What’s Kenya like these days?

[Trufflesandwine]

20 years ago, my husband and I had a trip of a lifetime to Kenya. Going on Safari was a big deal in those days.
We’re thinking of recreating the same trip in the next few years - Treetops/Samburu/ the Lakes/‘Masai etc, most of the lodges we stayed in are still there (except Treetops which just closed).
However, my husband is worried that with the decline in wildlife etc, our trip won’t be nearly so good as it was before.
My argument is that Kenya is still probably the best country for wildlife.
Anybody been in the last few years?

Typo - 30 years ago!

Following as I am interested in this too.

We haven’t been that recently but I do think wildlife has declined. It’s well reported lions are less plentiful. We noticed a difference between the 80s and 10 years ago.

Having said that, the scenery is still great! The Mara is wonderful but we found few larger groups of animals. The migration is different of course but prices go up.

We have travelled on this type of holiday extensively and most keen wildlife photographers are now going to Botswana, Zambia or South Africa. We use Wildlife Worldwide and they are doing useful zoom talks at the moment. They are hugely knowledgable. Have a look at what they offer and make comparisons. Other countries tend to come up more expensive though!

Thanks Tiz, we’ve done some of the other countries as well (SA, Zimbabwe, Botswana) , Kenya is more for the nostalgia of revisiting places that we remember back from our ‘courting’ days!

@Trufflesandwine
Well you asked if it was still the best for wildlife and it’s probably not. Depends what you want to see of course. We will never forget seeing all the wildebeest crossing the Mara River for example but rhinos are virtually impossible to see. When we can, possibly 2023, we are looking at Botswana. Sometimes going back is disappointing though!

We were meant to go there for our honeymoon 23 years ago, but had to change plans when there were troubles there. I really want to go for our silver wedding anniversary so intrigued by responses. It's absolutely my dream holiday.

@NCTDN
You heed to look elsewhere too! There are great wildlife experiences in other countries, so why just look at Kenya? Budget is key though. Some places are very expensive.

We did Tanzania a couple of years ago, which was wonderful! The Ngorongoro crater is amazing. We stayed at a lodge on the rim for 2 nights, before travelling through the Serengeti to see the migration over the Mara river. we did a mix of lodges and tented camps. All were excellent.

@thenightsky

We did Tanzania a couple of years ago, which was wonderful! The Ngorongoro crater is amazing. We stayed at a lodge on the rim for 2 nights, before travelling through the Serengeti to see the migration over the Mara river. we did a mix of lodges and tented camps. All were excellent.

Think I stayed at that lodge too...

Was 12 years ago. Spectacular then a week on Zanzibar.

@TrudyRuby
We stayed in the old lodge on the rim in the mid 1980s. If was very basic back then. You went down to the crater floor in a very battered old Land Rover. It just about got back out of the crater! Saw amazing wildlife though. Plus a group of Italians who all looked like they were dressed in Versace! It was quite entertaining. Leopard prints l, gold buttons and white cowboy style hats. They were not staying where we were!