Safaris call for good planning

Anyone planning a safari adventure in Kenya needs to know a few important things beforehand to ensure they have a comfortable and smooth stay in the country.

Once in the country, visitors have a number of options for moving around, between and within cities. Kenya has an elaborate bus network connecting larger and smaller towns, with frequent links between small towns, the capital and the coast. While traveling within a city such as Nairobi, locals prefer to use "matatus", or minivans, because they are cheap and readily available.

However, visitors can hire a vehicle or use ride-hailing apps to get a taxi that can get them from one place to another. Regular taxis are in plentiful supply in big towns and cities and can be found at taxi ranks around tourist attractions, bus stations and other key areas.

Major cities have airports, and visitors can easily take a plane to the coast or western parts of the country. There is also the Standard Gauge Railway line that links the central part of the country past Nairobi all the way to the coast.

Reliable transport

The railway, built in collaboration with China, is a convenient, reliable and cheap means of transport especially for those traveling between Nairobi and the city of Mombasa. For those planning to make an organized safari to the numerous tourist attractions, tour companies can arrange transport for whole trips depending on the route and distances.

When it comes to accommodation, tourists can choose from high-end luxury safari lodges or tented camps and beach resorts with a full range of facilities and entertainment to simple local town hotels. Camping is also popular among those who visit parks and can greatly cut the cost of an organized safari.

In making early arrangements visitors can either virtually or directly book hotel rooms, apartments and condos, backpacker hostels, guesthouses, vacation resorts, camping sites or cottages and cabins.

When identifying places to visit, many tourists in Kenya are quick to settle on the game drives in the numerous wildlife parks within the country. However, the country has a diverse offering of destinations such as a relaxing coastal escape to the country's distinct beaches, seaside villages and isolated islands.

Visitors may also opt to venture into the more divergent landscapes, such as desolate deserts, forests, mountains and highlands. Lake destinations in areas such as Nakuru, Baringo, Elementaita, Naivasha, Victoria and Bogoria offer diversity for visitors, especially bird lovers. This is in addition to a number of United Nations World Heritage sites as well as museums and old historical ruins.

It is also important to note that Kenya banned single-use plastics in 2017, and visitors are advised not to bring any plastic carrier bags into the country. The single-use plastics ban is countrywide, and plastic bottles and straws are banned in national parks and visitors are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle. Visitors and tourists are also encouraged not to take photos of people without asking permission, particularly in rural areas and urban public spaces. Otherwise, Kenyans are friendly, approachable and always ready to help.