A journey through the DRC & northern Kenya

Despite its turbulent past, Kigali is safe and incredibly friendly, and makes a wonderful welcome to the magic of Rwanda. History and culture are evident everywhere you look and a city tour should be number one on your list, no matter how long you are staying for. Highlights include the Inema Art Centre, a contemporary gallery showcasing work from East and Central Africa, the museum of natural history, the iconic Milles Collines hotel, and Kimironko Market, where you can spend your pennies on everything from fruit to fabrics, cookware to clothing. For a quick break in between, pop into Question for a cup of the good stuff and a glimpse into Rwanda’s booming industry.

A stay in Kigali shouldn’t pass by without a visit to the Genocide Memorial. A necessary and sobering reminder of the country’s tumultuous history, it’s also a reminder of its bright future and the resilience of all who live here.

Nairobi hides many an interesting pastime under it’s not-so-shiny reputation and, if you find yourself in the city, you may even wish you had a few more nights to spare.

Most of the action happens in the luxurious garden suburb of Karen. A typical day might include a morning with the orphaned elephants at the David Sheldrick Trust, time at the Karen Blixen museum (and a coffee and a slice of cake), and end with a giraffe ‘kiss’ at the centre at Giraffe Manor. We recommend hiring a driver to take you around the sights, and perhaps adding a dinner stop at one of the up-and-coming restaurants.

If you’re missing your daily wildlife fix - or desperate to get started – Nairobi is one of the only cities in the world to have a national park on the doorstep. It’s home to four of the Big Five (no elephant), game viewing is good, and there’s even a short walk at the entrance. A half- or full-day trip from the city is easy to arrange and your driver will stay with you for the duration.

The private farms and reserves of Laikipia offer a blockbuster of activities, each as unique as they are, and here more than anywhere, your experience will be determined by where you stay. Laikipa is renowned for its fantastic wildlife viewing – rhino, big cats, elephant, buffalo and wild dog are all present in sizeable numbers – but it’s up to you how you choose to find them…

Across the board, morning, afternoon and (usually) night game drives are on offer. We recommend using the drives as your base and adding on extras as you fancy. These can include walking safaris (around 3-4 hours) and hardier foot and fly-camping expeditions that involve walking through the bush by day and sleeping in a simple camp under the stars by night. Horse riding safaris are very common, and it’s not unusual to be offered a safari by camel! Also on the agenda are cycling and mountain biking trips, fixed-wing flights for game viewing by air, and a chance to spend time with the iconic Maasai and Samburu warriors who are very often landowners in the conservancies.

Samburu isn’t the Kenya of the postcards, but there’s something equally as enchanting about the dramatic scenery and enchanting culture. Like most reserves, early morning and afternoon game drives are always on the cards and will usually reveal sightings of four of the Big Five (no rhino), unique desert wildlife and plains game (oryx, kudu and zebra in particular) as they gather on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River. The Samburu Special Five are also a big draw, as is the chance to head out on night drives from most lodges.

For a different perspective, try a camel safari. Options include multi-day expeditions led by Samburu warriors, fly-camping (spending the night in a simple tent in the bush) and walking safaris are only available at certain lodges, but shorter 3- or 4-hour camel treks are also possible. Alternatively, swap your camel for a horse and explore by horseback, or ditch your four-legged friend completely and explore on foot, on a multi-day trips or a shorter morning stroll. Lastly, a visit to a traditional Samburu homestead offers a humbling and unique chance to uncover a fascinating way of life