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3 places to see Mt. Fuji (save + share this post): 3 places to see Mt. Fuji (save + share this post):

If you don’t have enough time to spend days in Hakone visiting Mt. Fuji it’s easy to take a day trip here from Tokyo. It’s only about 90 minutes by car and we spent the day exploring the area. There is a swing at the top for an additional fee where you literally swing into Mt. Fuji and they have a souvenir shop and small food vendor to purchase snacks.

Location 1: Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway which cost ¥900 for adults and ¥450 for children for a roundtrip ride on the cable car. They do sell one way cable car tickets if you want to hike down the mountain.

Location 2: Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, there is a small fee of ¥100 per person but children are free. This place is really only for pictures besides the view there isn’t anything else to do. They have it set up with a line to capture photos in front of the tori gate and each group has 3 minutes to take pictures, yes they actually time you, to make sure the line keeps moving.

Location 3: Arakurayama Sengen Park where you’ll need to climb 398 stairs or take the curved paved path to the top for views of the mountain and Chuerito Pagoda. The stairs are a straight shot but the path makes it accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

We were truly blessed to be able to see Mt. Fuji as it’s often not visible. When I visited in 2015 we made the trip here and it was gloomy and cloudy and we couldn’t see anything. We did go to the base of the mountain on that trip and do the ice cave exploration so all wasn’t lost but I am so happy Jordyn and I got to see the full mountain with our own two eyes on this trip!

There are lots of other places you can view Mt. Fuji but with only one day we couldn’t visit them all. The other 7 best places to see Mt. Fuji are on a boat tour on any of the 5 lakes that surround the mountain (Kawaguchi, Yamanakako, Saiko, Shojiko, or Motosuko), Koyo-Dai Lookout Platform, Sanko-Dai Lookout Platform, Oshino Hakkai Springs, Fuji Q Highland Amusement Park, Rooftop of Fujisan Station, Shin-Fuji Station Platform and in Hakone.

Have you ever seen Mt. Fuji’s beauty? Would you add this to your Japan itinerary if you haven’t?

#mtfuji #lakekawaguchiko
How we spent 48 hours in Kyoto (save + share this How we spent 48 hours in Kyoto (save + share this post):

1. Start your day at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. We arrived here at 7:30am and there were quite a few people here already. We didn’t visit but in Arshiyama you can also visit the Monkey Park to see the Japanese Macaques (snow monkeys).

2. Head to Kinkaku-ji to see this stunning Temple of the Golden Pavilion. They open at 9am and we arrived at 8:45am and by time the opened the door at 9am the line was extremely long.

3. Walk through the gorgeous Tori Gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha. Before or after your visit be sure to walk through the street vendors for some amazing food. We tried noodles, mochi and just enjoyed learning more about the local foods. We visited here around 11am and even though it was so crowded if you want photos without people wait until you’re walking through the gates to exit and there are often moments where the area is empty, just be a little patient. 

4. Book a session at @kyoto_samurai_experience to learn about the history of the Samurai, watch a demonstration and get to try your hand at using the samurai sword yourself.

5. Eat your way through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. You will be able to walk through these narrow streets (with some hills) and try ice cream flavors such a matcha, green tea, white peach, Sakura (if in season), Black sesame, caramel and more and yes, we tried them all! There’s also tons of mochi and other treats. You’ll find the Starbucks with a traditional Japanese home interior here as well as Yasaka Pagoda and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, be sure to visit.

6. Walk around Gion and catch a Kabuki show at Minamiza Theatre.

7. Visit Daigo-ji temple, it’s not frequented by a lot of tourists so it’s rarely crowded and you can have a moment on zen here!

While we didn’t have time this visit as the weather altered some of our plans on my last visit to Kyoto in 2015 I also visited Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion), Nijo Castle which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ryoanji Temple and highly recommend going. 

Some other things we were interested in but just didn’t have time for were a calligraphy class and if you are into manga you can visit the Kyoto International Manga Museum.
This is your sign to rent a kimono in Kyoto! It wa This is your sign to rent a kimono in Kyoto! It was an honor to be dressed by Japanese women & taught about the Kimono. Here’s everything you need to know about renting a kimono & a tiny history lesson on them(save + share this post):

1. Originally kimono was the Japanese word for clothing but is now used to refer specifically to traditional Japanese clothing. Kimono’s date back to the Heian period of 794-1185 and were every day wear until western culture was brought to Japan.

