Travels With Clo

As part of a week long trip to Kenya, we undertook a 2 day/ 1 night safari to Tsavo West, Taita Hills and Ngunti national parks. This was our first safari and trip to Kenya, so we had no idea what to expect. I thought I would compile our experience and everything we learned along the way for fellow travellers!

The excursion itself was booked via TUI and cost £390pp. There are similar excursions bookable on Get Your Guide, but they are all a similar price.

Before I get into the details of the safari, here is some general information about travel to Kenya that you may find useful if you are planning a trip.

• You cannot drink the tap water in Kenya as it is salt water. Water must be drunk from a sealed bottle to prevent getting sick.

• The currency in Kenya is Kenyan Shillings. Most tourist shops also accept USD. Cash is preferred over card, so make sure you have plenty with you.

• You must apply for an ETA before travelling to Kenya. These cost $30pp and are valid for a single trip.

• Malaria is prevalent in Kenya. You must take tablets before, during and after your stay. There are various ones you can take, that very in strength and duration. We opted for doxycycline which you start 2 days before travel and continue for 4 weeks.

• Rabies is also prevalent in Kenya. You can get the rabies jabs, but if you do get bitten or scratched, you must still seek treatment immediately regardless of whether you have the jabs or not. Be vigilant and don’t pet any animals.

•Yellow Fever vaccines are recommended for travel to national parks in Kenya.

• In general, make sure you are up to date on your vaccinations, take 50% DEET insect spray, and avoid bites where possible by wearing long sleeved, loose fitting clothing.

The Safari Experience

Our pick up from our hotel in Mombasa was at 05:50 in the morning, and we drove for four hours to Tsavo West/ Taita Hills for our first morning game drive.

The vehicle we were in was a Land Cruiser, with 7 seats for passengers. Everyone had their own openable window, and the top also popped open so you could stand and observe. The seats all had chargers, so we didn’t have to worry about losing power for photos, and there was also a mini fridge for our water.

There was a stop on the way at a ‘service station’ of sorts. It was 100% aimed at tourists, with a huge shop to buy souvenirs. It is worth noting that nothing has a fixed price in Kenya, so haggle them down! It also had a cafe to buy refreshments (redbull), and very clean bathrooms. They did accept card here, but there was a minimum spend of 30,000 shillings.

Our driver was very attentive to our needs, stopping whenever we spotted something or taking us closer, and we always felt safe with his driving, even on the off-roading parts.

On our first drive; we spotted a heard of elephants, some giraffes and zebras from afar, before checking in to Salt Lick Safari Lodge.

We were lucky enough to get a room facing the watering hole, so had an amazing view to enjoy in our free time. I was surprised by how large the rooms themselves were, and the cleanliness of the property.

All rooms were equipped with UK plug sockets, a mosquito net, a large ceiling fan, tea and coffee making facilities and a private bathroom.

The property also has its own gift shop, a bar overlooking the watering hole with a tea and coffee station, and an underground tunnel with Perspex windows to take you closer to the action.

We had a buffet lunch, enjoying breads, soups, salads, meats and pasta dishes, and had some time to relax at the bar overlooking the watering hole before heading out on our afternoon drive. The watering hole was bustling with zebras and baboons during this time.

The main event of our second game drive was a male lion. He was hunting a gazelle, and when this failed, moved on to two ostriches. We also got to feed some birds on the roof of the Jeep with some food provided by our driver.

We arrived back at around 6pm, and this was when our driver told us we could opt in to a night game drive at 7pm for 6500 Kenyan shillings per person. I was sceptical of this, but as we’d had such a great day in the park, we agreed, and it did not disappoint!

For the night game drive, we were joined by a ranger with a large torch, standing in the Jeep and scanning the plains. The first ten minutes were fairly quiet, but then we saw a group of Zebras and a herd of elephants. We also found a lioness eating a zebra, and another lioness came to join her. They started playing and actually bumped into our car.

Our fourth game drive was at 06:15 in the morning, heading out just before sunrise.

We got to watch the sun rise from the Jeep over the park, and were lucky enough to see even more lions. There were three lionesses hunting, and then a male appeared to join them. They were most likely the same ones we saw the day before.

We also saw some zebras in a foggy area of the park, and at a watering hole we got to watch some water buffalo having a drink.

With breakfast back at the lodge, we enjoyed one last coffee on the balcony and checked out, driving 90 minutes south to the Ngunti national park.

Within minutes of being at this one, we were feet away from a herd of elephants who were covering themselves in sand to stop themselves getting burnt. It was very surreal being so close to them.

We also got a glimpse of four lion cubs sitting in the shade of a tree before our time was up.

We had lunch in the park at the Ngunti Lodge, and although this buffet was slightly disappointing, the view was unmatched. The restaurant is situated by a watering hole that was crowded by elephants. It wasn’t the tastiest meal I’ve ever had, but it was up there with the most scenic.

After lunch, we left the park and commenced the 3.5 hour drive back to our hotel in Diani Beach, Mombasa, ready to drink some cocktails and reflect on our safari.

All in all, for me, this trip was worth every single penny. It’s quite expensive at £390 per person, but for that price, you get 4 game drives, all your meals, transport, accommodation and your guide. Seeing all those animals up close was a once in a lifetime experience, and I’m already thinking about where I can plan my next safari to complete the big five!