2.5 day safari in Tsavo National Park (East and West) - We had booked a 14-day trip to Kenya from January 27th to February 10th, 2024 at the Hotel Voyager Beach Resort (which is on Nyali Beach, north of Mombasa). By the way, a beautiful hotel right on the beach with friendly staff and good food. Although I didn't really want to, my wife persuaded me and we spontaneously booked a 2.5-day jeep safari to Tsavo National Park with the regional provider Mike. And... I can tell you in advance... it was unforgettably beautiful. But first things first. We were picked up on time on February 5th. At 6:30 a.m. we were picked up by the driver and Mike (both Kenyans, although Mike speaks very good English and good German), our provider and guide for 2.5 days in a jeep (4x4) and we drove through Mombasa directly to Tsavo East National Park (approx. 3 hour drive with a half hour break at a large souvenir shop). The last 15 km to our first lodge, where we spent our first night, went through the bush and we saw our first wild animals (water buffalo, antelopes, wildebeest, impala and giraffes). The lodge, Voi Safari Lodge, is beautifully elevated in the Tsavo East National Park, so that from the restaurant you can look out over the bush or the savannah for miles and watch individual elephants at the watering holes in the distance (don't forget your binoculars). The rooms are simple with a shower and fan. The food in buffet form is good but simple. The lodge also has a small outdoor pool, which we didn't use. During the evening stalking and the morning stalking the next day in the jeep with the roof up, we were able to spot numerous wild animals (no, they actually aren't fed there). Among other things, there was a cheetah that was sneaking up on a herd of impalas. (However, there was no hunting scene). After breakfast, the 2.5-hour drive continued along the country road to Tsavo West National Park, where we spent our second night in the lodge, Voyager Ziwani. (I can tell you now...that was the absolute highlight of this safari). The last 19 km to the lodge were through the bush again and we were able to spot numerous wild animals ourselves, and Mike pointed out hidden animals to us with his trained eye. When we arrived at the lodge, each couple was put up in a large tent by a lake (each couple got a tent measuring around 35 square meters). Each tent, which is also covered with a solid wooden roof, has a walk-in shower with warm water (limited time from evening to morning), a separate toilet, a sink and two large single beds that are next to each other. In the lake (actually a river that comes from Kilimanjaro and is only slightly wider in the area of the lodge (approx. 80 m) and has little current), there are currently 25 wild hippos (1 bull and 24 females) and approx. 250 wild crocodiles. Very adventurous... but don't worry, everything is very safe, because the crocodiles only come out of the water a maximum of 2 m to warm up and the hippos come out of the water onto the meadow at night to graze. That's why so-called rangers ensure safety at night, because they know exactly what to do. (However, it is forbidden to leave the tent at night.) We felt very safe. But it is quite an adventure to hear the occasional typical grunting of the hippos 50 m away in the river and the distant roar of a lion in bed at night. After settling in and having lunch (3 courses and very good), we go with an experienced ranger for about an hour in the afternoon to Walk around this lake, where we get very close to the hippos, who don't want to know anything about us and remain calm. We also walk past female crocodiles, around 3 m long, that are guarding their nest in the shade of bushes against possible predatory iguanas. That was very impressive. After a break, after dark, we head out in the jeep with another national park guide on board through the nighttime savannah. We get new impressions of the animal world in the dark. And we were lucky... we were able to observe and photograph a 15-year-old male lion with a mane up close for around 20 minutes, but safely in the car, until he finally calmly walked away. Afterwards, we had a very tasty 4-course meal by the campfire on the meadow in the lodge with grunting hippos very close by... fascinating. Afterwards, each pair (it was already dark) was taken to their respective tents by a ranger, because safety comes first. The next morning, after a good breakfast and a short game drive, we went back to Mombasa or to our hotel. (approx. 4.5 hour drive). This safari with Mike was definitely worth the €500 per person and we thank you very much, Mike. And because we enjoyed it so much, this experience could also be interesting for other interested parties, and I also want to do Mike a favor, I have now taken the trouble to write a more detailed review. (I will add photos later). Thanks again, Mike from fadsafaris.com