Kenya Safari Guide- Everything you need to Know about Kenya Self Drive
Kenya is a country in East Africa with coastline on the Indian Ocean. It encompasses savannah, Lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands. It’s also home to wildlife like lions, elephants and rhinos. From Nairobi, the capital, safaris visit the Maasai Mara Reserve, known for its annual wildebeest migrations, and Amboseli National Park, offering views of Tanzania’s 5,895m Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Kenya also contains one of the most colourful arrays of tribal cultures anywhere in Africa. Kenya’s Rift Valley contains prehistoric fossils and other evidence that have continued to delight archaeologists all over the world, ever since Louis Leakey carried out his famous ‘digs’ in the area. Kenya is also one of the most tourist-friendly countries in Africa, despite the political tensions prevailing there. Kenya is totally geared for the tourist with extensive tourist infrastructure that makes its wonders accessible, and friendly villagers in the countryside who will make your trip an enjoyable one.
Visa services
As of January 2024, most foreign visitors to Kenya must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) online before arrival. All nationalities, with few exemptions, must apply for the eTA, replacing the previous visa-on-arrival system. You must apply through the official government portal, and applications should be made at least six business days before travel. However, it is recommended to apply a couple of weeks in advance to allow for any processing delays.
The Vaccines needed
A yellow fever vaccine certificate is required for entry into Kenya. A valid vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry, especially if arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Other recommended vaccines include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus, and Polio. It is also important to be up-to-date on routine immunizations like measles, and consider others like Hepatitis B and rabies depending on your travel plans.
The Dress code
While Kenya does not enforce a strict nationwide dress code, a modest and conservative approach is recommended to show respect for local customs, which vary by region. The specific context, such as urban vs. rural areas or safari vs. business settings, will inform what is appropriate to wear.
There’s no strict dress code in liberal Kenya. However, a few items are essential for comfort. Hats, sunglasses and a long-sleeved shirt are recommended for sun-scorched safaris in open vehicles. Neutral colours are best especially if you’re planning a walking safari. Remember to pack a jumper and woolly hat for chilly early-morning drives; temperatures quickly drop at high altitudes.
WiFi and Cell Service
In Kenya, mobile network coverage is widespread in urban areas and tourist destinations, with Safaricom offering the most extensive coverage. While Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and cafés, a local SIM card is recommended for reliable internet access, especially in rural areas. The main mobile operators are Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom with Safaricom being the largest provider with the best and most extensive network coverage across the country.
Food and Cuisine
From its restaurants to its street foods, Kenyan cuisine is wonderfully diverse and always tasty. These days, visitors to Kenya can enjoy flavor’s influenced by a wide variety of ethnic groups and cultures, giving each dish a signature taste you won’t find anywhere else. Coastal regions feature fresh fish and Swahili dishes with rich spices, while inland cuisine relies on maize (corn), grains, and grilled meats.
Religion
Christianity is the dominant religion, with a significant Muslim population concentrated in specific regions. The country also has a small number of adherents to other faiths, such as traditional African religions, Hinduism, and atheism.
The Constitution of Kenya protects religious freedom and prohibits discrimination based on religious belief. The country is known for its high level of religious belief and coexistence, though there have been instances of heightened inter-religious tensions, particularly following extremist attacks by groups like al-Shabaab.
Is Kenya a safe country?
In general, yes. Tourist areas have a good police presence and strict security checks operate in Nairobi. There have been several terrorist attacks in the past years and Al Shahaab extremists continue to be a threat, especially in the far north, where it is advisable to fly rather than travel by road. Rumblings of tribal conflict occasionally occur in the Laikipia region, especially during periods of drought.
Self Driving in Kenya
Self-drive safari refers to an incredible type of safari to explore or adventure a country or specific safari to National Parks in your 4×4 Wheel at an affordable fee but in a comfortable and private car seat for better adventure, however, the better way to explore Kenya as a beautiful country is to hire a dream car of your own to make your African self-drive tours worthwhile. More so, Kenya Self Drive Safari is an extraordinary safari adventure good for travelers who want to enjoy a self-drive safari at their own pace.
