Kenya - a safari in National Parks or private reserves?

[palomapear]

I'm lucky enough to consider a safari next July. This really is a once in a life time trip.
I have read the recent posts and it's so tempting
I am not clear on one thing:
We have a choice of national parks with our own driver or private reserves.
The cost difference is roughly £2000 each ( national parks are cheaper ) and there are 5 of us so is it worth £10k more ? Would a National Park be crowded ? I'm picturing lots of vehicles the same place. Like Longleat!
I am not bothered about chandeliers and fine dining but don't want to be digging my my toilet I would like to spend the money wisely and that is to see as much as we can

If you can possibly stretch to it, go to the Little Governor's Camp in the Masai Mara - it's truly a once in a lifetime trip and it is an amazing camp with fantastic accommodation and game drives with really knowledgeable drivers / guides.

There is no guarantee what wildlife you will see .... going private is not going to give you an edge ....

Theknack - I am aware that there may be nothing to see. I just wondered if there were more crowds in the national parks or if going to private camps meant more opportunities or would a private camp mean I'm just paying for the name?

I was lucky enough to go on safari in Kenya a number of years ago, travelled with Kuoni. It was an amazing experience and I would say don't spend the extra going private. It's nothing like anything we have in the UK so I wouldn't worry about it being busy. We were lucky to see all of the big 5 and so many more, every day. Like @theknacktoflying said paying extra doesn't guarantee animal sightings. Spend some extra on a balloon ride, and try visiting Treetops, it's old fashioned now but it's an experience!

Sorry for my snippy post - it wasn’t meant that way ...

Albeit that my experience is from being in South Africa, the only difference I found was cost (more for private) and better facilities going private.

Also, going local means that the fees etc. goes towards the coffers of preservation of wildlife ...

I think posters are not really telling you the difference between the two types of reserves. Here goes:

National Parks are essentially maintained by the state. The camps in them are run by private companies. Therefore the Masai Mara is a National Park but Little Governors Camp is privately run. I would highly recommend it. I would also recommend the Mara Explorer Camp too. Always choose a Camp in the National Park. You are closer to the wildlife and the rivers. Governors camp is also great.

Camps are not camping! The tents are luxurious and have bathrooms attached. All will have guides and twice daily game drives included in the price.

Private reserves are concessions attached to the National Parks. Some are huge and worth going to. For example Sabi Sands is an extension of Kruger National Park in South Africa. As with Kenya, the camps are private. In Zambia, Botswana and South Africa don’t swerve bush camps. Many are very small, personally run and give you a great time. Some private reserves are tiny and are reclaimed farmland which is then stocked with animals. There are lots in South Africa. Fewer in Kenya.

If you are going to Kenya in July, the Mara will be busy. It’s the start of the wildebeeste migration and it’s the busiest time. There are so many camps in and around the Mara you will see lots of other vehicles where the wildebeeste are. It’s inevitable. A lion with a kill, a leopard or a cheetah will also be popular. The guides communicate with each other so you don’t miss out. If you don’t want that, try the wilderness bush camps in Zambia or Botswana. It costs though. Zambia has walking safaris and night drives which are amazing. Try the Luanguwa Valley: Norman Carr safaris or Nsefu Camp. Talk through what you want with a safari specialist such as Expert Africa. Kuoni are not specialists. You don’t need swanky camps. You need to be well positioned with wildlife on the doorstep, have great guides and enjoy the thrill of what you will see. Nsefu Camp has amazing views of the River as does Mara Explorer. Hope that helps.

Thanks Bubbles that makes sense. It's such a huge amount of money I need to get it right. Sometimes it's better not to have any choices!
I've printed off the itineraries and I'm plodding through Trip Advisor.

I've stayed at a national camp in the Masai Mara. The highlight was seeing a leopard as we drove to our camp. I've been on five safaris and it's the only time I've seen one.

However, it's so busy and with the guides communicating with each other it can get overwhelming. There is a limit on how many vehicles should be surrounding the wildlife but it was never enforced.

I much prefer Namibia the watering holes in Etosha are amazing and as they are in the camp grounds you can view the lions, rhino, giraffes etc at any time. It's also much quieter and no radio communication. The hides are also great we were around ten feet from giraffes and wildebeest and got some amazing photos.

