If you were thinking of travelling to East Africa, then the only way to really consider it would be a bespoke safari to Kenya – which is all that we arrange!

The reasons are countless – but primarily it allows you to be able to do everything you wished to do on a safari – whether it be improving your photography and getting some practice in for your new camera – to walking to your heart’s content with wildlife abounding around you, to sleeping out beneath the stars – to horse riding amongst game – or simply having an amazing guide who will teach you all about the birdlife and plantlife – identifying birds and trees with you. The wildlife is a given – and we will always place you in the very best areas to see game – whether you want to see a particular species, or whether you just want to see whatever is out there!

Bespoke Safaris Kenya with AfricanExplorations.com

The important thing is to choose a company who knows what they are talking about – who have visited not only the country but all the  places in it too – which takes some doing! At African Explorations, we all come from Africa, having spent our lives on the continent and with staff from Kenya we really can suggest the best places for you – whether it is trying to capture the wildebeest migration, going on a family safari – perhaps a walking safari or a camel assisted safari, or flying low over the Masai Mara or fishing on Lake Victoria – all these things are possible! One of my favourite places is in Laikipia, overlooking the escarpment for as far as the eye can see! The lodge is beautiful and family owned – so you have a completely different perspective and you are treated like family, too !

A Family Safari is about the most special safari that anybody can have. So – what’s so special about a family safari? Okay – how about the special bond that it promotes within a family – the sacrosanct time that one has at a time like this that simply doesn’t exist at any other time?

Getting to know one another again as a family and appreciating the time one has with each other? Whether that spends time doing things that you used to enjoy once upon a time as a time as a family ie: horse riding, fishing, quad biking, snorkelling, diving, playing tennis or afresh and learning about how one’s interests have diversified.

Family Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

Whether that means going down an avenue of scientific knowledge of lion and elephant behaviour or spending time with chimpanzees and gorillas – or even seeing the big 5 and then finishing off with spending some time sailing on the ocean whether that is in a catamaran or on a laser boat or windsurfing or waterskiing or deep sea diving.

Family Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

Whether it is the marine big 5 or the land big 5, we can assemble whatever wish you have in mind – whether a safari in the savannah plains or spending time with elephants, lions, giraffe, zebra – a full big 5 safari – or something photographic where it is just you and your camera – or perhaps climbing a mountain – or seeing the best primates in the world – we are complete specialists – we all come from Africa – our passion is in Africa – and we are used to designing a custom made holiday of a lifetime – so don’t hesitate to call us for your dream safari!

Family Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

Whether canoeing, sailing, beaching, having contact with the local population and understanding their culture and learning about wildlife – we are here for you!

Of all the safaris that one can undertake, I think family safaris must top the list. Simply because there is something wonderful to view life through the eye’s of a child – unlike our vision which tends to be hugely corrupted by cynicism and a variety of other preconceived ideas! To see the wonderment and joy as a child witnesses an entirely new world all around it, new experiences mounting on a daily basis is so incredibly rewarding. It is both profound and simple and entirely pleasurable! I have been taking my daughter on safari every year since she was literally a couple of years old and what is the most important aspect is the equal dose of wildlife and culture.  In addition, one must have a top notch and sympathetic guide. So often, one comes across a truly fantastic guide, who simply isn’t child friendly. This is not their fault. They simply have not had much access to children, invariably they are quite young and they are often focussed on conservation and science. This results in information being proffered to the parents at a scientific level and the child is not engaged at all. Sadly, this is the death knell for taking children on safari (and happens with huge regularity), as the child becomes completely bored! Therefore, a superb and child friendly guide is crucial to the success of any safari. Depending upon the age of the child, one can also have the most wonderful safaris in non malarial areas, both in Kenya and in South Africa in particular.

Family Safaris with AfricanExplorations.com

In East Africa particularly, the tribes have the most arresting traditional dress which children always love and they are taught how to make bows and arrows, how to recognise the spoormarks or the prints of animals in the sand, making plaster of paris imprints, teaching them about the night sky and the medicinal properties of plants and trees and the folklore that is attached to them. A safari is also an incredibly bonding form of holiday, where the entire family spends quality time together.

Family Safaris in Africa with AfricanExplorations.com

Forget all the modern technology, ds’, mp3 players, dvd players, i-pods and all the electronic modern gadgets enlisted to keep your children ‘occupied’. Here, they have something real which is educational and fun with a value which far exceeds anything that could be obtained through the modern medium.Perhaps go on a camel trek safari for a few days with the local Samburu tribe, or sleep out beneath the stars, or in a treehouse. Horse ride and fish or simply learn what it is like to have an uncomplicated yet exciting and simple lifestyle.  Sail on a catamaran around Madagascar or Lake Malawi or Tanzania,  end up on a beach and do some kite surfing in Kenya or Tanzania. It simply doesn’t get better than this! But the best thing of all, is when even the most jaded and widely travelled traveller returns, saying  it is the holiday of their lifetime!

African Safari in Kenya – An African Safari in Kenya is one of the most rewarding safaris one can ever embark upon! Think of wide, open plains, filled with cheetah, elephant, lion, bat eared foxes, zebras, giraffe and a myriad of gorgeous birdlife. Days spent traversing the plains in an open 4 x 4 vehicle, with your guide bringing the entire terrain to life, teaching you everything from identifying the bones left from carnivores, to identifying plants and trees and the homeopathic properties that come from them, to the night sky and astronomy – where there is no light pollution!

