Kenya's capital of Nairobi is East Africa's most cosmopolitan city, serving as an excellent starting point for African safari trips around Kenya. Stop for a trip down memory lane with a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum made famous from the award winning film Out of Africa. Enjoy a close up view of the endangered giraffes at the Giraffe Centre, whilst the nearby David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust hand rears orphaned elephant and rhinos and rehabilitates them so that they can re-enter the wild. Just outside the city is Nairobi National Park, 113 sq kms of plains, cliffs and forest. The park is home to large herds of Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Giraffe and more. Rhino, Cheetah, and a large number of Lions are all found here, living wild within 20 minutes of the centre of town.
Meaning a “place of water” in Maasai, Amboseli is Kenya’s most popular park after the Maasai Mara. Located 257km from Nairobi, it offers a stunning view of both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. For many visitors, the main attraction is the vast herds of elephants, whose massive bulls have some of the largest tusks in Kenya. Amboseli is an important rangeland in Maasai culture, and the ranch areas outside the park offer a wealth of game viewing and walking safaris. The Kenya Wildlife Community Service works closely with the local elders to develop eco-tourism attractions which benefit the indigenous communities and protect this fragile eco-system.
The Olare Motorogi Conservancy is an 85 square kilometre expanse of prime private wilderness in southwest Kenya; part of the Maasai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and wildlife dispersal zone. The conservancy lies immediately to the northwest of the main Maasai Mara Reserve. Tourism is limited to a maximum of 94 beds which maximizes the client's wilderness experience and minimizes the environmental impact of tourism. Open hills provide a habitat for a diverse range of grazers, including giraffes, zebras, hartebeests, and warthogs. These herds attract large numbers of predators, including lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals. In between the hills run a number of small seasonal streams, fringed by stretches of forest which are home to a broader range of species including baboons, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and leopards.
Situated in the foothills of Mount Kenya, Lewa is today a 62,000 acre private reserve with terrain consisting of forest, savannah grasslands, swamps and semi-desert. The perimeter is almost entirely fenced, for security, but gaps are left in the fences to allow for the movement of the animals. Thanks to the conservation efforts, Lewa is home to the highest concentration of rhino in East Africa. Lewa also protects the endangered Grevy’s zebra and the rare Sitatunga swamp dwelling antelope. Other wildlife include lion, leopard, elephant, cheetahs and over 440 species of birds. The range of activities on Lewa is vast with everything from game walks, day and night drives, bush picnics, horseback riding, camel treks and and scenic flights.
With its gorgeous palm trees, powder white sand, and glistening azure waters, Diani Beach is a popular resort area on Kenya’s magnificent Indian Ocean shoreline, about 30 kilometres south of Mombasa. Warm seas and exquisite coral reefs are the ideal environments for water-based activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, and boat safaris. Divers are likely to see turtles, mantas, barracuda and, if lucky, possibly even the elusive whale shark, the planet’s largest animal. Don’t miss the Colobus Conservation, a wonderful sanctuary for these fascinating endangered primates; the Shimba Hills National Reserve which offers an exceptional safari experience; and the nearby Kisite Marine National Park, known for its dolphin and turtle sightings. An array of excellent shops and alluring sea-facing restaurants completes the package of this destination.
