Kenya and Tanzania Trip 2021
This had to have been my favorite vacation so far. Another Abercrombie & Kent, can’t repeat enough what a wonderful job they do.
Kenya you shouldn’t miss the Giraffe Center, what a thrill to feed the giraffes. We were told not to get too close because some of them like to head butt people. I was told it depended on their personalities. Rothchild giraffes are the most endangered giraffes. They have white legs with no spots unlike the Masai and the Reticulated giraffes.
When you are in Arusha if you have the opportunity, go into a jeweler and look at the beautiful Tanzanite gems the only place in the world where they are mined.
The Great Migration is year round but to see them crossing the Masa River is something you will never forget.
Australia Travel tips and Things to see
Best things to do in
- Nairobi
- Giraffe Center
- Sheldrick Wildlife center
- Karen Blixen Museum
- Nairobi
- Best Parks for game viewing
- Amboseli National Park, Kenya
- Tarangire National Park, Kenya
- Ngorongoro Crater, Northern Tanzania
- Masai Mara Game Reserve
- Serengeti National Park, Northern Tanzani
- Best things about each park
- In Amboselli, see Mount Kilimanjaro in the background on your safari drives
- Tarangire enjoy the beautiful landscape Acacia trees and herds of animals
- See Ngoronogoro crater the largest inactive and intact volcanic caldera in the world
- See the Great Migration in Serengeti hundreds of animals crossing the Masai Mara River very amazing
A small river named Duden
A small river named Duden
Accommodation
Nairobi Serena Hotel was great for the first few days. I did a pre tour and saw the Giraffe Center and the Sheldrick wildlife center haven for elephants and rhinos. I only saw very young elephants. Rhinos are very rare to see even in the wild. Tawi Lodge is at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro in Amboseli National Park. Thatched roofed cottages, beautiful views and a watering hole that animals gather at. Sanctuary Swala is in Tarangire National park, Tanzania. 12 canvas pavilions as accommodations, very nice. Gibbs's Farm, Ngorongoro Crater, 17 refurbished one bedroom cottages all beautifully appointed. Organic farm to table food, they grow their own vegetables, herbs and fruit. Meat from local farms. Four Season Hotel, Serengeti beautiful full service hotel in the bush. Balconies look over onto the plains, a baboon was on my balcony one day looking in at me, scared me I screamed it jumped and left. Sanctuary Olonana, Masai Mara game Reserve.14 glass sided suites. This was my favorite lodge they all were beautiful but this one was on the Mara River, you could hear the hippos from your room and see them. We had bush dinners and breakfast's.
1. Packing Tips
1. Packing tips: East Africa has a weight limit on their small planes that you fly on from park to park. You are only allowed 33 pounds. South Africa you are allowed 44 pounds.
2.More Packing Tips
2. More Packing tips: It is difficult to pack a duffle for two weeks. They discourage hard bags with wheels because of the small planes. They even will ask how much you weigh.
Currency: The official currency of Kenya is the Kenyan shilling (KES). 1 shilling = .0082 USD
The official currency of Tanzania is the Tanzania shilling (TZS).
1 TZS Shilling = .00043 USD
Credit Cards & ATMs: I would advise exchanging your money and get at least $150-$200 in local currency. Airports all have ATMs or booths you can stop at to get local currency, you need this for tips and many vendors do not accept credit cards and you will pay a fee if you use them. The bigger cities all take credit cards and the larger hotels also if you are running short of cash most hotels will exchange money for you.
Final thoughts
The Great Migration is something you see pictures of your whole life, wildebeest jumping into the river and going across a river. To see it in person and see the crocodiles coming and grabbing the wildebeest and dragging them under is something I will never forget.
I thought I had seen a lot when I went to South Africa and was in Krueger Reserve. Kenya and Tanzania the game viewing is just mind boggling, from seeing a lion kill, mating hyenas and ostrich, new born lion cubs, cheetah cubs with their Mom. Lions finishing off a zebra then the vultures coming to finish what was left. I saw 3 female lions kill a wildebeest. We were in our vehicle just watching and a hyena came into sight chasing a wildebeest. The hyena stopped because it smelled the lions, the wildebeest kept going downhill.
You could tell these lions just fed, their stomachs were distended. But it is opportunity. They got up, the wildebeest and lion circled our vehicle I thought the wildebeest was going to run into the vehicle which was open sided and coming right towards me. I jumped into the woman’s lap next to me but kept taking pictures.The kill happened about 6′ from us. I am sure some of you thinks this is gruesome but to me its part of life and how they survive.
One day I think we saw close to 40 lions. We saw the endangered rhino, leopard and cheetahs.
I loved the lodging, the food was incredible, the baked goods are so good. Having a surprise bush dinner and performers doing an African dance and song. We had bush lunches in the middle of the bush. I would go back and do this whole trip again, it is so special and A & K does an amazing job. Our guides were amazing James Kimani, (what a suprise he was my guide in Uganda also) and Kelvin Kinabo. They were great it isn’t easy with them contending with so many personalities and needs of people but they did with a smile on their faces.
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