Kenya Safari
8 Nights 10 Days, 5 National Parks, 2 Countries, Million Animals.
ROUTE
Not going to lie here, planning this trip was a tough job, there are a ton of companies out there offering Safari experiences, at first you can easily filter by your budget choice, or if you want a group or a private one, then you need to trust your feeling.
So, after an uncountable amount of emails, we chose It Started In Africa. The main reason was the flexibility they offer us in the initial emails in combination with the attention to detail and of course our budget. The end result was incredible, this trip, in fact, has been a very inspiring adventure, and something I can't recommend enough to everyone.
Our route started in Nairobi, Kenya and we went all the way through national parks to finish our Safari in Arusha, Tanzania.
THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST
We started with a 'relaxed' day, we just had one day in Nairobi, in which we wanted to visit a couple of Orphanage for Elephants and Giraffes, besides that we had the opportunity to visit crocodiles, tortoises, ostriches, monkeys... and still had an afternoon walk around the crazy city markets.
If you happen to be in Nairobi for a day we really enjoy the baby Elephants at The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
GIRAFFE CENTRE
Our second stop in Nairobi was the Giraffe Centre, this was the second encounter with some of the most wonderful and rare animals on earth, and if you want you can kiss them!
MAMBA VILLAGE
The last stop before heading back to the city center was Mamba Village, we hadn't this sight planned on our route, but it was amazing as well to see these gigantic Crocodiles.
WILDLIFE HERE WE GO!
Early in the morning, 7 am, we started the pure adventure. Charles, our guide, and driver for the Kenya Safari pick us up from the hotel heading to Lake Nakuru National Park, we were really excited, we had no idea what was awaiting for us!
On the way, we had a couple of pit stops, and we had the chance to see the Great Rift Valley, this is the continuous geographic trench that runs from Lebanon Asia to Mozambique Africa, 6000 kilometers long!
LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
Nakuru was our first contact with this spectacular wildlife that Africa has, although the weather wasn't that nice due to the rain, we've got to see a huge variety of animals, and for the first time, we saw a Black Rhino and a White Rhino, I would say that was a highlight! Memorable.
Rhinoceros are part of the Big Five, and the white one it's the second biggest animal on land. Being able to see the two different ones was an unforgettable experience that I hope many of you can see in the future, by preserving this invaluable kind of dinosaur that we still have with us on the planet!
MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Maasai Mara, it is, in my opinion, one of the best destinations for a Safari, we saw the Big Five in one day, an advance group of the migration and many others such as Cheetah, Hyena, Jackals, Hippo, Crocodile, Baboons, Warthog, Topi, Thompson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Impala, Waterbuck and, Zebra. I know, we were very lucky, but still, the landscapes, the wildlife diversity, and our guide Charles made for us a remarkable time!
FOOTNOTES: Fuji X-T2 + 18-55mm F2.8-4 + 55-200mm F3.5-4.8
The original story was published in Exposure.
This first part of the Safari was fascinating, however, it does not end here, part two is here
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We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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