Guidelines on a Safari to See the Big 5 in Kenya
Guidelines on a Safari to See the Big 5 in Kenya
Guidelines on a Safari to See the Big 5 in Kenya. The famous big five you may spot on Kenya safari are the elephants, lions, buffaloes, black rhinos, and leopards. Finding these big five during a safari in Kenya speaks volumes about your safari experience. However, it is not a guarantee. Spotting animals while on safari is a probability adventure. This is because boundaries do not restrict these wild animals, and are free to traverse the wilderness.
The Kenya Wildlife Service aims Service’s to preserve and protect wildlife and their habitats. During the safari in Kenya, you must follow the guidelines given.
- Honor the speed limit while on game drive in the Kenya National game parks. This will help to prevent accidents for both the animals and the tourists. Driving off track is not acceptable unless with permission from Kenya Wildlife Service.
- Do not come with dogs or other pets into the Park as chances of getting infected by the wild animals or the pet may happen which is quite dangerous to conservation.
- Keep all your litter in your car like plastic wraps, as these alter the nature of the environment where these animals thrive.
- Carrying ammunition in the Park is not acceptable. This is because they may tempt you to use them and kill the wild animals or anyone in your company.
- Never pick flowers or trample on the vegetation in the parks as you destroy the environment where animals thrive.
- Do not pack anything from the Park but just take pictures while on safari and leave only vehicle tire prints.
- Retain all official receipts for verification at exit so that you avoid inconveniences.
- All the park gates are open from 0700 hrs to 1900 hours.
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The term big five was first used by early great hunters who found it challenging to hunt these animals that is lions, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos, and elephants. It is a dream come true for tourists to complete the list of the big five while on a single safari in Africa.
The highlight of Kenyan Safaris is the great wildebeest migration, a seasonal occurrence in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Millions of animals seek greener pastures during a certain period. The great wildebeest migration in Kenya is expected from July to September. This season offers more opportunities to spot the big five.
During the great wildebeest migration, ungulates in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania mostly zebras and wildebeests move northwards. Then, other wild animals join them too along the way until crossing the Mara River into Masai Mara National Reserve in Tanzania. The reason for starting this great animal trek yearly is still a mystery. However, some theories state that animals seek greener pastures. The starting and ending time of this great wildebeest migration is still in doubt.
Some of the animals you may spot during the great wildebeest migration include wildebeest, hartebeests, zebras, gazelles, and elands. Also, you can spot waterbucks, bushbucks, rhinos, elephants, lions, buffaloes, wild pigs, warthogs, reedbucks, and others.
Other than Masai Mara National Reserve, you can also get the chance to see the big five on Kenya safari while in Tsavo East and West National Park, Aberdare National Park, Meru National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Nairobi National park and others that have about four, three of the big five.
Some of the Best National Parks in Kenya to See the Big 5 Animals On a Safari
Masai Mara National reserve
Guidelines on a Safari to See the Big 5 in Kenya- Masai Mara National Reserve. Masai Mara is one of the Best National Parks in Kenya to See the Big 5 Animals. Extending on the Northern Part of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This reserve is famous for hosting the great wildebeest migration phenomenon. This wildlife scenario is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Millions of wild animals start an annual journey from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and across the Mara River into Masai Mara National Reserve in Tanzania.
During this great animal trek, you may have the chance to spot the big five that is lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, and leopards. Other animals common during the great wildebeest migration are wildebeests, hartebeests, and zebras. Also, expect to see waterbucks, gazelles, elands, impalas, giraffes, and so many others.
What triggers the great wildebeest migration is still a mystery. Some theories state that it is seeking greener pastures but carnivores accompany the pilgrims to catch the weak ones.
Even in other seasons of the year, Masai Mara National Park is open for superb game drives. Here, you may get chances to spot a variety of wild animals including the big five. During the game drives on Masai Mara National Reserve tracks, you may get the opportunity to spot some of these big five. In cases you get the full collection of the big five on your safari features, it’s such a wonderful opportunity yarned for by many tourists. Nevertheless, even though you get the opportunity to see just a few of these big five, look out for other interesting wild animals that spend their time in this reserve. For example, look out for schools of hippos at water sources cooling their bodies.
Tsavo East and West National Park
On a Kenya Safari, Tsavo is one of the Best National Parks in Kenya to See the Big 5 Animals. Tsavo East and West National Park is a bio-diverse park with stunning landscapes and proximity to the coast. The big five residents of this Park are elephants, Rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, and lions. Tsavo East is the best part of seeing a large herd of elephants and buffaloes. There are also lions, leopards, and rhinos though may be rare. Other game can be spotted, too, like hippos, impalas, waterbucks, bushbucks,
Professional natural photographers have different spots to capture unique and stunning shots. These include Mudanda Rock and Yatta plateaus, which is the largest lava flow in the world. The rich vegetation zones of Tsavo East and West National Park inclusive of bushy grasslands, open plains dotted with Savannah and semiarid acacia shrubs and woodland, and lush green vegetation along the riverbanks are exceptional.
