Southern Cross Kenya

Intro | Stats | An Overview| Safari Planning

KENYA an introduction

A land of true contrasts and pure magical beauty. Kenya is undoubtedly, the primary choice for many travellers seeking a sheer variety of experience in East Africa. There are few, if any, destinations in the world that offer such a diversity of wildlife, scenery and culture. Birds range from the beautiful to the bizarre and wildlife from the weird to the prehistoric. Almost every known landform on the planet exists within Kenya, a country, slightly larger than the US state of Nevada, from snow capped mountains and glaciers, to arid deserts, from the dry and dusty savannah plains to the cool fresh waters of lakes and rainforests. The Great Rift Valley, its floor littered with extinct volcanoes, cuts through Kenya from North to South. On the equator lies the majestic Mt. Kenya (5,199m), to the North, the remote and rugged semi-deserts of the Northern Frontier. The 'Jade Sea' Lake Turkana, its blue green waters in stark contrast to the otherwise stark and arid surroundings. To the west, the largest Lake on the continent - Lake Victoria, and the source of the River Nile. To the south, the seasonal destination of over 2 million wildebeest - the Masai Mara. The salty and dusty plains of Amboseli, shadowed by the omnipresent Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kenya's beaches have been labeled 'some of the most romantic' in the world, with ancient Swahili culture and azure waters kissing powder white sandy beaches. All these assets are tightly interwoven with a vibrant and colorful cultural mix of over 40 indigenous tribes and a 40million smiles. As they say in Kenya - Hakuna Matata!

STATISTICS

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E

Area: total: 582,650 sq km

land: 569,250 sq km

water: 13,400 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada.

An Overview

In a nutshell, Kenya is the home of the quintessential African 'Safari'. Whatever your budget, Kenya offers a diverse smorgasbord of safari adventures. Big game, tropical beaches, snowcapped mountains, rolling savannah plains and a sense of adventure around every corner.

Planning your Kenya Safari

Essentially, planning your holiday to Kenya will be centered around the game reserves and national parks - after all it is Big Game that most people seek. For this reason, most safaris will follow a combination of visits to different wildlife areas. The best route will invariably be decided according to time and of course budget. Whilst some parks and reserves are easily accessible by road, others are more easily accessed by air. The Masai Mara, Samburu, Tsavo East and West national parks, Amboseli and Laikipia are all easily accessed by either road or air. For those who have time on their hands, some 'time out' on one of Kenya's superb beaches is an absolute must, to finish off a trip of a lifetime. Our travel specialists are on hand to assist you plan the most exciting and economic itinerary for you, please contact us for further information on this.