2. There are 8 layers in a kimono in addition to the Tabi (white socks) which are specifically made to wear with Jori (traditional Japanese shoes). Even though there are 8 layers it doesn’t take long to be dressed.

3. Today kimonos are mostly worn for special occasions such as NYE, weddings, gradations, tea ceremonies & summer festivals. But geishas, maikos, kabuki actors and a few traditional professions wear them every day.

4. We rented our Kimono’s from this shop https://kyoto-kimonorental.com/kimono/. It’s less than a 5 minute walk from Hokan-ji. We made a reservation in advance but you will find kimono rental shops all over Kyoto. They open at 9 and you have to return the Kimono’s by 5.

5. They offer multiple packages which vary in the type of material the kimono is. The package I got was the ¥4,900 ($37.50) one and Jordyn’s child price was ¥3,900 ($29.87). You can get your hair and makeup done for an additional ¥1,200. The value of the yen is down now so be sure to check exchange rates whenever you make it to Japan for accuracy.

6. This shop offers photo packages directly through them or you can take your own or hire a separate photographer.

7. If you’re worried about renting a kimono and wearing it in Japan being seen as cultural appropriation, don’t be. I obviously can’t speak for every Japanese person but from hearing it first hand from Japanese people in Japan and the large amount of Kimono rental shops all over Japan encouraging visitors to try kimonos, the Japanese are so excited to see foreigners embracing their culture and wearing kimonos respectfully! We received so many compliments from the local community as we explored Kyoto this day.

📍Daigo-ji temple & Hokan-ji
After spending 48 hours in Osaka we went to Kyoto. After spending 48 hours in Osaka we went to Kyoto. Here’s how to get here and where we stayed (save + share this post):

1. You can take the Shinkansen (bullet) train from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station if you have the JR Pass and it will only take you 15 minutes. If you don’t have a JR Pass the Shinkansen ticket costs about 1,420 yen (right now that’s about $11). 

2. If you don’t have the JR Pass you can take the Hankyu Kyoto Line or Keihan Main Line. These are regular non express trains and will increase your travel time to from 15 minutes to 45-55 minutes but they only cost 400 yen (about $3) so you can save money, especially for a large group.

3. There is also a bus that leaves picks up at Hotel Keihan Universal Tower, Universal Studios Japan and Namba and goes to Kyoto Station. I’m not sure of the costs.

4. If you flew into Osaka you can also take the Haruka Express train from the airport to Kyoto Station. 

In Kyoto we stayed at The Chaper Kyoto which is a Marriott property. The rooms are on the small side but the hotel is clean and modern. There is a bus stop down the block which we could take to get to Gion in 9 minutes. The room was about $240/night since it’s busy season.

The weather this time of year is pretty sporadic. Some days it was hot and sunny and some days cool and gloomy so definitely pack a variety of attire and bring some layers and the weather changes throughout the day. Will be sharing our itinerary soon.

Have you been to Kyoto? If you have other accommodation recommendations please share them below to help others!

📍Fushimi Inari Taisha
Want to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal St Want to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan? You need to know this (save + share this post):

1. Just because you have tickets to the park doesn’t mean you’ll get into Super Nintendo World, it requires a timed entry ticket. These do run out so it’s not a guarantee you’ll be able to enter! If you get your park tickets in advance you might be able to grab an advanced booking in the app but if these are all gone by time you get your tickets you’ll need an area timed entry ticket. These are only available the day you’re visiting & you can only attempt to get it once you’re actually in the park! We got to the park when they opened at 8am & there were only two entry times left so arrive early! You can get them on the app (you must grant the app permission to see your location so they know you’re inside) or you can go to one of the ticket kiosks.

2. To really enjoy you’ll need a power band which are sold for about $35. If you don’t have one you can walk around & go on the 2 rides but you can’t play the games & collect coins.

3. The wait times for both rides are usually 1-3 hours! To avoid this you can purchase an Express Pass (most people said this reduces wait times to a mere 15 minutes). Express Passes were sold out the day we went so we only got to ride Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge but not Yoshi’s Adventure. To avoid the 2 hour wait for Mario Kart we actually went through the singles line. We did end up in two different karts but we only waited 20 minutes to ride instead of 2 hours. Yo Shi’a Adventure doesn’t have a singles line or we would have done that too!

