Kenya

Kenya is arguably the classic safari destination in Africa. An image evoked by unforgettable film scores, powerful novels and wildlife documentaries: from the adventure, scenery and romance of Out of Africa to the drama of the Big Cat Diaries. There is nowhere to compare with a Kenya luxury safari for its diversity of landscapes, eco-systems and wildlife. Indeed the very term ‘safari’ was coined here. It’s the local Swahili word for ‘a journey’. The timeless combination of tropical beaches and renowned wildlife creates the perfect Kenya safari.

Many people worry that their game-viewing might be spoiled by hordes of minibuses crowding around sightings. Certainly this is a problem in the more accessible and developed parts of the Kenyan game reserves. Some lodges are large and sophisticated. But not the ones we use. Rather, we favour the smaller game reserves and independent safari lodges. Some of them are conservancies adjoining the National Parks. They work closely with local communities and can give you the best of both worlds: access to the National Parks when you want them. But greater freedom to enjoy bush walks or night drives on their own concessions. Many are as game-rich but with much lower vehicle densities.