Kenya Holidays Blog

Last year I visited the Masai Mara, where I took the photographs that I used to create the FREE Kenya Safari Screensaver, and had an absolutely wonderful time.

I went in November but if you are thinking of taking a safari then now might be the best time to go.

From June until August the most spectacular part of probably the world’s largest migrations sees millions of wildebeest, zebra and predators cross the treacherous, crocodile infested Mara, Grumeti and Mbalanget rivers and onwards onto the Masai Mara.

Our guide, Joram, who’s voice you can hear on the soundclip on the Kenya Podcast player told us that we should return when the plains were “black with animals”.

You can take a 2 night Masai Mara whilst enjoying your Kenya beach holiday. Please feel free to call either Barbara or myself on FREEPHONE 0808 1089 100 for details and prices.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

I thought you might like to view this wonderful video of Harvey Croze flying over Amboseli. Although I have downloaded it from Google Video I also read the comments that Harvey made when he first posted the video to Elephant Trust website.

I think the video is brilliant and the accompanying music, “Out Of Africa” gives it a really wonderful feel. I hope you enjoy it and would love to hear your comments:

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

We recommend to many clients that they combine their Kenya beach holiday with the opportunity to experience a safari whilst in Kenya and one of the most popular is the Tsavo East 2 night safari so I was very interested when I read this report the Coast Week website. So if your going to Tsavo this year you can expect some wonderful experiences:-

MANY MORE TSAVO ELEPHANTS

BIG INCREASE IN TSAVO AND MKOMAZI POPULATION

Coastweek - - The elephant population of the expansive Tsavo and Mkomazi conservation area now stands at 11,696 - up 1,299 from 10,397 re-corded in the last census three years ago.

Kenya Wildlife Service Director Julius Kipng’etich has confirmed that this new figure represents a very welcome 4.1 per cent growth rate.

Tsavo’ is the largest protected area (four per cent of Kenya’s landmass) and hosts the highest number (a third) of Kenya’s estimated 30,000 elephants. (more…)

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

I’ve just returned from a few days on the Masai Mara and on our second morning’s game drive we came across a family of cheetahs who had just made a kill. We missed the actual chase but as cheetahs can accelerate from 0 - 100kph in three seconds it seems pretty likely that we may have missed it if we had stopped to blink!

I’ve just come across a fascinating 12 day Tanzanai trip, “Cheetahs of the Serengeti”, run in conjunction with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Travelling through the Arusha and Tarangire national parks and the legendary Ngorongoro crater, the tour arrives at the Serengeti, where visitors will spend time with a ZSL researcher tracking the world’s fastest land animals.

Departures are on 29th January (missed that one!!) and 4th Novermber 2008 only and cost £2,995 per person.

For more details of this unique travel experience please call Barbara on Freephone 0808 1089 100.

We’ve also just had some clients return from visiting the Gorillas of Rwanda, whom some of you may have seen on the recent “Long Way Down” programme on the BBC. If you would like any more details of the trip they took please call Barbara on Freephone 0808 1089 100 and we’ll be pleased to let you know the itinerary we arranged for them.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Here are 5 great Kenya Safari Offers with up to £400 off. They are for the month of June and must be booked and paid for before the 30th of April.

Beach extensions are available from just £100 per person including three nights half board at the 4 Star Southern Palms Hotel/.

5 Star Masai Safari - only £1085
Samburu - Lake Nakuru - Masai Mara

Travelling through some of the richest game areas in the world, the Masai Safari presents excellent opportunities for viewing the “Big Five”.

Includes return schedule flights, Safari, 6 nights full board, 1 night B&B.

5 Star Wings Over Mara - only £1089
Masai Mara

We offer this wonderful safari staying at the iconic Governers Camp. You will have plenty of time to enjoy game drives.

Includes return schedule flights, 3 nights full board and game drives.

4 Star Porini Camps Safari - only £1280
Amboseli - Masai Mara

This tour provides a wonderful opportunity to stay in Porini Camp’s exclusive accommodation. You will combine unforgettable safari experiences where you are able to walk with Masai warriors and guides whilst exploring the wilderness areas.

Includes return scheduled flights, 6 nights’ full board including free house wine, beers and soft drinks, transfers, internal flights
and gane drives in 4×4 vehicles PLUS sundowners and guided walks.

5 Star Intrepids Flying Safari - only £1299
Samburu - Masai Mara

Intrepids camps are situated in key positions to allow viewing of wildlife. The Mara Intrepids camp is close to one of the wildlife
migration crossings. Accommodation is in luxury tents. We include three internal flights to avoid long and bumpy roads and to
increase time spent in search of game.

