Safari activities in Kenya
Kenya is one of the popular safari spots in east Africa, receiving over 10,000 visitors yearly eager to see and experience the beauty of their Swahili nation. The country is gifted with a wide variety of wildlife from the big five the lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos to the wildebeest, antelopes, zebras, giraffes, baboons, impalas, hippos, crocodiles and many more animals.
On top of the animals, Kenya is home to over 4000 bird species, with Lake Nakuru known as the bird hub in the region – the home over 1000 flamingos. Other species include: – the Grey crowned crane, Lilac-breasted roller, African fish eagle, Vulturine guineafowl, Hamerkop, Superb starling, Northern carmine bee-eater and Bush shrike plus many more.
All these creatures are spread in the different habitats that include but not limited to: – maasai mara national park, tsavo game park, lake Nakuru national park, mt kenya national park, Amboseli national park, Nairobi national park, sambaru national park and many more parks. There are also other places that are not necessarily parks but are habitats of creatures that you can visit and enjoy on a safari – places like Naivasha.
As much as people are more than excited to visit this different safari destination, some always wonder what activities they will do at these different places. Well at all these places different safari activities are there and, in this article, we want to breakdown some of those safari activities you can do at these destinations when you get a chance to visit them and spend time there.
- Game drives
This is the most common activity done almost at all game parks and national park in Kenya. These drives entail you sitting comfortable in a safari car and driving through the park as you enjoy the sights of the different flora and fauna in the park. You also get to appreciate the unique landscape in all the parks. Game drives are done in the very early morning, during the day and in the night at most of the parks in Kenya.
- Birdwatching
Bird watching of course; as started Kenya is home to numerous bird species so bird watching is a popular activity in most of the parks. And actually, in some parks its actually more popular than game drives.
- Walks
These can be guided nature walks, bush walks, forest walks among others. You can take these walks in any of the parks in Kenya and other safari places. These walks are not only relaxing but also refreshing and they give you a perspective on the wild and nature.
- Camping
Get a chance to have a camping opportunity in some of the most breath-taking jungles in Kenya, sleep under the stars with the sounds of the birds and animals giving you company. Camping activities can be luxury, mid-range and budget, you choose what suits your preferences. These activities are actually more fun done in a group of people.
- cultural experiences
Cultural experiences; where you visit the communities that surround the different game parks and safari destinations. These visits are more than just meeting other people, its learning about through the different Kenyan cultures, traditions, foods, norms, songs, dances and values and appreciating every bit of it. This is done in almost all communities, the most popular being the maasai community.
- Wildebeest migration viewing
In Kenya after the big five, the wildebeest are the next most sought-after animals. These zebra and antelope like looking animals have seasonal crossing of the mara river, 2 times a year. Which is a very exciting spectacle to watch. So, most people will visit Kenya, just for this migration viewing activity.
- Other activities
The listed above are the most popular activities but there are many more activities and just to go through a couple of the other few these are: –
- City tours in Nairobi
- Fishing – in some areas where there are water bodies of courses and where its accepted, you need to consult your tour operator about this.
- Hiking – mostly done in Mt kenya national park and a a few other places.
- Horseback riding and Camel rides especially at the coast, same thing with boat rides and ship cruises; they are done on the coast. Snorkeling, diving and beach relaxation also done on the coastal areas
- Hot air balloon rides and Star gazing in some parks.
