KENYA
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Named after Mount Kenya (17,058ft), or ‘Kirinyaga’ the mountain
of whiteness, the country straddles the equator and is bisected by
the Great Rift Valley.
MASAI MARA
There are over 30 National Parks and National Reserves – the most
famous being the Masai Mara which borders Tanzania in the south west
of the country. Game viewing is exceptionally good throughout the
year and every year between July and September, depending upon the
rains, some 2.5 million plains game, notably wildebeest and zebra,
migrate through the reserve. There is a wide choice of accommodation
within the Masai Mara and alongside its borders ranging from simple
tented accommodation to large luxury lodges. From Nairobi access to
the Mara is by scheduled air flight (morning and afternoon services
from/to Wilson Airport) or by road with an approximate journey time
of around 4 to 6 hours depending upon the lodge location and road
conditions.
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
To the south, towards the border with Tanzania, is Amboseli National
Park. The landscape is dominated by Mount Kilimanjaro, though its
snow-capped summit is often shrouded by cloud. The reserve is good
for viewing elephant with herds of more than a hundred often seen.
There are also zebra, wildebeest, giraffes and predators such as
lion and cheetah. A multitude of birds can be seen among the hippo
pools, reedbeds and islands of the swamps and permanent waters.
RESERVES TO THE NORTH
To the north of Nairobi are a number of game reserves offering
excellent game viewing – Aberdare National Park with its two famous
lodges, Treetops and The Ark; Samburu, some 350km from Nairobi is
set in a rugged landscape on the northern banks of the Uaso River
and attracts a wide variety of wildlife; and the Laikipia plateau
area with its sweeping plains and gorges where there are numerous
privately owned ranches and reserves.
THE LAKES
The country has many other attractions including the soda lakes of
Elementaita, Nakuru and Bogoria with their swathes of flamingos. It
has been estimated that at times between 1.5 and2 million flamingos
are to be seen and the lake shores literally turn pink. Over 380
species of other birds have been recorded with the highest
concentration between October and March when migrant birds from
Europe are resident. The fresh water Lake Naivasha is a popular
tourist destination and various sporting and leisure activities are
available.
NAIROBI
The city is the hub of the country and has many hotels of quality in
the centre and suburbs. There are numerous tours that can be
arranged including a visit to the Karen Blixen museum, giraffe
centre and Nairobi National Park which is just 13km from the city
centre. For a gastronomic experience you can have lunch or dinner at
the Carnivore Restaurant – famous for its succulent steaks and
barbequed dishes and game meats.
BEACH RESORTS
From south of Mombasa to north of Malindi, the warm waters of the
Indian Ocean lap the 300 mile coastline of glorious palm fringed
white sandy beaches. Most of the beaches are protected by coral
reefs which lie about half a mile offshore. This allows for
excellent water sports including diving and deep sea fishing. . A
beach holiday with a safari makes the perfect combination. During
the time of the ‘rains’ between April to June and in November,
seaweed can be evident on the beaches.
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