Amazing Wildlife Safaris in Kenya

Kenya is one of the original and most widely known sites for wildlife safaris – am acclaimed and fascinating destination that boasts breathtaking beauty and locations where the thrill of African wildlife leave the traveler with an unforgettable experience. When considering African safari or wildlife travel Kenya is a great place to start.

The word ‘safari’ originated in Kenya and northern Mozambique where the Swahili language is spoken. The word means ‘journey’ and it used to refer primarily to hunting expeditions. Now it instead refers mostly to sightseeing trips into areas where one can see wildlife living in its natural habitat. In the great tradition of exotic travel Kenya is the classic locale for safaris.

Kenya safaris are generally guided tours through some of the country’s national parks and game reserves. Thousands of visitors come each year to Kenya to experience the awesome wildlife and exotic flora of the country and region. Kenya has a very well developed tourist infrastructure, and there are a wide variety of safari, guided tour, sightseeing and camping opportunities to choose from.

For example, consider the Masai Mara game reserve. One of the most prized and visited locations in Kenya, this 200 square mile protected region is one of the outstanding game reserves in Africa and the world. It is situated in the southwestern part of Kenya, adjacent to the Serengeti National Park and the border of Tanzania, with vast grassy plains stretching to the horizon as well as wooded areas and rivers. The climate is hot but fairly moderate – the Masai Mara receives plenty of rainfall and the weather is quite comfortable most of the time.

Wildlife that one would see on a safari through the Masai Mara grasslands includes lions, Eeephants, zebra, leopards, cheetahs, gazelle, wildebeest, rhino, and topi. Tourists taking safaris in the reserve find the real and close presence of these animals stunning.

The wooded and riverine areas have their own animals that are equally spectacular. The forests abound with monkeys and birds of many different species, while the river and swamp areas contain hippopotami, crocodile, and buffalo. The fact that this is a protected area means that hunting is forbidden so that these wild creatures can continue to flourish.

One of the most impressive sights in the Masai Mara reserve is the yearly wildebeest migration from the Serengeti plains. This occurs between July and October, when over a million wildebeest migrate north from the Serengeti into the Masai Mara to take advantage of the rains and renewed grazing opportunities. They march in as a single river like procession that covers the entire horizon. This is a sight no traveler will soon forget.

There are a wide assortment of safari types in Kenya because there is such a large range of life to be seen. Some safaris focus mainly on bird watching. Kenya has a huge array of bird life. Aquatic species include kingfishers, hammerkops, flamingos, plovers, herons, storks, geese, cranes, african fish eagle and jacanas. The plains feature large bird species like the ostrich, stork, eagles, vultures, the ground hornbill and the Secretary Bird. The woodland regions contain such birds as drongos, bee-eaters, shrikes, barbets, guinea fowl and lilac-breasted roller. Chances are you have never even seen or possibly even heard of many of these species, but on a Kenyan bird safari, you will see them up close, begin to learn their names and habits, and experience their majestic presence.

Safaris in Kenya not only venture to the areas where wildlife can be viewed, but also to locales where indigenous tribes can be seen and their cultures appreciated. A fascinating area for culturally or even anthropologically oriented travel, Kenya is home to many different tribes originating from various parts of Africa, and tends to be something of a cultural melting pot.  Masai, Kikuyu, Kamba, Luhya, Gusii, and Luo generally live independently of modern technologies and norms, and some safaris specialize in visiting them in a respectful manner.

While in the Masai Mara travelers can stay at numerous lodges as well as campsites located around the reserve. Many travel agencies can set up entire tours complete with safari, lodging, fine dining and travel to and from the airport. These agencies make the safari vacation an art, with many different vacation and safari options to choose from. As you do more and more travel Kenya will open up more and more safari opportunities and chances for gorgeous and stunning wildlife safari experiences.