Get Up Close To Kenya’s Wildlife, If you’ve never been on safari, you probably picture cheetahs running off into the distance, lions being seen from a long way away, and elephants being seen from a long way away, at a drinking hole in the distance.

What an African vacation is really like can be very different!

A lot of people who go on safari are shocked when they get within a few yards of a kill where many lions are eating. They are so close that you could reach out and touch them, if you were so stupid.

Oh, and elephants? On a forest path, being in a 4×4 Jeep right behind a huge tusker that is taking his time and making you do the same is not unheard of. It is busy time in the woods.

But why are you so rushed? When was the last time you got stuck behind an elephant that moved slowly? Enjoy the time you have.

Getting close to Kenya’s wildlife can be such a pleasant surprise that for many tourists, these are the best parts of their trip and the memories they’ll never forget.

About 1.5 million wildebeests made their way from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara as part of the Great Migration. They were always moving in search of bigger grasses and a way to stay alive.

Down at the Mara River crossing, you can see this flood of Kenyan species into the Masai Mara Park up close. Crocodiles wait nearby in the dirty water of the river for the huge groups of wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and other animals that are trying to get to safety on the banks.

The big cats are all waiting for them in the Mara. There are lions, cheetahs, leopards, jackals, hyenas, and you, not too far away.

You will see this age-old fight for survival happen in the river, along its banks, and in the fields and bushes close. There will be a lot going on right in front of you as the forces of nature play out.

You’ll also get to see for yourself what animals do all day.

But not every time you see wildlife in Kenya, it will be so exciting. You will also have many chances to see animals that are calmer but just as exciting. Sometimes, your guide will suddenly see a leopard sleeping on a branch of a tree above you.

As you walk through the park, you might “turn a corner” and find a beautiful group of gazelles eating in an opening. They’re just as shocked as you are. Everyone stops for a beautiful moment. A weak link is felt, and time stops.

The same goes for areas with more trees, like the Arabuko Sokoke Reserve, where monkeys chatter close and bush babies and little dik-diks find you… just feet away. Before they quickly run to the safety of the thick plants.

A bicycle tour in Hell’s Gate National Park is another great and unique way to get close to animals. On this unique trip, you can pedal by gazelles, zebras, hartebeests, antelope, and buffalo, getting surprisingly close to these animals as they graze.

Who said safaris are only for seeing wildlife in Africa from afar? We’ll get you closer than you thought possible to some of nature’s most beautiful animals.