Way to Kenya

As Rijuda, Rudra and Shankar drove through the vast savannah of Africa, they were suddenly spotted by a sound of a fierce lion lurking in the bushes. The sight was so intense that it gave goosebumps, causing me to wake up from my dream. I realized with a thrill that our plane had just landed in Nairobi. A sense of excitement surged through me. From my childhood, I had been captivated by the thrilling adventures of Shankar in “Chader Pahar” and Rijuda’s daring expeditions in the jungles of Africa. Now, those stories were not just pages in a book—they were about to come alive.

On August 9, with my four friends by my side, I took a direct flight to Nairobi airport, ready to embark on our own adventure. We had meticulously crafted an 11-days itinerary for our African safari, and now it was time to experience the adventure we had dreamed of. Our journey would take us from Nairobi, the bustling gateway to Kenya through some of Kenya’s most iconic destinations: Amboseli, Naivasha, Nakuru, and Masai Mara, before returning to Nairobi.

On August 10, our plane landed at 6:40 in the morning at Nairobi. Nairobi airport was small but efficient. We quickly passed through immigration, collected our baggage, and then made our way to get a local SIM card. Safaricom was our choice due to its extensive coverage across Kenya, although Airtel is also a reliable option.

With our phones set up, we indulged in a traditional Bengali packed breakfast of parota, aloo bhaja, and suji halwa. This familiar comfort home food was the perfect start to our adventure, bridged the gap between home and the new world we were about to explore.

Outside the airport, a young man with striking figure —tall, dark, and strong welcomed us in Swahili “Jumbo! Karibu Kenya” which means hello, welcome to Kenya.  He was our guide and driver -Jimnah, for the entire journey. His welcoming smile immediately put us at ease. His presence was reassuring, and we could tell from the start that he would be an integral part of our adventure.

Jimnah loaded our bags into the vehicle, then with a friendly nod, signaled the start of our journey. As we drove through Nairobi and then headed towards our first destination, Amboseli National Park, Jimnah shared insights into the city and its surroundings. His deep knowledge of the region and its wildlife was clear, and his passion for his job made every conversation engaging.

The distance from Nairobi to Amboseli national park is 194 km which takes almost 4 hours’ drive. One can stopped over at Emali for having brunch and doing some necessary grocery shopping. Emali is a small town in Makueni County, Kenya. If someone is looking for budget transportation option to reach Amboseli, it is advisable to take train from Nairobi to Emali. From Emali its fairly easy to get public transportation to Amboseli.

In our case, we have booked 7-seater Toyota land cruiser safari car for the entire trip. We made a short stop at Emali to buy groceries, fruits, and water for the coming days. It is always advisable to drink packaged water if you are travelling in Kenya. 

After finishing our shopping, we had a short lunch and headed towards our accommodation. We had booked a charming Airbnb homestay named ‘Glasshouse’, renowned for its stunning view of Mount Kilimanjaro. The design of the homestay was perfectly complemented by its surroundings, with large glass windows framing the mountain and offering panoramic views of the landscape.

Stay tuned for more updates as our journey continues through this incredible wilderness of Kenya!

Few important information

• The distance from Nairobi to Amboseli is 194 km which takes 4 hours’ drive.
• Areas for stoppage – Important area for groceries, money exchange or eateries-
  • Emali, small town on Mombasa-Nairobi Road (distance from Amboseli 80.5 km)
  • Kimana, small town in Loitokitok district (distance from Amboseli 27 km)
• Money exchange- It is advisable to take dollar and Kenyan shelling from Nairobi Airport. Remember to negotiate the best exchange rate based on the amount of currency you may need. Try to take money in both dollar and in Kenyan shieling as Kenyan shelling is necessary while buying groceries and handicrafts from the local market.
• Telecommunication- Safaricom has the best connectivity in Kenya. You can buy a local SIM and load additional data if you need. This is available right at the Nairobi airport itself. While buying, you may load internet data pack. In Kenya, the telecom companies charge voice packs and data packs separately. Airtel International roaming works in Kenya, but the coverage may be limited to cities.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.