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Great Escapes
The Many Faces of Kenya
By Rita Cook
When thinking of a grand safari in Africa look no further than the country of Kenya. Smiling people and friendly guides make the Kenya experience worth the time and the money it takes to get there.
On my own recent trip to Africa (the fourth actually), Kenya was definitely on the agenda with a number of stops along the way so I would get a feel for everything. Arriving in the evening to the city of Nairobi, it was here that I took a few days to acclimate at the Intercontinental (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/nairobi) while discovering a richness of wildlife that is almost within the city limits. In fact, you can visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage, the Giraffe Center and the Karen Blixen Museum all in one day and also enjoy your first animal sightings.
After a few days in Nairobi it will be time to head out for a proper safari. The best place to begin your trip is on the Maasai Mara where I stayed at a luxury tent camp called the Mara Explorer (http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/). You will fly into a small airstrip complete with a dirt runaway and a guide from the camp will be there to pick you up - now it's time to begin your adventure.
At Mara Explorer we enjoyed two safari drives a day and visited a Maasai village one afternoon taking the time to do some bush shopping including Maasai arts and crafts.
The camp is tent luxury all the way giving guests a feel of the bygone era of Kenya and the big game hunts. At night you'll hear a number of animals as you drift off to sleep missing the roaring of the lion or the hippo's call once you return home. On our first night we even had an elephant wake us up as he walked just feet from our tent. The next morning the trees around our area were down thanks to the hungry elephant in search of food.
After two nights in the Maasai Mara it was time to move on as we headed to the Indian Ocean for a few days of more luxury of a different kind.
Just outside of Mombasa in the town of Ukunda sits a villa that the likes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have visited. Complete with a houseboy, in room massages and a sweeping view of the ocean during your meals, there is no better way to unwind and get ready for your next safari in a few days. Called Alfajiri (www.alfajirivillas.com), the owners are Italian and that means some of the best pizza you're going to find anywhere outside of Italy.
After a few days of relaxing you will no doubt once again be up for another safari experience, this time perhaps in Tsavo National Park. The Alfajiri owners have a place in Tsavo called Galdessa (www.galdessa.com) in the East part of Tsavo - they can arrange to get you there comfortably.
We did our first game drive on the way into the park and ended up in an exquisite little camp right on the Galana River. Again, it's where elephants and hippos enjoy the scenery as much as you do and one day, even the baboons came out to play.
The camp is wild so you need an escort, day or night, to your luxury tent. Galdessa is an extremely remote destination where the lights run on a generator (and no you don't hear it running) and the warm shower water in your tent is filled by your house boy. It's still lavish, but it's Africa and you will believe in Africa all over again after the experience.
Last, but not least, while in Nairobi it's good to have a car service or tour company taking care of the driving, we opted for Express Travel Group (www.etg-safaris.com) and found them to be the top in Nairobi. The folks at Express really did make our time in Nairobi beyond what we were expecting. And it's always nice to have someone waiting at the airport for you with your name on a board and a smile on their face. The company is also able to arrange road and luxury tented fly-in safaris to any property of your choice in Kenya be it a small home stay, private ranch, farm or guest house or the bigger tented camps, which we prefer.
Kenya can only be described as a place to open your senses and feel the call of the earth. From the tribal cultures that you come in contact with on their terms to the lions and elephants and plethora of other animals just an arm length away, you are truly in their world and perhaps a world you'll never want to leave or at least return to again and again.
For more information on Kenya Tourism you can also visit www.magicalkenya.com.
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