Flying high on Mount Kenya

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.

Rising from sprawling grasslands and dense woods, Africa’s second-highest mountain can be explored via a number of different routes. For the most experienced climbers, Mount Kenya’s twin peaks are among the most difficult technical ascents in the world, equal in challenge and reward; while reaching Point Lenana is a far easier journey. Along the way, craggy trails give way to hills covered in unique flora and sky-blue tarns (tiny lakes) where you can enjoy some of the best trout fishing in Africa.

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.

Sun, sea and sand is always a charming combination, but visit Diani and it’s the ocean that really holds the ticket to the activities. Warm, gin-clear water makes it ideal for snorkelling, and when the tide is out, a glass-bottomed boat or dug-out canoe trip will reveal the magic of the marine world. For something adventurous, there are plenty of PADI-certified diving schools dotted along the beach, and deep sea fishing is also a possibility. Just-right winds make it a great spot to learn to wind- or kite-surf, but if you would prefer to enjoy some R&R on the beach that’s frequently voted Kenya’s best, that’s fine too…

By evening, hire a traditional dhow and cruise the coastline at sunset, then head into ‘town’ for cocktails and dinner at one of the quirky eateries; Ali Barbour’s cave restaurant is usually at the top of the list.

Most hotels and resorts offer a huge variety of in-house experiences, but activities can be organised through a watersports centre. Just let us know, and we’ll point you in the right direction.