Forgot to say we did a luxury safari in Kenya but much preferred the basic camping in Namibia and Botswana. We travelled with Exodus and Intrepid and the guides were amazing.

You could look at the conservancy’s attached to the Masai Mara national park?
We liked Naboisho.

Yes, I have looked at the conservancies but that's the price jump I mentioned.
Is it worth it? I want someone to say no. But it may be a case of your get what you pay for.

No. It’s not worth it. In my opinion. You will see fewer vehicles but the areas are smaller. For that money you could go to Zambia which is a fantastic safari destination.

Naboisho does have walking safaris for guests and night drives so that’s an additional cost to visitors. That is a major consideration but I cannot see that it has a river. So hippos and crocodiles might not be present. This concession is leased from the Masai. It certainly protects lions and elephants. You could do several nights in each!

There were lots of hippos in Naboisho, only saw one croc tho.
We priced up for safaris in Zambia as well as the one we went with (included Nakuru, Mara & Naibosho) and Kenya was over 3K cheaper for equivalent accommodation.
We also did a walking safari and night safari in Naboisho. Saw aardvarks at night which was a highlight!

I agree with Bubbles. The East African reserves are relatively crowded: there will be multiple vehicles at animal sightings. I much prefer the South Luangwa Valley in Zambia, which is still real wilderness. The Zambian guides are reputed to be the best in Africa. Norman Carr’s camps are superb. Robin Pope’s also good and you could also look at Tafika, or Flatdogs for a more economical (but still excellent) option. You can do an excellent combination of walking and driving Safaris and night drives are permitted which is not the case in all African reserves. I would book through Aardvark Safaris or Expert Africa, not a more general agent like Kuoni. If you want R & R time at the beach afterwards, Lake Malawi is an easy add-on. The Victoria Falls are also magnificent.

Meant also to say that in one week in S Luangwa we had 16 leopard sightings and countless lion sightings. Even lions roaring right by our camp during the nights. Also African hunting dogs with a kill (saw them by vehicle and on foot). Its nickname is The Valley of the Leopard for good reason!

Anne!!! You are making me want to book yet another safari holiday in Zambia. We saw lions whilst walking. Really was a highlight of my life - so far! We saw wild dogs from the vehicle in an ebony grove. Magical. Only 4 of us on both occasions plus guides of course.

I went to the Masai Mara in July and used Somak who organised the trip from start to finish and we felt very looked after. We stayed in a lovely tent in a camp called Ashnil Mara Camp.

I loved it. The guide we had was amazing and in 4 days we saw everything except the rhino. We even saw a leopard kill! Our tent was by the river so you could see and at night hear the hippos!

We’re going for our first Safari in Masai Mara, Kenya, in July. Sorry for such a mundane question but how cold is it likely to be in the mornings on the game drives? Trying to keep packing to a minimum.

To be honest we found it really cold for the first hour at least for the early morning drives. But it did warm up. I wore a jumper which I took off when I got hotter. Night times were cold too.

Thank you, PinkLady. So jumpers and proper pyjamas should be enough? No jackets? The internal flights have a 15kg limit per person so thinking how to keep luggage to a minimum. We’ll take some small board games as WiFi will be unreliable and roaming, presumably, extortionate.

We were in Kenya last Christmas and I would highly recommend a private safari. Our guide picked was with us the whole time and if we wanted to stop for an hour with a herd of elephants- it was our choice. We went to the Masai Mara and to Lake Nekuru. Masai Mara wins hands down for us - although Nekuru was gorgeous, it felt more 'contained' IYSWIM. Enjoy OP, its an amazing experience!

We did an amazing safari in the Masai Mara with Elephant Pepper camp. Eco friendly camp, no walls or fences, lots of walking safari opportunities and it was magical.

elephantpeppercamp.com

Yes LadyWithLapdog,

That should be fine. I did have a jacket but don't think I ever wore it. I remember being surprised with how cold Kenya was at that time of year but I guess it isn't their peak summer then.

I think I wore jeans on one morning game drive.

WiFi was available in the foyer of the resort and in some rooms but very intermittent.

Enjoy it, it was the best holiday I've ever been on!

Thank you for your answer and good wishes, PinkLady. We’re all looking forward to it. Have just booked it a few days ago.