Here, where wildlife teems against the backdrop of mind-blowing and dramatic landscapes, the native people exercise their traditions, and conservation is at the core of it all, you will find incredible Kenya.

This safari destination is ecologically diverse, with the Great Rift Valley, mountain highlands and savanna grasslands, each with an astounding number of species. There exist numerous opportunities for spectacular game viewing of which we will identify a few of them below.

The Masai Mara derives its name from the indigenous people of Kenya – the Maasai tribe – and the Mara River that cuts through the park. Together with the Serengeti National Park, the Masai Mara National Reserve located in the Great Rift Valley is a top tourist attraction in Kenya. This part of the ecosystem sees millions of wildebeest, zebra and antelope migrate from the Serengeti during July to October almost every year. The route and timing are largely dictated by weather conditions and the availability of natural resources. Great herds in search of water and pasture pursue the route through the savanna grasslands to the north and incredible animal activity can be witnessed, including daring river-crossings, and great feasts due to the abundance of prey.

Mara is also home to the richest concentration of resident wildlife, including the “Big Five” (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalo), zebras, antelope, gnus, Oribis, hyenas, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, hartebeests, hippos, crocodiles and others.

Also, look out for the Maasai people with their traditional red shukas who live along the game parks in both Kenya and Tanzania. Many practice nomadic pastoralism, while others have been absorbed into modern-day jobs working in tourism where they showcase their culture to visiting tourists.

Located 260 km (160 miles) from Nairobi and on the border with Tanzania, is Amboseli National Park. Its signature attractions are the stunning vistas of large herds of big-tusked elephants set against the magnificent backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro (5 895 m) – Africa’s highest peak. During heavy rains, the basin at the centre of the park floods, attracting hordes of wildlife, including the Big Five, huge herds of wildebeests, giraffes, monkeys, zebras, hyenas and antelope.

The Tsavo National Park is divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park. The East Park is one of the oldest and largest African safari parks in Kenya and covers 11 747 km². Some areas of the park are closed to the public with designated “remote animal wilderness” areas. It is characterised by an undeniable wild and primordial charm, and due to its flat and dry landscape with its thinly spread foliage, makes wildlife-watching easy.

Tsavo West National Park covers 7 065 km² and the terrain is much more varied, with the foliage generally denser and higher here. It is home to the largest population of red-skinned elephants, as well as to members of the rest of the “Big 5” (buffalo, lions, leopards and rhinos). There is also a host of Kenyan birds and other animals, both large and small, to see.

Tsavo is also the new home for elephant calves that have been orphaned by poaching – once they have received treatment and care from the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.

The Central Highlands form the most evocative sections of Africa’s Great Rift Valley and are the spiritual heartland of Kenya’s largest tribe, the Kikuyu, who make up 22% of the country’s population. It is from here that Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain at 5 199 m (17 057 feet), rises into the clouds. Of Mount Kenya’s three main peaks, only Point Lenana can be climbed by amateurs on a mountain-climbing safari. The other two peaks require full mountaineering skills and technical equipment.

Situated in the Great Rift Valley the Lake Nakuru National Park covers an area of 180 km² (69.5 square miles) and consists of a large, shallow lake surrounded by marshes, woodland and grassland. The lake comprises almost a third of the park’s area, and supports the blue-green Cyanophyte Spirulina Platensis, which is the main food source for up to two million brilliant pink flamingos that can be found wading on the lake’s edge. However, water levels and food conditions change, which can dramatically affect the numbers of flamingos. The park also offers sanctuary to a huge number of animals including waterbucks, warthogs, impalas, buffalo, Rothschild giraffes, elands, endangered black rhinos, white rhinos and, occasionally, leopards. A large herd of hippos have a territory in the northern part of the lake, making for interesting game viewing.

The triumvirate of national reserves, on the banks of the palm-lined Ewaso Nyiro River, comprising of Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves, has a beauty that is unsurpassed. Besides its amazing variety of landscapes and vegetation, the area also has a population of creatures that occur in no other major Kenyan park. This includes the blue-legged Somali ostrich, endangered Grevy’s zebra, beisa oryx, reticulated / Somali giraffe and gerenuk – the long-necked antelope that stand on two rear legs to reach the fresh shoots on upper tree limbs.

Lake Naivasha is the Rift Valley’s highest lake at 1 884 m above sea level and draws a huge array of wildlife to its shores – including buffalo, giraffes and hippos. From the vantage point of a boat, visitors can enjoy excellent wildlife and bird viewing.

Considered the best kept secret of Kenya, the Loita Migration of wildebeest is bound to Kenya only and occurs in an area north of the Masai Mara, traversing ol Kinyei, Naboisho and the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. Although nowhere close to the size to the Serengeti migration, it is still impressive with approximately 100 000 – 250 000 wildebeest and other buck, and the predator-prey interaction is the same.

The landscapes in Kenya are diverse and range from coastlines, to savannas, to snow-capped mountains. The climate in each region is unique, making it difficult to generalise.

The climate on the coast is tropical with high temperatures and high humidity, while the highlands are temperate and the lowlands are generally hot and dry. Further, the highlands experience four distinct seasons, while the seasons in other areas are split into Rainy or Dry.

Across the country, the monsoon winds influence the weather. Along the coast, it helps to lower temperatures.

The rainy seasons are also influenced by the winds. The rainy seasons are from April to June and again from November to December, while December to March and July to October is known to be dry, with July to October being the coolest.

Kenya has three international airports; Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Moi International Airport in Mombasa and Eldoret International Airport in Eldoret.

These airports service numerous international carriers including the national airline Kenya Airways. Kenya has good connections to destinations throughout Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, USA and Africa.