Jambo! My Kenyan Adventure: From Nairobi to Mombasa, Discovering the Treasures of East Africa

Kenya is the original safari destination, home of the famous Masai Mara, and shares the Great Wildebeest Migration with its neighbour Tanzania - the largest animal migration in the world. Every year, more than 2 million animals (wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle) migrate in a clockwise direction across the ecosystems of the Serengeti (Tanzania) and the Masai Mara (Kenya). The allure of Kenya’s wildlife and the breath-taking landscapes makes any safari in Kenya an unforgettable experience.

The Great Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru

After spending 1 night in Nairobi, we had an early morning wake up call for our drive west through Kenya’s fertile highlands and across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru (approx. 2 ½ hours), home to millions of flamingos that blanket its shores in a sea of pink, creating a spectacle like no other. Once in the park, we enjoyed a game drive enroute to our lodge keeping our eyes peeled for rhinos, giraffes, and buffaloes roaming the surrounding savannah. Following lunch and a siesta, we had an afternoon game drive returning to our lodge as the sun set. We stayed at Lake Nakuru Lodge, a beautiful eco-lodge situated within the Lake Nakuru National Park with unobstructed views of the lake and wildlife. Whilst on Safari, accommodation is on a Full Board basis.

The Masai Mara: Africa's Premier Safari Destination

No trip to Kenya would be complete without a visit to the Masai Mara, one of Africa's most iconic safari destinations. Home to the famous Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino—the Masai Mara offers unparalleled opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.

After our early morning breakfast, we left Lake Nakuru behind and began our ascent up over the top of the Mau escarpment and south to Narok, the gateway to the Masai Mara. This drive took approx. 4 hours. (It is possible to fly directly from Nairobi to the Mara) We arrived in time for lunch, followed by our afternoon game drive through the vast savannah, where lions prowl the plains, herds of elephants roam freely, and cheetahs sprint across the grasslands in pursuit of prey.

We stayed at Sarova Mara Game Camp. The luxury safari camp offers a selection of safari tents with a permanent roof and floor, zip-up fronts, attached bathroom, running hot water supply and electricity. Wooden walkways link the tents and manicured lawns with the main dining / bar areas and are built over wide lily ponds. There are also 3x spacious 2 bedroom family tents. We enjoyed time at the swimming pool.

The next day, after an early morning game drive and breakfast, we checked out and departed to Keekorok Lodge with a game drive enroute arriving at the lodge in time for lunch plus an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge as the sun set.

Keekorok Lodge was the first lodge built in the Mara. It is situated in the direct path of the spectacular annual migration which occurs from July to October every year. At the height of the migration, Keekorok is surrounded by a swarming mass of animals and there is hardly need to go on a game drive! Keekorok Airstrip is only a 10-minute drive away.

In front of the lodge there is a 300m elevated walkway that meanders through a small forest to a bar at one end. This overlooks a dam where resident hippo and other game are regularly seen. We enjoyed a drink watching the hippos run to the water and play. The sound was amazing.

Whilst on the Masai Mara on our various game drives, we witnessed lions mating, giraffes fighting (swinging their heads & headbutting each other), cheetah, hyena, wild dog, antelope, buffalo, elephant, zebra, rhino, waterbuck, and lots of different types of birds.

Mombasa Beach: Relaxation on the Indian Ocean

After days of adventure in the bush, we returned to Nairobi for our onward flight to Mombasa. Passing through this coastal city, you can witness daily life.

Fringed by white sand beaches, and shaded by coconut palms, the silver ribbon of the Swahili coastline offers the ultimate tropical paradise. The beaches here are stunning and it was lovely to feel the soft sand between our toes and cool off with a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

We spent 1 night at the beautiful Serena Beach Hotel and Spa, situated on a private stretch of beach. Bright white against the blue sky, set in extensive tropical gardens, the architecture replicates the winding lanes and colourful marketplaces of a traditional 13th century Swahili town. At its heart lies the coral-built ‘Fortress of Tranquillity’ with the spa. Accommodation was on a Half Board basis.

We stayed in a garden room with direct access to the lawn with palm trees, leading to the sea. There are a number of different room types including 2 bedroom family rooms. All are very spacious. I fell in love with this hotel. It is full of character and has excellent facilities. The food was fantastic, as it had been throughout our trip to Kenya. I could easily have spent a number of days here, but I had no time for the hammock - we had another hotel to experience the next day.

We travelled to the South Coast to stay at the Baobab Beach Resort and Spa. This is a large all-inclusive resort comprising 3 luxury properties, located on Kenya’s famous Diani Beach. It has won numerous awards including Africa’s leading family resort and Kenya’s leading beach resort. The beach here is expansive! The rooms are huge and there are a number of restaurants and bars to choose from. Leisure facilities include 3 swimming pools, water sports, tennis courts plus an entertainment programme. There are shops and a spa (at an additional cost). I bought a packet of crackers, which were stolen by some cheeky monkeys right in front of my eyes!

I have been lucky enough to visit Kenya on safari a number of times, both in the low season and the high season. I have also been on safari in Tanzania (which I combined with a beach stay in Zanzibar) and in South Africa (which I combined with Mauritius). Each experience was very different. An African safari really is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. There are so many options available. Leave it up to the experts. Contact me today to plan your African adventure!