THE BIG 5 SAFARIS KENYA.

Iions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos are the big five animal in Kenya and these animals are reviewed as the big five because their toughness and supremacy that made it troublesome for the hunters in the ancient days to capture these animals. These animals portray the abundance of   Kenya’s ecological diversity.

The big five in detail.

Elephant.

This is one of the big sized mammals in Kenya with an adult African elephant weight about 6000kg. among the three different species of the elephants that are the African forest elephant, the Asian elephant and the African bush (African savannah) elephant; the ones that are spotted most in the Kenyan grasslands are the African savanna elephant and the African forest elephant and they ae usually spotted in the Kenyan reserve sanctuary roaming freely in the savannahs and moving in social groups.  Their body features such as the trucks and their rough body are used as part of their defensive and survival structures.

Lions.

These are part of the cat family in Kenya with advanced prey stalking and hunting skills because of their speed and the ability to lay siege to their prey and this is partly the reason they are referred to   as the kings of the jungle. They are also usually sighted in prides of approximately   35-40 lions with the mothers protective and nurturing their cubs… despite the fact that these animals are intimidating  their beauty is still unveiled in their appearance like the way they are built with a  lucky coat covering their  bodies  and  their coffee colored eyes.

Buffaloes.

This are one of the aggressive animals among the big five and they usually sighted around water bodies or grazing in the savannahs in Kenya. The size of their bodies and their unique features such as the horns are part of their survival defensive mechanisms in the savannahs of Kenya. They have a collective social behavior and mutual support among themselves like the use of the shielding encircling method   to defend the more vulnerable   members of their herds. Kenya is endowed with different kind of he buffaloes such as the Forest buffalos, the African buffaloes and the Cape buffaloes.

The black rhinos.

These are large sized wild species with tough hard skin that helps them adapt to distinct weather conditions and because of their good sense of smell and hearing they are able to track down water and food sources. Unlike other herbivores in Kenya they do not graze on grasslands however they feed on thick foliage   and the leaves on trees. They do not usually move in groups unless they are breeding and they also have a dominance behavior of territorial marking by stockpiling dung in their premises.

Leopards.

And lastly, are  the leopards that are also  part of the big cat family  but unlike he lions that are usually in prides, the leopards   prefer  moving and staying individually and they like to inhabit elevated areas like the acacia trees in Kenya’s Maasai mara national reserve and this helps them easily scan the savannah grasslands for their prey  and at the same time hide from their hunters.one of  the other unique abilities of these animals is that they are nocturnal and these  helps them easily secure their prey  both in the night and during  da.

 Safety guidelines for the big 5 safari experience in Kenya.

• Respect the parks rules and instructions during the big five safari in Kenya.
• Do not attempt to fed or touch any of the big five animals because you can disrupt their behavior which could be dangerous.
• Keep a distance from the big five and follow the safari guide’s instructions.
• Do not liter any wastes such as the polythene bags because this could be hazardous to some of these  animals for example during grazing, the  herbivores like the elephants could swallow the littered polythene bag and this can negatively impact the   health  of the wild animal.
• Be aware of your surroundings because the behaviors of any of the big five members is unpredictable.

Where to go for the big five safaris in Kenya.

 Maasai mara national reserve.

This wildlife conservatory sanctuary is found in the southern parts of Kenya along the rift valley in the Narok County in the region through which the Mara River meanders. Among the big five, the lions are the ones of the highest population in the Maasai mara with an estimate number of 900. This insights that travelers will observe optimal lion-prey chases in the Maasai Mara national reserve.

The rhinos, leopards, buffaloes and elephants are also part of Maasai Mara’s eco systems even if the leopards aren’t easy to spot because they are rare. Maasai Mara not only has the big five but it  also accommodates  the great migration where large  herds of wildebeests  move   in company of the gazelles, zebras  and  Thomson  gazelles in search of sustainable  conditions. Here are some of the safari camps/lodges one can stay in Maasai mara national reserve during the big 5 safari in Kenya with the estimated prices for one adult per night.

• Elephant trails camp;77$
• Mara moon guest house; 80$
• Mara sun lodge; 162$.
• Jambo Mara Safari lodge.
• Sarova Mara game camp; 315$.
• Alama camp Mara; 346$.

 Amboseli national park.

This park is also found in the southern parts of Kenya in the in the Kajiado county in Kenya  with  an approximate of 2000 elephants and this is the largest number of the big five in Amboseli national park. Some of the big five usually converge at the Lake Amboseli an alkaline lake that even if it is usually dry it still supports the livelihoods  wild species such as  rhinos and buffaloes in the park.

The population of the lions in the park is 100 and the leopards are also with in the park even if it is difficult to spot them. Besides the big five, the park also has other attractions such as the different bird species like the superb starling, white browed coucal, lesser flamingos, yellow-necked spur fowl, crowned lapwing and the red-billed teal.  While in the Amboseli national park, tourists are also   bewildered by the exquisite grand views of the Mountain Kilimanjaro snowy light glaciers. Below are some of the places to stay at while at the Amboseli national park.

• Amboseli eco camp; 19$.
• Teen Ranch Kenya; 58$.
• AA lodge Amboseli;158$
• Amboseli serena safari lodge;182$
• Kibo Safari camp; 230$.
• Kibo villa Amboseli; 1,368.

 

Tsavo national park.

This is one of the biggest eco systems sanctuaries worldwide having two in ne; the Tsavo east park and the Tsavo west park all in the southern eastern parts of Kenya in the semi-arid region.it is also known for having a variety of herds of the reddish colored elephants and the rhinos are concentrated   near the Ngulia hill in the park.

The lions, leopards and buffaloes are also part of the wild animals in the park however The park also has amazing picturesque sceneries like the Shetani river fields and the Shetani caves that are of a result of volcanic occurrences and tourists can also get to explore the Mzima springs under the volcanic Chyulu hills and the spring harbor wild creatures such as the rhinos and the Nile crocodiles. Here are some of the places to stay while in Tsavo for the big five safaris with estimated pries for a person per night.

• Ashnil Aruba lodge; 85$.
• Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa;95$
• Salt Lick Safari Lodge; 145$.
• Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge; 207$.
• Maneaters; 259$.

 

Nairobi national park.

This park is located near Kenya’s capital Nairobi and it is popular for being one of the world’s conservatory centers that is within the capital. The park had all the big five members however the elephants had to be transferred to another location for conservation reasons.

The other big five animals such as the rhinos are normally seen at the Kifaru Ark and the rest are seen roaming around in the golden grasslands.

The unique thing about this park is that it has a wildlife orphanage that is for the purpose of alleviating the eco-system conservation efforts in Kenya and also provide knowledge about Mother Nature to create awareness about the natural environment to the people.

Where to stay during big five safaris at the Nairobi National park with prices for one person per   night.

 

• Teresita Home JKIA; 32$.
• Capital Heights Hotel; 37$.
• Lenayan Park View; 64$.
• 67 Airport Hotel Nairobi; 76$.
• Eka Hotel Nairobi; 138$.

The best time for the big five safaris in Kenya.

The best time to visit Kenya for the big five safaris is in the months of June, July, August, September and the early weeks of October because during this period it is easier for tourists to spot any of the big five members because there’s less thick greenery in the park since out is the dry season. This season is at the same time the wildebeests are crossing over to the  Maasai Mara  national reserve hence the travelers who are in the Maasai mara national reserve for the big five safaris can also be able to witness the  great migration.