Kenya and Tanzania are the original safari destinations, and we joke that you can’t move without a lion crossing your path in the Serengeti and Maasai Mara. The plains teem with game, and each year the pounding of a million wildebeest hooves heralds the arrival of the migration as it makes its way through the Mara and Serengeti ecosystems. A visit to East Africa must include one of these iconic areas.
National parks abound, and these protected areas are often characterised by a combination of park and adjacent conservancies. The conservancies provide a critical buffer zone for animals and humans alike between community lands and the national parks. Lodges, camps and hotels are located in all these areas. We generally recommend smaller lodges and camps in the conservancies as this ensures a lower density of vehicles at sightings and the option to do more activities, such as walking. There are no fences between these areas and animals are free-roaming, ensuring excellent game viewing throughout.
Don’t overlook the more remote parts of East Africa when it comes to wildlife. Kenya’s northern conservancies are home to several unique species, including the reticulated giraffes, the critically endangered Grévy zebra, white and black rhino and the fabled gerenuk. Southern Tanzania is off the beaten track, but the parks teem with game and you’ll more than likely have the jeep track to yourself with only the odd other traveller.
Mara Plains Camp is a leader in sustainable conservation practice and is situated in its own private conservancy adjacent to the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Tucked into the riverine forest, the camp blends seamlessly with its surroundings and provides the perfect base for exploring the area by vehicle and on foot.
Namiri Plains Camp is a unique conservation story, located in the eastern sector of the Serengeti. This area was closed to the public for 20 years to allow the cheetah populations to re-establish and grow. Now, with not only a healthy cheetah population, but also lions and leopards, Namiri Plains is ideally situated on a permanent water source for exclusive wildlife viewing year round, and not just during the migration between July and October.
The Samburu’s Northern 5. Kenya is home to not only the Big 5 but also what we like to call the Northern 5, a band of rather unique-looking characters not found anywhere else. These include the reticulated giraffe, the critically endangered Grévy zebra, the gerenuk, the Beisa oryx and the Somali ostrich. It is only through concerted conservation efforts that all these species have not become extinct.
Sasaab Lodge in the Samburu region has an enviable position perched on a hillside overlooking the river, which hosts a constant parade of elephants and other wildlife coming for a drink. Enjoy a host of activities from Sasaab including game drives, walking, quad-biking trips, camel safaris and the option of helicopter flips. Your chances are good of seeing the Northern 5 and understanding more about these unique species. The lodge’s architecture takes full advantage of the views, blending an organic Moroccan feel with canvas, providing a natural link between indoors and out.
