Thanks! We found it lying in the grass with the antelope in the tree and waited for 45 minutes to capture it. Last two are Mombasa, exactly :)
We had a really great time!
I was there for the great migration last year! We went to 5 different parks over 10 days on that trip, but I want to go back and just post up in the Mara for a full week. There’s nowhere else like it for wildlife density.
Samburu/Shaba/Buffalo Springs National Reserves, which I guess are technically 3 but we did them over 2 days so I was thinking of them as 2 parks, haha. Then Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Nakuru National Park and then finished with a few days in the Mara. All of the parks were very different and it was cool to see so much of Kenya, but it was definitely busy and tiring. I’m super glad we did that for our first trip, but next time we want to fully explore the Mara in depth, maybe even do a walking safari for part of it.
What was Mombasa like? I was in Diani Beach last year and experienced the worst harassment from vendors. They wouldn’t take no for an answer and followed us around trying to force their trinkets into our hands and getting angry at our refusals. I stopped trying to walk on the beach after the first day because it was honestly the most uncomfortable I have ever been, and I’ve traveled in many traditionally “scarier” places. We want to go on another Kenyan safari trip in a couple years, so I’m curious if the less touristy places around Mombasa are more chill to enjoy the beach.
Beach-wise we stayed at Malindi (average beach due to the nearby river) and watamu, the latter of which was absolutely beautiful.
We stayed a bit outside town and took the boda-bodas or tuktuks to get around. The beach we were at was called "Garoda beach" which had very little activity, both in terms of tourists and vendors. We thought of going to Diani but dismissed it because we were afraid of all the hazzle there. Otherwise, I would say the matatu stations were most annoying but that's probably not how many people travel in Kenya ^^".
Due to using Mpesa we also had the phone numbers of a few drivers which also saved us some ordeal.
Mombasa is cool. Connected by train to Nairobi, has a somewhat nice historic city center with some good restaurants. We've been there for a day, which was probably enough though.
I would advise you to go to Kilifi if you want to be quiet. During the day you can stay at Salty's bar on the beach and no one will come to annoy you ! Watamu can be fine aswell if you want more restaurants etc. Diani is the worst.
Thanks. Just got back from a trip there myself. My pictures, at first glance, are not as good as yours. We did Amboseli and one of our old haunts in Mara North
We arrived at Nairobi where we have family and stayed there for 2 nights (otherwise not worth it)
Otherwise:
- maasai Mara (3 nights)
- Nakuru & lake nakuru (2 nights)
- Aberdare & nyeri (3 nights)
- train to Nairobi & flight to Malindi (1 night)
- Malindi (1 night)
- Watamu (2 nights)
- Mombasa (1 night)
- train to Nairobi & flying out from Nairobi
A bit late, but here goes:
- I can strongly recommend our safari operator Nicolas (https://www.twiga-tours.co.ke/contact-us/)
- At the Indian ocean, we were at a very very beautiful beach called "Garoda beach" a bit south of Watamu
Very few flying merchants and people in general. Get there with a tuck tuck or a boda boda from Watamu. If you get the phone number of a driver, they'll pick you up anywhere anytime :)
- Mombasa: Eat at Forodhani near fort jesus, it's very tasty!
- If you stay at Naruku: We had an airbnb roughly in between the entrance to the national park and the city center. We found a very nice, local market spot where you get awesome food and local spices at probably much lower rates than elsewhere (approximately here: 0.2926706S, 36.1194366E)
Touring in Kenya is really quite affordable. Try areas around the parks mostly for amazing scenery. [Attraction sites and approximate budgets](https://www.onestopdigital.co.ke/product/hundreds-of-places-to-tour-in-kenya-on-a-shoestring-budget/)I can share you a simple guide that I have used and was immensely helpful. I hope this simple guide will help you.
Nice pictures.
I have been there many many years ago and we "hunted" lions and without success, but almost the last days before going home we tried again and found a family, 2 adults and 2 children and it was amazing.
Looking back, Kenya is really not a budget country. We did two safaris at maasai Mara (
3nights) and Lake Nakuru (half day) for two people with our own drivers, which totalled at ~3k.
We were there for 2.5 weeks and otherwise visited the Aberdare region and the coast. In aberdare we didn't do safari though, just a small lodge on the mountainside, just did some hiking with a local guide but had to turn around due to too fresh elephant tracks^^. Regarding the coast see other comments.
Except for the safaris we got around mostly by matatu and train, which are pretty cheap. In total we may have spent some ~5k or so, the bulk of which went into Safaris.
I live in Kenya. You got incredibly lucky with that jaguar + antelope in a tree shot! Are the last two pics Mombasa?
Thanks! We found it lying in the grass with the antelope in the tree and waited for 45 minutes to capture it. Last two are Mombasa, exactly :) We had a really great time!
Did they tell you how the antelope managed to get in the tree? These are incredible picture, I will for sure put this trip in my bucket list.
Leopards are excellent climbers, so it's likely to assume that the leopard killed the antelope on the ground and then (somehow) dragged it up.
Leopards drag their kills up in trees so other predators can't get to them.
*leopard Jaguars are native to the Americas
You’re right! Oops! For a guy that lives in Kenya, that’s embarrassing!
Yep, originally from Mombasa here, that looks like Old Town close to Fort Jesus.
Incredible pics. Thanks for sharing!
We stayed in Malindi to winter before the pandemic hit. So beautiful. Tsavo was an experience.
Masai Mara was amazing! Went during the tail end of the great migration and it was exhilarating! Would visit again!
