Destination: Kenya

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For this edition of the Woodlyn Travel blog, we’re going on safari with luxury travel expert Jessica Rosen. Jessica recently visited Kenya for the first time and came back with a lifetime of memories. Here she shares with us some of her favorite experiences and luxury travel destinations:

Throughout my career in travel I’ve had the opportunity to travel extensively, particularly throughout Asia and South America. But I had never had the opportunity to go on safari. Until now. My expectations for my first safari were HIGH, like “high as the hot air balloon I rode over the Mara” high. 
My high expectations were met, exceeded, wrapped and tied with a bow, and exceeded even more. One of the highlights of the trip was seeing my fellow travelers experience their first safari and seeing the benefits of what a travel advisor can provide. Surprise dinners? Check. Unexpected Sundowners? You got it. Safari hats and other swag? Love it! Upgrades at every hotel? Obviously!!! We in the travel industry can grow to expect quite a lot, because we know all the dazzle is possible, and seeing it be given to people who aren’t expecting it is a gift in its own right.

For my first visit to Kenya, I went to Nairobi, the Maasai Mara, Lake Elmenteita, and Amboseli National Park and experienced three different clients from the KAI Collection of luxury destinations: Liberty Africa Safaris DMC, Sarova Hotels & Resorts, and Naibor Camp. 

Liberty Africa Safaris

Liberty is the ultimate expert when it comes to tailoring an African experience to exceed your expectations. From the moment we landed we were happy with the quality of vehicle we received, and more importantly how our guide immediately felt like an extended family member. For the next 9 days we considered ourselves The Big 6, my family and our driver-guide Julius. On our way to our first hotel night we were already taught several words in Swahili and given the low down on what to expect for the trip. What we weren’t expecting was to cry nine days later when we had to say goodbye to Julius. 

Liberty provided us with a seamless experience in Kenya. We felt safe, happy, and eager for more and more game drives to see all of the wonderful animals.

Sarova Hotels & Resorts

If you’re unaware of Sarova Hotels then I am pleased to introduce you to the wonderful Kenyan brand of hotels. Sarova has seven properties in Kenya and while on this trip I got to stay at two of them and do a site inspection at a third. One thing that is clear about Sarova properties: The customer service is some of the best customer service I have EVER had. It embodies the world renowned Kenyan hospitality. 

Sarova Stanley

The history of Sarova Stanley dates back to 1902 as it is home to Kenya’s first hotel, stock exchange, and postal service. And for all of you ‘The Crown’ fans it is where Queen Elizabeth stayed on her famous visit to Kenya when she in fact became the Queen! Today it remains the go-to property for dignitaries. My personal highlights include: 

  • Beautiful and historical artwork throughout the hotel

  • Convenient location right in the heart of Nairobi 

  • The most delicious Thai food at Thai Chi 

Sarova Panafric

Sarova Panafric is in the works of completely refurbishing and redoing all of their rooms and the hotel itself. It offers exquisite artwork throughout the hotel that provides the perfect sense of place utilizing African art and textiles. My highlights include: 

  • Extremely futuristic technology in the rooms that can be controlled via iPhones

  • They created an “Eve” floor which is for female travelers only

Sarova Mara Game Camp

The general consensus upon arrival was that we all had died and gone to heaven. Sarova Mara Game Camp is made up of beautiful luxury tents and is home to “Sarova Mara Game Camp Chef’s Organic Garden,” a huge garden that produces around 60% of all of the vegetables and fruits that are served at Sarova Mara. It also offers offers fishing, mini golf, kayaking, volleyball all on property. My highlights include: 

  • Amazing customer service. My two cousins don’t eat pork and during our first lunch the chef came to our table to ask if they found something they enjoyed eating.

  • We got to plant a tree! Sarova is driving an initiative to plant trees, and providing guests with an incentive to come back and check on their tree. We named ours TLC after our Toyota Land Cruiser we were using for all of our game drives.

  • Surprise dinners overlooking the Mara - we were asked to go on a “night game drive” on a golf cart and were brought to the most gorgeous dinner setting with our own private chef. For the end of the night they brought over the guitarist and singer for our private show. It was INCREDIBLE.