African Safari In Kenya with AfricanExplorations.com

Then return to your gorgeous tented camp at night, where the hurricane lamps have all been lit, and the smells of a wonderful meal prepared for you,  using the freshest ingredients waft through the air. Perhaps you might have a hot bucket shower which is so romantic as you bathe beneath the stars at night, or – if staying at one of our luxury lodges, then you can wallow in a bath, overlooking a river, the sound of hippos happily grunting. This is Africa and this is Kenya, the country that delivers dreams! Witness the wildebeest migration, one of Africa’s greatest spectacles, in the Masai Mara, spend time learning about the Nomadic tribes, walk with scientists, learning about their projects. Spend time riding on horse back or walking with camels, the smell of the plants still fresh with the morning dew. Overnight in a tree house. All of these are possible, and our specialists come from Kenya, so who better to assist you with your next safari? We look forward to it!

Riding safaris in Africa with AfricanExplorations.com

Kenya Family Safaris -Kenya still offers the finest and most obvious choice for a family safari, with such diversity of both bush and beach, it is always a success and invariably a great ‘bonding’ session where famillies get to spend quality time together.

Camel safaris at Sosian with AfricanExplorations.com

Certainly, for the “first timer”, a visit to the Mara is a must and, for those taking children who might be nervous about the bush/child equation, staying somewhere which has a swimming pool (something to do which is “not animals”!) and is also fenced might be a good option. A fenced off camp, meaning that precious totos can run around at will, in total safety in one of the most concentrated game regions in the world, is a good idea. A couple of camps even offer a ‘kids’ club’; Nirvana for most parents and almost unheard of in the safari world! The real hit was when our 7 year old daughter was taught to use a wooden bow and arrow made from combretum, this was put to good (harmless!) use as she became expert at fending off the vervet monkeys who visited the dining tables in an effort to claim leftover titbits.

Family Safaris to Kenya with AfricanExplorations.com

For those with older children, or those with a spirit of adventure, the region of Laikipia ticks the boxes every time. This is a beautiful area, with interesting and diverse vegetation ranging from acacia woodland to open plains dotted with acacia trees. One in particular is  a wonderful working ranch with

Boran cattle, Maasai Red sheep and Galla goats but there’s plenty for everyone to do. Apart from game drives and walks (walking in the bush is an
excellent experience) there is also camel and horse riding. The horses were a real hit as our daughter  was away from her pony and was delighted to “go equine” again. Crucially, there is a swimming pool. We spent time in the evenings playing snooker and games and generally relaxing and chatting. There are also night drives. These are great fun, seeing porcupine and searching for one of the nine locally resident leopard of which we actually saw two! Wild Dog have really made a comeback here and some are tagged and monitored. Adventurous clients can head to the waterfalls on the Ewaso Narok River and jump into a big pool of water 30 feet below or learn about the challenges of ranching in such a harsh and untamed environment by participating in ranching activities. Aside from the game drives there are guided bird walks, clay pigeon shooting, archery and fishing as well as fly camping on the plains overlooking Mount Kenya. This is all very special and one could spend an eternity here!

Family Safari at Mara Intrepids with AfricanExplorations.com

Family Safaris in Kenya with AfricanExplorations.com

And then there is the coast, where anything from Robinson Crusoe to delightful lodges are on offer, with kite surfing, fishing, water skiing, tubing and literally any watersport imaginable on offer!

It is very easy these days to have a luxury Safari in Kenya, as there are just so many lodges and beautifully appointed tented camps to choose from. As any African afficionado knows, tents have moved on a long way in the last twenty years! Forget about pup tents, (unless one is flycamping), and any negative thoughts on boy scout camping should be banished! No, we are talking about lovely, spacious, sexy tents (yes, they can be!), as large as most apartments, with 360 degree views should one wish, persian rugs scattered on the floor and big cushions. Fantastic views and some with their own plunge pool! The most gorgeous tent I recently stayed in was at Sasaab, in Kenya. Sadly I was on my own, but this was somewhere to be shared with your partner – it was romance and bliss personified!

Luxury Kenya Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

The tents are set in the bush and one watches pairs of dik diks pronking through the trees. During the day, the tent is open fronted and open to the side, where the plunge pool is situated, overlooking the river. The front has equal views over the river with a couple of sun loungers placed on the grass. In the bedroom is a large sitting area with lots of cushions and bird and mammal books for perusing. There is even a yoga mat and plenty of places to practice yoga! There is a large bathroom with sliding tented doors with an inside shower and twin basin unit.  You also have your dedicated room steward.  If you feel like having more of a workout in a proper swimming pool,  then one can walk up to a mezzanine area outside with lots of large chairs and cushions  for relaxing and having a glass of wine, overlooking the swimming pool. There is also a spa.  Apart from game viewing in Samburu National Park, which is superb and excellent for elephant specifically (as well as having five different species which only occur north of the equator), they also offer camel walking and riding,  as well as walks, visits to the local community and the school. There are so many other lovely properties – in Lake Naivasha, we have a folly, which one takes over – and one can go for walks, visit Lake Nakuru  and take a boat around the lake whilst birdwatching.

Luxury Kenya safari with AfricanExplorations.com

There are umpteen gorgeous houses in Laikipia where one can stay – my favourite being a homestead which has been decorated by an Argentinian interior decorator – called the Italian cottage. Here one can ride, track wild dog, game view and walk and the wildlife is superb. Or perhaps take a private cottage in Laikipia with infinite views across the escarpment. On the coast, in Lamu, take a private villa – complete with your own skipper and boat for the day! Dine on lobster, crab and fresh fish each night! At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, there is a gorgeous lodge called Ol Donyo Wuas. This is the perfect place to acclimatise to Africa – sleep outside in your sala for a night or two, beneath the stars! They have elephants with the largest tusks here.  Go for wonderful walks, horse ride, have lovely picnic lunches and breakfasts laid out for you on a walk – the opportunities are endless, as are the views, luxury safari Kenya at its best!

Luxury Safari Kenya with AfricanExplorations.com