Would you go white water rafting?
What is it really like? Melanie van Zyl headed to the Zambezi River to find out My mother warned...
An insider’s overview, from the experts at Steppes Travel
Why visit?
Home to some of Africa’s best wildlife, dramatic landscapes, a rich and colourful culture and beautiful Indian-Ocean beaches, Kenya is the ideal destination for first timers, honeymooners, families and seasoned safari hands alike. The big game-rich Masai Mara attracts all the attention, but the country is dotted with pioneering wildlife conservancies, as well as a host of beautiful national parks.
Highlights:
There’s so much to do in Kenya, but with limited time, we reckon the following should be on your list:
Masai Mara
- Drive off road and explore on foot in one of the adjoining conservancies
- Wake up to spectacular Out of Africa views at Angama Mara
- Get close to the action of the Great Migration with a spotter and guide
Laikipia
- Stay at owner-run lodges on pioneering wildlife conservancies
- Witness rhino conservation in action; track endangered black rhinos
- Take advantage of adventurous, family-friendly activities
The Coast
- Relax by the warm Indian Ocean after an action-packed safari
- Spend time in a beautiful villa, with space for the whole family
- Try kite-surfing, fishing and snorkelling off the white beaches
Samburu and the North
- Stay at Elephant Watch Camp, home to Saba Douglas-Hamilton
- Visit sacred singing wells in the Namunyak Conservancy
- Explore the volcanic Lake Turkana by helicopter, camping on its shores
Top activities:
- Watch the battle for life and death played out in the Mara on a classic migration safari
- Travel during the green season — there are few tourists, dramatic skies and endless photo opportunities
- Head to the central highlands of Laikipia and join a rhino patrol or track wild dogs on foot.
- Take a riding safari in one of the many privately-owned family ranches (for experts and novices alike)
- Focus on wildlife photography, staying at camps with highly-trained photographic guides
Something unusual
- Arriving by helicopter, fly-camp on a volcanic island, surrounded by the jade waters of Lake Turkana
- Meet rehabilitated orphaned elephants in Tsavo East NP, at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s camp
- Take part in tracking, darting and collaring a lion on the Borana Conservancy in Laikipia
Flying to Lake Turkana
“There are times when the world stands still, when everything but the here and now melts away. Experiences so vivid, so captivating that they drown out the humdrum, the mundane, the banal. Sights so intense that they seem to pull at the very fabric of your soul. Staring out over the jade waters of Lake Turkana, I experience this unearthly feeling of total submission to the beauty in front of me. I crane forward, scanning the landscape from side-to-side, through the polished Perspex of the helicopter’s cockpit.
“A paralysing sense of wonder grips me, as I greedily scour the mishmash of rock, water and sand below. Flying over the darkened lava flows that disappear beneath the lake’s opaque surface, I gaze forwards, attempting to come to grips with the scale of this volcanic work of art that carpets the world below me.”
Read more about Rob Gardiner’s trip to Turkana at www.steppestravel.com/en-gb/lake-turkana
Next Steppes:
To learn more about travelling to Kenya, and to discuss a personalised itinerary, visit Steppes Travel online, email a Kenya consultant or call 03332 223177
To download this guide in PDF format, click here
