SkySafari | The Adventure Travel Site

Exploring Kenya’s Rich Coffee Culture

Kenya’s flourishing coffee scene is a testament to its rich agricultural heritage and a global reputation for producing some of the finest Arabica beans. Nestled within the fertile highlands, coffee farms in regions like Nyeri and Kiambu yield beans prized for their vibrant acidity and complex flavour profiles.

Rich Heritage and Quality

Kenyan coffee’s journey begins with a legacy of meticulous farming practices handed down through generations. Smallholder farmers and cooperative societies meticulously cultivate coffee cherries, ensuring optimal ripeness before harvesting. This dedication to quality shines through in every cup, marked by notes of blackcurrant, citrus, and a lingering sweetness.

Sustainable Farming Practices

Beyond taste, Kenya’s coffee farms embrace sustainable practices. Many adhere to Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade certifications, promoting biodiversity conservation and fair wages for farmers. These initiatives preserve Kenya’s natural landscapes and empower local communities economically. The best safaris in Kenya, such as the SkySafari tour operators, follow these practices too, and align their goals to be as sustainable as possible.

Global Recognition and Market Influence

Kenyan coffee commands a prominent position in the global market, favoured by discerning roasters and baristas worldwide. Auctions held by the Nairobi Coffee Exchange set prices based on cupping scores, underscoring the nation’s commitment to quality assurance and market transparency.

Cultural Impact and Tourism

Coffee’s cultural significance extends beyond agriculture, shaping social rituals and tourism experiences. Visitors can tour estates, participate in coffee tastings, and witness firsthand the intricate processes from bean to brew. This cultural immersion offers a deeper appreciation for Kenya’s role in the global coffee industry.

A Guide to Luxury Family Safari Retreats in Tanzania’s Wild Heart

Visiting Tanzania and going on a safari is something that is on many bucket lists. Therefore, if visiting with family, make sure to plan out everything in order to have a fabulous time.

When to Go

If one wishes to go on a variety of tours in Tanzania, the best time to visit for a variety of wildlife tours is during the dry season, which stretches from June to October. During this period, animals congregate around waterholes as water sources dwindle, making them easier to spot. The peak season for crowds falls between August and October, with September being the busiest month.

Luxury Safaris

When it comes to experiencing Tanzania’s wildlife with your family, luxury safaris offer unparalleled comfort and personalized experiences. Imagine private game drives led by expert guides, catered meals enjoyed amidst breathtaking scenery and luxurious accommodations designed with families in mind. The likes of SkySafari can help curate an unforgettable Tanzanian adventure for you and your loved ones, ensuring a blend of wildlife encounters, relaxation, and memories that will last a lifetime.

How Much to Budget

Hot Air Balloon Rides – Photo by sutirta budiman on Unsplash

Luxury family safaris in Tanzania can vary greatly in cost depending on the specific experiences you choose. While the ultimate luxury safari with private chefs, hot air balloon rides, and helicopter tours could have an unlimited budget, a more realistic starting point for high-end accommodations and experiences is around USD 1,500 per person, per night.

Where to Stay

Luxury safari retreats are scattered across Tanzania’s national parks. Consider opulent lodges with private balconies or intimate tented camps for a truly immersive experience.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Adventures in East Africa

Embarking on eco-friendly adventures in East Africa unveils a mesmerizing tapestry of natural wonders and cultural richness, while fostering a deep commitment to environmental sustainability. The diverse landscapes of this enchanting region, from the vast savannas of the Serengeti to the lush rainforests of Uganda, provide a backdrop for responsible and immersive experiences that prioritize conservation and community engagement.

Singita Sasakwa Reserve

The Singita Grumeti Reserve, seamlessly connected to the Serengeti National Park, stands as a crucial component of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, established by the Tanzanian government in 1994 to safeguard the route of the annual Wildebeest Migration. Entrusted to the Grumeti Fund since 2002, a non-profit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation and community development, the reserve has seen remarkable achievements since Singita joined as the Fund’s conservation partner in 2006. Together, they have successfully restored populations of buffalo, wildebeest, and elephants in the region.

Usangu Expedition Camp

Usangu Expedition Camp, operating annually from June to November, is an authentic and seasonal camp nestled in the secluded and picturesque setting of Ruaha National Park, specifically within the Usangu Wetlands. Offering expert private guiding, a diverse array of safari activities, and a dedicated commitment to conservation, the camp ensures an immersive experience for visitors amongst all other safaris in East Africa.

Porini Rhino Camp

Porini encompasses a selection of genuinely eco-friendly lodges in East Africa, operating on environmentally conscious principles to minimize their impact on the surroundings. The camps under Porini are devoid of permanent structures, opting instead for eco-friendly practices such as solar power for electricity and sustainable charcoal for water heating – and can be visited when arriving in the region through SkySafari.

Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Kyambura Lodge stands as an exquisitely restored coffee-processing and drying shed. Positioned on the periphery of Kyambura Gorge, a refuge for endangered chimpanzees, this opulent property ranks among Uganda’s premier eco-lodges. In 2009, the lodge initiated the Kyambura Gorge Eco-tourism Project, dedicated to preserving the adjacent ecosystem. More recently, the project received substantial support from the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, contributing significantly to the protection and sustenance of Kyambura Gorge’s chimpanzee population.

