Kenya Private Safari - How to Get Maximum Value From Your Private Tour - By: Anne Huysman

The desire for privacy is in each one of us and taking a private safari to Kenya is one of the most satisfying travel experiences. Though travel to Kenya is often generalized under the safari brand, there is more to safari than just wildlife viewing.

A private tour lets you expand your safari vision to include all the personal elements that are your signature when traveling. You have the flexibility to set your own travel time and to choose the people you want to travel with.

It is not automatic that because you are going to Kenya on a private vacation, everything will be smooth. It boils down to candid planning with your safari operator so that all your personal requests are included in your tour.

Of importance you must get a guarantee from your Kenya safari operator that once on the ground, he will not batch you up with other travelers. Joining convoys of buses on the same itinerary as yours takes away all sense of privacy.

When is a private safari absolutely necessary? Though you can take a private tour even for an ordinary Kenya travel, your special occasions such as honeymoon, birthdays, anniversaries and vacations with young children warrant privacy.

Similarly if you pursue a hobby such as bird watching or photography you may benefit more from the one-on-one services of your professional safari guide when you are on a private safari.

Grant it, you may not know everything about Kenya but with so many Kenya tour operators offering private safaris, it falls on you to approach your safari operator from a position of knowledge. Do your research thoroughly and be very clear to your tour operator about what you want included in your vacation.

While your safari operator will try to accommodate most of your requests, be prepared that with good reasons he may rule out some and give you alternatives.

Your private vacation to Kenya should have quality time in the selected areas that you will visit and it should also have enough time for relaxation. Be careful not to put too many national parks in your itinerary - this will make your safari hectic and with little time for relaxation.

Which are the best national parks for private tours? Masai Mara safaris wins the popularity content but you can get an excellent game viewing experience in any Kenyan national park. The catch is on how you and your tour operator plan depending on the number of days you have for safari. You may choose to stay North of Nairobi i.e. the Aberdares, Samburu and Laikipia or you could do the Southern national parks of Tsavo and Amboseli.

While there are various types of accommodations available on your Kenyan private safari, you maintain privacy and exclusivity if you opt for small tented camps and lodges especially those that are in private game reserves where the number of visitors is low. These are some of the best places to get personal and very professional service.

The quality of your safari guides will make or break your Kenyan private safari. The guide has to be competent in his subject, which really should be your main interest, and he should have a great inter-personal skill.

Get a guarantee from your Kenya safari operator that your guide is exclusively for you and he is available for all your activities and not just the 6.30 a.m and 4 p.m game drives.

What should you pay for your Kenyan private vacation? There is no right answer for this as price is a very relative term, but make your judgment based on the value items such as quality of accommodation, vehicles, professional guides and above all the reliability of the operator.

Now that you know how to plan a private safari in Kenya, hit the keyboard and plan your wildlife safari to suit you requirements.

About the Author

Anne Huysman is the co-owner of Ontdek Kenya, a Wildlife Safari operator with 13 years experience in private safaris. Her specialty is in guided walking tours, bird watching tours and responsible wildlife safaris away from mass tourism. For a free consultation on your Kenya private tour and for inspiring on-safari photos that give you a glimpse of the tours, please go to: => http://www.ontdek-kenya-safaris.com/private-safari.html

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Anne-Huysman/51237

Additional Articles From - Home | Travel & leisure | Destinations