Kenya

Jam-packed with national parks and spectacular safari opportunities, holidays in Kenya are all about the wildlife – or at least, such is the popular misconception.

But Kenya’s diversity means it has so much more to offer visitors too, including stunning white-sand beaches and fantastic hiking trails to challenge even the most experienced of trekkers.

The Masai Mara is the obvious place to start, as one of the best – if not the best – safaris in the whole of Africa. Here, you’ll get up close and personal with the ‘Big Five’, plus swathes of other wildlife, and get the chance to visit a traditional Masai village.

Other options, particularly if you’re on more of a budget, include Lake Nakuru National Park and Amboseli National Park, which has Mount Kilimanjaro over in neighbouring Tanzania as a pretty decent backdrop.

More outdoorsy adventure can be enjoyed on Lake Naivasha, where cruises provide stunning sunset vistas, or in the nearby Hells Gate National Park, where you can cycle past zebras, warthogs and zebras before ditching the wheels and trekking past hot springs and through gorges.

For a real challenge, Kenya holidays are all about scaling Mount Kenya, the second-highest peak in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While beach holidays in Kenya may not be the first thing that springs to mind when considering your itinerary, the opportunity to kick back on a pristine beach is not to be missed. Head over to coastal resorts such as Diani Beach or Chale Island, where you can dip your toes in the Indian Ocean, meet some local monkeys and experience paradise.

Unsurprisingly, Kenya also boasts culture in abundance. Lamu, a UNESCO World Heritage City, sits at the northern end of Kenya’s coast and is believed to be the oldest existing Swahili town. It’s a true throwback and escape from the chaos of Nairobi or Mombasa. In fact, it doesn’t even permit cars. Donkeys are the main form of travel.