Naibor Camp

Naibor was a highlight for us all! Naibor, meaning space in Maasai, is an 11-tented room camp deep in the Mara. It combines some of the best Kenyan hospitality with being completely wild in nature and utilizing the space it has to provide the most tranquil and peaceful setting. At Naibor all of the luxury tents are overlooking River Talek which is filled with hippos, and for a large part of one afternoon we had the best time relaxing, looking at the river and watching the hippos chase baboons. The real beauty of Naibor was how luxurious and comfortable we felt while being completely in the wild. The food, service, views, and experience was definitely one of the most memorable parts of the trip. My highlights included: 

  • Our guide Jacson - he took us out for a game drive and immediately showed us baby hyenas, we got two feet from a lioness, and had an incredible leopard sighting.

  • The most amazing sundowners. I’ve had more gin and tonics on this trip than I’d like to admit and half of them might have been on these sundowners with the most beautiful sunsets we have seen.

  • The cuisine was outstanding. From our packed lunches, to breakfast sandwiches in the bush, to garlic steak, it was incredible. 

Other highlights from my trip to Kenya included:

  • A visit to the Giraffe Center in Nairobi - we got to pet, feed and be licked by giraffes. The giraffes at the Giraffe Center are the same exact giraffes that are at Giraffe Manor, so if clients can’t make it to the Manor this is an exceptional option. 

  • Lunch at the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden Restaurant in Nairobi - the food is great but the real winner is the dawa, a delicious Kenyan cocktail made up of vodka, honey, brown sugar and lime.

  • A hot air balloon ride in the Mara! Words can’t do it justice - here is a highlight reel I made from the experience. 

  • Learning about the many, many different types of antelope in the Mara. Ranging from the small dik dik to the massive eland. 

  • Watching the elephants be covered in mud up to their ears at Amboseli National Park. 

  • Baby hyenas! I feel like Lion King gave hyenas a bad wrap, but they’re opportunistic creatures and I couldn't help but love them.

  • Every.Single.Cat.Sighting - I cannot stress this enough! Doesn’t matter if it was a cheetah or a lion pride of 12, every single cat sighting was exhilarating. 

All in all, this was a life changing trip and it has set the stage for all safaris (and there will be many more safaris!) to come. There’s no real way to describe how incredible it is to be so close to these beautiful, lethal and many times endangered animals. We all left Kenya feeling incredibly grateful to have experienced so much of life’s beauty. 

And as our friends from Liberty said, “You can take the girl out of Africa, but you can’t take Africa out of the girl.”

If you’re ready for a great Kenyan adventure like Jessica, Woodlyn Travel can help. In addition to the destinations shown above, here are a few amazing resorts we recommend:

Fairmont Mara Safari Club - Rustic luxury in the Maasai Mara wildlife reserve, featuring glamorous tents on the banks of a hippo-filled river.

andBeyond Bateleur Camp - A classic safari setting, featuring luxury amenities and easy access to wildlife and cultural attractions.

Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy- Exclusive cottages close to nature, perfect for morning game watching and afternoon spa treatments.

Zion National Park

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021/6/3/c61trl60f2nudnmf6y533a4i9p48yhOne of the country’s most popular National Parks, Zion National Park in Southern Utah is home to massive pink sandstone cliffs and deep, shady canyons just begging to be explored. There are plenty of easy hikes for kids and beginners, as well as challenging routes for those looking to do some serious canyoneering or backpacking. Although it can feel like another world, Zion is only a 6-7 hour drive from the Los Angeles or Phoenix areas and 3 hours from Las Vegas, making it a great destination for a long weekend or as part of a longer tour of the southwest. Here’s an overview of the park, and what to see during your visit:

Getting Around

The heart of Zion National Park is Zion Canyon. This is where the vast majority of visitors go, so we’ll focus on this area. Traditionally, private vehicles have not been allowed into Zion Canyon, which means most visitors park at the visitors center and ride the park’s free shuttles to access the canyon. During the pandemic private shuttles were allowed, but that is being discontinued as of June 15th, 2021. The park has also discontinued advance ticketing for the free shuttles, which means going forward they will be first come, first served, and on holiday weekends and other busy times it’s possible you’ll have to wait over an hour at the visitors center to board a shuttle. Shuttle service starts at 6AM, and arriving early is your best bet for enjoying the park before the crowds arrive.

A popular alternative to the shuttle is to ride a bike into the park. Bike rentals, including ebikes that make uphills much easier, are readily available from shops just outside the park. It’s about 9 miles from the rental shops to the farthest spot up the road in the canyon, and takes less than an hour with an ebike. Ebikes generally rent for about $100 for a full day of use.

And if you don’t feel like dealing with shuttles or bikes, there are a several areas you can explore within walking distance of the entrance of the park. See below for some of those hike suggestions.

