If you’re seeking a slightly different luxury vacation, consider Kenya: an exotic locale that’s off the beaten track. Kenya is often overlooked as a luxurious destination, but it has an abundant supply of options for those of us who enjoy the finer things in life.

You’ll see some of the continent’s best wildlife, landscape, and white sand beaches. It’s definitely a “must see” for safari lovers.

We’ll take you through a few of the country’s best areas and discuss some of the best luxury hotels in Kenya so you can plan your trip.

Masai Mara Reserve:

The Masai Mara National Reserve is a huge national park in Kenya. It’s found in south-western part of the country and covers about 1530 square kilometers of grasslands.

You’ll see all of Africa’s “big five” animals at the Masai Mara Reserve: lions, African elephants, cape buffalo, leopards and black rhinos (severely endangered), which is why it’s popular among tourists! The Masai Mara Reserve is also home to hippopotami, cheetahs, gazelles, wildebeest, antelopes, zebra and more.

The Masai Mara Reserve is where the Great Annual Wildlife Migration happens every year from July to October. Millions of wildebeest, zebra and antelope trek from Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains to the Masai Mara National Reserve in search of food and water.

Luckily for tourists to the area, there are some fabulous places to stay inside the park, including a great luxury camp called “Governor’s Moran Camp”.

Governors’ Camp in the Masai Mara Reserve is really intimate with 17 en-suite tents all placed around a large watering hole in quite a remote location.

The watering hole attracts all kinds of wildlife, so stay on the lookout for creatures great and small.

Guests at Governors’ are hardly “roughing it” – each tent has its own en-suite washroom, hot running water and bidets. From here, guests can arrange excursions around the reserve to see Africa’s best wildlife in action!

Nairobi:

Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. It’s East Africa’s best city for shopping, nightlife and tourist attractions.

During your trip to Nairobi, you’ll definitely want to check out the Karen Blixen Museum. It’s the farmhouse where the famous author of Out of Africa lived between 1914 and 1931.

You might also want to spend some time at the Giraffe Centre (http://www.giraffecenter.org/) where you can feed the giraffes at their level and at the Nairobi National Park, where you can see some of the rare black rhinos that are almost extinct!

If you’re a shopaholic, you’ll want to spend a day at The Village Market. This huge mall has more than 150 stores. Fridays are a particularly good day to visit because there’s an open air Maasai market with crafts from local tourists. The Market also has a slew of restaurants, a movie theatre and a bowling alley. Very civilized!

It’s also the location of one of the best luxury hotels in Nairobi : Tribe – the Village Market Hotel, where visiting diplomats, politicians and VIPs stay. It’s one of the country’s finest hotels.

Tribe Hotel is right next to the Village Market and is located in the upscale Gigiri suburb of the city. Rooms are adorned with hand-picked Kenyan art and furnishings, and are the epitome of comfort.

Msambweni:

Sand seekers looking for an exotic beach vacation should look no further than Kenya’s Msambweni.  This stretch of beach is in the south part of the country and is much less touristy than the areas to the north.

This is where you can get away from the crowds to tan, snorkel, swim and dive.

The best hotel in the area is Msambweni Beach House and Private Villas. Surrounded by 28 acres of land, this six-room hotel gives a guest experience like no other.

The Main House features high ceilings, three luxurious rooms with private verandas and a traditional Swahili decor. Two luxurious villas are close to the main house and have their own swimming pools and Jacuzzis facing the ocean!

Lastly, for guests who want a true safari experience, this hotel has a luxury tent.

A vacation to Kenya is among the most memorable. When the decision is made to start a quest for Kenya, the excitement and anticipation bubble within. The allure of the unbridled territory, panoramic vistas and unforeseeable horizons draw people to it with an unexplained magnetism. There are so many wondrous things to see and be a part of that there is always a new experience around every corner.

The climate in Kenya is quite steady all year round. July and August are the coolest months while March through June provides much needed rainfall. Along the magnificent coastline the sunshine sparkles off the Indian Ocean and warms the beaches.

If you prefer a cooler climate, just take a short trip inland where the breezes blow. The whether is rarely too hot or too cold even throughout the coolest time of the year. The days are long and sunny offering warmth and making it the perfect conditions for year round Kenya holidays.

If sunrises and sunsets are your passion, there are none more spectacular than those beyond the Indian Ocean. The Kenya beaches are a wonderful playground during the days and stunning for the rising and setting of the sun. Funzi, Kilifi, Lamu Island, Chale and Manda Island await you, their exciting beaches and playgrounds for sun-lovers are calling.

From paradise retreats to terrific hot spots, they’re ready to show you a great time. Imagine the grandeur of nature on display right before your eyes at sunset, followed by an exciting evening of entertainment that goes beyond everything you’re used to!

Kenya isn’t all a celebration of wild places and sun-drenched beauty. The Diani and Leopard Reef resorts have plenty of fun in store for every visitor. If you want to spend your holiday being pampered in paradise, Kenya is the place for you. There are even a variety of exciting resorts that specialize in entertainment for children. Kenya is a garden of Earthly delights for the whole family.

For couples only to indulge their wishes for entertainment, the Southern Palms, Flamingo Beach and the Mombasa Serena Hotel are ready to provide you with your every dream come true. Check out the Kenya night life until you’ve partied the night away, then relax in luxurious rooms that are fit for a king and his queen.

When travelling to Kenya on holidays, an individual as well as a family can enjoy one of the most revered past times. Safaris are one of the most known and entertaining Kenya activities. The educational value is blended with an adventurous atmosphere. While safely seated in the vehicle you can watch from a safe distance as the wild life of Kenya frolic and fray in the untamed land. This is an affordable venture and one that is sure to please. These safari’s that are offered can be as little as one night to tease and delight the tourists or as long as six fun filled, exotic days.

Kenya shillings and Banknotes are the currency and are widely used. But, there are some rules such as you should leave with the same amount of foreign money as you came into the country with. However, the Central Bank of Kenya can help with any currency issues you might have.

Kenya holidays can be the experience of a lifetime! You may want to return again and again just to be sure you have seen it all. Safaris, the nightlife, 39 golf courses, swimming, fishing, snorkeling, diving, boat tours, and maybe an air tour in a small plane that can get you low enough to see the magnificent scenery and wildlife up close are just some of the things a person can do on Kenya holidays. Could there be a better place to spend your vacation? Kenya is a virtual playground, filled with everything your heart desires and people to serve, guide and pamper you through the adventure of a lifetime.

Author: Ken Smith