4. If you want to eat at Kinopio’s Cafe you also need a timed entry ticket so be sure to grab this as soon as you get inside Super Nintendo World. It’s usually a 1-2 hour wait once you get your timed entry ticket.

5. Once you leave you cannot reenter (if timed entry tickets are required at the time) so be sure to do everything you want before leaving.

Universal Studio Japan is extremely popular & tickets do sell out often so buy in advance. The most popular sites to buy them are Klook (where we bought ours) & KKDay.

Hope this helps! Who has Super Nintendo World on their list?
How We Spent 48 Hours in Osaka (save + share this How We Spent 48 Hours in Osaka (save + share this post):

1. Kicked off the day trying soufflé pancakes, you’ll find restaurants all over the city that sell these. We personally had them at Belle-ville Pancakes.

2. Visit the Cup of Noodles Museum where you can make your own Cup of Noodles logo and then customize the flavor and toppings for your noodles. They also offer a ramen making class here in addition to the museum where you can learn the history of the company.

3. If you’re visiting in March check to see if the March Sumo Wrestling Tournament is taking place at Edion Arena Osaka. If so def try to get tickets in advance (they go on sale a month prior) or arrive early to get same day tickets. It’s a fun afternoon.

4. We also did a Tea Ceremony class but photos/videos weren’t allowed.

5. End the first day getting cheesecake at the infamous Rikuro’s for their jiggly Cheesecake.

6. The other day spend at Universal Studios Japan for thrilling rides, shows and to relive your childhood at Super Nintendo World.

Where to stay in Osaka? The W Osaka is gorgeous but a little pricey and the Fairfield by Marriott is more budget friendly with nice, modern clean rooms just less amenities and smaller rooms (will post stories of both so you can see).

How to get to Osaka from Tokyo: We took the Shinkansen bullet train which takes 3 hours but is such an experience as it goes up to 199mph. Be sure to sit of the right side of the train for views of Mt. Fuji. You can also take a quick flight!

Other things to do in Osaka we didn’t travel time for:

1. Visit the Osaka Castle

2. Go to the top of the Umeda Sky Building

3. Go out in the Dotonbori

4. Walk around Kuromon Market

5. Watch a show at the National Bunraku Theater

6. Explore the Sumiyoshi Shrine

Which activity would you most want to do? If you’ve been to Osaka before what other recommendations do you have?

#osakajapan #travellingwithkids #cupofnoodles #universalstudiosjapan
6 Ways to Earn Delta Skymiles without flying! (SAV 6 Ways to Earn Delta Skymiles without flying! (SAVE + SHARE this post):

1. Link your Lyft and Skymiles accounts to earn 1 mile per $1 on US rides and 2miles per $1 on airport rides.

2. When booking Airbnb stays go to delta.com/Airbnb instead and you’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent on airbnbs.

3. Order groceries online with instacart? Go to instacart.com/delta to link your accounts and earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent. If you’re new to instacart you can also get 3 months free.

4. Link your Starbucks account with your Skymiles account at delta Starbucks.com and you’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent at Starbucks. Plus on days your flying with Delta, you’ll earn DOUBLE stars at Starbucks.

5. Sign up for SkyMiles dining at  Skymilesdining.com and is link your credit or debit card. Every time you use your card at a participating bar or restaurant, you’ll earn between 1-5 miles per $1 spent.

6. And nope you don’t have to use a Delta credit card to get miles for any of the above, no matter how you pay you’ll earn BUT is you do pay for them with a Delta co-branded credit card (there are several and depending on which one you have) you can earn anywhere from a additional 1-5 miles per dollar spent on purchases, even if they aren’t Delta airline tickets.

The cash price for the flight we took to Tokyo was $2,600pp so it would have cost me over $5,000 for this since it’s peak travel to Japan (never in my life would I pay that, we would have went somewhere else). Instead I only paid $118 total by using all of these ways to earn Delta miles over the past few years which gave me enough miles to redeem even though we don’t get to fly Delta on a regular since they don’t have the strongest presence at MIA airport as it’s American’s hub.

