A Safari Experience in Kenya: A Journey through the Wild

Kenya's diverse wildlife, vast landscapes, and stunning scenery have earned it recognition as one of the best safari destinations in the world. A safari in Kenya is an unforgettable adventure, with a chance for visitors to witness some of the most spectacular wildlife in their natural habitats.

Voi

Our home base for this adventure was the Voi Wildlife Lodge in their Manyatta Camp.

What an amazing place! The Manyatta camp is a private portion of the property that offers it's own restaurant, pool, and private pools behind each cabin.

All of this backs up to Tsavo East National Park, home to the "Big Five" and many more animals.

Each meal we had in the dining area turned out to be front row seats to all manner of wildlife passing by on their way to the watering hole, located near the main hotel and dining.

Should you go - take advantage of the spa services. If only the massages were this affordable in the States!

Adventures in Tsavo East Park

Tsavo East is home to the "Big Five" - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino, plus all manner of other wildlife. Your safari experience in Kenya will not be complete without seeing these majestic creatures. Which means that I will just have to come back in search of the elusive leopard and cheetahs as well. Darn. :)

Wildlife Photography

Kenya offers fantastic opportunities for wildlife photography. With the help of a qualified guide, you can position your vehicle in the best way possible to capture stunning images of the wildlife. Don't forget to bring extra camera batteries and memory cards, and make sure to respect the wildlife and their habitats.

While wildlife isn't my everyday subject, there was no way I was going to waste the opportunity to photograph them when I booked the trip! After consulting with fellow local photographers, I booked a lens with Lensrentals.com, and I am so glad I did. It made all the difference in what you see in the Kenya 2023 album. I borrowed their Nikkor Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S, which allowed me to get so much closer to these beautiful creatures than anything in my kit. I made sure to include their reasonably priced LensCap+ insurance so that I had nothing to worry about when schlepping it all across the world. It arrived with plenty of time before I left, and pickup/dropoff was able to be done at the FedEx near me.

Getting There

Manyatta's concierge can book you with a vehicle and driver, making this a very easy process! You will need to pay for a park pass for each person, and each is valid for 24 hours. You'll want to safari twice to take advantage of that - one morning safari and one in the afternoon. This gives you the best opportunity to see the animals when active. After the first day, I went out for a sunrise tour without the rest of my group. My driver was very responsive to my short list of shots that I would like to find - sunrise behind an acacia tree or baobab - but made sure to let me know when he could tell there was a big cat sighting afoot! The drivers will signal and radio to each other when they find the more elusive animals, so make sure you take advantage of their expertise.

But don't forget to appreciate the more common sights as well. Not that I ever thought that statement would apply to elephants!

Ending Your Safari

As the sun sets on your safari adventure, take a moment to reflect on the incredible experiences you've had on your journey. A safari in Kenya is an adventure that will stay with you forever.

Takeaway

A safari in Kenya provides an opportunity to connect with nature and witness some of the most incredible wildlife experiences imaginable. With proper planning and a knowledgeable guide, you'll be able to sit back and enjoy the incredible beauty of Kenya's wildlife and landscapes. Plan your Kenyan safari today and embark on a journey through the wild that you'll never forget!