Here are a few more active adventures which can be incorporated into your safari. The length of these activities can vary from one morning to several days or weeks depending on your interests. Particularly on a longer safari, it’s nice to have a break from vehicle game drives once in a while and do something a little different.

Walking – Walks of varying duration are offered at many lodges and camps and allow you to get out of the vehicle, stretch your legs and view things from a different perspective. Some are short “nature” walks that take place in the immediate vicinity of the lodge or camp while others are game walks that allow for a greater possibility of encountering game. Keep in mind that even on game viewing walks, much of the focus will be on studying tracks, nests, plant life and anything else that you may miss from a vehicle. For obvious reasons, you’ll generally avoid approaching dangerous game closely. Multi-day walking safaris with overnight stays at a fly camp can also be arranged through several camps. A fly camp is a temporary camp which usually consists of dome tents with cots or mattresses on the ground and separate tents nearby which contain a drop toilet and bladder shower. Group sizes on multi-day walking safaris are usually limited to 6-8 participants but can be as few as 2. For a short game viewing walk, try Crescent Island on Lake Naivasha. Boat rides are offered from many area lodges and camps to the island (actually a peninsula) and here you can view giraffe, impala, waterbuck as well as other antelope species on foot. There are many tour operators offering such activities: www.continentalsafaris.com.

Horse Riding – This is another activity which can be game or non-game viewing oriented and can be a couple of hours up to weeks in duration. Short rides are available at several lodges and camps and generally take place on private reserves and game ranches. Longer riding safaris which involve game viewing are available through a few outfitters in Kenya and are best suited for more experienced riders who are comfortable with long hours in the saddle. Any time you are riding in an area with the potential of encountering dangerous game, you should be proficient enough to gallop out of trouble, if necessary. For multi-day riding and camping safaris, Horseback in Kenya www.horsebackinkenya.com operates out of El Karama Ranch in Laikipia and Offbeat Safaris www.offbeatsafaris.com operates riding safaris in both the Masai Mara region and Laikipia. In the Laikipia region (north of Nanyuki/Mt Kenya), there are also a number of working cattle ranches turned conservation areas where riding is very much a part of the daily activities offered.

Camel Safaris – Camel safaris are usually walking safaris assisted by camels which carry your equipment and gear though sometimes it’s also possible to ride the camels where the terrain permits. Camel safaris are generally accompanied by Samburu tribesman and take place in the Laikipia region and further north around Maralal. The emphasis is more on scenery and culture than game viewing. On multi-day camel safaris, the walking/riding takes place in the cooler morning hours reaching the next campsite (or returning to camp) in time for lunch. The arrangements can vary from self catered, very basic camping to fully catered, more comfortable camping depending on the operator (some offer multiple options) and are priced accordingly. Lower cost safaris are conducted by Bobong Camp olmaisor@africaonline.co.ke out of Rumuruti. If you’re looking for something more upscale, try Sabuk Lodge www.chelipeacock.com/camps/sabuk.htm in Laikipia. A few other operators of camel safaris are Karisia Limited www.karisia.com African Frontiers www.geocities.com/african_frontiers Desert Rose www.desertrosekenya.com

In addition to the above activities, you can consider a balloon safari. These take place primarily in the Masai Mara. A fairly new balloon operator has started flights in the Rift Valley at Soysambu (near Lake Elementaita). Flights take place in the early morning and generally last one hour followed by a champagne breakfast. Cycling is another activity option and there are multi-day vehicle supported cycling and camping safaris. Boat rides are available on the fresh water lakes of Naivasha, Baringo and Victoria for bird watching and viewing of hippo, crocodile and other game. These are just some of the options available. There are many more and I hope this gives you a few ideas when planning your safari.