Meru National Park
Meru National Park is the true definition of beauty in the wild. The park has 13 rivers and countless mountain-fed streams that condition its environment.
During the game drive in Meru National Park, you may get the opportunity to see the big five including the long-tusk elephants. Some of the animals present in this Park include Rhinos, lions, buffaloes, and leopards. However, the carnivores may be rarer to spot while on a game drive in Meru National Park.
Other animals you may spot include waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, wildebeests, reticulated giraffes, and others. Keen birders in Kenya safari have a lot to identify while in Meru National Park.
This Park is famous for the setting of Jot Adamson’s book Born Free. The true story of Adamson’s life and research amongst lions and cheetahs.
Samburu and Buffalo Spring National Reserve
Four of the big five you may spot in this chain of game reservations on a Kenya safari. During the game drive, you may spot animals like cape buffaloes, lions, and elephants. You also spot grevy zebras, Oryx Somali Ostriches, reticulated giraffes, and much more.
The varied vegetation cover that provides a home to a variety of animals contributes to the existence of a long list of over 365 bird species in this Park. The mix of wood and grassland with riverine forest and swamp gives a chance to a range of animals and birds to thrive in Samburu and Buffalo Spring National Reserve.
The stunning view of the rounded and rugged hills and rolling plains creates a stunning view for many tourists to Samburu and Buffalo Spring National Reserve.
Nairobi National Park
Even though Nairobi National Park is just 7 kilometers from Nairobi city, it hosts some of the big five. While in this Park, you may spot herds of lions, Rhinos, cape buffaloes leopards except elephants. The lions and leopards are rare but present. With a lucky charm, you may catch a glimpse of them.
Other animals you may spot in Nairobi National Park include wildebeests, waterbucks, bushbucks, and others. The Nairobi National Park’s unfenced southern sector allows wild animals to migrate from Athi Plains into the Park. This thus allows expanding the list of animals you may have a chance to see.
In case you have limited time but wish to do a Kenya safari before departure, Nairobi National Park is the ideal choice.
Amboseli National Park
Seating at the bottom of Kilimanjaro Mountains is Amboseli National Park where you may get the opportunity to spot at least four of the big five say elephants and buffaloes. Although rare to see, leopards and lions are present too excluding the Rhinos. Amboseli National Park hosts a huge number of elephants in Kenya. The bull elephants here have the largest tusks in Kenya.
During the game drive in Amboseli National Park, you may also spot zebras, impalas, elands, and others.
Because of the presence of the endemic dust spewed from Kilimanjaro thousands of years ago during the dry season, a shimmering dry lakebed with false mirage appears.
Lake Nakuru National Park
For the best Rhino sighting on a Kenya safari, Lake Nakuru National Park is the ideal destination. You’ll have chances of spotting the white rhinos enjoying the grass along the flood plains of Lake Nakuru. Black rhinos are present in this Park but are rare. Buffaloes, lions, and leopards are present in the Park.
While on a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, you may spot Rothschild giraffes, wildebeests, colobus monkeys, steenbok, impalas, klipspringer, dik dik, and others. The lesser flamingos often paint the shore of Lake Nakuru pink. This Park spans an attractive range of wooded and bush grassland escarpments and ridges with eco-diversity
When Is The Best Time To Book Kenya Safari To See The Big Five
Guidelines on a Safari to See the Big 5 in Kenya- The best time to book a Kenya Safari. All year Kenya is open for safaris but the dry season is better, that is June to September and December to February’. It offers more opportunities to spot several of these animals. This is because the grass is generally lower and carnivores camouflage in it to catch their prey. For drama in the wilderness, the dry season opens more chances to witness this.
This is the peak tourism season in Kenya, hence you need to book other necessary logistics in advance. These include accommodations, vehicle hire, driver guides, and others. The great wildebeest migration of Kenya is in high gear this period creating high competition.
The wet season opens more chances to see the birth of infants when the grass is longer and acts as their hiding place. There is also plenty of grass for herbivores to feed on, especially after the birth of an additional population.
For those with a smaller budget but who have a Kenyan safari on their bucket list, chances of getting discounts on logistics like accommodation, vehicle hire, and much more are more open. Even if you wish for an exclusive experience while on a Kenya safari without paying more to close off the Park, you may use the opportunity of the low season. There are normally fewer vehicles on the park tracks reducing on chances of disturbance.
The tracks of most game parks in Kenya get messy during the wet season. So, you need a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition with a professional driver’s guide.
How Much is the cost of a Kenya safari to see the Big Five?
Guidelines on a Safari to See the Big 5 in Kenya- the cost of the Kenya Safari to see the Big 5. The cost of the Kenyan Safari to the Big Five destinations is preceded by the park entrance fees cost, which are compulsory. The park entrance fees contribute to the Kenya Wildlife Conservation Fund a cost.
At Safari Vacations and Travel Services, we package our Kenya Safaris according to upscale, mid-range, and basic. Some of the items we consider when costing Kenya safaris include; the number of people you’re traveling with, additional activities to include in this package, number of days on safari, accommodation, transport cost, and much more.
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