Do you use travel credit cards and/or points and miles from loyalty programs to offset the cost of travel? If so what are your favorite ones? Let’s all travel for less!

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Kenya Safari: The Ultimate Planning Guide

October 5, 2018      Africa, Kenya

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

We spent 8 days exploring Kenya’s many national reserves, visiting local tribes, and enjoying the most beautiful beach we’ve ever seen. In this article I’ll help you plan your own African safari with kids in Kenya!

black family standing in a game reserve in Kenya with giraffes in the background

Cheap Flights to Kenya? Yes It’s Possible!

We flew Lufthansa from Miami to Nairobi after finding a flight deal last year. It was a deal we couldn’t pass up at $520RT per person! We find a lot of flight deals on Skyscanner, download their free app here. Our first leg was 9 hours to Frankfurt where we had a 3.5hr layover until our 8-hour flight to Nairobi. Flying with kids like we were? Here are 6 Ways to Survive Long Haul Flights with Kids.

The Best Time to Visit Kenya

We traveled to Kenya the first week of September hoping to catch the Great Migration in Masai Mara. September is a great month to visit as it’s during the dry season. The weather was great, a little cool in the early morning and evenings but very comfortable throughout the day. Here’s more information on the best time to visit Kenya.

The Best Cities for a Kenya Safari

Kenya is huge and with limited time we couldn’t visit everywhere. We decided on Amboseli National Park, Lake Naivasha, Maasai Mara, Diani Beach and Nairobi.

Visas and Vaccines Needed for a Kenya Safari

You can easily apply for an e-visa online prior to arriving to Kenya. At the time of our trip visas were $50 per adult and kids 16 and under were free and did not require a visa application. We were approved within a week of applying, just log on to check your status. If you don’t do an e-visa you can get a visa upon arrival but we just thought why go through that hassle if we could avoid it.

When planning an African family safari many parents are worried about vaccines. Rest assured no vaccines are required to visit Kenya. Typhoid and yellow fever are recommended so prior to our departure we made appointments with our doctors. Both the girls pediatrician and our doctor confirmed neither were necessary. They said unless we were adventurous eaters and planned to eat street food or drink non-bottled water we would be fine.

We did however take malaria pills prior to, during, and for 7 days after our visit. The girls had a different type of pill than us that they took less frequently and was more of a chewable tablet. None of us suffered from side effects of the malaria pills. Both my husband and I previously took them on prior trips to Botswana and Ghana and while I didn’t suffer from side effects then my husband did. There is really no way to know how your body will react to the medication. Be sure to also pack insect repellent as anti-malaria pills are only 90% effective.


Kenya Safari With Kids

Many parents are skeptical of going on an African safari with kids because they think there is a minimum age for safaris. Our daughters were 2 and 4 year old toddlers on our Kenya safari and had the most amazing time.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Vacation Photos

The Best Kenya Safari Itinerary

Day Zero: Arrival in Kenya and the Best Nairobi Airport Hotel

After leaving the US Thursday late afternoon we arrived in Nairobi Friday 8pm local time. Following my rules for preventing jet lag allowed us to be tired when we landed which was exactly what we wanted. We were so happy we did the eVisa so we could quickly go through immigration!  We printed the forms prior to traveling to present to immigration upon arrival.

The next morning we would be departing to Amboseli National Park from Wilson Airport. We needed a Nairobi Airport Hotel that was close to both airports since we’d be arriving into Nairobi Airport. At the recommendation of a friend we booked the Acacia Tree Hotel. As we had a 8AM flight in the morning it was the perfect location. It was 30 minutes from Nairobi Airport and only 15 minutes from Wilson Airport where we were departing from.

 

Day One: Flight to Amboseli National Park & Game Drives on Kenya Safari

After such a long flight the night before the last thing we wanted was a long 4.5 hour bumpy drive to Amboseli National Park so we chose to take a 30 minute flight instead. Natural World Kenya Safaris took care of the booking for us and picked us up from our hotel to take us to the airport. We flew Kenya Airways on a 12 row propeller plane and landed on an airstrip in the middle of Amboseli National Park at 8:30AM . What a warm welcome we received when our plane had to do a circle before landing because animals were occupying the runway.

