Kenya, the birthplace of the safari, is home to intimate, breathtaking and magical experiences in which to discover wildlife and spectacular scenery, breathe in the tranquillity and adventure of the coast, and enjoy rich cultural encounters and the warmth of the people. Welcome to Magical Kenya.
It is the cradle of humanity for many archaeologists who place it in the Chalbi desert, a remote region in the north of the country, because according to these experts this is where the first creatures emerged that would later evolve into what we are today.
A land of contrasts, its landscapes include desert, savannah, rainforest and, on the coast, tropical beaches with turquoise waters and white sands. Its name comes from Mount Kenya, located less than three hours from Nairobi and the second highest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro.
With over fifty terrestrial and marine nature reserves and more than twenty-three national parks, Kenya is one of the continent’s best destinations for walking, horseback, cycling, boating, quad biking and four-wheel-drive safaris. The conservation of this rich territory is a must, and respect for wildlife is a reality, as evidenced by the fact that wildlife can cross the country from north to south without encountering any fences.
With one of the most famous parks on earth, the Masai Mara, where it is possible to admire the greatest wildlife spectacle on the planet, the migration, Kenya is proud to be the second country in Africa and the fourth in the world with the highest number of birds, more than 1,137, with the caracca, a symbol of the country and the national bird. A fact that many people probably don’t know is that 60% of the flowers sold in Europe come from here, with the rose being the most exported flower. It is also the world’s third largest exporter of tea.
Extensive catalog of experiences
There are endless possibilities if you decide to travel to Kenya this year, starting in Nairobi, one of the greenest cities in the world and the only one with a national park where you can see all the animals except elephants. Unique experiences that, in many cases, are carried out with private guides and in all cases with experienced staff; the offer is wide and tempting.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is home to one of the largest concentrations of wildlife on the planet, covering more than 1,672 km2. Herds of elephants, herds of impala, families of cheetahs and lions, flocks of vultures, buffaloes, rhinos, giraffes, hippopotamuses, hyenas, snakes and monkeys appear before our eyes to fulfil the childhood dream of many. If we have the opportunity to make the trip between July and October we can admire one of the greatest spectacles in the animal world, the great migration in which more than one and a half million wildebeest, four hundred thousand Thompson gazelles, three hundred thousand zebras and more than ten thousand eland antelopes search for food in the fertile lands of the reserve to return at the end of October, crossing the mythical Mara River that vertebrates the reserve from north to south, to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
Ballooning over the Masai Mara, walking safaris with a Masai, learning about the life and customs of this mythical tribe, visiting a Masai Mara school or a romantic Masai Mara dinner are some of the experiences you can have in this paradise on earth.
Samburu National Reserve, located in the north of the country, is noted for its endemic wildlife. Crossed by the Ewaso Ngiro River, one of the most important in the country, which later gives rise to the well-known Thompson Falls, it is the natural habitat of the Gerenuk, the Grevy’s zebra, the reticulated giraffe, the beisa oryx, the Somali ostrich, and where we will find elephants and large predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs. Wild dogs and over four hundred and fifty species of birds are also abundant.
The Laikipia district, which is part of Samburu, has private reserves, sanctuaries and conservation areas and is currently one of the areas where we will find the highest quality safaris and where we can admire the last two specimens of northern white rhinoceros. Other proposals here include camel or horseback rides that will allow us to enjoy a different perspective of the landscape or helicopter flights from Laikipia to the Nabuyaton volcano on Lake Turkana, an important destination for migratory water birds and the place chosen by Nile crocodiles and hippopotamuses to reproduce. It is the largest saline lake in Africa and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1997 for its unique characteristics.
Las imágenes más hermosas del Kilimanjaro las encontraremos en Kenia, concretamente en el Parque Nacional de Amboseli. Desde este punto podremos admirar la cara de la montaña en la que se produce el deshielo y donde la concentración de elefantes es mayor. Y no podemos olvidar el Lago Victoria, el lago tropical más grande del mundo y el segundo lago más grande de agua dulce.
En el Valle del Rift otro imponente lago de agua dulce se presenta antes nuestros ojos, el Lago Naivasha. Con una gran comunidad de hipopótamos y más de quinientas especies de aves, lo que lo convierte en uno de los mejores destinos ornitológicos de Kenia, merece la pena hacer un safari a pie por Crescent Island, pequeña península que se mete en el lago y que está libre de grandes depredadores. En 1995 fue declarado Parque Nacional Lago Naivasha y en 1999 se incluyó en la Lista Indicativa Patrimonio de la Humanidad en Kenia.
Muy cerca del Lago Naivasha se encuentra el Parque Nacional de Hell’s Gate, espectacular paisaje volcánico de barrancos rojos, salientes rocosos y cañones profundos en que el que la falta de grandes depredadores lo convierten en el lugar ideal para realizar senderismo, cicloturismo o escalada.
Acabamos en Monte Longonot. Volcán dormido situado al sudeste del Lago Naivasha, es el ascenso más accesible en el Gran Valle del Rift. Ideal para la práctica de trekking, tiene como recompensa disfrutar en días despejados de maravillosas vistas que llegan hasta el lago Naivasha, el volcán Suswa, Hell’s Gate y todo el valle del Rift.
Dream accommodations
As a complement to this wonderful and genuine experience, the country has accommodation of the highest standard in very exclusive areas, with unbeatable service and attention and with the guarantee of the most renowned brands. Stays in hotels or old colonial houses, and in some establishments you can even play a few holes on the golf courses. You will find it all in Kenya.
Segera Retreat Lodge Laikipia, located in the foothills of Mount Kenya, is a Kenyan ranch where you will find the ambience to enjoy excellent conversation in good company in its lush gardens, swimming pools or thatched huts.
Located in the Masai Mara National Reserve, &Beyond Bateleur Camp has two intimate camps of nine luxury tents each and a luxury family tent with its own butler and housekeeper, transporting you back to the glamour of the explorers of old. Wooden floors, polished silver and copper bathtubs; beautifully crafted artefacts, antiques, Chesterfield sofas with leather buttons, books, crystal and candles, will make your stay a lasting memory.
Just a two-hour drive from the capital and within easy reach of Nairobi International Airport, Loldia House is an ideal place to relax, savour the pleasures of Kenyan country life and explore the Great Rift Valley. The peaceful setting, the wonderful views, the safaris or the variety of treatments in the poolside spa room are guaranteed to be the right choice.
Hemingways Nairobi is a boutique hotel overlooking the Ngong Hills. While we relax in the spa, take a dip in the pool or stroll through the gardens, back in our suite the butler will have dimmed the lights, adjusted the personalised pillows, prepared a drink and organised the next day’s departure down to the smallest detail.
Situated in the Great Sera Game Reserve, in the wild and uncharted northern frontier of Kenya, Saruni Rhino Lodge has three open “bandas” (stone huts) and offers a range of experiences such as black rhino tracking in East Africa.
Governors’ Mugie, offers a host of activities to explore and enjoy Laikipia’s vast open landscapes and rare northern grassland species. Situated on a private wildlife reserve in Laikipia with important community and conservation programmes, it has eight stone cottages and a nine-hole golf course. A nearby waterhole attracts a variety of wildlife who come here to quench their thirst.
Situated on a private stretch of the Mara River in the Masai Mara, Sanctuary Olonana is an exceptional luxury safari lodge with fourteen glass-enclosed suites and offers safaris, cultural visits, bush dinners, sunset cocktails, scenic flights and hot air balloon rides.
