Aside from the Mara, if you have 2-3 days only to spend in Kenya, which park would you go? Any other recommendations for activities we must try? Thanks!

Amboseli is just marvellous. It was the first we went to on a 14 day tour of Kenya and Tanzania and perhaps my favourite. We saw just about everything we hoped to for the whole trip in those first two days. The park gets runoff from Mount Kilimanjaro (a great backdrop for photos) so there are marshy areas which means a great variety of wildlife year round. Near Nairobi, and not too big makes it convenient for a short visit.

Amboseli for unbelieveable masses of elephants or Ol Pejeta Conservancy which is up north in Laikipia and one of the best places to see wild rhinos. Also good cat sightings there.

I second Ol Pej. We were fortunate enough to meet Sudan, the last living white rhino, who just passed. We saw rhinos, cheetah, lions and all the other animals, except the elusive leopard.

Samburu!!

Plambers, thank you for the sad update on Sudan. Last I'd read, a week ago, he was improving after his long illness. He must've suffering to have the vets decid on euthanasia. I'm going to search for my pix now of him, us, and his wonderful KWS caretaker. RIP, Sudan.

Believe it or not, I saw a serval in Nairobi National Park! I wouldn't recommend it as an alternative to the bigger parks, but if you have a half day to spare in Nairobi, it's worth going there. I enjoyed seeing school children in their uniforms being taken there from the city to see some Kenyan wildlife.

Amboseli is a good stop between Nairobi and the parks of northern Tanzania.

Heimdall, I agree I wouldn't visit NNP in lieu of another park, but my first visit there was so good I'm starting my next safari there for 3 nights, partially because I loved the park and also because the Emakoko there is my idea of heaven on earth! I had the best ever leopard sighting there as well as ridiculous numbers of rhino that were quite close, which I'd not seen anywhere else. It's definitely an underrated gem, in my book.

We had a long layover between flights from Kigali to London, and took the opportunity to spend a few hours in NNP. I had been on safaris before, but my companions had not. Never having seen a serval in the wild before, that made my day. We were late leaving the park, and our driver was rushing to get to the gate before it closed. The serval stopped in the middle of the road, looking amazed that any humans were still around.

Amboseli is really awesome. you can pay a tour there. you will not be disappointed.

Hi AmyB - Emma Childs, the owner of Emakoko stayed at my house last night! I LOVE that place.

My vote for a second safari area to compliment the Mara is Lewa Downs. In particular I like Lewa House, Lewa Wilderness or Sirikoi. Lewa Downs is near Samburu but the land is private (no crowds or big Sopa hotels) and it is a higher elevation so much cooler. Also, Lewa Downs has a genetically viable rhino population with over 140 black and white rhinos at current count. It is a true big-five paradise.

Craig Beal

A bit late to the party perhaps, but my vote would be Samburu. I just love it there and would be hard pressed to visit Kenya without taking a few days there.