When we landed John, our driver for the next 6 days, was waiting for us on the landing strip. As promised we had a private vehicle just for our family with car seats for each of the girls. The safari truck sat 9 and there were only 7 of us including John so we weren’t cramped at all and the truck was very spacious. John took us on our first game drive immediately after leaving the airport on our way to our hotel. We spotted a lion within the first ten minutes and also saw herds of elephants, hyenas, zebras, hippos, wilder beast, gazelle’s, ostrich and more. We even had a herd of elephants cross right in front of our truck.

 

After an exciting game drive we checked into the Serena Amboseli Hotel. This lodge is perfect for family safari as they have a family room. It has two bedrooms with 3 beds and one bathroom. One room had a king sized bed while the other had two twin beds and a couch. The bathroom was in between both rooms and each room had outdoor seating.

All meals are included in the hotel stays so we got lunch. Meals were buffet style with some made to order options such as a pasta station. After a long flight the day before an early flight this morning we were tired and it was definitely time to rest and reconvene for our evening game drive at 5PM. After joining about 15 other safari trucks looking at a pack of lions in the distance through binoculars. About 5 minutes in we got the biggest treat of our lives when a female lion came out of nowhere and walked right past our trucks.

 

Everyone must be back to their lodges by 7pm so we went back for dinner and for bed as we were leaving early in the morning and had to be out of the park by 8am, which was the time we arrived in order to avoid paying an additional day’s fee for the park which is $60 per person. We chose to visit Amboseli National Park as it has views of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background and thought it would be an amazing sight. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy during our stay to view the mountain but we still enjoyed our time.

Day Two: Lake Naivasha and Kenya Safari at Kenya Safari

We heard some horror stories about the drive to Maasai Mara taking forever and being very bumpy. When planning your family safari and deciding whether to drive or fly between cities consider the age of your kids and how they handle long car rides.  For us price was the determining factor.  Flights cost significantly more and since we wanted to save money we opted to drive. In my research I found Lake Naivasha as a great way to break up the drive and one of the best places to do a walking safari. We chose to take the chance and were happy with our choice. You know your children best, ours sleep well in cars and ended up sleeping most of the drive.

You may be interested in reading: Tips on Road Trips with Kids

The drive from Amboseli National Park to Lake Naivasha was 6 hours. While it was long it was nice getting to see different parts of Kenya we would have missed flying. Along the way we stopped at the viewing point of the Great Rift Valley, which is a valley that goes all the way from Israel down to Mozambique.

Upon arrival we checked into our hotel, Lake Naivasha Country Club. The rooms are in little duplex homes and each room has a veranda. There isn’t anything special about the rooms but they were clean!

Outside of the lodge at Lake Naivasha Country Club

Lake Naivasha Country Club bedroom

After lunch, John took us on our Lake Naivasha Boat Safari, just 5 minutes from the hotel. We boarded our canoe and were able to see hippos and a multitude of birds on the way to Crescent Island. Our guide got a fish from one of the local fishermen who was fishing on the bank and took some pieces from one of the lake plants and stuffed it in the fish to make it float. He then whistled, threw it in the water and this huge bird flew down to snatch it, it was quite a site to see.

After our little show we made it to Crescent Island where we would be able to do a walking safari. There are no cats in the park but there are giraffes, gazelle, zebras, hippos, water bucks, and buffalos. It was the most amazing experience ever to walk amongst the wild animals.

little girl playing in a field of zebras

We went back to our hotel and relaxed until dinner. The hotel grounds have so much green space that the girls loved running around. They also had a lot of activities for kids including a trampoline, swing set, and soccer field. The hotel also has a pool and tons of wild animals that roam the grounds. During our stay, we saw hippos, waterbucks, and monkeys and while we didn’t see any during our stay apparently it’s not uncommon for giraffes and zebras to pass through as well.

Day Three: Drive to Sarova Mara for Kenya Safari in the Kenya Safari

We made the 5hr drive from Lake Naivasha to Maasai Mara. Upon arrival we checked into our hotel, the Sarova Mara Game Camp, where we would be glamping for the next three nights. Here’s a look inside our tent.

