Kenya

Compared to game reserves such as the Masai Mara, Laikipia remains relatively undiscovered to tourists and it is also the only part of Kenya in which wildlife numbers have actually increased over the past 20 years. However, it is slowly gaining recognition and offers some of the most luxurious and exclusive safari lodges in Africa.

With more mammals than anywhere else in East Africa, Laikipia is home to some of the biggest herds of elephant outside the Tsavo National Parks and is the only place to view the endangered Jackson’s Hartebeest and Kenya’s Black Rhino. Other game includes lion, cheetah, wild dog, impala, gazelle, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and the elusive leopard.

In effect an extension of the northern plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania (for the border dissects the two), open savannahs, rolling grasslands and undulating hills sets the scene for spectacular game viewing.

The famous annual migration of over two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle is one of the greatest natural spectacles on the planet. From June to mid-November witness the arrival of millions of wildebeest and zebra drawn to the sweet, lush grass raised by the long rains of April and May. Ravening packs of predators, especially hyena and lion, follow the herds whilst cunning crocodiles lie in wait to ambush the migration as it crosses the swirling muddy waters of the Mara and Talek rivers.

Whilst the eyes feast on the spectacle of plains teeming with game, the air carries the smells, the dust and the sounds of hundreds of thousands of animals.

It is however not just during the months of the migration when safari enthusiasts should visit the Masai Mara for there is an abundance of resident game all year round.

Whether it be on foot, by vehicle or floating silently above the savannah in a hot air balloon, first class wildlife viewing is always guaranteed.

The coast is a place with a long and exotic history, its calm blue waters the traditional passage of the Arabian Spice Trade. Along the length of this coast, Arab and Portuguese forts, Old Towns and the overgrown, deserted ruins of Swahili outposts bear witness to this fascinating history. In the winding medieval streets and bustling markets of Lamu and Mombasa Old Town, life has continued unhurried and unchanged for more than 400 years.

Lamu itself is the very root of Swahili culture in East Africa, which centuries ago spread down the coast from the north. When the Sultan of Oman moved from Lamu to Zanzibar Island – further south – Lamu lay dormant, forgotten for three hundred years. There is only one car on the island and the donkey and the dhow remain the dominant form of transport. The narrow streets of the old town are very much as they were in his day Lamu island itself is a beautiful place of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where tiny villages nestle among coconut and mango plantations.

Further south powder white beaches lead to offshore reefs which are alive with coral, myriad fish, sea turtles and dolphins. Both outer and inner reef walls offer world class diving with spectacular coral gardens and drop offs whilst Kenya’s deeper waters are internationally renowned for its Deep Sea Fishing with marlin and sailfish the big attractions.