Passes

As usual, a National Parks Annual pass is the simplest way to visit Zion and other National Parks or federal recreation sites. They can be purchased for $80 before your trip or when you enter the park. Alternatively, a weekly pass is $35 and allows a single vehicle and its occupants into the park, or a $20 weekly pass is available for cyclists or pedestrians who will not be bringing a car into the park. To learn more about annual passes, take a look at our recent National Parks blog post.

Hiking Trails

Be sure to check the official Zion National Park website before you go. Weather conditions or rock slides can force trail closures.

The Narrows/Riverside Walk- One of Zion’s most popular spots, this journey starts along the side of the river, then as the canyon narrows, you can enter the water and wade upstream between towering rock walls. The first section, the Riverside Walk, is good for young kids, with plenty of shaded areas to take breaks, eat snacks, and watch the river flow by. If you choose to proceed into the river and up the canyon you’ll need appropriate gear, which is easily rented from the vendors listed below. The water varies in depth from ankle-high to chest-high depending on the season, and park rangers will close the area if there is a chance of flash floods. During the hot summer months the cold water feels great, and following the river deep into the ancient canyon is a truly unique experience. Guided tours are available, but not necessary. The entrance to the trail is adjacent to the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop.

Angels Landing- Angels Landing is a strenuous climb up a ridge that offers an iconic view of Zion Canyon. The last section is comprised of a steep, narrow path with long drop-offs and a chain to hold on to. During particularly busy times, park rangers will limit the number of people on this section, creating a wait before you can finish the climb. You should allow at least 4 hours to hike Angel’s Landing, and if you’re afraid of heights it’s not recommended. But if you arrive early and are willing to push yourself a little, the payoff at the top is amazing. Access the Angels Landing trail from shuttle stop #6- The Grotto.

Emerald Pools- Three separate pools (Lower, Middle, and Upper) with waterfalls created by a stream dropping down into the canyon. Moderate difficulty with paved and unpaved sections and drops offs in some sections. There are several different approaches to the pools. For kids, the Lower Pools trail is fairly easy, with access from the Zion Lodge area. It can be done in under 2 hours. If you’re looking for something a little longer, start at the Grotto Shuttle Stop and take the Kayenta Trail to the Upper Emerald Pool trail, then after reaching the Upper Pool, coming back down along the Middle Emerald Pools Trail. Allow around 3 hours for this route.

Watchman Trail- Moderate uphill trail leading starting near the main Visitor Center area and leading to a bluff with views of the lower part of the canyon. Somewhat narrow trail with small drop offs in some places, and you’ll be in direct sun for about half the climb, so start early before it gets too hot. Allow about 2 hours for the round trip. This is one of the trails that you can do without hopping on a shuttle!

Canyon Overlook- A short, moderately difficult trail with amazing views that starts on the east side of the park, away from most of the other trails. The park shuttle doesn’t go this way so you’ll have to drive into the park, passing through the amazing Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel, which is quite a sight itself. Just after exiting the tunnel there’s a small parking lot, and if it’s full you’ll have to look for room on the side of the road. This can be difficult when the park is busy, so arrive early. This is a great hike to do if you’re entering or leaving the park on the way to Bryce Canyon or other parks to the east, and it’s a perfect option if you don’t want to ride the shuttle.

Gear Rentals

The town of Springdale is located just outside the entrance to Zion National Park, and not surprisingly it’s full of places to rent or buy any kind of hiking or camping gear you need, or set up a guided tour.

Zion Outfitters- Very convenient location, right next door to the pedestrian entrance to the park.

Zion Guru- Good spot for renting gear for the Narrows hike or ebikes, or for scheduling a tour with a guide.

Zion Adventures- Gear rentals, guided tours, and family packages.

Where to Stay

Cliffrose Lodge - Great accommodations in the perfect location: just a 5-min walk from the park entrance so you can grab some breakfast, lace up your hiking boots and beat the crowds into the park. Kid-friendly pool for cooling down after a day on the trails and beautiful views of the sandstone cliffs. Book through Woodlyn Travel for exclusive deals and amenities.

Where to Eat

Springdale has a good range of restaurants for refueling after a long day in the park. Be sure to call ahead- reservations and takeout policies vary widely.

Whiptail Grill- Good Mexican food and burgers. Walking distance from the park entrance.

The Spotted Dog- Casual vibe with good Vegan and Vegetarian options.

Kings Landing Bistro- Great food and a spectacular view of the lower canyon.

Zion Canyon Brew Pub- Right at the pedestrian entrance to the park, if you’re walking or riding out after a day on the trail, this is the place to stop for a hard-earned beer.