Kenya 2023: Chapter 36 - Hindsight
Well that’s a wrap! Another great trip in the books. Our experience was vastly different this time than the first for a great many reasons. We’ve also got some lessons learned and some tips for traveling, both of which we’ll cover in today’s installment.
Although we tried to time our trip with the Great Migration, global forces kept us from seeing the massive herds crossing the Mara River. This event was high on our to-see list and the fact that we got skunked is a good reason for us to go back again. In addition to seeing the Great Migration cross the Mara River next time, we’d want to check out some areas down south like Amboseli with Mt. Kilimanjaro as the backdrop to big tuskers. We’d also strongly consider some of the private camps which allow night drives and can be less crowded than the major parks.
As seasoned safari vets, we were well-prepared for gear. There are a few things that we could still shed for next time (solar chargers, for example). We recommend you start packing early. List out all the things you think you want/need and pare them down the closer you get to traveling. If you’re bringing a lot of camera gear, check and double check that you have memory cards. You don’t want to have to navigate a foreign city looking for cards. Make sure your gear is packed safely away too. The loss of the versatility of the 200-500 mm lens was unfortunate and limited some of our shots. Conversely, consider some redundancy in your lens loadout to allow you to work around any potential mishaps.
We would 100% skip the Maasai Market. The first time was an experience, the second time was almost a hassle. There are lots of souvenir places all over that are better priced and less pushy than the market. If you do decide to go, be prepared for high markups and a strong hustle. Don’t be afraid to hustle them back. When in Rome…
We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of our time at the Giraffe Center. Although we had nixed it in our original itinerary because it looked too touristy, it was well worth the side trip. The museums downtown are on our radar for the next trip.
Our plan for this trip was to find a species and stick with it for several hours. That’s a great way to see behaviors, but realistically most of the big cats are elusive or sleeping during the day and there’s lots of other drama to be had elsewhere. After seeing several new bird species, we really focused on collecting enough quality images to fill a calendar and then some. That assignment made us more keenly aware of our surroundings and helped us vary our composition when we came upon a new species. 2024 calendars are still available. DM us to get your hands on one.
Although we lamented the prevalence of cell signal across the Mara, the ability to drop a pin on something we saw or a turn we made was great for being able to see where we were.
If you get the chance, take a hot air balloon ride. It was an amazing way to see the landscape, gliding silently over the animals. If you plan to take a ride, don’t plan it for your last day. If the weather is bad, you’ll miss out.
Take the time to get to know your guide. Building rapport with them will enhance the experience. They will start to understand your trip goals and assist you in meeting them.
If our work has inspired you to take a safari, we recommend Gamewatchers Safaris. The whole staff is knowledgeable and responsive. If you book with them, let them know that we recommended you. You’ll get a great trip and we’ll get a free night out of it.
Our last tip is one that we follow religiously: take time to be in the moment. Put the camera down, put the phone away. Just enjoy the view, the sights, sounds, the company for a few minutes. Take only pictures, leave only footprints, kill only time.
Safe travels!
Cheers!
-Ed and Greg
