The Rift Valley Lakes, in particular Naivasha and Nakuru, are the series of lakes that sit in the valley that runs to the west of Nairobi, and stretches from Ethiopia to central Tanzania. The major feature, and reason to visit the lakes is for both their good game populations (white rhino is a particular feature of Nakuru), but also the famed numbers of lesser flamingo that flock to Nakuru to breed and feed.
Making up approximately 40% of Kenya's protected land, Tsavo East and Tsavo West together span a vast area of wilderness that offers something for everyone. The area that they cover (and heading west into the Chyulu Hills) is a series of laval flows and chimneys flanked by the Yatta Plateau to the west.
To many people's surprise, beyond Kenya's sprawling, traffic-blocked capital, is a hustling capital with an array of things to do and see. Admittedly, Nairobi is mostly used as an unavoidable stopover on many itineraries, but this isn't to say you should rush out as soon as you can! Many beautiful boutique hotels and wildlife interactions, such as the Daphne Sheldrick elephant orphanage, have attracted a huge amount of visitors to the big city.
Probably the most photographed park in East Africa, Amboseli National Park lies on the border between Kenya and Tanzania, in the lee of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Comparatively quite small for a National Park, at 392sq km, it is also the second most visited of them all. This is to its benefit and to its detriment to be honest. The park was made famous in the early 70s by the elephant research of Cynthia Moss and Iain Douglas-Hamilton and has since become a must see for elephant fans due to the large numbers of elephant that congregate here.
Samburu National Reserve is certainly in amongst the more well-known of Kenya's parks and accordingly has become relatively busy over the years. The main areas for game viewing are along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro that runs east to west through the park. A great location as the surface waters dry off during the dry season, the game viewing is pretty much guaranteed!
The Lewa Downs is a stunning valley set in the middle of the Laikipia Plateau, deserving of a special mention, as it features probably the second best game viewing in the country. Only offering a handful of lodge choices, has become famous for the wide variety of rare and beautiful game species it now protects.
The Laikipia Plateau in Kenya is characterised by a patchwork of interlocking ranches and rolling red plains. Featuring a wide variation of stunning lodges, all unique in their own way, the region offers good game viewing along side a whole host of family friendly activities. Often featured in itineraries as a compliment to a safari in the nearby Masai Mara, or as a destination in itself, Laikipia is well worth a look.
Governors' Camp, in a nutshell, is all about its location, location, location. The camp, which was once reserved exclusively for Kenya’s colonial governors, hence the name, is today still one of the favourites in the Masai Mara. In the past, renowned photographers, documentists, and the BBC have come to base themselves in the camp whilst documenting the exceptional wildlife.
Spanning approximately 3,000 sq kms, the Masai Mara National Reserve and Greater Mara Concession Areas form the northern section of one of the most astounding animal migrations on the planet. While the region has become busier and busier over the last decade or so, a visit to this stunning area is still well worthwhile. Often seen as in its prime when the Migratory herds arrive, from July to November, a visit out of season can be just as rewarding, and the reason the BBC have based themselves here for the last decade or so.
