Home to the Big Five game animals, breathtaking landscapes and stunning beaches, Kenya is undoubtedly a bucket-list holiday destination for many holidaymakers.
And as we discovered on an unforgettable trip to this East African country, there’s so much more here than just animal spotting; it’s also a place to experience blissful serenity and unparalleled culture.
While you might not think of a safari holiday as being particularly relaxing, a new TUI safari and beach package gives you the best of both worlds, with days filled with thrilling game drives followed by cocktails and pool time at Mombasa’s stunning golden beaches.
Buckle up and binoculars out
“We haven’t seen lions in six months,” our ranger said as we raced across Tsavo East National Park, trying not to get our hopes up. However, the spell was broken as we spotted two lionesses and their cubs casually prowling along the dirt track, passing by our car as we watched in awe. Scared to make even a whisper, the Jeep fell silent as the cubs let out soft meows to their mothers – an incredible start to our safari adventure.
Our Kenya trip kicked off with a five-day safari covering Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Amboseli and Taita Hills National Parks, with two game drives each day to spot the local wildlife. We thought the lions coming out on our first day would be hard to beat, but as the week went on, elephants stared us down, giraffes brought our car to a halt as they crossed the road, zebras strolled alongside the track and buffalos were spotted in the distance.
While plenty of time is spent gazing around desperately hoping to spot an animal, it’s certainly worth it when they come close – and quite often all at once. Gazelles, antelopes, hippos and wildebeests also made an appearance, and our vehicle collectively gasped as thousands of pink flamingos surrounded us in Amboseli National Park. It’s hard to imagine being disappointed at the end of a safari like this.
And the animal spotting didn’t even end once we’d left the safari parks. As we drove back to the main road, we saw an elephant
just behind a group of men playing football to the side of the road, not a fence in sight. Later, giraffes appeared at ease alongside the motorway towards Nairobi, far from the grassy parks where we had previously spotted them.
Lodges and landscapes
We stayed at several different accommodations on our trip through the national parks. One was Salt Lick Safari Lodge; a unique spot built on stilts with connecting footbridges. It’s famed for being one of the most photographed lodges in the world. Salt Lick overlooks a number of watering holes, and we watched from our bedrooms as herds of elephants arrived for their evening drink.
We also enjoyed the “sundowner experience” at Salt Lick, where we were welcomed by the ladies of the Taita tribe, who pulled us up for a traditional dance. Kenya is home to at least 42 different tribes, and we loved soaking up the local culture at every stage of our trip.
For some unforgettable scenery, Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge sits near enough to the Tanzanian border to be able to see the colossal Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.
It’s the tallest mountain in Africa, but it’s hard to get a sense of just how massive it really is until you see it in real life.
Well deserved R&R
Our African adventure was far from over when the safari ended, as it was then time to head to Diani Beach, just south of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean coast.
We stayed at the all-inclusive Baobab Beach Resort & Spa, which has three pools. My favourite was the infinity pool, looking over the beach. With extremely spacious rooms, three restaurants, nightly entertainment and activities throughout the day, Baobab has an authentic feel and plenty to do.
This half of the trip may have been at a slower pace, but we still weren’t away from the local wildlife. Whether they’re perching by the pool, climbing up trees or paying a visit to your balcony, baboons can be found across the resort. They usually keep their distance, although the cheeky animals may follow you around the resort if you catch their eye – particularly if you’re a woman, hotel staff say.
While here, a visit to the Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest and the neighbouring village gives guests the chance to meet the locals.
“How many bottles would you like?” joked one after we tried their homemade “beer”, an alcoholic drink made from coconut trees and fermented for three hours. With a cloudy appearance and a lemonade-like taste, stick to just a sip of this potent beverage, as a whole bottle will have you feeling more than tipsy.
It was a memorable way to end this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
How to book
TUI offers a 14-night Kenya taster safari and stay package that explores the Mombasa coast and Kenya’s national parks. A full-board five-night safari tour before a beach stay begins at £3,309 per person travelling with British Airways, including flights, 23kg luggage and transfers.