 

We settled in, had lunch, and walked around the premises until our evening drive with John. On our first night we saw a pack of 5 cheetahs, known as the 5 Brothers. What we thought would be just a good time watching them hang out turned into the most exhilarating experience ever when we experienced a kill. Out of nowhere the cheetahs went from sitting down to a heightened stance, walked right past our safari truck and then chased down a Topi right in front of our eyes.

3 cheetahs walking in the Maasai Mara in Kenya

Every evening at 7 the hotel offers an activity for guests. This could be a cultural walk, Maasai dance or history lesson. This night the activity was a dance by one of the nearby Maasai Tribes. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the Maasai tribes if you don’t have enough time to visit a village. All of these events are free for hotel guests!

Day Four: Morning Game Drive, Maasai Village Visit, & Evening Game Drive

We met John at 7:30AM to head out for our morning game drive. After finding some male lions sleeping under a tree we also came across zebras, elephants, topi, ostrich and more. We exited the reserve and went passed the town until we arrived at the Maasai Tribe we would be visiting. The chief’s son came to greet us and tell us a little bit of what to expect during our visit before members of the tribe came out to welcome us.

They welcomed us by singing to us and blessing us prior to entering the village. Once we entered the women in the village sang us their celebration song, inviting us to join them. Afterward, the men sang us their celebration song showed us their jumping competition. They then showed us how they make fire and let my husband and little ones try. We toured their homes, which are made by the women out of cow dung, lasting 10 years.

 

The village visit was $20 per adult and $10 for each child, paid directly to the chief’s son. After our village visit we headed to the hotel for lunch and an afternoon break. At 4pm we headed out for our evening game drive where we finally came across some giraffes. My favorite part however was watching Jordyn be our tour guide and sharing all the knowledge she learned so far.

 

Day Five: Drive to Mara River, Kenya/Tanzania Border & Bush Lunch

Again we met John at 7:30AM for a long drive to the Mara River. On the way, we, of course, stopped for several animal spotting’s including lions, a hyena, giraffes, baboons, zebras, and elephants. One of the coolest things we saw was a herd of wildebeest and two zebras that were migrating to the Serengeti. They were in a single file line and it was such a site to see.

Our first stop was to the Mara River where a ranger escorted us to the river to see the many hippos and crocodile that inhibit it. He also walked us to the point in the river that the animals cross to get from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara during the migration season. The best time to see a lot of animals migrating is in July.

black family standing on a bridge in front of the Mara River in Kenya

Afterward John drove us to the Kenya/Tanzania border where were able to have our feet in two countries at once. There are beacons every 2km separating the two countries to help you identify which country you are in. There is no border control so no passport needed!

John drove us to a shaded area under a tree in the middle of the Maasai Mara when we had a picnic with food from the hotel. We sat in the open with hundreds of thousands of animal surrounding us and enjoyed the scenery. After lunch we hung out for a bit and the girls were able to run around and burn some energy off.

family having a picnic in Kenya

mom running in field with daughters

We then drove back to the hotel, again seeing animals along the way. We got back around 3PM and had the rest of the day to relax. The hotel offers free spear throwing and archery lessons and we took some. We didn’t quite master the spear throwing but we did great with the bow and arrow.

Day Six: Morning Game Drive & Flight to Diani Beach

It was time for our last Kenya Safari in the Maasai Mara. A black rhino was spotted the night before at 7PM so we searched that area but had no luck. Black Rhinos are extremely endangered due to poachers in the area. We were able to see some wildebeest migrating and spotted a male lion but it was actually was a pretty dry morning in terms of spotting animals.

After our game drive we went back to the camp to check out for 10AM and hung out in the public spaces until lunch at 12:30. We were still able to eat on site even though we had checked out and then proceeded to the airstrip for our 2PM flight to Diani Beach. There is no security, check-in, anything at this airstrip. You just show up 15-30mins before your flight and when the pilot arrives he has a paper with your name on it. Our game camp was closest to the Keekorok Airstrip so that’s the one we flew out of but depending on where you’re staying in Maasai Mara you will fly out of a different one. Our flight was operated by Safarilink and it stopped in Amboseli first to let two passengers off.

family standing on an airstrip in front of a tiny plane

We got into Diani Beach (landing at Ukanda Airstrip) at 4:30PM as our plane had to make a stop in Amboseli. It was an extremely small 14-passenger plane; including the pilots whom you could see the whole time as there is no cockpit door. I really wish we had an earlier flight this day because by the time we got checked into the hotel and settled it was too late to enjoy the beach and pool and we already had a great experience with the safaris so it wasn’t as if we really needed that last one.

