Much of the travel industry around the world is changing rapidly. The variety of startups that raised money this week is an example of how much opportunity there could be to capitalize on those changes.
21.03.2024 - 06:35 / insider.com
Seeing some of Africa's most famous animals in the wild has been on my bucket list for years. With adventure travel on the rise, I decided to take the plunge and make the 20+ hour flight to Africa to visit some of Kenya's best safari parks.
Masai Mara is arguably the most famous for big-cat sightings, but Amboseli National Park, Crescent Island Game Sanctuary, Nairobi National Park, and Hell's Gate National Park are also must-see reserves teeming with wildlife.
I did lots of research beforehand but found I was unprepared for many things I experienced while on safari — and there are things I'll definitely do differently the next time I go.
From what I should have worn to what seeing the animals was really like, here's what surprised me most about going on safari in Kenya.
Between a morning and afternoon game drive, I spent about eight hours in the car daily. It was shocking to see the low number of daily steps on my Oura ring.
I started doing yoga at the end of the night to loosen up my hips. My airplane pillow also helped me stay comfortable, especially during the seven-hour drives to other parks.
In hindsight, I should have worn sandals on my drives. Most safari vehicles have small windows and a top that lifts up, and you're frequently standing on the chairs to get a better view.
We took off our shoes when we got into the car so we were ready to hop up on the chairs at a moment's notice.
The best times for safaris are in the mornings and at dusk, and sometimes, we had 4 a.m. start times. The lack of sleep, paired with the heat, made me eager to get to bed early.
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I'm not a morning person, but I preferred the early drives for the animal activity (and incredible sunrises) we saw. We used the less-ideal safari hours during the day to nap, do other activities in the area, or drive to other parks.
We had our fair share of close-up sightings, but many of the animals we wanted to see were far away and sometimes not immediately obvious to the naked eye.
We ditched our iPhones and used binoculars and someone's camera viewfinder to get a closer look.
A pair of binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens are essential for getting the best view (and pictures) possible.
Safari drives can be frustrating because you can't control what animals you'll see, how far away they are, and how long the sighting will last. But being patient can be rewarding.
During one dusk drive, we spent three hours searching for a pride of lions without any luck. Finally, as the sun set in the last half hour, we stumbled upon three female lions napping, a leopard, and giraffes.
I expected to see animals moving around or hunting, but many were resting during the day. It was only when dusk approached that they started to
Much of the travel industry around the world is changing rapidly. The variety of startups that raised money this week is an example of how much opportunity there could be to capitalize on those changes.
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