Top 10 lists

Visit the Aberdares
Aberdare National Park is a marvellous mix of habitats: alpine flora clothing the land ridges; bamboo and montane forests in the valleys. Driving through it you are likely to see the Big Five as well as more unusual animals, such as, the giant forest hog. Within the park are luxury lodges like Treetops and The Ark, built next to water holes so that you can watch wildlife in comfort.

Go on a strenuous trek up Mount Kenya
The second-highest mountain in Africa, at 5 199 m, and home of the Kikuyu, god Ghai demands some fairly. skilled climbing to get you to the top. If the summit is beyond your range, then Point Lenana - the third-highest peak at just under 5 000m is still a respectable goal. It is about the same height as the base camp on Everest.

Swing a golf club
An unusual way of seeing Kenya is to go on a golfing safari. Start with the colonial ambience of Nairobi's Windsor Golf and Country Club. Tee off again at Mount Kenya Safari Club on the equator, born of a fairytale romance and now the haunt of movie stars, and finish off at the Aberdare Country Club.

Explore the many Rift Valley lakes
Steaming springs and geysers, and a million and more lesser flamingos round the shores of Lake Bogoria, leave a powerful memory, Or there's Lake Naivasha, 'the pearl in the rift', which is about 80 km from Nairobi, or Elmenteita, Baringo, Nakuru and Turkana (also known as the Jade Sea). Not for nothing are these lakes known as 'the greatest bird show on earth'.

Cross the Masai Mara
This is Kenyas number-one game sanctuary and a continuation of Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. The greatest concentration of animals in Africa is right here, including Kenya's largest population of lions. But the biggest draw is the annual mass migration of zebra and wildebeest, between July and November.

See some new animals
Kenya is home to some animals not found farther south. There's the reticulated giraffe, whose patches have jagged, irregular outlines, and the closely striped Grevy's zebra. That long-necked impala is actually a gerenuk, and the rather dumpy springbok are really Thompson's gazelle. Then, there's the topi, the beisa oryx, the bongo, the kongoni and the vulturine guinea fowl.

Meet the locals
At Olonana, a traditional Masai village on the banks of the Mara River, guests and Masai meet and (through, an interpreter) interact on a more dignified and informative basis than the usual click 'n pay system chosen by many passing tourists.

Join a safari
Safaris are one of Kenya's major national industries, so take advantage of the tremendous range that's on offer. Whether you opt for hiking or horse-riding, camel or bicycle, lake or coast safaris, can-vas or chalet accommodation, somebody will have the deal to suit your requirements. You may have to adjust your pocket, though.

Explore the coast
For almost half its 480km length, the Kenyan coast is fringed with white, sandy beaches lined with palms and coral reefs. The island city of Mombasa is a good base from which to explore coastal towns and villages such as Shimoni, Malindi and Lamu, with their remnants of a Portuguese and Arab past, as well as the large Mombasa Marine National Reserve.

Down a Tusker
It's a thirsty country, being on the equator, and the local brewing industry has no shortage of clients. Oddly, though, many of them prefer their beer warm. Tusker, Tusker Premium and White Cap are among those sold in 500ml bottles, although the 300ml Tusker Export is reputedly stronger (and certainly more expensive).

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