Luxury Safari Guide to Kenya for First Timers

Thanks to its excellent climate, wide-open game reserves, and an abundance of wildlife, Kenya ranks high up on the ladder as one of Africa’s greatest safari destinations.

If you are planning luxury safaris in Kenya, you should know it is the best place in Africa to indulge.

From customized safari vehicles to lavish private planes to stay in accommodations that could easily double up as a penthouse on Park Avenue, the ultra-luxury Kenyan safari tops in comfort and pampering.

Central Kenya is typically where all the safari itineraries are set since the capital Nairobi is the logistical hub, and the neighboring areas are where some popular places like Nairobi National Park, Naivasha, and Lake Nakuru are located.

Getting around

The airport in Nairobi is the major flight hub of East Africa and the gateway to the rest of the country. About 15 km away is the Wilson Airport, from where light aircraft operate for safaris to Amboseli, Masai Mara, Samburu, and other smaller parks.

Best time to go on a luxury safari in Kenya

Safaris in Kenya are year-round affairs, but the best time to go is between April to October when the dry season offers the ideal conditions for game viewing.

Additionally, in Masai Mara from late June to early October, you can witness the great migration, watching millions of animals moving as a single force.

However, visitors should not hesitate to visit the game reserves outside the peak season, when crowds have gone and the intermittent showers cover the landscape in a shade of verdant green.

Ultimately when to go to Kenya should not depend entirely on the season or climate. Factors like preferred wildlife viewing, the school session of the kids, and the availability of rooms in the lodge of your choice will prove important in the process of decision-making.

When to book your luxury safari?

You might have money to splurge on luxury, but no one can conjure the camp availability of your choice. Therefore, to achieve the best selection of options within your preferred budget, you should plan for your ultimate Kenyan safari twelve months in advance or even earlier.

For Masai Mara, during the high season, it is recommended to book a year in advance, while for the shoulder months, you will be able to get away with a two-month booking window.

How long should a luxury safari be?

There are various factors to consider, and the experience varies from lodge to lodge. However, the pace of the safari can quickly tire out most people, so allow yourself three nights in each camp to recoup from the long game drives.

Since you are planning for a luxury safari experience, plan for a longer stay in Kenya.If wildlife is your passion, as a first-timer focus on limited parks around the country that are renowned for exceptional accommodation and service, along with abundant game viewing opportunities.

What to expect from a luxury safari to Kenya?

Most parts of your luxury safari to Kenya will be focused on game drives as this is the primary mode of viewing wildlife. Drives are typically scheduled around the crack of dawn and late afternoon.

Sunset is enjoyed with a sundowner in hand, with a gin and tonic being the traditional ripple, served in a scenic location.

Depending on the lodge you are staying at, a gourmet four-course menu will be served daily which can be taken with other guests, privately in your room, or al fresco in the bush.

After dinner, you may gather around a bonfire, do some stargazing, or go on another game drive in the night, provided you are staying in a private conservancy. You can sleep under the stars or restore to your private room to prepare for the next glorious day.

There is no dearth of luxury tents and safari lodges in Kenya, located in diverse places ranging from acacia woodlands to open savanna and broadleaf forests.

How to choose the safari guide to Kenya?

As a first-time visitor, booking a safari, especially when you are paying for luxury, with a professional tour operator is a must.

To start with, book with someone from Africa as it will have a tremendous effect on the entire safari experience and not just anybody who says they contribute to conservation and local communities. Sustainable travel should also be important criteria when selecting a provider.

A luxury tour operator should be able to create seamless logistics, provide easy access to the parks of Kenya you intend to visit, and provide you with the services of the best guides in the business.

The expert team of a top-level tour planner should be able to assist the discerning visitor from any part of the world to design each trip in a bespoke fashion to suit your personal tastes.

Your chosen operator should hand-pick the most iconic locations, luxurious lodges, and resorts offering a safari experience epitomizing friendly African hospitality.

Combine this experience with an upgrade with private jet charters, secure the services of a master chef, and appoint high-end tour managers that can escort the visitor or group on a trip of a lifetime.

Safety in the Wilderness

Nature is largely unscripted, therefore on a safari, first-time visitors need to pay attention to the guide and follow their instructions during game drives as well as on property.

Kenya is, after all, the home ground of the impressive Big 5, which include predators. While game drives in vehicles are relatively safe, walking safaris or horseback safaris require some extra precautions to be taken.

Keep in mind that guides have to abide by park rules, like limited visiting hours, some require you don’t get out of the vehicle to keep you safe. In private conservancies, most game drives are accompanied by armed rangers.

Note that many luxury safari camps are unfenced to add thrill to the safari experience. You might find elephants drinking water from the swimming pool or get escorted by a Masai warrior to your lodging after dark.

Luxury Kenya safaris summed up

Kenya is a country full of variety, wherever you go you will find elegant tribes in their finery. If you combine your safari with areas like Masai Mara with Samburu, Laikipia, or Meru, you will feel you are traveling in two different countries.

There are some remote luxurious camps, so overcrowding will not be an issue. Once you are in the wilds, you will get to spend a day in a nomadic Samburu home, sleep out under the stars, go on a mobile safari in some of the remotest parts of Masai Mara, help collar a lion or track rhinos in Laikipia.

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