My Life-Changing Kenya Safari Experience: A Travel Agent’s Honest Review
As your travel planner, I want to share my incredible 14-day Kenya wildlife safari experience with you. This wasn’t just a trip—it was a transformation that has completely changed how I view African travel and what I recommend to my clients.
First Impressions: Stepping Into a New World
When I stepped off the plane in Nairobi at 10 PM, I was immediately disoriented—not just by the time difference, but by the realization that I was truly in Africa. The airport felt smaller than expected, though I later discovered there was much more to Nairobi than initially seemed. What struck me most was the contrast. Nairobi is a sprawling city with beautiful downtown office buildings and city parks, yet just blocks away. You will see compact apartment buildings with laundry hanging out to dry—a reminder that dryers are luxury items here. I didn’t expect to see cities and villages right up to the edges of national parks, or zebras and waterbuck casually standing on the roadside. The reality of people living alongside wild predators, where all livestock must be constantly protected from lions, cheetahs, and leopards, was something I hadn’t fully prepared for.
Days 1-2: Nairobi’s Urban Safari Magic
My introduction to Kenya’s wildlife began right in the capital city, and I was blown away. Nairobi National Park—a massive, protected area right within the city limits—set the tone for everything that followed. Within minutes of entering the park, we encountered two white rhinos standing directly in our path. Since visitors aren’t allowed to disturb the animals, we simply waited until they decided to move. It was our first lesson in safari patience, and it was magical.
The Elephant Orphanage captured my heart. Every baby elephant there was rescued from somewhere in Kenya, many close to starvation. Learning about the incredible dedication required to care for these babies, about 4-5 years before they can be accepted into a new elephant family, was deeply moving. What touched me most was discovering that caregivers intentionally don’t spend too much time with individual elephants, preventing them from becoming too attached to humans so they can successfully return to the wild.
Between the orphanage, Nairobi National Park, and the Giraffe Centre, I felt like we’d hit the jackpot on day one. Little did I know this was just the beginning.
Days 3-4: Samburu’s Raw Beauty
Our first real safari began at Samburu/Buffalo Springs, where we stayed at Ashnil Samburu Camp—what I’d call luxury “glamping” with screened walls, hard floors, running water, and fully functional bathrooms in each tent.
My first big game sighting was a herd of elephants crossing a river about half a mile away. Watching through binoculars as a tiny baby followed its mother up the riverbank left me in awe. The next day brought us face-to-face with another herd, much closer—an experience that still gives me chills.
The Samburu region is hot and dry, but we were fortunate to arrive after recent rains, so the landscape wasn’t too dusty, and elephants had fresh mud puddles for their baths. The cultural village visit was eye-opening. Led by a kind but very thin chief, this community of happy people works hard raising livestock and children, many of whom walk a mile to the local primary school. The women create beautiful beadwork for extra income.
Two things struck me most: baby goats must be kept in covered pens within pens to protect them from predators like lions and jackals, and the fortunate families live in round homes made of mud, dung, and water with cardboard roofs (cardboard is easier to obtain than traditional thatching and doesn’t leak as much).
Days 5-6: Lake Elementaita’s Luxury
The elevation at Lake Elementaita provided welcome relief from the heat. The Serena Camp here was the ultimate in luxury glamping—large tents with chandelier lighting, tiled bathroom floors, double sinks, and both sides and rain showers. Each tent had a furnished deck with stunning lake views.
Our night game drive was unfortunately hampered by heavy rain, but we still managed to see Cape Buffalo and Waterbuck lounging picture-perfectly at the lake’s edge.
Lake Nakuru National Park was spectacular. A herd of Cape Buffalo greeted us at the entrance, completely unbothered by our presence. The lake hosts hundreds of bird species—pelicans, eagles, herons, and flamingos. We saw both primate species that live in Kenya: Vervet monkeys and Yellow Baboons. Watching these primate families interact, especially with their babies, was delightful.
One of my most memorable moments was spotting a magnificent male lion resting in tall grass near some bushes. Upon closer inspection, we realized he had a fresh kill hidden in the bushes and had made this kill right where we were parked, probably the night before. Nature’s cleanup crew—butterflies, flies, and dung beetles—were already at work.
Days 7-8: Amboseli’s Kilimanjaro Magic
Amboseli might have been my favorite park, though every location was an amazing new adventure. We were incredibly fortunate to see Mount Kilimanjaro as we arrived—not just see it, but see it at sunset! This is rare because while Kilimanjaro isn’t the world’s tallest mountain, it’s the tallest freestanding mountain and is usually shrouded in clouds. The next morning, we watched elephants, zebras, and ostriches against the backdrop of this majestic peak. Words cannot describe how amazing this is.
