Kenya has so much more to offer...

"There is so much more to Kenya than the Big Cat Diary and the Masai Mara. In addition to traditional game drives, why not see game from a stunning yellow bi-plane (think Biggles), from horseback or the top of a camel." Report from Millie Summers, Country Director for Africa.

When asked on my recent trip to Kenya which is my favourite property, I find myself unable to choose just one - they are all so individual and it really does go down as my most varied trip to date! I visited an exhilarating mixture of conservancies, group ranches, cattle ranches, a grandiose house from the 1920's, traditional tented camps, very contemporary tented camps, national reserves, national parks and a fantastic mix of coastal properties south of Mombasa. Everyone is catered for here whether its honeymooners, families or the very well travelled safari goers looking for that next wilderness experience.


Nowhere else can you find yourselves repeatedly clambering up impressively large kopjes (huge rocky outcrops) to watch the sun go down with an uninterrupted 360 degree view of stunning wilderness and dramatic scenery. There is SO much more to Kenya than the Big Cat Diary and the Masai Mara.






In addition to the traditional game drives I also saw game from a stunning shiny yellow bi-plane (think Biggles), from horseback, from the top of a camel, tried out some quad-biking, snorkeled around the coral reef, had a yoga class with an Indian guru and slept out on a roll-bed on the floor in the bush with nothing between me and the thousands of stars above with hyenas calling into the night.








I also had some fascinating first hand cultural education from my Masai and Samburu guides including a unique visit to a very secluded Samburu village. Along the way I learnt a huge amount, from some very interesting characters, about the increasing co-operation that is allowing the nomadic tribes to continue to roam the land with their cattle and goats whilst conserving the wildlife of the land to everyone's benefit without over-grazing ruining the ecosystem. Everyone is working together for the benefit of all, and it seems to work!







The political troubles of December 2008 have certainly not deterred the hardy Kenyans and the fascinating mixture of its inhabitants from building some stunning new properties in amazingly exclusive areas far away from the crowded areas....next time I want to do a camel safari even further north to Lake Turkana!