We chose the Swahili Beach Resort and were not disappointed. The rooms are gorgeous and super spacious along with the entire property. There is also an entertainment staff hosting various activities throughout the day. During our visit there were salsa lessons and dancing, beach volleyball, zumba, and karaoke.

 

Day Seven: Swahili Beach Resort Pool and Diani Beach

After some long drives getting to each area we visited we were ready for some relaxation! There are way too many pools to count at Swahili Beach Resort and we took full advantage of all of them. Some of the pools included a kiddie pool, one with a volleyball net, and mini pools that cascade down forming a pool waterfall.

African Safari with Kids in Kenya dad throwing daughter in pool

During the time of year we visited high tide at the beach began at 12PM. It was amazing to see the drastic difference between low tide and high tide. Once high tide came we moved to the beach with where ocean temps were about 75 degrees, perfect for swimming.

If you want to do more than relax you can take a tour to Mombasa. Just an hour to 90 minute drive and you can learn more about the rich history of the coast. Our hotel offered a round trip taxi for $60 total (not per person). We thought about doing it but decided to just soak up some sun instead.

Day Eight: Nairobi City Tour & Flight Home

It was our last day and since we were flying out of Nairobi to go home we decided to leave Diani Beach on an 8AM flight to Nairobi so we could explore a bit of Kenya’s capital city before our 7:40PM flight. The flight is only 45 minutes so it allowed us plenty of time to see a few sights. On the flight from Mombasa you fly over Mt. Kilimanjaro which is a great sight to see.

When we arrived at the airport our driver picked us up and we went to the David Sheldwick Elephant Orphanage. The doors open at 11:00AM and people start lining up by 10AM to get the best views. The required donation fee is 500 shillings for adults and 200 shillings for children 2 and up. The orphanage rescues elephants whose parents have been poached by hunters and elephants cannot survive in the wild without their mothers until they are 2-3 years old. Once they reach the age (or health if also injured) the orphanage reintroduces them back to the wild.

herd or red elephants

We had lunch at the Karen Blixen Museum before heading to the Giraffe Center. We would have loved to visit Giraffe Manor but the cheapest room was $595 per night per person so we passed. The Giraffe Center is the perfect alternative and is a conservatory for endangered Rothschild Giraffes. You are able to feed the giraffes here for a small entry fee of 500 shillings.

8 Days in Kenya Girl Feeding Giraffe

We were able to stop at a local market before heading back to the airport for our flight. The Swiss Airlines terminal has a kid’s playroom with toys, a TV, couches and plenty of space for the kids to run around!

How We Planned the Perfect Kenya Safari with Kids

I am so happy we booked our Kenya Safari with kids through Natural World Kenya Safaris. Not only did we receive world-class service but they also made planning the trip a breeze. When I reached out to them I knew the areas of Kenya we wanted to visit on our trip. They provided amazing suggestions to make the most of our time and helped us pick the best accommodations. Natural World also handled all of the bookings for us. This included domestic flights, airport pick-ups and drop-offs, our safari driver, and bottled water for our entire trip. They also booked our hotel accommodations except Diani Beach. The reason was they said it would be cheaper for us to book on our own and I appreciated their honestly. Even still they provided recommendations and we ended up booking one of them with no regrets.

My favorite part about Natural World Safaris is that local Kenyans own it. If you choose to go through Natural World Safaris request John as your safari driver. John grew up near Tsavo and knows the game reserves like the back of his hand. He is so knowledgeable about the areas, animals, local tribes, culture and anything you could possibly want to know. It amazed us that he can literally spot a lion from more than a mile away. He also gets you really close to them so you can get a good look and great photo like this one!

lion in the bushes

John went above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing time and was so good with the girls. He is the perfect guide for those planning a Kenya safari with kids. If you have him please tell him Jordyn and Kennedy from Florida said hi!

