Kenya is righfully known as Africa's premier destination for wildlife safaris. It's reputation is well-deserved, for its national parks and reserves are magnificent, offering many opportunities for observing a wide diversity of African wildlife.

If you only come to Kenya to see game, however, you are missing out the opportunity to relax on one of it`s fabulous beaches. Kenya`s coastal areas are magnificent and make a fabulous conclusion to a hot, dusty safari.

Kenya`s cultural traditions are also not to be missed. Spend some time with a Masaii family and you will truly experience Africa. Learn about the ancient traditions and beliefs of Kenya's many ethnic groups and how they are working to maintain their culture in today's internet and cell phone-connected world.

Kenya offers a wide array of accommodation styles to suit any budget, from basic bush camps to incredibly luxurious tented camps and lodges.

The highlight of most Kenya safaris is the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, widely regarded as the best game-viewing park in Kenya, and many would argue, in Africa. The "Big Five" (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos) may be spotted here, and more than a million wildebeests and zebras migrate annually to Masai Mara from the parched Serengeti plains of neighboring Tanzania. If your visit to Kenya coincides with the migration, you will have the opportunity to observe one of the most massive movements of animals on the planet. Millions of animals make the move to the Mara's greener pastures every year, and at times there are wildebeest, zebra and other migratory species literally for as far as they eye can see. Following close in their footsteps are the predators that rely on these animals: lion, hyena, cheetah and leopard. This is a spectacle that draws thousands of visitors to Kenya each year in July and August and is a highlight of any Kenyan safari.

Amboseli Game Reserve features the majestic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, providing incredible photography opportunities. A highlight in Amboseli are the elephants, who teetered on the brink of extinction from poaching a decade ago, now a healthy and viable population. There are about 900 elephants in the park and the bull elephants have some of the largest tusks in all of Kenya. Wildlife here includes the zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala, caracal and serval cat, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, wild dog, and hippo. There are also over 400 species of birds, including the bee-eater, kingfisher, African fish eagle, martial eagle and pygmy falcon.

For those of you who are up to the adventure, and the altitude, climbing Kilimanjaro to the "roof of Africa" is a highlight not to be missed. Challenging yet not extremely technical, the view of the surrounding plains from the peak of Africa's highest mountain is an experience not to be missed.

Lake Nakuru National Park is the home of Joy Adams' "Born Free" lions and is a beautiful park on the edge of Lake Nakuru, a soda lake home over a million pink flamingoes. The bird life here is astonishing, and the park is has been designated as a protected area for the extremely endangered black rhino, of which there were only two left in 1987.Other wildlife that can be easily observed includes the buffalo, leopard, lion, Rothschild's giraffe, black and white Colobus monkey in the forests and animals like the eland, steinbok, impala, Chandler's reedbuck, dikdik in the bushland. Finally, rock hyrax and the klipspringer are found on the cliffs and escarpment.

Tsavo East National Park is Kenya's oldest national park and also its largest, at almost 12,000 square kilometers. The park contains some fantastic terrain, including rivers, lakes, tarns, glaciers, peaks with a wide variety of vegetation, including grasslands, acacia vegetation, open plains and savanna. It is therefore recognized as one of the world's leading bio-diversity strongholds. Visitors can view a variety of animals at the park, including elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, crocodile, waterbuck, kudu, gerenuk, zebra and Aruba Hunter's hartebeest. There are also about 500 species of birds, including the ostrich, and migratory birds like kestrels and buzzards. Also available are camel-back safaris which allow close game viewing that does not disturb the animals.

Tsavo West National Park borders Tanzania's Serengeti.. Covering a large area consisting of diverse terrains, the park covers 9,065 square kilometers and provides diverse habitats for its animals as altitude ranges from 500 ft to 6,000 ft above sea level. Thus there are rivers, forests, lakes, wooded grasslands and mountains, each harboring a distinct set of animals.

The park became famous through the notorious "Man Eaters of Tsavo" incident at the turn of the century, when man-eating lions were preying on the workers building the great Uganda Railway. In fact, the carriage from which they pulled a traveler is now on display in the Nairobi Railway Museum. This incident was also depicted in the popular movie "Ghost and the Darkness."

There is a quite a variety of wildlife and birdlife in the park. Over 600 species of birds have been recorded. Moreover, game viewing is fairly easy. Animals include the leopard, cheetah, buffalo, rhino, elephant, giraffe, zebra, lion, crocodile, mongoose, hyrax, dik dik and porcupine.

The Mzima Springs is a major attraction for visitors. This is a pool of natural spring water with underwater viewing hides from which one can observe hippos. The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary is another safe haven for rhinos. Finally, the park offers excellent views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Aberdare National Park is located 180 km from Nairobi and stretches over a wide variety of terrains because it covers altitudes from about 7,000 feet to 14,000 feet above sea level. The park offers a wide range of beautiful landscapes - from the mountain peaks that rise to 14,000 feet above sea level, to their deep, v-shaped valleys intersected by streams and rivers, waterfalls, and even moorland, bamboo forests and rainforests as one goes down to lower altitudes.

Two famed hotels, Treetops and the Ark, provide excellent nighttime wildlife viewing. From here, visitors can observe various animals, such as elephant, buffalo, lion and rhino, which are attracted to the waterholes. Animals easily observed include the lion, leopard, baboon, black and white Colobus, and sykes monkey. Rarer sightings include those of the Golden Cat and the Bongo - an elusive forest antelope that lives in the bamboo forest. Animals like the eland and spotted and melanistic serval cats can be found higher up in the moorlands. The Park also contains the second largest population of the Black Rhino in Kenya. Visitors can also indulge in walking, picnics, trout fishing in the rivers and camping in the moorlands. The bird viewing is exceptionally rewarding, with over 250 species of birds in the park, including the Jackson's Francolin, sparry hawk, goshawk, eagle, sunbird and plover. Completing the lovely picture is the belief of the traditional Kikuyu that the Aberdare Mountain Range, where this park is located, is one of the homes of Ngai, or God.

Kenya`s coastal region is one of the world`s most pristine and beautiful tropical areas. Its white sand beaches and palm trees rival those anywhere, and a few days` visit makes a wonderful conclusion to a hot, dusty safari. The coast retains its ancient Swahili culture after centuries of trade with Arabic countries. This culture can be observed in the architecture, people, and historical sites of this fascinating region.

Mombasa, the largest city on the Kenyan coast, is one of East Africa`s largest ports. A walk through its ancient Old Town reveals hidden gems in its ornately carved wooden doors, narrow passageways and arabic architecture. There is a wide selection of resorts both south and north of Mombasa offering beach vacations to suit any taste and budget, from backpacking to luxury. Rent a small cottage on the beach or stay in a five-star hotel with all the amenities, the magic of Kenya's coast will entrance you no matter where you stay.

As Kenya`s oldest living town, Lamu has a rich and colorful history. The town was one of the original string of Swahili settlements that stretched from Somalia to Mozambique. Lamu appears to be a region almost frozen in time. The physical appearance and the character of the town have changed very little over the centuries. The narrow, winding streets accommodate only pedestrian or donkey traffic; the town is only accessible by boat. The population of Lamu remains almost exclusively Islamic. Men still wear full length robes known as khanzus with kofia caps while women cover themselves in the black wraparound cloth common in other Islamic cultures. In the early 1970s, Lamu became famous for its reputation as an exotic, remote, and self-contained society.