board accommodations.

-Or you choose to rent a vehicle yourself and book your accommodations (via booking sites or directly with camps or lodges). In this case, you can do the game drives (the time you spend in the parks looking for animals) either on your own (though some experience is helpful) or ask the camp to organize them when you book (this will likely cost more than having your own vehicle and guide, but you’ll have someone who knows the area very well).

-Afterward, especially if you’re familiar with the destination, you can mix the options: personally, we travel with an independent guide (all game drives are done with them), but we book some accommodations directly since we now know them well...

What dates are you planning to go? Have you already set your itinerary? Depending on the season and the places you choose, accommodations may need to be booked sooner or later...

To give you an idea of what a safari in Kenya can be like, I suggest checking out different travel journals. A few examples: https://www.routard.com/forums/t/karibu-kenya-fevrier-2022/296226 https://www.routard.com/forums/t/evasion-au-kenya-entre-deux-confinements/276792/2 http://www.colorsofwildlife.net/forum/index.php/topic,19322.0.html https://voyageforum.com/forum/kenya-hors-sentiers-battus-d9781073/

Happy planning and have a great day!

First of all, thanks Sylvie—your message was really detailed and helped me understand the situation better.

I’m just at the very beginning of planning, but I’d like to go not during peak tourist season, but rather during a migration period.

For now, I’ve spotted this guide: https://safari-kenya-magique.com/, and I’ve briefly exchanged with them.

I want to mix high-end lodges with rustic camps to get a really complete experience. But of course, as responsibly as possible.

Hi there, From what I know, the only migration (for mammals) you can observe in Kenya is that of the wildebeest (accompanied by zebras), which generally takes place every year in the Maasai Mara from late July to late September (the dates can vary slightly each year). This corresponds to the high season in this area... so don’t expect to see the migration without plenty of other tourists around. Also, the entry fees for this reserve have skyrocketed recently in an attempt to limit "overtourism," which is harming the area. Fortunately, Kenya still has other, less explored and much wilder places with stunning landscapes and interesting wildlife.

Based on what I saw on their website, the guide you’re in touch with is actually a tour operator. I think they used to be a guide and definitely know Kenya inside out. They organize safaris, but I’m not sure if they accompany every one—ask them about that. They offer very classic itineraries, except for the "Forgotten Trails of Kenya." That project seems a bit unrealistic to me: spending just half a day in Aberdare... and in 9 days, going to Meru, Lake Turkana, Samburu...

A tip: try to decide for yourself which places you’d like to visit. Check if the itinerary is doable in terms of travel time. Then ask for quotes from different tour operators or guides.

High-end accommodations will be very, very expensive. It’s not always easy to find truly rustic camps in the parks or reserves unless you go camping with self-catering, which requires a different kind of organization. If you go to Samburu, I recommend Samburu Riverside Camp. It’s not often offered by tour operators, but it’s an authentic place to stay—rarely owned by a local—and right in the heart of the reserve.

Happy planning!

Hello,

If I may add something:

- Do LITTLE, but do it WELL!!! -

Let me explain: to make many wildlife discoveries and see interesting scenes, it’s NO USE rushing from reserve to reserve!! It’s better, for example over 2 weeks, to choose a maximum of 3 reserves and spend time there (3 or 4 nights in each). From a safari perspective, the trips between reserves don’t add anything and take UP A LOT of time. And in Kenya, with the local driving style, it’s really anxiety-inducing.

Most reserves are huge and can’t be explored in 1 or 2 days. Plus, it’s best to give your driver/guide time to gather the latest interesting info about possible sightings. And even when taking exactly the same routes in a reserve, no two days are ever the same. Finally, it’s often by setting off early without the hassle of repacking and loading luggage that you make the best discoveries—plus, there’s the magic of having breakfast in the bush, on the hood of the vehicle, around 9 AM after 2 hours of safari....!!

Happy thinking, and make the right choices (your own).

Best regards.

...

Thanks so much! With your help, I understand the situation better now and can search more specifically!

Hello, Following this discussion, I’ve found some really interesting information. Thanks, Sylvie. Does anyone know of a guide for visiting Tsavo and Amboseli?

Is a guide necessary for Samburu, or can we do it on our own?

Thanks so much for any tips you can share. Best regards

Hi, The road between Nairobi and Samburu isn’t particularly difficult. Inside the reserve, it all depends on your experience: knowing the safety rules (especially for encounters with elephants) and being able to spot animals on your own. You can also ask at the camp to do game drives with a local guide (but then you won’t save any money). If you rent a car, make sure the GPS works (or download Maps.me), that the tires are in good condition, and that there’s a working jack (flat tires are common on the tracks). Happy planning!

Hi Sylvie,

Would you happen to have any car rental companies to recommend? We're looking for a 4x4 with a roof tent for a self-drive trip. Thanks so much!

Sorry, but I don’t have any 4x4 rental contacts to recommend... happy searching!

Hi Sylvie,

Would you happen to have any car rental companies to recommend? We're looking for a 4x4 with a rooftop tent for a self-drive trip. Thanks a lot!

Hi,

In Tanzania, I booked a car through Roadtrip Africa (https://bookings.roadtripafrica.com/) back in June 2022. They also have cars in Kenya. Everything went smoothly on my end.