Kenya

The ultimate bush and beach destination

Game drive with Saruni vehicle and zebra

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Kenya is arguably the classic safari destination, an image evoked by unforgettable film scores, powerful novels and wildlife documentaries; from the adventure, scenery and romance of Out of Africa to the drama of Big Cat Diary. There is nowhere to compare with its diversity of landscapes, ecosystems and wildlife. The very term ‘safari’ was coined here. It’s the local Swahili word for ‘a journey’.

Many people worry that their game-viewing might be spoiled by hordes of minibuses crowding round sightings. This is a problem in the more accessible and more developed parts of game reserves. And, yes, some lodges are large and sophisticated, perhaps rather impersonal – but not all… We favour smaller game reserves and individual luxury lodges, off the beaten track, which work closely with local communities. Often it is the community owned land, the private ranches and the less visited National Parks and Reserves which are the most rewarding.

Others are concerned about whether the country has recovered from the political unrest following January’s elections. It’s a tough call but we subscribe to the view shared by many seasoned travel writers and lbusiness leaders that the country is again safe and open for business. "Tourism in Kenya is the number one industry for the nation and visiting now will make a huge difference to the locals who rely on the industry for their living” said Sir Richard Branson in May 2008.