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.