Aberdare country club African Kenya Mountain safari Vacation to go- The Aberdare country club Kenya

Aberdare country club African Kenya Mountain Vacation to go- The Aberdare country club

Most people only see the Aberdare country club because it is the departure base for the Ark, A night game viewing lodge. The minivan disgorges their international, camera toting cargo before lunch. After lunch the dark green ark buses roll out heading for the Aberdare forest. The crowds come back next morning looking weary and disheveled to herded back into minivans and on to the next stop.

For those who have the time to stay however the Aberdare country club can be a supremely quiet and relaxing getaway. The main house, a romantic stone building with red tiled roof was built in 1937 by the Lyon family from England. They named the house “steep” because of its position on the side of the hill commanding sweeping views in all directions.
The Lyon’s were part of the notorious happy valley set. Apparently some pretty wild parties were thrown at step during world war 11-difficult to imagine debauchery in rather staid, British house with its mullioned windows, dark wood paneling and heavy drapes. today the windows are larger but the lounge and bar are still dark with maroon carpeting, leather couches and big stone fireplaces, reminiscent if an old British club.

The beauty of the place is best enjoyed sitting out at tables scattered on shaded lawns in front of the house, from here you can see forever out over grassy banks which extend down the hill-tempting children to run or roll. Vivid bougainvillea brightens the scene and the swimming pool is partly visible through flowering shrubs. The open sided Karuru bar next to the pool overlooks two tennis courts on a clear day you can see Mt Kenya. There is nine hole golf course- rather steep and often host to families of baboons.
Guests stay in grey stone cottages most of which are nested among wonderful gardens on the hill behind the main building. They have high pitched shingle roofs fireplaces big picture windows and private outdoor sitting areas. There is a feeling of peace and privacy, and the fireplace is welcome on the many cool and misty evenings up in these highlands.

The dining room occupies a large part of the main house. There are yards of dark wood paneling and big windows frame lovely views. Lunch and breakfast are self serve safari buffets. Children under 12 are encouraged to eat early. Adult dining is candlelit with a set of menu. Special dining arrangements such as barbecues or bush banquets can be made for safari groups of conferences.

Beyond the stables is a game sanctuary where guests can take a walk or ride the club horses. You can go on night game drives in the sanctuary.

There are accommodations for about 100 guests stay either in the original nursery Wing or in the cottages. The nursery wing is a separate building with five rooms. The cottages each contain two double rooms. Each room has a fireplace and en suite bathroom. If you want connecting rooms you can book the whole cottage.

Special offerings
Conference facilities for 50, club membership available, nine hole golf course, pool, tennis courts, horse riding, game sanctuary, game drives, trout fishing superior gift shop.


Joe Mwangi is a Kenya safari expert with Landmark Safaris Ltd- Your one stop consultants in Kenya safari vacations, tours, travel and online African Kenya safari bookings.
http://www.landmarksafaris.com

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masai mara game reserve- The finest african animal safari spot masai mara national reserve Kenya safari vacations

Masai Mara
The Masai Mara as the Kenyans call it is the most beautiful of all the country’s game reserves. Covering an area of 1510 sq km (almost 600sq miles) it is part of the traditional Masai lands, and its edges are dotted with Manyatas the shepherd’s villages. It’s an integral part of the Serengeti ecosystem, divided in two by the
vagaries of human geography. The wildlife is abundant all year round

Stretching as far as the eye can see the savannah of the Masai Mara is dotted with clumps of trees, vestiges of the ancient forest which long ago covered most of the area. an explosion of gnu population from 300 000 during the 1950s to well over a million today has led to overgrazing and consequent increased in the size of the open plains.

If you visit the park in summer you will no doubt see the wondrous sight of hundreds of thousands of the gnu and zebra on the move in search of fresh grass having stripped the Serengeti bare. Later driven on by the arrival of new herbs the first animals ford to cross the Mara River. This perilous crossing undertaken by herds of maddened beasts is truly dramatic many of them drown others get bogged down in the mud and die. Their great numbers attract predators so it is one of the best opportunities you’ll have to observe the big cats hunting

The animal kingdom
The lion is the king of the jungle and rules the Masai Mara. The reserve is famous for its thousands lions, the males sporting a particularly dark and shimmering mane. Each pride is made up of about 30 animals, idling away the daylight hours and stirring only at dawn and at dusk.

To watch the lions hunting is a rare privilege but they are not as gifted as you might have imagined, indeed statistics show that many predators put on a very mediocre performance. lions and leopards let 80per cent of their prey get away, While the hyena has a failure rate of 65 per cent.

The champions are the hunting dogs though these animals have become rare and are not easy to spot .the leopard is also elusive but they do tend to let their tails dangle down from branches so keep your eyes open. The cheetah who spends most of the day out in the grassy savannah is more easily observed.

Elephants are found in the wooded zones they number about a thousand in the park living in herds of the some twenty members. You may also see one of the Masai Mara’s 40 rhinos. There are many giraffe and buffalo countless antelopes: Thomson’s gazelle, grant gazelle, impalas, dik-diks and topis.