How to Plan Your First Safari Tour in Africa

A safari in Africa is a thrilling adventure—a rendezvous with the untamed wilderness that promises a lifetime of memories. To ensure your first safari is everything you dream of, follow this guide to plan an unforgettable African escapade.

Choosing Your Destination

Africa has a vast and diverse wilderness, offering an abundance of options for exploration. Look into destinations like Kenya’s Masai Mara, Tanzania’s Serengeti, or South Africa’s Kruger National Park, because each has its unique charm and resident wildlife, and you can decide what attracts you more.

The Type of Safari

Safaris come in various forms, from traditional game drives to African safari luxury tours conducted by operators such as SkySafari. Choose based on your preferences and comfort level with wildlife encounters, because each type brings its own different flavours and twists to make your experience a rich, insightful one.

Select the Right Time to Go

Wildlife in Africa – Photo by Harshil Gudka on Unsplash

Wildlife activity varies with the seasons. Research the best time for animal migrations, birthing seasons, or optimal game viewing. Consider the weather, avoiding extreme heat or heavy rains.

Find the Right Accommodation

Choose lodges or camps that suit your style, whether it’s luxurious glamping or rustic immersion. Many accommodations offer expert guides, enhancing your safari experience.

Photography Safari

There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that the country of Kenya is beautiful. Filled as it is with natural wonders, flora or fauna, it’s plain to see that it’s blessed with bounties of many different kinds. It’s things like this that lead the stray wildlife photographer, or nature enthusiast, to chase after these simple pleasures of life and capture them on analogue or digital film, immortalizing them as part of the planet’s history at a given point in time. Well-known for nature experiences and safaris, what better place to chase after nature than the very country of Kenya?

Amboseli National Park

As many might agree, there is something especially calming and special about seeing one of the Earth’s most majestic creatures, the elephant, in its natural herd, roaming around the brown-green plains that it loves. At Amboseli Park, that’s exactly what you get and more – on clear days, you’ll also have the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro providing an especially impressive backdrop to these lovely animals.

Nairobi National Park

The only park in the world situated within a national city, this option provides any avid photographers with some things to think about! If you’re interested in taking a few shots of Nairobi and its natural environs, consider the convenience of such a short drive in comparison to many other camping safaris in Kenya, and the great numbers of 400+ bird species to capture here!

Maasai Mara National Reserve

The most popular wildlife reserve in Kenya, consider touring this place with reputed tour companies like SkySafari if you’re contemplating a visit! It’s home to one of the most awe-inspiring spectacles, the Great Wildebeest Migration, and is one of the great Wonders of the World. It’s a great place to visit at all times of the year and provides a unique landscape that we have become so familiar with thanks to popular culture.

Samburu National Reserve

Our final choice on the list – the Samburu Reserve. Situated in Northern Kenya, it is home to the “Special Five” – the Somali Ostrich, Gerenuk Antelope, Grevy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, and Beisa Oryx – excellent species to capture on your camera. It’s also home to other less unique species, although no less enjoyable to capture, such as leopards, cheetahs and other big cats that make their home here.

Trekking adventures in East Africa

Allowing for effortless weaving between gorgeously diverse ecosystems, from whimsical yellowwood forests and snow-capped meadows to dizzying gorges shadowed by breathtaking peaks, there’s no place like East Africa for the beauty-loving adventurer.

Take on Mount Kenya

From sighting tree-climbing lions in colonial-inspired national parks, snorkelling in with multi-coloured reef fish off Lamu island, racing 4WDs down ragged volcanic craters to scaling alpine vistas, immersing in equatorial wildflower meadows, and watching the mighty tide of migrating wildebeest, the African wilderness brims with exhilarating experiences. While climbing gigantic, glacier-topped Mt. Kilimanjaro isn’t for everyone, the gentler routes and breathtaking medley of terrains of Mount Kenya make it a must-have on your itinerary.

Dive into Ngorongoro Crater

Whether it’s thrillingly intimate wildlife encounters, decadent tropical beach antics, or eye-opening heritage escapades, East Africa warmly presents a rich mosaic of meaningful moments. An essential bucket-list safari destination, this staggering national park, with its beautiful crater lake, misty blue heights, and yellow-flowering forests, is home to a wonderous number of intriguing animals, from Africa’s majestic ‘Big Five’ to gazelles, wildebeest, zebras, and black rhinos.

Explore Volcanoes National Park

From adrenaline-high night safaris amid mysterious swamps to navigating bizarrely beautiful volcanic topography like the Danakil Depression, East Africa has many extraordinary excursions to compete for your attention. However, gliding through the rainforest and spending some one-on-one time with enormously endearing gorillas should be high on your list! For an all-inclusive African Safari proffering outstanding amenities, venture no further than SkySafari.

Hike Simien Mountains

If you’re looking for a UNESCO-listed heritage sanctuary complete with cinematic scenes ranging from blooming tropical gardens and rustic rural enclaves to ragged peaks, undulating pastures, and rare fauna, set your sights on the Simien Mountains National Park.