Planning your next wildlife holiday? Kenya is the destination with it all when it comes to nature.
In one holiday, you can experience sensational national parks, stay at unique nature hotels, observe extraordinary animal events, and explore the work of globally recognised wildlife conservation projects.
Amboseli National Park
Kenya is considered one of the best destinations in Africa for luxury safari holidays due to its diverse wildlife and open savannahs that provide sensational views and ample opportunity for sightings.
Of Kenya’s 27 national parks (four of which are marine reserves), Amboseli is one of the most visited. Nestled at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the park has expansive plains with sparse vegetation that reveal a wealth of exotic animals including big cats, zebra, buffalo, and over 600 species of birds.
Amboseli’s claim to fame is that it’s the best place in Africa to see elephants, boasting large herds that are largely undisturbed and are usually happy to be viewed up close. To cap it all, the park is just a one-hour plane ride from Nairobi.
Giraffe Manor
Accommodation with a difference takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to Giraffe Manor.
This 1930s colonial-style manor has a welcoming grandeur with stone ivy-clad walls, a terracotta-tiled patio, and high-ceilinged rooms with comfortable and cosy furnishings. What sets it apart however are the orphaned giraffes that stroll the elegant lawn and peek in through the windows. Guests will also spot bushbuck and a wide range of birds flitting through the garden.
The couple who first opened Giraffe Manor five decades ago founded the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife which is dedicated to protecting the remaining Rothschild giraffe population in Kenya.
The Great Migration
Each summer, Kenya witnesses one of the greatest animal events in the world: the great migration. This refers to the vast herds of wildebeest that travel together from the Serengeti north to the lush grasslands of the Mara plains.
Large groups of wildebeest and zebra congregate at the banks of the Mara River, vying for position and plucking up the courage to make the crossing that conceals fast currents and crocodiles.
The best time and place to see this spectacle is between July and October in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Beware: this event is raw nature at its finest and can be intense to watch.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
World-renowned Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is one of Africa’s oldest wildlife charities. Alongside its rhino rehabilitation programme, it’s best known for running the first successful rescue-and-release project for orphaned elephants.
Those travelling through Kenya can visit the trust to observe baby elephants being cared for, learn about the challenges of their conservation, and hear stories about the 200 elephants that have already been released back into the wild. This nursery is set in Nairobi National Park.
