Thursday, January 6, 2011

Looking ahead to a sensational year of safaris

Whatever time of the year you visit East Africa, there’s always something amazing to see. With a consistently warm, tropical climate, and abundant and continuous wildlife viewing opportunities, Kenya and its neighbours are genuine year-round destinations. But each season offers something unique too so it’s worth thinking about which time of year might best suit your needs – booking and travelling with expert operators like us can help you make this decision, and also ensures that you’ll enjoy the best seasonal experiences on offer when you’re on safari. Here’s a brief guide to some of the highlights set to excite safari-goers in 2011:

January, February, March

It’s a bright and busy start to the year in East Africa, with recent rains meaning grasslands are shown in their lushest, greenest glory and rivers are in full flow. This relatively dry, hot period is a great time of the year for spotting wildlife, with many baby animals around to provide the cute factor.

Elephant Pepper Camp, on our Spring Break Safari
Our Spring Break Safari, the first of this year’s special tours, starts on March 8th. This luxurious 10-day safari will show off the best of Kenya’s attractions. Guests will get to enjoy the game-rich plains of Amboseli, against the park’s stunning backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The wildlife-watching will continue as we visit the strikingly scenic Samburu and the world-famous Masai Mara. If you like the sound of this springtime safari, there’s still time to book your place. You can see the full details of the safari on our website by clicking here.

April, May, June

The onset of rainy weather during this quarter of the year leaves many would-be tourists looking elsewhere in their calendar. However, some savvy travellers rightly realise that these months are the most under-rated times to visit East Africa. For one thing, the very fact that it’s the low season means that those who do take safaris now can enjoy the parks and attractions with far fewer other tourists around. It’s also a more affordable time of the year to stay at camps and lodges.

Stunning Laikipia, on our Painting Safari
And there’s plenty which is special about this season to more than compensate for a bit of rain. The unique landscape and botany of East Africa are particularly picturesque now, with the crystal clear air displaying the landscape vividly and blooming wildflowers in abundance. It’s also a great time for watching birds, of which there are over 1200 species in Kenya alone.

This natural beauty is sure to present the perfect subject matter for our special Painting Safari, which starts on June 23rd and runs for 12 days. This tour is guided by celebrated wildlife artist, Martin Aveling, and Terry Brownbill, our own highly experienced guide and bush expert. Guests will have the opportunity to see landscapes and wildlife in a diverse array of settings, including the magical Laikipia, where there’s a chance to wander freely in search of the perfect spot from which to paint animals at close quarters. You can see full details of the tour by clicking here. Give us a call to book a place or to get further information.

July, August, September

The spectacular wildebeest migration
A trip to Kenya’s Masai Mara is a must around this time of the year, as the great annual wildebeest migration crosses from the Serengeti in one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth. Countless hordes of wildebeest, along with zebras and gazelle, flood onto Kenya’s grassy plains in search of fresh pastures, while under attack from crocodiles in the river and by lions, cheetahs and hyenas on land.

This dry period offers the perfect conditions for game spotting as fewer drinking spots mean that wildlife tend to congregate around scarcer water sources. The climate is particularly comfortable at this time of the year, with warm days being followed by cool nights, which allow the perfect excuse for guests themselves to congregate – around a glowing camp fire.

October, November, December

Our Photo Safari offers close wildlife encounters
This quarter heralds the arrival of a special tour which we’re very excited about – our special Photographic Safari, which runs from the 1st - 10th October. Guided by Bob Demchuk, an accomplished photographer and movie-maker, guests can sharpen their photographic talents in some of the world’s most inspiring settings. The Samburu Reserve will lure landscape lovers with its acacia woodland and volcanic rock cones, while the Masai Mara will provide plenty of action to capture on camera, especially as the visit coincides with the culmination of the Kenyan stage of the magnificent wildebeest migration. Click here for the full details.

All in all, 2011 promises to be an exciting year for safaris in East Africa. If you’d like to get in on the action this year, we’d love to chat with you about the kind of safari we can design for you. Or perhaps you like the sound of one of the special tours we have planned. Either way, feel free to give us a call on +254 722 512 588 and make it a year to remember!

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