Includes return scheduled flights, 6 nights full board, 1 night B&B, transfers, internal flights and game drives.

4 Star+ Porini Wilderness Safari - only £1345
Amboseli - Ol Pejeta - Masai Mara

Accommodation is in three eco bush camps that complement each other perfectly. The camps are small and exclusive and run on the same environmentally sound principles - working closely with the local communities.

Includes return scheduled flights, 6 night’s full board including free house wine, beers and soft drinks, transfers, internal flights
and game drives in 4×4 vehicles PLUS sundowners and guided walks.

These special offer Safaris will book up quickly so if you are interested in knowing more about any of them or if you would like
to check the availability please call Barbara or Colin on Freephone 0808 1089 100 as soon as possible.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

We’ve been advised that this weekend some operators are flying as normal and some opertors are not flying this weekend so it seems to be a real muddle at the moment.

What a shame that this beautiful country and its’ lovely people are caught up in this turmoil and confusion.

Obviously the sooner that this situation is resolved the better so that tourists can once again enjoy the beauty of this wonderful country.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

There are two new luxury lodges opening for 2008.

The Sabuk Lodge is perched on the high banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in the Northern Frontier District, overlooking the Laikipia Plateau and Samburu land. The lodge has six open-sided en-suite cottages, plus the new Eagle Cottage (family cottage), which consists of two bedrooms (both en-suite), an adjoining sitting room and its own private swimming pool. The lodge rooms and the cottage have fabulous views.

Opening in the summer Saruni Samburu will be a “design lodge” located close to Samburu National Reserve. Built on top of a spectacular viewpoint, its six rooms and large pool with overlook several waterholes.

For more details of either Sabuk Lodge or Saruni Samburu please call us on Freephone 0808 1089 100.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

We have just created a Free Safari Screensaver which you can download easily from the “Free Safari Screensaver” page above.

It was created using photographs taken recently on our Safari in the Masai Mara.

We hope you will enjoy using the screensaver and please feel free to pass it onto anyone else you feel might like to use it.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Kenya Safari Bargains

We’ve just received some great Kenya Safari Bargains. Here’s the details. If you’d like any more information please call Barbara on Freephone 0808 1089 100.

Siana Springs Camp

Ngama Hills, edge of Mara

last minute special – 3 nights – £959

22 Nov - 8 Dec 2007 only – Full Board

This is a flying safari using a last minute special offer from accommodation owners Heritage. Our price includes return scheduled flights with Kenya Airways, transfers, 3 nights accommodation with three meals a day, game drives and bush walks. There is no shortage of things to do whilst there. Along with thrilling walking safaris and night drives, there is the opportunity to enjoy Masai dancing, riverside banquets and lectures and slide shows on culture and wildlife.

Upgrade to 5R Mara Intrepids Club from just £20 pppn.

Samburu & Mara

1 night Nairobi, 2 nights Samburu Intrepids Club, 3 nights Mara Intrepids Club
last minute special – 6 nights – £1269
22 Nov - 8 Dec 2007 only
Full Board

A great last minute offer pre Christmas. Samburu Intrepids is renowned as a pioneer of luxury camping and is situated on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River. Onto the Mara Intrepids. This Club enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in the world’s best-known wilderness. Along with game drives there is the opportunity to enjoy cultural tours of neighbouring Masai villages and fishing trips to Lake Victoria

Safari & Beach

3 nights Mara Intrepids Club, 4 nights Kipungani Explorer, Lamu, Kenya Coast
last minute special

7 nights – £1369

22 Nov - 8 Dec only
Full Board

A wonderful winter getaway combining the thrill of a 5R safari with a relaxing break in a remote Kenyan coastal resort. It’s luxury all the way and plenty to do both in the bush and on the beach.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

A Little Sound Taster…

As I mentioned in an earlier post I have just returned from a visit (courtesy of Virgin Holidays) to Kenya and the Masai Mara staying at the Sorova Masai Lodge. During my stay I enjoyed 5 game drives and took the opportunity to take stacks of pictures, video footage and recorded a lot of sound files. Over the coming weeks I’m going to put together a whole sound show of my time in Kenya but to give you a little taster here’s a recording I made whilst on a game drive and its’ our guide and driver, Joram, telling us about lions after we had just come across a family of lions. Whilst he’s talking we were parked right next to them.

You’ll hear a few cameras whirring and a bit of talk from some of the other 6 occupants of the LandRover but you’ll get an idea of what Joram is telling us.

 

 Joram and the Lions [3:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!