The better way to enjoy Kenya Self drive safari than you could imagine, we advise you to use the perfect and comfortable vehicles suitable for your remarkable safari adventure such as; a 4×4-wheel vehicle, Land cruiser that offers a five-door station wagon and Rooftop tent to enable you to create your remarkable adventure in the heart of Africa-Kenya. The best Kenya Self-Drive routes are filled with a lot of fun when you tend to do it as a couple, family, or a small group, there are multiple vehicles to hire at your own pace and objectives.
How many days do I need to explore Kenya?
Ten days is enough to sample a couple of the county’s wilderness areas followed by a few days of relaxation at the beach. Combine three to four nights in the Mara with a trip to the tribal lands of Samburu for a good balance of culture and wildlife. For an in-depth journey around the country, allow two to three weeks especially if you plan to travel by road.
Things to do in Kenya
With incredible natural wonders, with the Maasai Mara being the most renowned site, where one witnesses millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles undertaking a miraculous survival journey across the annual Great Migration. Amboseli National Park, on the other hand, offers equally iconic experiences, where great elephant herds roam in their sets against the incomparable Mount Kilimanjaro backdrop. From the bright-pink flocks of flamingos in Lake Nakuru to the sprawling plains that are the domain of lions, cheetahs, and rhinos, Kenya’s diverse landscapes are teeming with wildlife.
On the coast, Kenya’s beauty takes a different form; white sand and turquoise water at Diani Beach, excellent for relaxation and water sports; historic richness combined with coastal charm in Malindi and Lamu. Lamu Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site that always fascinates visitors with its ancient Swahili architecture and well-preserved culture, offering a tranquil jump back in time along the scenic Kenyan coastline.
Further inland, Kenya’s landscapes continue to amaze. The Great Rift Valley features shimmering lakes and dramatic escarpments, while Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak, draws adventurers to its glaciers and alpine meadows. The geothermal springs and gorges filled with wildlife make Hell’s Gate National Park a singular destination. Samburu National Park boasts rugged beauty and the Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and beisa oryx. These rare species found only in northern Kenya give Samburu a unique touch when it comes to wildlife. It is therefore a must-visit for those looking for extraordinary encounters.
It’s unlikely that you’ll be stuck wondering what to do in Kenya because there is an extensive array of experiences and activities to pick from.
Accommodation in Kenya
The African bush certainly is the centrepiece of your vacation time in Kenya, but your accommodation further enhances your experience. Perhaps you wish to immerse yourself in the bush while sleeping under canvas or prefer to retire in a contemporary lodge with modern amenities abound.
The first step in finding you a perfect Kenyan holiday lodging is to determine a safari category that best meets your needs. For your beach and city accommodations in Kenya, we use similar standards to ensure the same consistency is achieved.
When you choose a safari, we gain important insight into how you define perfection while in Kenya. Some guests may desire the highest quality in location whether it is in the bush or by the Indian Ocean seashore, exclusivity, guest rooming, food, service and top-notch tour guide. Other guests may prefer modest accommodations that are relatively close to the most popular destinations while others settle for mid-range deluxe experiences.
The camp experience on safari is primarily recommended for guests who desire and are comfortable with the traditional safari experience. Guest tents at the camps are furnished with modern conveniences yet are comfortable with the minimalistic nature of these features. For example, tents may have bucket showers, outdoor bathtubs and canvas door and window flaps for in-tent privacy. The in-room amenities at lodges, on the other hand, are considered more modern, similar to small hotels in cities.
The best time to visit Kenya
The main tourist seasons tie in with the rainfall patterns: the biggest influxes of visitors are in December to February and July to September. Dry-season travel has a number of advantages, not least of which is the greater visibility of wildlife as animals are concentrated along the diminishing watercourses.
July to September is probably the best period, overall, for game viewing, with early September almost certain to coincide with the annual wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara.
October, November, and March are the months with the clearest seas for snorkeling and diving. In the long rains, the mountain parks are occasionally closed, as the muddy tracks are undrivable. But the rainy seasons shouldn’t deter travel unduly: the rains usually come only in short afternoon or evening cloudbursts, and the landscape is strikingly green and fresh even if the skies may be cloudy. There are bonuses, too: fewer other tourists, reduced prices, and often perfect light for photography.