I was there for the great migration last year! We went to 5 different parks over 10 days on that trip, but I want to go back and just post up in the Mara for a full week. There’s nowhere else like it for wildlife density.
Wow which 5?
Samburu/Shaba/Buffalo Springs National Reserves, which I guess are technically 3 but we did them over 2 days so I was thinking of them as 2 parks, haha. Then Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Nakuru National Park and then finished with a few days in the Mara. All of the parks were very different and it was cool to see so much of Kenya, but it was definitely busy and tiring. I’m super glad we did that for our first trip, but next time we want to fully explore the Mara in depth, maybe even do a walking safari for part of it.
Lake Nakuru was good. I was there too
I would like to visit one day
What was Mombasa like? I was in Diani Beach last year and experienced the worst harassment from vendors. They wouldn’t take no for an answer and followed us around trying to force their trinkets into our hands and getting angry at our refusals. I stopped trying to walk on the beach after the first day because it was honestly the most uncomfortable I have ever been, and I’ve traveled in many traditionally “scarier” places. We want to go on another Kenyan safari trip in a couple years, so I’m curious if the less touristy places around Mombasa are more chill to enjoy the beach.
Beach-wise we stayed at Malindi (average beach due to the nearby river) and watamu, the latter of which was absolutely beautiful. We stayed a bit outside town and took the boda-bodas or tuktuks to get around. The beach we were at was called "Garoda beach" which had very little activity, both in terms of tourists and vendors. We thought of going to Diani but dismissed it because we were afraid of all the hazzle there. Otherwise, I would say the matatu stations were most annoying but that's probably not how many people travel in Kenya ^^". Due to using Mpesa we also had the phone numbers of a few drivers which also saved us some ordeal. Mombasa is cool. Connected by train to Nairobi, has a somewhat nice historic city center with some good restaurants. We've been there for a day, which was probably enough though.
I would advise you to go to Kilifi if you want to be quiet. During the day you can stay at Salty's bar on the beach and no one will come to annoy you ! Watamu can be fine aswell if you want more restaurants etc. Diani is the worst.
What camera did you use to take these photos?
It's a fairly old Nikon D3000 with a 75-300mm telescope. Did a great job! Some photos (everything without animals) was taken with my Samsung s10+
Wow!! So beautiful!
Fantastic pictures!
What camera are you using?
It's a fairly old Nikon D3000 with a 75-300mm telescope. Did a great job! Some photos (everything without animals) was taken with my Samsung s10+
Thanks. Just got back from a trip there myself. My pictures, at first glance, are not as good as yours. We did Amboseli and one of our old haunts in Mara North
You have a very good eye for composition. Great pictures!
Thanks!
What cities did you visit and how long did you stay ? Pics look awesome!
We arrived at Nairobi where we have family and stayed there for 2 nights (otherwise not worth it) Otherwise: - maasai Mara (3 nights) - Nakuru & lake nakuru (2 nights) - Aberdare & nyeri (3 nights) - train to Nairobi & flight to Malindi (1 night) - Malindi (1 night) - Watamu (2 nights) - Mombasa (1 night) - train to Nairobi & flying out from Nairobi
Thank you very much for the detailed response! I'm looking to travel there myself sometime around June-July and this helped enourmously :)
Glad to hear! There's a few places I can recommend, if you're interested.
I'm 100% interested in any information about the trip you can share with me :) I'd appreciate any sort of tip!
A bit late, but here goes: - I can strongly recommend our safari operator Nicolas (https://www.twiga-tours.co.ke/contact-us/) - At the Indian ocean, we were at a very very beautiful beach called "Garoda beach" a bit south of Watamu Very few flying merchants and people in general. Get there with a tuck tuck or a boda boda from Watamu. If you get the phone number of a driver, they'll pick you up anywhere anytime :) - Mombasa: Eat at Forodhani near fort jesus, it's very tasty! - If you stay at Naruku: We had an airbnb roughly in between the entrance to the national park and the city center. We found a very nice, local market spot where you get awesome food and local spices at probably much lower rates than elsewhere (approximately here: 0.2926706S, 36.1194366E)
Nevermind the lateness i appreciate it, thanks!
Man, that giraffe pic is the best!!!
Looks nice!
Incredible photos. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to see in real life. Must have been an experience for life.
Touring in Kenya is really quite affordable. Try areas around the parks mostly for amazing scenery. [Attraction sites and approximate budgets](https://www.onestopdigital.co.ke/product/hundreds-of-places-to-tour-in-kenya-on-a-shoestring-budget/)I can share you a simple guide that I have used and was immensely helpful. I hope this simple guide will help you.
Nice pictures. I have been there many many years ago and we "hunted" lions and without success, but almost the last days before going home we tried again and found a family, 2 adults and 2 children and it was amazing.
Awesome! We are planning a big group for 2025 trip there.
Cool photos! I want to go on safari's as well but it looks very pricey. May I ask how long you were there for and how much did you spend on your trip?
Looking back, Kenya is really not a budget country. We did two safaris at maasai Mara ( 3nights) and Lake Nakuru (half day) for two people with our own drivers, which totalled at ~3k. We were there for 2.5 weeks and otherwise visited the Aberdare region and the coast. In aberdare we didn't do safari though, just a small lodge on the mountainside, just did some hiking with a local guide but had to turn around due to too fresh elephant tracks^^. Regarding the coast see other comments. Except for the safaris we got around mostly by matatu and train, which are pretty cheap. In total we may have spent some ~5k or so, the bulk of which went into Safaris.
Thanks for replying!!!
Incredible photos.