14 DAYS KENYA: GO SOUTH

Today is a day to remember as you make your way to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve - the highlight of your trip! Enjoy both straight and winding roads on this beautiful road trip, while passing by some exceptional landscapes that you can only find in this part of the world. As this road trip takes up the biggest part of your day, no game drive is planned today. You sleep in an accommodation just outside the park to be well-rested for all the beauty the Mara has to offer the next day!

As the Zebra Plains camp lies close to the Masai Mara National Reserve, their walking safaris are next level. While walking with two Maasai (one armed for protection) and an experienced guide, this is your chance to get closer than ever to giraffes, zebras, impala and all the other animals in this area. What’s more, the Maasai will teach you how to identify and differentiate wildlife footprints and plants, leaving you feeling like a true nature warrior in your own right!

The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most famous places for safari worldwide. Located 270 kilometres west of Nairobi, this is one of the biggest game reserves in Africa. It extends over 1,500 km² and has more than 400 species of birds and no less than 95 species of mammals. Big cats are frequently spotted here, and this is THE place to watch the world-famous Great Migration between August and October, with its vast herds of wildebeests and zebras crossing the Mara River.

After driving towards Amboseli National Park today, you end your day in style with a classic safari sundowner. Upon arrival in the lodge and after freshening up, a guide accompanies you to a special sundowner spot. The short walk over the savannah leads to a table and chairs, glasses and drinks, snacks and, of course, a view to die for. With some luck, you see the Amboseli animals passing while the sun slowly sets in the most beautiful glow over the long savannah grasses...

Discover the mesmerizing Amboseli National Park, a true wildlife haven at the foot of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. The national park on the border with Tanzania offers sweeping savannahs, impressive lava rocks and shimmering swamps, creating an ideal habitat for large herds of elephants, graceful lions, a staggering variety of bird species and many more animals. Shoot them all (with your camera, of course!) with the mighty Kili in the background – an amazing sight!

Tsavo West National Park is a park that shows a diverse and remarkable nature with, for example, the Mzima Springs, the Shetani Lava Flows and the Chaimu crater. With its 9,065 square kilometres, this is one of Kenya's largest national parks, and four of the Big Five can be seen roaming freely here. Besides, you fairly easily spot regulars like giraffes, zebras, antelopes, gerenuks and many different species of birds, all between the green hills, acacia forests, savannah, natural springs and huge lava rocks from nearby volcanos.

Mzima Springs in Tsavo West National Park is a series of four natural springs of crystal clear water gushing out from underneath the dry lava rock. This two-kilometre-long stream is a heavenly pool for hippos and crocs, who come here to cool down. You need to be lucky, but if they are there, you can watch them from above or through a window in an underwater tunnel below the spring. The super clear water allows you to see every tumble and turn - a joy to watch!

Stretching along Kenya's Indian Ocean coast like a ribbon of brilliant white, Diani Beach is a gorgeous setting for a beach holiday. Against the backdrop of forests echoing with the sounds of wildlife, it offers clear blue waters, white palm fringed beaches, and many watersports activities. Here you can swim along sandbanks, snorkel among colourful reefs, dive in deep sea canyons, or try out kitesurfing or supping. And for those in need of a dash of culture, the vibrant city of Mombasa is not far away!

Chale Island is one of Kenya's precious jewels, a true paradise with amazingly white beaches and a crystal blue ocean, just off the country's south coast. This small, tropical island is also known as a sacred kaya, one of the places of ancient worship you find along Kenya's coast, which makes it extra special. What's more, it has rich and diverse oceanic underwater life and offers a plethora of water activities. Lovers of water sports, diving and beach will feel right at home here, especially when staying in The Sands Hotel - the island's only (!) and beautiful beach resort.