All the highlights, all in one

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.

The King of the Kenyan safari, the Masai Mara is bucket-list travel down to a tee. The iconic wildlife (think big cats, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, zebra and the famous river crossings of the Great Migration from July to September) is matched by some of the most beautiful scenery in Africa – and there’s a lengthy list of activities to help you discover it all.

Morning and afternoon game drives are the bread and butter of a Masai Mara safari, and all-day expeditions are common especially during the Great Migration. There’s usually a bush breakfast under a shady tree or a mobile sundowner bar to complete the experience too. Specific to the private Mara Conservancies are walking safaris and night drives, both allowing you to get to grips with the landscape in different ways. In specific locations, early-morning hot air balloon flights are possible – definitely worth booking in advance – as are horseback safaris for varying capabilities. Finally, many camps have partnerships with local Maasai communities for a chance to join them in their daily life.

Amboseli is famous for its big tuskers, iconic elephants with larger-than-life tusks, most often photographed against the swirling snowy peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. Game drives are the best means to see the herds (go in the early morning for the clearest views of Kili), and morning and afternoon drives are available from all lodges. What most don’t know is that the animals here extend far beyond the elephants, and buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, and all three big cats (lion are the easiest to find) are sure to make an appearance.

Once you’ve snapped your photos, bush walks are a great way to get a real feel for the landscape. If you’re serious about walking, visit from June to October or January and February when the grasses are short and the rain is less. Maasai are common in this part of Kenya and lodges will happily take you to the surrounding villages for a peek into community life, as well as visits to conservation and community projects, depending on their involvement.

Follow the scenic road down the south coast and you’ll arrive at Msambweni, one of Kenya’s most unspoiled and remote beaches. You could easily spend days soaking up the sun and the views in front of your chosen hideaway, but there is plenty to do as well.

Hop aboard a traditional dhow and sail to Kisite Marine Park, which protects one of the largest and most vibrant coral reefs off Kenya’s coast. Dive amongst the spectacular marine life or snorkel overhead - you may just be joined by a pod of dolphins. As for watersports, enjoy a spot of kite or windsurfing, before retiring for a massage on the beach.

On land, explore the rich Shimba Hills on a hike to the Sheldrick Falls or book a game drive and try spotting elephant, endangered antelope and multiple monkey species, and on a nocturnal excursion, leopards, cheetahs and various bushbabies.