Kenya and Zanzibar with the Family
We touched down in Nairobi slightly exhausted from a day of flying, but more excited about the experience ahead of us. We exited the airport, found our driver, and headed to our first hotel, Hotel Golden Tulip Westlands. Here we met Jacob, owner of Wildtouch Tours, our tour company in Kenya.
Golden Tulip is a lovely hotel, but what stood out most was the hospitality. We arrived when the restaurant was closing for the night, but they stayed open an extra hour for us. Not only did they stay open, but they sat us in a premier spot so we could have a beautiful view of the city.
After dinner we were all ready to sleep.
The next morning Jacob met us in the lobby to go over the itinerary for the remainder of our time in Kenya, including our stay in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. He introduced us to our drivers and we were off for our safari experience.
The drive from Nairobi to Maasai Mara is a few hours, so we stopped about halfway at The Great Rift Valley View Point for a break. Here we could shop, enjoy fabulous views and get a few photos.
Back on the road, we arrived at Mara Simba Lodge mid-afternoon. We were checked in and led down a lush, winding path to our glamping digs.
We LOVED it!
My girls had their own tent next to ours, which worked well for our family of five. The sounds of hippos in the nearby river, and the family of monkeys that loved jumping from the trees to the tops of our tents, were a beautiful reminder of our surroundings. In our tents were full-sized beds and a full bath, complete with a standing shower, just enough of the comforts we desired for a good night’s sleep.
We relaxed for a couple of hours before our first evening game drive. To say it was an amazing experience doesn’t do it justice. Elephants grazing.
Gazelles standing in their beauty.
Giraffes being majestic. Just amazing.
The next day was an all-day game drive, which allowed us to go further into the Maasai Mara reserve. We never got bored. Never.
We journeyed to the Kenya/Tanzania border and back, enjoying an abundance of animal sightings – a pride of lions…
Massive crocodiles…
Exotic birds…
Cheetahs…
and more…
We ate our box lunches in a clearing under a tree. There are some places where your body just feels at peace. This was that place. I’m sure sitting on a blanket in the middle of such a gorgeous natural habitat dropped my blood pressure a few points.
Other days we had a morning drive, then evening drive. On our last evening Wildtouch Tours treated us to farewell drinks in the reserve.
Again, the peace and calm was palpable. The drizzling rain made it epic.
The next morning was breakfast before boarding the vans for our trip back to Nairobi. We made it back to Hotel Golden Tulip Westlands in time to relax and freshen up for dinner at Carnivore.
Carnivore was a divine experience. We had everything from lamb and chicken to crocodile and ostrich.
The next day we left for the second part of our trip – Zanzibar!
Zanzibar is STUNNING. We arrived in the afternoon to sunny skies and remarkably clear water.
Bluebay Zanzibar was home for us on the island. Bluebay is in the Kiwengwa area of Zanzibar, which is located on the east coast, and about a 45-minute drive from the airport. The drive gave us a chance to see the island. The lush greenery, the architecture, the people.
We split our time here between relaxation and excursions. One day the relaxation was encouraged by rain, which meant we couldn’t lay on the shore, but the sound of the rain bouncing on the roof was hypnotic. Especially as we relaxed on daybeds wrapped in mosquito netting.
For our excursions we visited Prison Island, Stone Town and toured a spice farm – all suggested by our tour company – Friendly Taxi and Tours.
As our boat docked at Prison Island I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.
The air smelled sweet and the warm water shone like crystal. On the island we got a history lesson on its origins and posed with huge tortoises that find refuge there.
The family snorkeled in AMAZINGLY clear water.
In Stone Town we walked the streets, marveled at the architecture and did a little shopping. Of course I had to buy a tanzanite ring :-).
Then we toured a spice farm. Listen! One of our best meals on the island was here.
After eating we walked trails sniffing plants as our guide gave us a beautiful lesson in the healing power of things found in nature. From cinnamon to nutmeg, the annatto seed and more, it was a lovely experience. There’s a reason Zanzibar is known for its spices.
Overall, Kenya and Zanzibar was fabulous. We all loved it.
If you’re planning a trip, I have two main pieces of advice.
One, use a travel agent. I rarely use an agent because I LOVE planning, but for this experience I knew the expertise of an agent would be invaluable. I was right. Wanda at 2BusyNot2Travel was my choice and I can’t recommend her enough.
Not only did she create a fabulous itinerary specific to our group, she made sure we were comfortable with our travel plans. We had Zoom calls to go over everything, and she was very patient answering our questions. She even invited Jacob to one of our calls so we could meet him before the trip. She was extremely helpful with troubleshooting and offering solutions, many times before we knew there was an issue. For instance, our original safari accommodations closed before our arrival due to regional flooding. Because she had connections in the country, she was able to find us new accommodations that we loved.
Two, relax and enjoy the experiences. It’s easy to overthink things, like the hippos in the nearby river, but remember there is a lot of planning for this type of experience. The resorts, tour guides, and your travel agent are all vested in you having a pleasant experience. Let their expertise work for you.
Here are other things that may be helpful if you visit Kenya and Zanzibar:
Make sure you have chargers and adapters for phones and cameras. Pack more adapters than you think you need, especially if you’re traveling as a family.
The buffet at Mara Simba Lodge was perfect. They had enough options for everyone to get something they wanted. I loved the chai tea and had some every day!
We also enjoyed the buffet at Bluebay in Zanzibar. They had various global themes throughout our stay, allowing us to try different types of food.
While many resorts have a version of all-inclusive, this may not include drinks outside of coffee/tea. Be prepared to pay for sodas and juices.
The Giraffe Center in Kenya is a fun experience. Our group enjoyed feeding the giraffes at the center. I enjoyed being their videographer.
Kobe Tough in Kenya gave us an opportunity to support a local non-profit that benefits women. I bought many pieces, including this bracelet.
Pack lightly. Most safari experiences require soft-sided luggage, preferably without wheels. You’ll want something that’s easy to carry. I used this duffel/backpack from Eagle Creek. Two of my girls used this backpack I found highly recommended on Amazon. My other daughter used this duffel.
Your travel agent should provide you a packing list, and there are many versions online. To help a little, here are some other things I bought on Amazon:
- compression socks
- luggage scale
- laundry detergent sheets
- clear toiletry bag
- waterproof phone pouch
- drawstring backpack
- reusable shower cap
- insect repellent wipes
- short sleeve maxidress in green
Hope this is helpful!
