Travel to Kenya – Episode 347

Hear about travel to Kenya as the Amateur Traveler talks to Gretchen about her two trips to Kenya.

Gretchen’s husband is a wildlife photographer and they both are birders. Their first trip to Kenya was with a friend who had served in Kenya with the Peace Corps. They went on a wildlife photography safari that emphasized bird watching and fell in love with Kenya. Getchen has just recently returned from her second safari to Kenya.

On this visit, Gretchen timed her visit (August to September) to be in Kenya during the annual migration of the large herds of wildebeests, zebras and other grazing animals between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara.

The predators also migrate with their prey as they circle around in Kenya and Tanzania looking for green grass. With much of the grasslands at 4500 feet in elevation, Kenya can be surprisingly cold on the savannah at night. Combine that with sleeping in a tent with an armed guard outside to fend off predators and you have a quintessential Kenya experience.

Gretchen visited three major game parks starting in Samburu, which is North of Nairobi, then moved on to visit the vast flocks of birds at Lake Baringo and then ended up at the Maasai Mara. They traveled on both trips with a safari group called Bird Watching East Africa. She trusts their guides literally with her life. “That’s one thing about being in Kenya. You are suddenly part of the food chain and you are not at the top of it.”

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Show Notes

Preparing for Your Trip to Kenya
Kenya Safari Tours
Samburu National Reserve
Born Free
Kenya’s Solio Rhino Reserve
Maasai Mara
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Kazuri Bead Factory
Nairobi Giraffe Center
Bird Watching East Africa

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Community

Annette called and wrote. She loved Travel to New Zealand’s South Island – Episode 341 but not so much the recent episode
Travel to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Western North Carolina – Episode 345.

I enjoy listening to your podcast.

Currently, I live in Orlando, Florida but used to live in Riverside, California.

One of my favorite places to travel to is The Great Smokey Mountains National Park. With delight, I saw that this was to be the next podcast. With horror, I listened to your podcast. Did this individual drive through the Smokies once and said that he saw it? Boy! Was he wrong on so many levels? The only thing that I agree is Gatlinburg is a tourist trap.

First off Gatlinburg is in Tennessee not North Carolina.

Cherokee is not a quaint little place it too is a tourist trap. For goodness sake, there is a glaring huge casino with flashing lights that glare throughout the area. There are Indian tourist things throughout. It would never be labeled as quaint.

If someone wishes to truly discuss these ancient mountains then discuss the history of the Trail of Tears and the civil war.

To see there are so many waterfalls and named hiking trails it is incredible. The beauty and solitude of these mountains are unparalleled. There is white river rafting, horseback riding, hiking, car hiking, and camping.

Please interview someone else for this lively location as this interview talked way too much about Asheville and other places then the park! I was extremely disappointed with his blasé attitude about this magnificent area! And by the way, a Californian should see this park for the sheer green and lush beauty. These ancient mountains will thrill you with their diversity.

Sincerely,

Annette