Traveling out of season is easily our favourite time to travel! April is, and always has been, low season in Kenya. Most camps and lodges in remote areas in Kenya shut down over April and much of May due to issues with access; heavy rainfall can make roads in the Masai Mara incredibly sticky and difficult to navigate or, in places like Samburu, rising river levels can flood them altogether. For this reason, tourism comes to a fairy dramatic stop on the first of April. But on Ol Pejeta, life continues as always… it’s just a little muddier.
A crisp April morning on Ol Pejeta
Cosying up by the fire listening to the rain
Google may say that Kenya is a no-go in April but here are five great reasons to ignore Google and do it anyway…
1) THE LOWEST PRICES OF THE YEAR
If you’re looking for a safari on a budget, then April is definitely the best time of year to come to Kenya. Most camps and lodges are closed so you’ll have less options to choose from but those that remain open during this time will have excellent low rates and special offers. And with so few guests in camps you’ll also find that service is concentrated and at its best, making traveling in April brilliant bang for your buck!
2) GET THE PLACE ALL TO YOURSELF
Traveling out of season means space! It means you’re not fighting through mountains of safari vehicles to enjoy your sightings or needing to make a dinner reservation months in advance in one of Nairobi’s top restaurants. In Ol Pejeta our game drives are often completely private and our guests won’t see a single other tourist vehicle. Talk about exclusivity!
3) BEAT THE HEAT
There is something wonderful about the rain in Africa; it’s refreshing and full of life and, after a long, hot, dry season, we welcome the cooler temperatures that the April rains offer with open arms. If you are sensitive to heat, then you too may well enjoy this month of reprieve from the otherwise harsh African sun.
A rainstorm building on Ol Pejeta © Kathrine Macleod
4) WILD RAINSTORMS AND WILD ADVENTURES
The April rains are wild and powerful showers that mostly hit us in the afternoons. We’ll so often hear the distant rumble of thunder whilst we have lunch, the wind picks up a little and the birds are suddenly excitable. We can’t help ourselves; the thrill of an impending African rainstorm never really goes away. We get swept up in it, pour a cup of tea and enjoy the meditative sound of heavy raindrops against the steel rooftops. And if you’re out on the plains when the rains hit then hold on tight; you’ll be slipping and sliding all the way home and you may even have to pop out to help your guide push the vehicle out a muddy patch, turning a pretty standard safari into an African adventure!
*Top top: traveling to Kenya in April? Pack some light waterproof/wellington boots that will keep your toes warm and ward off the mud and pack clothing that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. Most camps will supply you with an umbrella in your room but it’s always helpful to pack a light waterproof jacket too.
5) UNIQUE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
We’ve all seen a photograph of a lion but wildlife photography in the rainy season is really something else! A herd of giraffe ambling across a stormy landscape, cheetahs jumping over puddles and navigating high rivers, rhinos rolling about in decedent mud baths and a slow shutter capturing the rainfall or a bird shaking off its wet feathers. Kenya in April offers you the chance to get the shot that no one else gets!
Cheetahs in the Masai Mara © Shivang Mehta
6) HELP CONSERVATION
Okay okay we said five, but we’re sneaking in another reason to book your April safari because it’s a really important one. A lot of conservancies, like Ol Pejeta, rely heavily on tourism to keep them going and they often struggle to push through quieter months like April and May. Choosing to travel in April means you’re giving these organisations vital aid in tough times; your conservancy fee is more valuable than ever, literally paying ranger salaries and keeping electric fences that protect endangered and critically endangered wildlife operational.
Click here to learn more about how your visit to Ol Pejeta is supporting wildlife conservation.
This is not to say that travelling around Kenya in April doesn’t come with its challenges but if you do your research, pack appropriately and be prepared for anything and everything you’re likely to discover magical places and moments that you just can’t find at any other time of year.
BOOK YOUR APRIL SAFARI TO KENYA
Ol Pejeta has a network of well-maintained roads that are accessible in all weather conditions, which means The Safari Cottages stay open year round and soak up the peace and quiet and wildness of Ol Pejeta all through April too. What’s more, your fully inclusive stay with us include a private vehicle and guide so you can stay out and enjoy the African rain for as long or as little as you’d like. Take advantage of our absolute lowest rates and come visit us this April.
KEEP READING
More from the Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages blog
Crisp mornings, unique photographic opportunities, the drama of an African rainstorm; Google may say that an April Kenya safari is a no-go but here’s why you why should ignore Google and do it anyway.