Kenya is the country that was home to animal conservationists George and Joy Adamson and Elsa, the lion immortalised in the film ‘Born Free’. Kenya was also the home of renowned author Karen Blixen of the ‘Out of Africa’ fame, and is the site of important paleontological and archaeological findings. Not least among them is Fort Jesus, which was built in the 16th century Portuguese-Arab conflict.

Year round, Kenya is a land of splendid and rarely matched sights. The ‘Big Five,’ namely buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhino are permanent residents. Add to this the ornithological spectacle of a million pink flamingos wading through the shallows of the soda lakes and you will perceive why Kenya is one of the top Africa tourist destinations. Several of its reserves have been designated International Ramsar Sites - conservation parks for black and white rhino, flamingo and a myriad of other bird species.

Kenya’s 582,644sq. Kms. Landmass is roughly halved by the Equator. Journeying across the country, one is treated to numerous vista variations caused partly by extreme geographical differences in altitude, which in turn affect the climate. From snow-capped, glacial mountains to moor land, rare rainforest, and rolling savannahs with distant purple hills; and mountain massifs to arid desert and a rich, beautiful coastline; not forgetting the necklace of eight lakes in the Great Rift Valley. The Rift Valley itself is a phenomenon: the massive ground fault stretches from Turkey, crosses the Red Sea and extends down through northern Africa to Mozambique

Occupying 767sq. kms. of the Aberdare Mountain Range, its’ diverse ecosystem is a major attraction. These mountain ranges and peaks stand at about 14,000ft. The park offers a variety of fauna, flora and scenery as well as the dramatic Gura Falls that drop 300m. The higher slopes support the Kenyan versions of exotic, giant alpine vegetation. Rainforests, bamboo forest, moor lands, waterfalls and rivers, well stocked with trout, make up the rest of the spectacular landscape. Game viewing is excellent: giant forest hog, rare black rhino, lion, leopard, and elephant, and both spotted and melanistic serval cat, colobus and sykes monkey. Additional attractions are the more than 250 species of birds including the African Goshawk and Jackson’s Francolin.

Amboseli National Park is an international biosphere reserve, 392sq. kms. in area. The flat dry plains lie at the foot of Kilimanjaro whose towering presence can be sensed even when covered by clouds. On clear days the snow capped peak forms a picturesque backdrop to large resident herds of elephant and in the dry season, plains game congregate at the edge of the swamps that are fed by snow melt and rainfall from the mountain.
Although primarily known for its prolific elephant population, the amount and choice of other game is generous. Lion, leopard, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and other savannah game roam the plains. For bird watchers, there is plenty to see including martial eagle, pygmy falcon, pelican, kingfishers plus over 300 other birds.

The most famous of the Great Rift Valley lakes, Lake Nakuru is renowned for its magnificent birdlife, especially the flamingos which seasonally flock there in their thousands. This 188sq. kms. park is a paradise for those who are particularly interested in ornithology and also offers the opportunity of seeing white rhino, the rare Rothchild’s giraffe, large herds of buffalo and an abundance of various plains game. Sightings of leopard resting in the branches of acacia trees are very common.

The 40sq. kms. alkaline Lake Nakuru lies within the park and has been given the conservation world’s Ramsar Site designation. As you move further afield into the woods, you find black and white colobus monkey and closer to the escarpment walls and rocky ridges, mountain reedbuck, dik dik, rock hyrax and klipspringer, making game viewing well worth while. Other of the lakes in the Great Rift Valley are Lake Naivasha, Lake Bogoria, Lake Baring and Lake Elementata.

Justifiably one of the most famous reserves in Africa, its’ dominant feature are the great rolling plains of savannah grasslands, which sustain the greatest variety of wildlife in Africa and indeed in the world. The concentration of game is at its highest from July through October when the Mara is host to the annual migration of more than a million wildebeest. The sight of this mass exodus is awe-inspiring. The warning of the visitors’ arrival is a deep vibration as millions of hoofs pound the earth when the herds sweep across the plains. Many do not survive this trip as they expire from exhaustion and injury or fall prey to hungry crocodile in the struggle to cross the Talek and Mara Rivers. As the migration unfolds, the wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle are trailed by the predators; lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and scavenger birds.
  However, game viewing is excellent year round with giraffe, buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest and Thompson’s gazelle offering a rich choice for the predator’s lion, leopard and cheetah. It should be noted, however, that during the rainy season, the grass is fairly tall in some areas, which may affect visibility and restrict game drives slightly. The Maasai people, after whom the park is named, are nomadic. While on game drives, you will often notice young tribesmen herding their cattle amongst the plains game. They are colourfully attired, usually wrapped in bright red cloths, and armed with spears.

Lying in the lower curve of the dry northern Kenya region, these three reserves with a combined area of over 235sq. kms are well worth a visit to view an ecosystem that spans arid terrains, hills, shrubland and grassland. The main water source, the Uaso Nyiro River, feeds the riverine forest and swamp.The patches of forest and doum palm dotting the landscape provide an ideal setting for exuberant primates, sombre hippo and sedate crocodile. Elephant families visit the river’s shallows to give themselves a shower or immerse themselves totally in the invigorating, cool water.

