Resting in the magnificent Great Rift Valley and presided over by the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya is characterised by hauntingly beautiful natural landscapes of forested hills, patchwork farms, wooded savanna and vast forests brimming with an extraordinary abundance of wildlife. The nation’s diverse range of traditional African cultures is influenced by over 70 unique ethnic groups from the Maasai, Samburu, Kikuyu, and Turkana tribes to the Arabs and Indians that settled on the coast. Add to this: an exquisite tropical coastline fringed with breathtaking golden sand beaches; gorgeous coral gardens providing excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities; and a slew of lively beach resorts, and it is easy to see why so many visitors flock here from around the world to experience a truly unique African adventure in one of the world’s most pristine safari destinations.
Nairobi is Africa’s 4th largest city and is a vibrant and exciting place and although it has developed a reputation which keeps tourist visits brief there are some fascinating attractions: its café culture, unbridled nightlife, the National Museum, the Karen Blixen Museum and most notably just 20 minutes from the city centre wild lions and buffalo roam in the world’s only urban game reserve.
Situated east of Meru, in beautiful Kenya, Meru National Park is one of the most popular parks in Kenya. Covering over 800 square kilometres, this park is wild and beautiful featuring diverse scenery with lush swamplands, thick jungle, vast savannah, and no less than thirteen rivers. Game to view includes some of the less regularly sighted animals like oryx, lesser kudu, duiker, dik-dik and over 300 species of birds have been recorded. It is here that Else the famous lion from the book and movie ‘Born Free’ lived out the latter part of her life and is buried. Visitors can soak up the spectacular views of Mount Kenya, spot game along the Tana River and view the cascading Adamson’s Falls.
Neighbouring the beautiful Samburu National Park in Kenya, Shaba National Reserve features the extinct volcano of Mount Shaba rising up from the plains. The reserve also served as one of the homes of the famous lioness from the 'Born Free' novel. This arid area is fed by the waters of the Ewaso Ngiro River which sustain a variety of wildlife species including the gerenuk, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, and Grevy's zebras. The landscape features a unique combination of riverine forests and volcanic rocky outcrops. Visitors can enjoy excellent game viewing, fascinating Samburu village tours, and visit the Joy Adamson Museum.
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.