African family safari in Maasai Mara

Money in Kenya

Kenya uses Kenya Shillings and at the time of our visit, the exchange rate was $1USD to 100 Kenyan Shillings. All the hotels we stayed at accepted credit cards if you were purchasing extras like alcoholic beverages or spa services. Tips and purchases made in the Maasai Mara village were the only time we used cash. We exchanged our cash at the airport on arrival as there is an exchange counter at baggage claim. Four of the five hotels we stayed at also exchanged foreign currency.

Our Kenya safari was everything and the only thing I wish I could change was that we spent more time there. I hope we’ve inspired you to plan an African family safari. If I left something out that you have questions about, drop them below. Please share this post if you found it helpful!

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Comments

  1. Traci says

    October 6, 2018 at 12:26 am

    Hi,

    I was wondering if the Natural World group booked your driver for the day 8 Nairobi city tour? And if not how was th transportation arranged?

    Side note: I love your blog and how you show that it’s possible to still travel but work a regular job! I was wondering how you find trustworthy companies for your excursions and transportation around the places you visit, for ex. The Natural World group.

    Thanks,
    Traci

    • Monet says

      October 6, 2018 at 12:26 pm

      Hi Traci!

      Yes Natural World took care of everything!! One of their drivers met us at the airport in Nairobi, took us around for the day and then dropped us back for our flight home.

      You’re so welcome, it takes a lot of sacrifice but so worth going back to work the next dat after landing home from Kenya at 7PM the night before to be able to travel often. I wrote a post on The Best Travel Apps You Need to Download Now and TripAdvisor is one of them (they have a desktop version too). I always check reviews for tour companies and hotels there after discovering them on someone else’s blog or even the forums on TripAdvisor. They are some really good resources there, all under the Trip Planning Category on my site.

      Monet

  2. Morgan B says

    October 6, 2018 at 2:51 pm

    Hi!
    I found my way here via BTM on FB. I am always wanted to go to Kenya and now, after seeing your blog post, I am more excited than ever. I literally bookmarked your page and plan on using all your tips for our future trip, which we are anticipating being next year.

    Thank you so much for sharing!!!

    Happy Travels <3

    • Monet says

      October 11, 2018 at 8:08 pm

      Hi Morgan!

      Yay, I am so happy to hear you found my blog so helpful. You will absolutely love Kenya! Feel free to steal the itineraries from any of our other trips.

      Monet

  3. kimothy a storey says

    October 6, 2018 at 3:09 pm

    Just wonderful and very informative, thank you for sharing the info and instilling the desire to visit the great continent called Africa

    • Monet says

      October 11, 2018 at 8:09 pm

      You’re so welcome!

  4. Diana says

    October 6, 2018 at 3:10 pm

    Thanks so much for this its helpful and insightful

  5. Karen says

    October 6, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    I smiled the entire time that I read your blog!! Great information and we will visit soon!!!!

  6. Mär Douglas says

    October 6, 2018 at 7:09 pm

    Excellent blog; I will be traveling to Mombasa (Diani Beach) in December. I will take all your saged advice while visiting Kenya 🇰🇪. Thank you for taking the time to share you and your family‘s experiences while traveling to Kenya.
    Respectfully,
    Mark

  7. Fatma says

    October 6, 2018 at 8:48 pm

    I’m from Kenya, Mombasa and I’m soo happy that you came and enjoy our country.
    Thank you for the positive reviews.
    Welcome back again.

    • Monet says

      October 11, 2018 at 8:11 pm

      Hi Fatma,

      I am so happy to have your stamp of approval! We hope to return soon, your country is so beautiful.

      Monet

  8. Shakena says

    October 8, 2018 at 9:47 pm

    I I truly enjoyed your blog!! I am encouraged to visit Kenya now. I would love to do a safari. Was always concerned about vaccinations but if you took your babies you felt secure and good about it and I do now as well. I’ve been to Ghana and loved it there so I look forward to doing Kenya. Your family is beautiful!!..God bless you all.

  9. Maggie says

    October 11, 2018 at 4:41 pm

    I loved this post! My husband and I went on a safari in Tanzania before we had kids, and I’d love to go back now with the whole family. I didn’t know if it was possible, but you’ve convinced me!

  10. Kimmy says

    October 20, 2018 at 8:33 pm

    This trip seems so amazing! I’m in the process of researching an African trip for my family of four, but not sure to which country as yet. I would love to know the costs break down for the trip if you are comfortable sharing that information. I have no idea how much we should budget!

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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