The exciting animal life also includes game only seen north of the equator, namely grevy’s zebra, beisa oryx and reticulated giraffe. Other residents are gerenuk gazelle, the Somali ostrich, ‘big five’, and more common savannah game. As the name implies, this is Samburu land. The Samburu are a colourful tribal people who have lived in harmonious accord with nature over the years, maintaining cultural conservation practices based on a deep respect for the ecosystem.

Tsavo-East is one of Kenya's oldest and largest National Parks: covering approximately 40% of the total area of all of Kenya's National Parks. Its beautiful landscape and proximity to the Coast make it a popular safari destination. It is accredited as one of the World's leading bio-diversity strongholds, bushy grassland and open plains alternating with savannah and semi-arid acacia scrub and woodlands. Green swathes cross the Park where the river banks give rise to lush vegetation. North of Galana is a true wilderness. A number of leading tour guides offers private safaris throughout this area, camel safaris are a feature.

Tsavo East is recommended for photographers with its fabulous light and unbelievable views, in particular the Mudanda Rock and the Yatta Plateau, the world's largest lava flow. Luggard's Falls on the Galana River are remarkable for the shaped water-worn rocks. Game includes: elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, crocodile, waterbuck, kudu, gerenuk, and zebra and Aruba Hunter's Hartebeest can be seen with its Lyre-shaped horns. Home to some of the largest herds in Kenya, the elephants glow red after dust baths, blowing the vivid red dust through their trunks over their bodies.

Tsavo West National Park covers 7065 km2, approximately 30% of Kenya's area under parks, and contains a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous scenic landscape.
The park is a vast expanse of savanna stretching from Mtito Andei, along the Mombasa-Nairobi road and south to the Tanzanian border. The North Eastern boundary along the Highway adjoins Tsavo East National Park, but Tsavo West has a more varied topography and a more diverse array of habitats than its neighbour.
The park's habitats include open plains alternating with Savannah bush and semi desert scrub, acacia woodlands; rocky ridges and outcrops and more extensive ranges and isolated hills; belts of riverine vegetation; palm thickets and on the Chyulu hills, mountain forest.
There are numerous rocky outcrops and ridges and part of the park, towards the Chyulu Hills, is of recent volcanic origin with lava flows and ash cones including the Shetani lava flow, an example of a recent volcano.
In the far south western corner on the Kenya Tanzania border is Lake Jipe, part of which is in the park. This very attractive lake is fed by runoff from Mt. Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains.
At Mzima Springs, in the North of the park, water that has filtered underground from the Chyulu Hills gushes from below a lava ridge into a series of clear pools.

Recent volcanoes, lava flows and caves with potential for geological and cave exploration, and hiking. Mzima Springs & underwater hippo watching, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Jipe, Mt. Kilimanjaro, elephant, rhino, diverse bird and plant species. And if lucky - Wild dogs.

The coastal town of Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya, with a population of half a million. Located in the South-Eastern part of Kenya, it plays an important role in the country’s economy, not only for its imports and exports through its port-which is the largest in East Africa, but also as a destination for tourists visiting Kenya.

Mombasa undoubtedly has one of the best white sandy beaches and coral reefs that Africa has to offer. Coupled with an array of hotels on the beachfront situated along the North and South coasts of the town, it characterizes Mombasa as the ideal place for a vacation. This is why Mombasa is a major tourist destination, and the tourism industry the number one earner of foreign exchange in the country.

Apart from the beautiful beaches, another unique aspect of this wonderful town is its rich history. The “Old Town” is reminiscent of the days when the Portuguese used to rule Mombasa, and you can experience the history even today in the structures that still stand, such as the Fort Jesus. The town is heavily influenced by Arabic culture, and is more observable here than in other parts of the town.

Another factor that draws tourists from Mombasa, not only internationally but also from other areas within Kenya such as the capital Nairobi, is the exciting nightlife. There are many nightclubs situated along the North and South Coasts of the town, all of which have different themes that cater to different crowds. Many hotels also have their own entertainment events, which are very appealing to those wishing to have a relatively mellow evening.

In the heart of the town is where most hospitals, businesses, banks, shops and markets are situated. Hence almost all services such as health advice, financial services, or any kind of shopping, are all provided for in the city. Being a small town, Mombasa does not have a subway system. However one can easily get around using the local bus service; or for a “truly Kenyan experience” a ride in a “Matatu”- which is quite a unique adventure.

The town offers a host of quality restaurants offering a wide range of foods, ranging from British, Chinese, Indian and Italian cuisine, to a variety of local and traditional dishes.

Being a colonial country before independence, Mombasa has a kaleidoscope of different cultures and languages. The most common language spoken is Swahili, followed by English. However, being a town that thrives on tourism, finding someone who speaks German, French, Dutch or any other language is not much of a problem.

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