Kenya Classic Safari Country |
|
   |
If ever there was a country synonymous with the term safari, it has to be Kenya. The word - meaning 'journey' in Swahili - even originated thereabouts, although it's now commonly understood to be a wildlife-watching 'soft adventure' tour. The country has the greatest concentration of free-ranging wildlife on earth, ranging from the 'big five' - lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant - to huge herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle. And over 1,000 species of birds too! It also boasts spectacular sights, from the great mountains of Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya to freshwater lakes and rugged deserts, bamboo jungles and mountain rainforests plus the spectacular Masai Mara. And then there are the colourful pastoral tribes from the Masai Mara and Samburu, swathed in scarlet shukas and sharing a taste for brilliant beadwork, braided hair and ochre face paint. One of the best times to see Kenya in all its glory is during the annual Wildebeest Migration. Every year an estimated 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras and 400,000 gazelles migrate from the short grass plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania into Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve, pursued relentlessly by a band of Africa's great predators. Although the precise timing of the Migration varies from year to year, the best time to see the exodus is likely to be between August and September. A prime sight from which to watch the spectacle is one of Kenya's most exclusive addresses - Governors' Il Moran, a camp of 10 luxury tents set along the winding banks of the Mara River in the Masai Mara. Governors' Il Moran is a good example of the five star safari experience available to the tailor-made traveller in many of Kenya's national parks. Tortilis Camp in Amboseli National Park is another, an eco-tourism award-winning tented camp, facing the white snowcap of Kilimanjaro. Or there's Finch Hattons in Tsavo West, named after the famous colonial white hunter who first introduced royalty to the bush. At this unfenced lodge animals wander as they please while guests enjoy the luxury of silver service dinners on damask tablecloths. Perhaps most evocative of all is Elsa's Kopje, made famous by the film 'Born Free'. Here, in the remote, untamed wilderness of Meru National Park, George and Joy Adamson released the lioness Elsa back into the wild. It's easy to imagine the scene when staying at this luxury hideaway lodge, where you are more likely to come face to face with a giraffe or lesser kudu than with other guests. Of course, there are many more luxury camps from where to view the magnificent Masai Mara along with all it has to offer, including the big five, an abundance of other wildlife, the migration and perhaps take an exhilarating balloon flight. What all these luxury lodges share is an environment so far removed from everyday life that it's actually possible for stressed-out city dwellers to take several deep breaths and commune with the real world. The beauty of a tailor-made safari is that it puts you in the driving seat. You can stay put in one location or move on at a speed that suits you; pack your itinerary full of game drives in search of the big five, bush walks, hot air ballooning and bird-watching excursions - or simply soak up the ambience of your five star billet. It's also possible to choose a safari off the peg, and a specialist like Somak, with nearly 40 years' experience in East Africa, offers an exhaustive range of Kenya itineraries, from two to seven nights, from the budget conscious to five star luxury. Somak Holidays offers luxury package holidays on Kenya Airways. Kenya Airways operates daily from London Heathrow Terminal 4. Kenya Airways operates a convenient schedule of overnight flights to and from Kenya. Kenya Airways also offers excellent upgrade prices to Kenya Airways Premier World. Kenya Airways also offers a generous baggage allowance of 2 bags at 23kgs per bag.
|
|
|
