Southern Sun Mayfair

Nairobi: 1 Night

Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, and is the country's largest city, and is the arrival point for many visitors into the country. The main airport is Jomo Kenyatta International, located 15 km out of the centre of town, but many itineraries will also include flights into and out of Wilson Airport, located 11 km outside of the city centre, as this is the domestic hub for both scheduled and chartered domestic air traffic.

The capital city is not wholly separated from the great African wilderness that most people come to Kenya to enjoy. Just outside the city is the Nairobi National Park, 113 square km of plains, cliffs and forest. The Park is home to large herds of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe, rhino, cheetah and a large number of lions - all living wild within 20 minutes of the busy city.

Other wildlife attractions of the city include the Elephant Orphanage, where visitors have the unique opportunity to experience the feeding of baby orphaned elephants and rhinos up close, or the Giraffe Centre where visitors can feed the resident giraffes.

You can also visit the Karen Blixen Museum, Karen Blixen's former home and which was donated by the Danish government to Kenya. Karen Blixen, also known by her pseudonym Isak Dinesen, is famous for her memoir, Out of Africa. The trained and knowledgeable guides at the museum are on hand to answer any questions on the history of the museum and on Karen Blixen's life.

Southern Sun Mayfair is a charming colonial style hotel set in 12 acres of tropical gardens, located in Nairobi's popular Parklands district. Each of the 171 en-suite rooms have satellite TV and radio. The morning paper is delivered to your room every morning for free so that you can stay up to date with current affairs, while you brew your own tea and coffee.

If you want to just relax, you can spend the day lounging on the sun deck at the 2 outdoor swimming pools, including children's pool, or get a relaxing massage or take a well-deserved break in the sauna and steam rooms.

Elephant Bedroom Camp

Samburu Eco-System: 2 Nights

Set on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in the renowned Samburu Game Reserve, surrounded by palms and other beautiful indigenous trees lies the small and intimate Elephant Bedroom Camp, offering simplistic elegance, luxury and style.

The Ewaso Nyiro River is a permanent water supply for the wildlife in the area, and it acts as a magnet. Enjoy game viewing of huge herds of elephant, prides of lion or the solitary leopard with an expert local guide by open Land Rover. 

Giraffe, waterbuck and zebra also wander the open plains, alongside gerenuks - rather odd looking members of the gazelle family, who are easily distinguishable by their extremely long necks, and their ability to stand on their hind legs to reach high into bushes in order to skim the leaves off the branches with their rough tongue.  Over 365 bird species have been identified, including secretary birds, sunbirds, bee-eaters and the blue necked and legged Somali ostrich.

Elephant Bedroom Camp promises an astonishing safari experience as the name of the camp couldn't be more fitting. At night elephants, buffalos and hippos roam through the camp in search for food and water and hearing them from the warmth of your duvet covered bed is a truly exciting and memorable experience.

Inspired by the textures and colours of African nature, each of the 14 beautifully appointed tents surround you with luxury. The en-suite bathrooms are fitted with hot and cold running water, rain showers and flushing toilets. Individual verandas include a private plunge pool and encourage guests to linger while admiring the lush wilderness of the area.

The cosy main guest lounge and dining area with original oil paintings and soft intimate lighting open to the outside capturing the tranquil surroundings. Dining is a culinary experience with al-fresco meals and candle lit gourmet dinners set either under the African sky or inside the romantic dining area.

Cultural visits and lectures on the Samburu culture are also offered.

Mbweha Camp

Lake Nakuru National Park: 2 Nights

Tucked away in the spectacular vastness of the Great Rift Valley on the private 6,400 acre Congreve Conservancy, Mbweha Camp is located on the southern border of Lake Nakuru National Park with beautiful views of the Eburu and Mau mountain ranges.

Being situated outside the National Park allows guests to enjoy many activities, including walking, mountain biking and night game drives. Guests can also enjoy day trips into the Lake Nakuru National Park with the option of a gourmet bush lunch with spectacular views of the lake as you enjoy your food. Visitors also get the opportunity to spot clawless otters and hippos in the lake itself, as well as buffalos, colobus monkeys, elands, steinbok, zebra, dik-dik, impala, and rock hyrax and klipspringer along the cliffs and escarpments. Among the predators found here are lion and leopard.

Both the lesser and greater flamingoes frequent the nearby Lake Elementaita, which is also a breeding ground for the great white pelican, and trips here can also be arranged. The area also boasts a wealth of other activities such as a visit to the Lake Elementaita hot springs, the Kariandusi prehistoric site where evidence of early stone age man dating back over one million years can be seen, or the Menengai Crater - an extinct volcano with striking views of Lake Nakuru, as well as taking a hot air balloon ride over the magnificent Great Rift Valley.

Ten charming cottages built of lava stone with thatched makuti roofs blend effortlessly into the surroundings. Each cottage features richly textured African materials and rustic en-suite bathrooms. Indigenous trees like Candelabra Euphobia and yellow barked Acacia separate each of the cottages ensuring the utmost privacy for guests.

Meals are taken in the main dining area, but private meals can be arranged on your cottage veranda under the stars.

Tipilikwani Mara Camp

Masai Mara: 2 Nights

Set on the banks of the Talek River overlooking the Mara plains, Tipilikwani Mara Camp has one of the most spectacular views available here. The camp offers an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere while you experience a full safari adventure in the African bush.

The Masai Mara is home to the wildebeest migration from July through to September - one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World - as well as throughout the entire year some of the most abundant wildlife populations in Africa. Elephant, leopard, buffalo, rhino and lion roam free alongside a myriad of plains game and birdlife - all at ease in a protected, natural environment.

Activities on offer include game drives accompanied by expert local guides, bush walks or hot air ballooning at dawn. Another highlight of a visit here includes a visit to a Masai tribe who live in mud hut villages dotted around the outside boundaries of the reserve.  Unbelievably tall, and distinctively dressed in their traditional red robes, these visits offer guests the opportunity to interact with the local community.

There is no wonder really, with all these factors, that the Mara is a special destination - and one that people want to come back to time and time again.

The 20 luxury tents enjoy river frontage and are decorated with warm, rich Masai colours.  Each en-suite tent is equipped with all amenities and has its own terrace. There are also two large adjoining tents which share a verandah - an ideal option for families.

The dining and lounge areas reflects the ambience of a tented camp, but provide the comfort and protection of a permanent building. The open-sided design affords a unique, magical view across the river to the rolling plains dotted with game.

Enjoy a dip in the pool inbetween game drives, and wind down with a glass of wine around the camp fire and watch the spectacular sunset. Dining here is also a feast for the senses, bringing international and local flavours together under the watch of carefully trained, attentive staff.