My top five game viewing areas in Kenya

Over the years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to many game parks, game reserves and conservancies across Kenya. Well, the truth is I am a sucker for wildlife and have this crazy obsession, especially with the Big cats. I even feel like I should do a series about the wild cats! (Idea bulb just popped up my head...hahaha) So recently, I stared to rate my top places that I felt I loved the most and this is what I came up with......

5. Samburu Game Reserve 

Situated in the hot and arid fringes of Kenya's vast Northern Frontier District and covers an area of 104 square kms on the northern bank of Ewaso Nyiro river. The area is home to the Samburu tribe, pastoral relatives of the Masai. The landscape is rugged and dramatic - against a backdrop of volcanic mountains, gaunt hills and withered scrub tree punctuate the sparse and dry terrain with clusters of the incredibly hardy desert rose providing the occasional flash of vivid colour.
  
Wow factor: The Ewaso Nyiro river! The river is the lifeline of the area, runs along the southern boundary dividing Samburu from Buffalo Springs Reserve. What makes it amazing is the number of Crocodile and hippo in it and how they share the river with the many small herds of elephant which bathe and frolic in the muddy brown waters during the heat of the day before returning later to graze on the lush vegetation of the riverine forest! Buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and plains game may also be seen but a special feature of this reserve are the various species of game unique to these northern parks - Beisa oryx, the long necked gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and the blue shanked Somali ostrich.

Places to stay: I recommend Elephant Bedroom, the views from this camp are to die for! Other camps would be Samburu Intrepids and Samburu Lodge. 

4. Amboseli National Park  

Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenic beauty - the landscape is dominated by Mt Kilimanjaro, marking the border of nearby Tanzania. The national park embodies five main wildlife habitats (open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland) and a generally dry lake bed - Lake Amboseli.

Wow factor: The elephants! There are so many, mostly in herds, its just breath taking!

Places to stay: I would recommend Tawi Lodge, rooms very well spaced, run by owner and she is hands on, excellent service! Other places would be Tortilis Camp, Serena Amboseli and Ol Tukai Lodge.

3. Masai Mara National Reserve 

Considered by many to be one of Kenya's finest game reserves, the rolling grasslands offer ideal game viewing and photographic opportunities and the grassy plains are broken by rocky outcrops which are a favourite midday resting places for lion, for which the Mara is famous.The Mara is also famous for the wildebeest  migration.

Wow factor: Though a bit obvious, the migration is just spectacular! Watching hundreds of these animals move across the Mara river is amazing!

Places to stay: The list is enormous, but Entim camp or Karen Blixen Camp (though located outside the park) are good.

2. Ol pejeta Conservancy

Morani - The Rhino; Image credited to http://www.theserenaexperience.com

Ol Pejeta is East Africa’s Largest Black Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees and holds some of the highest predator densities in Kenya.

Wow factor: The black Rhino's - being an endangered species, it is good to interact with places where they care so much about the animals.

Places to stay: Though not very many, Ol Pejeta bush camp, Porini Rhino and Sweetwaters camp are grate. 

1. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Lewa conservancy, once a cattle ranch owned by the Craig/Douglas family, who first came to Lewa Downs in 1922, and managed it as a cattle ranch for over 50 years. As the plight of the black rhino became desperate in Africa, the ranch was converted into the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary. Lewa has rich wildlife and has an assurance of grate game viewing! In late June 2013, the World Heritage Committee extended the boundaries of the Mount Kenya World Heritage Site to include Lewa and Ngare Ndare Forest.

Wow factor: Besides playing host to Royals and celebrities such as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge -Kate Middleton and her husband Duke of Cambridge -Prince William,  Lewa gives an array of luxury holiday, combined with  a lot of wildlife, with a twist of sophistication and class. Its just a big WOW!!

Places to stay: Honestly I have not come across a place to stay in Lewa that was not above average, however Lewa House is breathtaking and so is Lewa Camp! 

This is my simple take on Kenya's finest game viewing places in Kenya, Do you agree? What is your number one? Tell me more! 

Lake Turkana Festival - This May!

I am usually not a very big fan of festivals because it means loads of people in one place at once!It is almost like carnivals, people in costumes, loud music...you get the picture. However, when i first heard of the Lake Turkana Festival i must admit i was fascinated, because naturally you do not expect to hear of something like that! Not that it's strange but, if you are Kenyan and especially if you rescide in Nairobi you would know that we have never had of Turkana night at the Carnivore! Yet here is a full planned festival! And what's more...it not the first time it's being held in Kenya but the 6th!

About the Festival:

The Lake Turkana Festival will take place for the 6^th consecutive year in Loyangalani town; on the shores of the awe-inspiring Jade Sea this May 2013 from 22nd -28th. It is here where the 10 ethnic groups of the Lake Turkana region; El Molo, Rendille, Samburu, Turkana, Dassanach, Ghabra, Borana, Konso, Wata and Burji demonstrate through song and dance their unique differences and traditions. In this remote and forgotten region; we are also made aware of the challenges faced by these minority tribes which include drought, environmental challenges, poor infrastructure and wrangling amongst each other. Thus whilst we awe at their impressive dress and ornaments and study their artifacts and way of life in the dramatic landscape that makes up the north of Kenya; the underlying goal remains and continues to be the promotion of peace and furthermore the appreciation of these fascinating tribes.


Uniglobe Let's Go Travel have a special package to attend the festival and included in the package are tours to Samburu Game Park.

Top World Health Retreats and Programs : Why they are becoming a No 1 holiday choice

These days all people talk about is how they need to loose weight or build their muscles or keep fit both mentally and physically! This is one of the driving points as to why many people are opting for a health retreat holiday, other than the normal holiday getaway. Resorts, hotels and lodges have come to the realization that people no-longer want just the ordinary spa treatments but want and crave for more!This in-turn has led to an increase of health retreats, yoga and meditation programs being offered in the resorts and according to  http://www.gayot.com/ the below are the top 5 health retreats in the world!

 1. California Health & Longevity Institute, USA

2. Canyon Ranch Miami Beach, USA 

3. Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa, Australia 

4. Zamani Zanzibar (Kempinski), Tanzania

5. Les Sources de Caudalie, France 

With this list i thought of which would be termed as the top health retreats in Kenya, and this is what i came up with;

1. Diani Reef Beach and Spa, Diani Beach

2. Samburu Saruni (Well being space), Samburu Game Reserve

3. Suyian Soul, Suyian Ranch - Laikipia

According to you, which resort,hotel or lodge, do you feel has the best health retreat, spa, meditation, yoga or well being treatments?

Wild and Fine: Samburu and Meru

Following my previous post, i did promise to share some images from my trip to Samburu and Meru National parks. The images are quite inspiring because, i may not say this frequently but there is something about the jungle that i associate with life's simplicity and the ability for things, events to fall in place naturally.