Amboseli is elephant heaven. Every day brought encounters with multiple herds, and each sighting made me fall deeper in love with these gentle giants. Elephants are matriarchal, with herds led by mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. The baby elephants—oh my goodness! Seeing little ones walking next to and sometimes under their mothers, watching teenagers “horse around” like teenagers do everywhere—it was pure joy.
Day 9: Tsavo West’s Red Earth
The 60-mile journey from Amboseli to Tsavo West was long and bumpy, taking us through some of the poorest areas I’d seen. Children walking to and from school would always wave and smile, and we’d wave back to see those beautiful smiles. One image is burned into my memory: a very young boy, maybe 5 or 6, standing on the roadside holding a baby on his hip, not smiling or waving, just with his hand outstretched. It still hurts my heart.
Tsavo West’s landscape was dramatically different—the dirt was brilliant red, so red that the elephants appeared red from using the mud to cool themselves! The dense brush made wildlife spotting trickier, but we saw jackals and hyenas for the first time.
The Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge was set up spectacularly with a completely open lobby, bar, and restaurant overlooking a watering hole. From the dinner table, I watched elephants, waterbuck, cape buffalo, jackals, zebras, and giraffes. The watering hole is lit at night for wildlife viewing, and every room overlooks it. Each night, staff ask guests if they want to be awakened for lion sightings—chances are that the lion would be hunting, and watering holes attract lots of prey.
Wildlife Encounters That Changed Me
My most memorable wildlife moment was when a herd of about 40 elephants of different sizes crossed directly behind our truck. We sat quietly for 20-30 minutes as they passed. When the last one went by, I was moved to tears. They are such beautiful animals.
I managed to see four of the Big Five—elephants, Cape Buffalo, rhinos, and lions. Only the elusive leopard escaped us, though we certainly tried to find one!
Accommodations: Luxury in the Wild
I felt perfectly safe at every property. The first night, a loud rattle that lasted about two seconds startled everyone. The next evening at dusk, I heard it again and discovered it was an elephant across the stream shaking a tree for snacks! When close to our sleeping area, every lodge creates discrete but effective barriers to keep animals and people safely separated.
What This Means for You as My Client
Understanding the prep that goes into a safari trip is invaluable for me as your travel planner. While safari camps and hotels are modern, clean, and often quite luxurious, they’re still in the middle of the wilderness. There will be bugs, lizards, geckos, and monkeys—things we typically consider unacceptable at home are simply nature here, and that’s part of the authentic experience.
If you’re hesitant about your first safari, here’s what I want you to know: It’s an experience you’ll never regret! Don’t wait! Everyone should experience Africa and its wildlife at least once in their lives. I now realize that anyone can and should have a wildlife and cultural experience in Africa—it’s not just a trip for the elite.
Essential Safari Advice
Pack smart: Bring fewer clothes than you think you’ll need and use soft luggage rather than hard cases—there’s limited storage space in safari vehicles.
Mindset matters: Let go of rigid timelines. Expect the unexpected and go with the flow. Don’t let minor details bother you. Enjoy where you are and appreciate what you’re able to see and do.
Conservation awareness: I was impressed by Kenya’s environmental efforts. They’ve made almost all single-use plastics illegal—no plastic shopping bags, wraps, or zip lock bags. The Maasai people throughout Kenya, especially near Amboseli National Park, work full-time protecting wildlife from poachers.
The Transformation
This trip has changed my life and will change the life of anyone who experiences it. Seeing wildlife uncaged, unchained, and untouched by people isn’t something we typically experience in the States. The scale is incomparable to anything we have here.
When someone asks me, “How was Africa?” my 30-second answer is always: “So amazing I can’t even tell you in the time we have! It’s something you’ll have to experience to truly understand.”
What’s Next?
After experiencing Kenya, I want to go back—there’s still so much I haven’t seen. Even in the same parks, there’s something different to experience every time. But I also now want to safari in Tanzania and do gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda.
I’ve recommended this trip to my family and friends because I realized it’s within reach of just about everyone, and it is something everyone should experience. No one can come away from an experience like this without being touched and changed for life.
If you’re thinking about going on a safari, just know that it will exceed every expectation you have and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Ready to plan your own life-changing safari experience? Let’s talk about making your African dream a reality.