Alison Nolting hopes that her photos and blogs from Kenya and Tanzania from her 30 days of travels in November, will inspire consideration to travel to Africa in the coming months. The camps and lodges are open and AAC can guide you through the air travel guidelines, and arrival protocols in country for your trip planning.

Alison Nolting in Kenya and Tanzania #1 – Chyulu Hills

Alison has arrived in East Africa where borders are open and it is start of the green season, one of her favorite times to explore Kenya and Tanzania. So far she has had an eventful 6 nights at both Giraffe Manor and Ol Donyo Lodge in Chyulu Hills! Before arriving there, she came prepared with both a Covid Test and Kenya Health form. She flew Qatar Airways to Nairobi via Doha. The staff all wore PPE clothing, masks and eyewear.

Additionally, all passengers were given face shields. Both lodges exercised strict protocols as well, with hand sanitizer readily available, staff all wearing masks and social distancing practiced on game drives and during meal times.

This photo album depicts her time at Ol Donyo Lodge in the picturesque Chyulu Hills. She and her guide Jackson captured some great photos, including some sunset photos, a view of Kilimanjaro, a morning horseback safari followed by a bush breakfast, and some of the area’s famous “big tusker” elephants. The appeal for fresh open spaces, connecting with nature, and private experiences are waiting for those who wish to travel in the next few months in Africa. Alison feels confident that it is Safer on Safari!

Alison Nolting in Kenya and Tanzania #2 – Lewa Conservancy

The last four days have been been spent on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a scenic 65,000 acre (18,000 hectare) wildlife area located to the north of Mt. Kenya and to the south of Samburu National Reserve.As a rhino sanctuary, Alison’s highlights included a great morning walk out from Lewa Wilderness Lodge to track white rhino in the hills. She also had numerous sightings of black rhino with young calf. Other species seen on the game drives included elephant, lion, a cheetah, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra,and Somali ostrich. Her second stay as wat the delightful gem Sirikoi; an oasis in the acacia forests with delicious food at every meal!Below are a few photos from Alison’s visit to the Lewa private wildlife conservancy, an impressive example where conservation and community come together to preserve their natural resources for future generations.

Alison Nolting in Kenya and Tanzania #3 – Ol Pejeta Conservancy & Solio Ranch

The journey has continued through Laikipia into two additional private conservancies, Ol Pejeta and Solio.Overlooked by the dramatic snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya, Ol Pejeta is home to the last two remaining northern white rhinos on the planet, plus the Jane Goodall chimpanzee sanctuary.

Alison filled her two day visit taking morning, afternoon and night game drives. She was lucky enough to see over 40 black and white rhino, cheetah, lion on a recent buffalo kill, plus an exciting sighting of a striped hyena. The Ol Pejeta Bush Camp was is a perfect location!

Alison then continued to Solio, which is home to the highest concentration of rhino in Kenya. On both an afternoon and morning game drive She saw 40+ rhino on the open plan behind the lodge. She also took a day into the Aberdares, which topped up some interesting species like giant forest hog, forest elephant, Sykes and Colobus monkey. Also this is a birding paradise where she was table to tick off Hartlaub’s Turaco and Alpine Chat. Solio was a delightful retreat for the two days with first class hospitality and a reminder of sustainable tourism and conservation at its best!

Thanks for following the safari, with some further pictures shared below from the past four days. Including Miles and Alison at the equator (latitude 0000!).

Alison Nolting in Kenya and Tanzania #4 – Maasai Mara & Naibosho Conservancy

Alison and Miles have finished up their safari in Kenya with four fabulous days in the Maasai Mara visiting Naibosho Conservancy. Their base has been the stunning new Mara Nyika Camp.

Alison was last in the Mara in 2017 in June, so it has been interesting to compare the season difference now traveling in November. The grasses are still short with new shoots of green grasses plus the acacias have new leaves and blooms. Plenty of wildebeest and zebra have moved into the conservancy.

Below are a few of their photos showcasing the power of predator sightings in the Mara, plus some other interesting species. What a great ending to a safe and healthy safari! Conservation and community working together are the future to preserve Africa’s iconic wildlife.

Alison Nolting in Kenya and Tanzania #5 – Tarangire

Wishing you all a belated Happy Thanksgiving!

Alison has migrated from Kenya into Tanzania safely. Her next destination was Tarangire, where she stayed at two luxury properties; Mpingo Ridge Lodge inside the park, and Little Chem Chem camp in their own private concession adjacent.

A visit here is definitely traveling through the land of elephants. Additionally, Tarangire is in full swing green season with lush green grass and clear blue skies with some afternoon showers. Alison is feeling grateful to be on safari and spending time with the gracious hosts and guides in the lodges and camps. They are all ready to receive guests over the holidays and into the early months of January through March if looking for a getaway to spend time in the bush. Alison is happy to discuss the differences between Kenya and Tanzania travels and health protocols.

Below are some further photos highlighting the fabulous wildlife to be seen. Many of the sightings are with no other vehicles which is an added bonus!

Alison Nolting in Kenya and Tanzania #6 – Ngorongoro

Greetings from Ngorongoro Crater. It is hard to believe that this is my sixth visit over the last 30 years and it is like coming home to the Garden of Eden. This is a first time experience during the short rains and again it has been full of nice surprises! The vegetation is lush green and the wildlife all very frisky.

Though named after the famous Ngorongoro Crater (the world’s largest unflooded, intact caldera) the crater floor itself only occupies 3% of the entire 3200 mi² (8288 km²) conservation area. Rising 1200 to 1600 feet (365 – 490 m) off its floor, the grasslands, stream-fed swamps and forests of the crater floor can be reached after a 30 minute drive down from the crater rim.

There are many attractions outside of the crater, including Olmoti and Empakaai Craters, Ol Doinyo Lengai, Gol Moutanins, Nasera Rock, OlKerian and Oldupai Gorge (the latter is the site of some of Mary Leakey’s archaeological discoveries), and the Shifting Sands (formed by Ol Donyo Lengai’s volcanic ash).

Below is a variety of photo highlights that display the wide range of sightings and activities from a two day visit to Ngorongoro Crater.

Alison Nolting in Kenya and Tanzania #7 – Serengeti

The amazing safari journey has finished with some feel good “African massages” out on the southern Serengeti Plains. The rains of November/December have provided sought after grasses with the wildebeest herds arriving like clockwork in their yearly migration movements!

You can still plan a last minute getaway for Christmas Week and would recommend two great locations to stay at Lemala Nanyukie Camp and Mwiba Lodge. February is calving season for the wildebeest and many predators like cheetah will be following the herds and will provide some great wildlife sightings.

In the Maasai language, Serengeti means “endless plains,” a very appropriate name for the 5700 mi² (14,763 km²) national park that stages the Great Migration. This awe-inspiring phenomenon features approximately 1.3 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 250,000 Thomson’s gazelle, and several other kinds of big game, smaller mammals and predators.

From December to April, most migratory animals are in the southeast region of the park. Below are some final photo images from one of my favorite parks on earth for both the wide open spaces and the frequent predator sightings!

I trust that the photos from Kenya and Tanzania over the last 30 days have inspired consideration to travel to Africa in the coming months. The camps and lodges are open and AAC can guide you through the air travel guidelines, and arrival protocols in country for your trip planning.