✨Because it was my first time going to a place as far as Kenya and I wanted to have a great time, I considered a lot at the beginning: hotels, routes, attractions… It was so overwhelming. Going on my own would definitely be more free, but I was quite scared of bearing all the risks myself. Joining a tour group is just for convenience, without worrying about the nitty-gritty of planning and routes.
After this trip, I feel that Kenya is really worth it, a must-visit in one’s lifetime! Please keep this guide handy.
–
[📍Before Departure]
💉Get a yellow fever vaccine
📃Kenya is visa-free but you still need to apply for an ETA in advance
📞I recommend Safaricom, which I personally tested and found to have good signal, 17GB of data for 2100 shillings
💰Exchange some US dollars, I suggest around $400, as tips are also needed
–
[✈Itinerary]
Day 1: Fly to Kenya, felt too excited to sleep much on the plane at night
Day 2: Arrived in Nairobi early in the morning, went to Amboseli in the afternoon, perfectly connected, the view of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, was truly spectacular!
Day 3: In the morning, visited the 【Amboseli National Park】 mainly to see elephant herds, in the afternoon, went to the 【Giraffe Park】, right at the entrance there was a tall and gentle giraffe, it would turn its head when you called it and eat food from your hand, very gentle, you could even pat its head.
Day 4: The animal orphanage inside the Fairmont at 【Mount Kenya】 was heart-melting, with super cute cheetahs. At 【Sweetwaters Park】, you can get really close to the animals, following the reserve, you can see a protected blind black rhino that responds to human calls.
Day 5: At 【Lake Nakuru】🦩, the most worthwhile animal to see is the rhinoceros🦏, because among the Big Five, the rhinoceros is one of the hardest to spot.
Day 6: At 【Lake Elmenteita】, thousands of 🦩 flying together were truly spectacular🥹. At 【Lake Naivasha】, you can take a boat to the island, getting up close to zebras, wildebeests, and giraffes. The animals on the island are not very afraid of people, making it super suitable for taking photos.
Day 7: At the 【Maasai Mara Game Reserve】, our female guide was super skilled at finding animals and very talkative.
My travel companion helped take many beautiful photos, haha, and we also visited the Maasai village along the way.
Day 8: Mainly around the 【Mara River】, encountered many zebras, lions, cheetahs, gazelles… In the afternoon, we had a special walking experience near the river, with a black brother providing protection throughout, feeling very secure, haha.
Day 9: Explored Nairobi on my own, experiencing the capital city.
Day 10: Headed home
–
[Group Tour Experience]
The entire trip was in five-star hotels, and we even stayed two nights inside the Maasai Mara park, allowing us more time to see the animals. Although it can’t compare to the developed areas in China, it far exceeded my expectations, although the food was quite average.
The tour fee was 26,000 RMB, and I found the cost-effectiveness to be exceptional. I was able to visit every destination on my wishlist, which made the experience incredibly fulfilling. However, since it was May, I missed out on witnessing the great migration, which was a bit of a letdown.
Overall, the trip was still immensely rewarding. If you have any questions about traveling to Kenya or need some tips, feel free to reach out to me.
I can totally relate to your feeling of being overwhelmed when planning a trip like this. It’s great that you found a balance between independence and convenience by joining a tour group – I bet it still felt adventurous while taking some pressure off. Your honest reflections are really inspiring!
I totally get that balance between freedom and convenience. Solo travel can be scary but also rewarding if you’re prepared for the challenges. Your honesty about feeling overwhelmed really resonates with me.