All photography provided by Sam Wallace
Tanzania & Kenya
Safaris to East Africa are synonymous with huge herds of animals and the associated circle of life. Famous parks such as the Serengeti, Masai Mara and Ngorongoro Crater are top notch destinations. But there are fantastic hidden gems too, if you know where to look.
The Perfect east african safari
We feel that the perfect safari to East Africa combines exceptional game viewing of the vast herds of wildlife with a wild, secluded and adventurous aspect - these are the added extras that make a safari in East Africa so special. This is most certainly possible if you know where and when to go. Timing can be everything on a safari, and placing yourself in one of the private reserves around the Serengeti coinciding with the Great Migration being on your doorstep means you can witness one of the most sought-after wildlife spectacles on earth in a far more exclusive manner. Of course there are different ways of getting the best out of your trip, you could venture into the busier sections of the popular parks for a time (they are busy for a reason, great game viewing), and then go and unwind and explore the truly wild landscapes that can be found in the region. Can you picture yourself hiking along the ridge of the Great Rift Valley? Or staking out a waterhole waiting for a leopard as the sun rises behind Mount Kenya? These are just a few of the adventures that the wild and rugged East African bush offers in spades, and in remote locations that will give you a truly exclusive and off the beaten track safari experience to diversify the classic game drive circuit.
This is a very common scene on safari, driving across the savannah with animals surrounding you.
“I remember each of our remarkable sightings as if it were yesterday! Remarkable safari...because of you Sam!”
EAst African Highlights
The Great Migration - 1,500,000 wildebeest and 250,000 Zebra roving around the Serengeti - Masai Mara ecosystem in search of fresh grazing
High density pockets of leopard
Wild and unexplored open savannah habitats
Diverse and authentic cultures (Maasai, Samburu & Hadzabe to name a few)
Well-connected safari logistics meaning less time wasted
World renowned coastline with sought-after wildlife eg. Whale sharks
Some of the last ‘Big Tusker’ elephants left on the planet
Great birding with over 1,000 species in the sub-region
Accommodation Types
Throughout East Africa there are many different properties that could be considered for an unforgettable safari including some in the ‘best in the world’ bracket. To generalise, I would categorise the property types into three; adventurous canvas-walled camps, mid-range lodges with permanent structures & ultra-luxury lodges with everything you could dream of for a safari. Below are some examples of each to give you an idea of the general categories.
Properties we love:
Tanzania
Mwiba Lodge - Serengeti
This extraordinary lodge boasts very high attention to detail, an ultra-luxury setting and great year round game viewing. In the green season, you have private access to the Great Migration while they are calving on the southern plains and in the dry season there is a high number of elephants, leopards and lions that call the reserve home. This is where I feel at home in the African bush, you will too.
Serian Camp - Serengeti
The Serian collection run by the well-known guide Alex Walker moves a few times a year to keep up with the herds and make sure they are located in the best game viewing areas. Feeling much closer to nature than some properties, a stay at Serian encourages you to really connect with nature and the charming Tanzanian team.
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
The world famous Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is perched on the edge of an impressive drop overlooking the modern day garden of eden that is the Ngorongoro Crater. You can watch the drama unfolding beneath you from one of the most striking lodges in Africa or head down on a game drive to be in the thick of the action.
Kenya
Angama Mara - Maasai Mara
This luxurious property commands one of, if not the, best locations within the entire Maasai Mara. Perched on the top of the Oloololo escarpment with the famous savannah unfurling beneath it, there is no better place to reflect on the incredible sightings you will have inevitably had that day. Drives are predominantly in the exclusive Mara triangle meaning you escape the busier sections of the reserve.
Elephant Watch Camp - Samburu
Elephant Watch Camp is the epitome of barefoot eco-luxury, delivering a sincerity to its conservation ethos, which is felt throughout. Managed by the acclaimed wildlife film-maker and conservationist Saba Douglas-Hamilton, and hosted by a team of local Samburu, whose warmth and humour will instantly make you feel at home. The star of the show here though has to be the incredible, up close and personal encounters with the elephants of Samburu.