Kenya

to millions of wildebeest, zebra, eland and Thompson s gazelle migrating across the border, looking for fresh grazing and water supplies. The latter weeks see the herds moving towards the western boundary and the Serengeti in Tanzania. Travelling during this time of year will also reward you with the delightful sight of baby animals, playing and roaming around under the watchful eyes of their mother. The rest of the year, you can find large numbers of lions, cheetahs, giraffe and elephants, not to mention the odd Nile crocodile or two. Hot air balloon flights are the best way to appreciate the majesty of the scenery, giving a bird s eye view of the game as they go about their day.

Famous for its display of tens of thousands of rosy pink flamingos, Lake Nakuru National Park offers this magical sight year round however the best time to see them is during the dry season, when the lake dries out and their food source, the algae is more prolific. For birdlife, the Okavango Delta, an oasis in the heart of the Kalahari Desert, is second to none. Gliding soundlessly through the endless lily covered waterways in a traditional dugout canoe mokoro allows for intimate encounters with water birds, hippos and the specifically adapted sitatunga and lechwe antelopes.

Spotting the Big Five elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino is usually high on the wish list of all who visit Africa. Kenya is a country where you can see at least four of them and if you re really lucky, the elusive leopard will make an appearance. Travelling in pop-top land-cruisers, most of the larger animals are unconcerned with the vehicles and ignore them or wander quite close by while the more timid herbivores understandably tend to keep their distance.