KENYA AFRICA - UPDATE

I have visited Kenya multiple times over the years, and each time I am amazed at what I see and what I learn.

I just returned from the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) arriving midnight September 28, 2022 at the Nairobi Airport flying from San Francisco thru Doha to Nairobi which is a daunting 20+ hour flight - not including transfer time in Doha. I flew on Qatar Airlines in their Business Class Q-Suite. The privacy as well as the choose your food and eat when you want is the perfect way to fly long distances. Be aware it is quite a walk for the transfer to the next flight at Doha - which I found out the hard way.

I checked into the Radisson Blu Up Hill hotel for the duration of my trip - excluding the 5 days spent out on safari. This is a wonderful hotel with excellent rooms, fantastic buffet breakfast & restaurant and service. A few minor glitches were taken care of my management when brought to their attention.

The following morning we were taken to the Nairobi train station to embark on our Safari. We traveled by train in the first class section to Voi. The train was comfortable, clean and had snacks and drinks available for sale.

Upon arrival at Voi we transferred to our Safari vehicle which was our transportation until we returned to Nairobi 5 days later. We met our driver/guide Steven who proved to be one of the best I've had in my many trips to Kenya along with Winnie & Elizabeth all from Pollards Tours & Safari company. 

Our first stop after a few hours was at the Salt Lick Safari Lodge in the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary where we were to spend 2 nights. After lunch we proceeded on a game drive to see the animals. The lodge and rooms were very comfortable, and as we have found everywhere the food was fantastic. By then our small band of travelers were having a great time together which lasted all the way through our trip.

The game drives were excellent with many and varied wildlife observed. The watering hole at the lodge was a perfect place to also view wildlife right from the balcony area of the lodge and even from your room.

Our next stop was to Kilaguri Serena Safari Lodge in Tsavo West National Park where we also stayed for 2 nights. Serena Lodges are well run with excellent rooms as well as the typical amazing food and fantastic watering hole at the lodge.

Games drives proved the plethora of the wildlife available all over the various areas of this National Park.

Finally on to Ol Tukai Lodge at Amboselli National Park. I had been to Amboselli on a previous trip to Kenya, but our tour guide basically only showed us what he called "his cows" (elephants) so I was completely surprised on this visit to see the amount of game available.

We saw an entire Hyena family including baby pups, Grass munching Hippos, Birds and so much more.

Our trip from Amboselli to Nairobi (3+ hours) was smooth until we had a traffic accident in one small village when a motorcycle with 2 riders tried to speed past on the wrong side of the road and hit our vehicle. Minor injury to the riders, and zero damage to our vehicle. The local police tried to blame our driver - ignoring our statements and other villagers statements to the contrary. He was trying to collect money from our driver, but had to back off when the motorcyclist admitted he was in the wrong.

The next morning the MKTE Expo started after the prior evening's opening festivities. Three days of meetings with various tour operators, tourism boards, Hotels was held at the Bomas Center. At the end of each day our small group met at the hotel bar to unwind and relax.

All in all it was a wonderful experience. To top of this trip I stayed an extra few days to visit with my dearest friend Gathoni Gatimu whom I had met on one of my first trips to Kenya, and who had also visited me here at my home many years ago.

I'm in the process of reviewing the many photographs I took while on Safari this time and will be adding them over the next few weeks - Cheetahs, Leopards, Elephants, Hyenas, Ostrich, Giraffe and more.

Here are just a few of the thousands of photos I have taken during my visits to Kenya as well as current photos from this trip. I hope you enjoy them.