Kenya Safaris
Kenya is renowned for presenting fantastic opportunities to see wildlife in its own natural habitat. Animals including zebras, wildebeest, elephants and gorillas roam freely, protected by the national park structure which stretches throughout the country.

Its views are undoubtedly superb, whether your outlook is onto mountains, jungle, plains or salt lakes and you never can tell when a giraffe or black rhino may choose to amble past your window!

Kenya really has embraced the tourist trade, offering top class facilities and the chance to enjoy the experience of a lifetime.

Weather
The country’s vast geography means that the weather can vary between regions. The coastal areas are tropical but are often affected by monsoons; lowlands are usually hot and dry whilst areas of higher altitude are affected much more by seasonal weather.

Kenya’s summer months range from December to March, when temperatures can average between the mid 60s in Nairobi, to the mid 80s in Mombasa. In the winter months, particularly between June to September, temperatures drop but are still pleasant, rarely dipping below 60 degrees, even at higher altitudes.

There are two “rainy seasons”, usually occurring April and May; with higher altitudes also experiencing a similar period in November and December. During these times, it is usual for lowlands to receive 10 inches of rain over the period of a month and highlands round six inches.
By Day
By day, you will be exploring one or more of Kenya’s wildlife reserves and game parks. You may wish to visit the Masai Mara, situated on the Serengeti plains, to watch the lions, cheetahs, leopards or its abundant birdlife, consisting of 500 species of birds. Or, you may instead spend your time exploring the mountains of Mount Kenya National Park in search of Sykes and Colobus monkeys. Whichever location you’re in, you will never be short of activities and sights designed to take your breath away.By Night
Some resorts offer entertainment in the evening, allowing you to see for yourself the true culture of the Kenyan people through their music and dancing. Others may organise an evening safari, showing the animals which come into their own only when the sun goes down.Top Attractions
• Masai Mara National Reserve – experience the lifestyle of this dignified tribe and watch the annual wildebeest migration
• Karen Blixen Museum, Nairobi – author of “Out of Africa”, Karen’s coffee farm is well preserved
• Shimoni and Wasini Island – once the headquarters of the Imperial British East Africa Company, the Shimoni caves were said to hold slaves before their boat trip to Arabia
Events
Annual wildebeest migration to the Masai Mara (Jul – Oct), Mombasa Carnival (Nov), Rhino Charge rally race (May), Whale Shark diving (Feb-Mar), IAAF World Cross Country Championships (Mar).Local Flavours
Influenced by both Britain and East India, cereals are prominent in Kenyan cuisine, as are fruit and vegetables, with ingredients such as beans, corn, bananas, pineapples and potatoes featuring heavily. Beef stews with rice are commonly prepared and “sukuma wiki”, a dish often prepared from leftovers including green vegetables, onions and tomatoes, is delicious, whilst making sure no food is left as waste.History
Originally settled into by Africans from the north of the country, Kenya was soon populated by Arabs and Persians by the eighth century. In the sixteenth century, the Portuguese colonised the region for around one hundred years, finally giving way to Oman. The British Empire and its missionaries reached Kenya in the 1800s, until the country finally achieved its independence in 1963, with Jomo Kenyatta becoming its first President until his death in 1978. He was succeeded by Daniel Arap Moi, who ruled Kenya for almost 25 years, until the inauguration of Mwai Kibaki in 2002.Size & Location
Straddling the equator on the east coast of Africa, Kenya stretches over 583,000 sq km, a small percentage of which is covered by Lake Victoria. It is bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia and Tanzania.