Kenya
Jambo! Karibu tena. You are always welcome - and it always feels that way in Kenya. A country that needs little introduction - though for the most adventurous of you, fear not, venturing off the well-trodden paths in Kenya is so very possible. The northern Laikipia plateaux will take you back to the vintage Africa we often dream of, especially if you choose to walk and fly camp amongst its wonderful community conservancies. Fly over the mystic lakes, from Turkana to Nakuru to Naivasha as flamingos soar away in a pink flurry of beaks and wings. The iconic Great Rift Valley awaits! Witness the impressive Great Migration, or simply enjoy the wide-open plains and dramatic skies of the Masai Mara. Let yourself be dwarfed by the proud Mt Kilimanjaro in Amboseli National Park, one of the last places in the world to bask in the presence of Big Tuskers - elephant bulls with huge tusks. And of course, if you can, don’t forget to dance with the Maasai, and share a goat with them around a fire, for an experience that will stay in your heart forever.
Seasonality :
October - November
April - May
Shoulder Season
Highlights :
A few of our favourite places in Kenya...
Laikpia
Sacred Plateaux and Committed Communities
Mt Kenya, one of Africa’s great peaks, is a gateway to some of Kenya’s most beautiful stretches of land. Whilst most tourists flock to the great Masai Mara in the south, the north has as much to offer. It is a place where conservation is synonymous with community and wildlife, where community conservancies are supporting free-ranging wildlife species. This is to create sustainable ecosystems uniting pastoralists, livestock, and wildlife. Home to unique species as well as Africa’s great, Laikipia will enchant you with its rolling purple hills, home to the gracefully shy Gerenuks, Reticulated Giraffe, critically endangered Grevy’s Zebras, Somali ostriches and Beisa oryx. Explore and swim the volcanic pools of the Ngare Ndare Forest, the hot Buffalo Springs or the Shaba National Reserve for aridly diverse and beautiful views. Sit atop the original inspiration for the Lion King’s Pride Rock after a horseback safari on the Lewa-Borana Conservancy, as klipspringers hop away in the distance. Laikipia is a place where safaris can be guided on foot by wise and fascinatingly knowledgeable Maasai, and where local culture is still valued and respected. There are many conservation success stories here, as well as important cultural heritage – take a hike up to the sacred Mt Ololokwe and visit traditional villages that benefit directly from their pact with wildlife.
Samburu
The Land of Leopards and the Northern Five
On the other side of the Ewaso River, north of Laikipia, stretches the Samburu region, home to the eponymous tribe. Samburu is also dotted with community conservancies greatly benefiting from the eco-tourism model in stunning lodges with views that would make anyone’s jaw drop in awe. Famous for its leopards, this region is also home to the Northern Five (gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx) found in Laikipia, and happens to be a haven for wild-dogs. And of course, a stop in Samburu cannot be complete without an obligatory visit to R.E.S.C.U.E – the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Watch how the wonderful bond between rescued baby elephants and their feeders unfolds and allow your heart to melt as they come running for their milk bottle. Northern Kenya truly is a hidden paradise, full of beautiful secrets.
The Masai Mara
Iconic Africa
The Mara… what more can be said. Beautiful across the seasons, it attracts millions of tourists each year, especially in the months the Migration occupies its plains. Wildebeest to be seen endlessly, past the horizon even, as they get ready to cross the Mara river in what is considered to be the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth. In the low season, dramatic skies and thunderstorms gather to unleash nasha, the much needed and blessed rains that fall biannually, in the months of March-April and November. The Mara is beautiful in green, and few sights rival the clouds condensing, dark and heavy across its vibrant plains.
Amboseli
Gape in Awe at the Roof of Africa
Derived from the Maa word ‘Empusel’ meaning dry and salty place, Amboseli is another Kenyan icon. Located in the Rift Valley, it is an exceptionally scenic haven for some of Africa’s last remaining ‘big tuskers’ – elephants with huge tusks. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, towers above the clouds, its snowy peak a contrast to the cool heat below. Though the ‘Roof of Africa’ is mostly located in Tanzania, Amboseli offers some of the best views of Kili, particularly at dawn. Wildlife, both avian and mammalian alike, flock to the two natural springs formed through a network of underground streams fresh from Mt. Kilimanjaro’s glaciers. During the rains, the dry plains that create a basin in the centre of the park fill up with shallow water, attracting hordes of animals. An utterly enchanting place, Amboseli is beautiful and tranquil, offering the chance to witness some truly iconic sights.
Lake Nakuru
Flock with the Flamingos
Located in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru is a beautiful sight of bright pink and blue. A soda lake located at almost 1800m above sea level, its abundance in algae is a magnet for millions of flamingos that flock to its shores – one of the greatest bird spectacles in the world. Sightings of rhinos are not uncommon following their reintroduction in Lake Nakuru National Park in the early 1990s. Predators of the lion, cheetah and leopard type roam its shores, and a fascinating diversity of birds inhabit the park, from kingfishers and herons to eagles and hamerkops. Something a little different and a sight not to be missed!
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