Thread by @mepritijain

A safari in Masai Mara, Kenya has to easily one of the top peak experiences of my life 🥹
It completely changes how you see wildlife and the wild 🦁🐾

From visa to flights to vaccines to itinerary, here are 11 things you need to know before planning your trip 👇

🛂 1. Kenya ETA (Visa)
Kenya requires an ETA, and the fee is 35 USD
Apply only on the official website:
Documents required: passport copy, passport size photo, hotel booking, return ticket, travel dates
Approval is usually quicketakenya.go.ke

💉 2. Yellow Fever & Other Vaccines
Yellow Fever vaccine is mandatory for Kenya. It is given only at authorised government centres in India

Search “yellow fever vaccine + your city” on Google to find the correct centre. For ex. -Pune has only one authorised centre
Some cities allow walk in, while others require an appointment so it is very city specific.
Apart from this, oral polio drops are also recommended
We did not take this and were not asked for it, but we had heard from others that it can be required

If you want to be completely safe, you can take it, but in most cases it is not strictly checked. Remember to carry the yellow vaccination booklet while travelling

✈️ 3. Flights from India
Direct flights are therefrom Delhi and Mumbai to Nairobi
Airlines include Kenya Airways, Indigo and Air India.
Flight duration is around 6 hours
Very smooth and convenient route. We took Kenya Airwaya, wasn't like a WOW service but great overall.

🗺️ 4. Typical Kenya Itinerary
Start from Nairobi
3 nights Masai Mara
1 night Lake Nakuru
1 night Lake Naivasha (optional, can be skipped)

So if you have more time, would recommend you add 2 nights Amboseli, it is absolutely worth it.
Some people also add Mombasa or Diani Beach for a coastal experience (I have mixed reviews for that, some like it and some don't )

If short on time, we would have skipped Nakuru and Naivasha and include Amboseli instead. Park fee in Amboseli is lesser. Elephant sightings are excellent !

🦁 5. Main National Parks
Masai Mara -famous for Big Five sightings, rhinos are rare
Lake Nakuru -known for rhinos and birdlife
Amboseli - known for large elephant herds and Mt Kilimanjaro views
Each park offers a different wildlife experience !
There might be more offbeat parks as well but these are the more popular ones.

💰 6. Costs and Park Fees
Kenya is not cheap mainly because of park fees
Masai Mara fee is 100 USD Jan to June and 200 USD July to Dec
Lake Nakuru is approx 90 USD
Amboseli is approx 60 to 90 USD
For a 7 day trip, park fees alone can be around 800 USD in peak season

Most safari lodges are all inclusive
Overall, a comfortable Kenya trip costs approx 2.75 to 3 lakh INR per person including flights. Of course you can do it for lesser, but I'm talkin' of a good comfortable experience.
Best to book a trip via travel advisor as they secure the best rates for you which you don't find online. You can DM if you are looking for a trusted contact.

🌿 7. Conservancy vs Main Masai Mara
Conservancies are private areas next to the main Masai Mara and animals move freely between both

Conservancy fees are around 130 USD per person per day all year.
Main park fees range from 100 to 200 USD depending on season (check point 6)

Conservancies have fewer vehicles and feel more exclusive with dense wildlife sightings and the popular ones include Olare Motorogi, Naboisho and Ol Kinyei.

⚠️ 8. Safety Tips
Nairobi is generally safe but avoid walking alone late at night
Keep your belongings secure
Maasai village visits are culturally interesting but can feel slightly commercialised !
Always book safaris and transfers with reliable operators ONLY (DM if you need details)

💵 9. Currency and Payments
Currency is Kenyan Shilling
We carried USD and exchanged locally. Cash is widely accepted
Cards are accepted in most lodges and restaurants and even park fees.
Uber works well in Nairobi
Keep small change for tolls and quick stops.
Overall verdict is to carry some USD and get it exchanged there, don't completely rely on card.

🚙 10. Internal Travel
Highly recommend planning this through a travel advisor or a reliable local operator.
You will need a 4x4 or Land Cruiser for safaris, this is non negotiable !
Some lodges include game drives, but transfers between parks are separate.
Best to book your transfers and safaris through a trusted operator for seamless logistics
@TravelBluez is best in business for Kenya, no second doubts.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 11. Travelling with Kids
Kids are allowed in Masai Mara and there is no official restriction by the park, but rules are set by lodges and camps
Most properties have a minimum age of around 5+ yrs for shared game drives and sometimes kids below 5 are allowed at some lodges but may need a private vehicle.

6+ years is generally the ideal age for safaris, while 12+ can participate in most activities as well.
Conservancies may have stricter rules, while the main Masai Mara is more straightforward for families
Safaris are safe for kids if planned well, just keep in mind that game drives can be long and require them to be very quiet and still.

Kenya might feel a little intimidating at first, but with the right planning, its one of the smoothest and most rewarding trips you can do, even with family (provided you do it with a good travel advisor)

If you found this thread helpful, do share it with your family and friends. You can also save this as a checklist or guideline, trust me it will come in very handy while planning your trip.

Follow along and share this as Ill be posting more insights from our Kenya trip, including a fantastic redemption we did for our stay !