At the hippo pools on the Masai Mara River a colony of hippopotamus squelch around in shallow waters, which they share with crocodiles. For a unique experience book a place for a morning flight in one of the park’s hot air balloons and glide serenely above the immensity of the savannah in an unearthly silence

Masai Mara is the most famous animal kingdom in the world. Animals at the Masai Mara include Lion animal, elephant animal, Leopards, countless antelopes, gnus, hippos, crocodile animal, snakes, cheetah animal, a visit to the Masai Mara safari park is a guaranteed to provide unforgettable memories

Joe Mwangi is a Kenya safari expert with Landmark Safaris Ltd- Your one stop consultants in Kenya safari vacations, tours, travel and online African Kenya safari bookings.
http://www.landmarksafaris.com

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Kenya tour-Central highlands vacation, Mt Kenya area sights and spots

Kenya tour-Central highlands vacation, Mt Kenya area sights and spots

Central highlands Kenya tour vacation: Kenya highland vacation to go spots, places, and sights to visit include Nyeri tour town, Nyahururu vacation safari town, Embu town, Nanyuki town and Meru town. Best sight seeing Kenya vacation places and destination include the central highland of Kenya animal safari parks and adventure tour to Mt Kenya. Comprehensive info about central highlands of Kenya trip tour vacation in Kenya Africa. Best self drive vacation to go while in Kenya.

The Central highlands of Kenya are amazing geography of contrasts. The deep green of cultivation farmlands gives way to the purple gray scrub grass of high ranches where cattle, sheep and plain game graze. Mountain ranges are covered in forests with hidden trout streams. These highlands streams flow to swift moving rivers that suddenly burst out and down into dramatic falls of water. Other mountains stand stark and dry, broken and weathered into moonscapes and mesas. Climbing a small rise can yield a panoramic vista of plains and plateaus rising to range after range of distant mountains. In the center, Mt Kenya dominates

With a base diameter of more than 150 kilometers and height 5189 meters, Mt Kenya is among the world’s largest free standing volcanic mountains. The equator crosses its northern slopes at 33350 meters with the mountain’s twin snowcapped peaks, Batian and Nelion, brushing the sky some 17 kilometers south .Mt Kenya has many moods-wisping clouds can cloak the peaks in mystery. Thunder and lighting can rage. Falling rain can obscure and hide the lower slopes with curtains of water. Glinting sunshine can illuminate the peaks.

Traveling in the Central Highlands of Kenya
At the equator, slight variations of altitude create enormous changes in both climate and landscape. This means that the traveler can enjoy diverse experiences and surrounding without having to cover great distances. In just a short drive you can pass from the cool, misty forest of the Aberdares to the dry Laikipia Plateau with its miles of open ranch land. When you drive around the western side of the mountain you are on a long straight road through dry, flat scrub lands. The road around the eastern side however, curves and dips in roller-coaster course through green farms, red cliffs and rushing waterfalls.

The great variation in the scenery is also reflected in many choices available to the traveler. There is a great range in the types of places where you can stay, as well as in the kinds of activities and experiences you can enjoy. In terms of accommodation there are night game viewing lodges deep in indigenous forests, elegant colonial country-club type hotels, and huge private ranches where you can rid and walk among wild animals. There are even sanctuaries and national reserves where you can stay in tents or bandas and go on game drives. You could also plan climbing or fishing trips.

Central Highlands vacation safari sights and spots
There are three national parks in this region:
The Aberdare National park: the volcanic massif of the Aberdare Mountains is part of the eastern side of the rift valley. With steep hillsides and thick forests, these mountains have not been tamed into farmland. Leopard, buffalo, and elephant inhabit the forests, and on the high misty moorlands are lions and antelopes. There are streams and waterfalls, magnificent views, and lots of rain. It is frequently cold and misty. Four wheel drives are essential.

Mt Kenya National park: Mt Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa. although it is right on the equator , its peaks are snow-covered all year .there are four main routes to climb the mountain and few basic cabins and mountain huts you are likely to see wild animals and amazing range of unusual vegetation. The peaks of the mountain are more often than not obscured by clouds; your best chance of seeing then is in the early morning or just before sunset.

Meru National park: situated east of Mt Kenya and over the high Nyamabene hills, this is one of the least visited national parks in Kenya. With its many streams and higher than average rainfall, the park is luxuriant and bushy. There is long grass, swamp and riverside forests. Tall distinctive doum palms add an exotic touch and contorted termite creations dot the grasslands. The park is home to many species found in northern Kenya-reticulate giraffe, gravy zebra and gerenuk. There are also elephants, lions and cheetah, and more than 300 species of birds

There are a number of major vacation tour towns in the Central highlands.
Nyeri town: is the administrative headquarters of Kenya’s central province. One of the largest towns in the central highlands, it has a lively market and architectural reminders of colonial days. Nyeri is where many of Kenya’s most renowned athletes first trained.

Nanyuki town: is just north of the equator .it is a social and market center for the ranch lands of the Laikipia Plateau and the lower slopes of Mt Kenya. Northern of Nanyuki at Timau, there is a trout farm Kentrout- good for lunch stop under the trees and possible stays overnight. Soon after Timau the road drops down towards the semi-arid northern deserts which seem to stretch on without end to Lake Turkana.

Nyahururu town: is best known for Thomson’s falls which are formed by the Ewaso River and plunge 72 meters to dense forest below. it is one of the highest towns in Kenya.

Meru town is both an agricultural center and the beginning of any visit to the Meru national safari park. Dense forests surround the town and the high altitude means that is often misty.

Embu town is the provincial headquarters of Eastern Province and is locates amongst hills on the southeastern slopes of Mt Kenya

Joe Mwangi is a Kenya safari expert with Landmark Safaris Ltd- Your one stop consultants in Kenya safari vacations, tours, travel and online African Kenya safari bookings.
http://www.landmarksafaris.com

Crater Lake Camp- Finest Kenya lake Naivasha rift valley vacation resort camp

Crater Lake Camp
Crate Lake Campin Naivasha Kenya offers luxury tented accommodation on the tree lined shores of this unusual jade green volcanic lake .the walls of the crater encircle the camp and the lake ,giving an enclosed sense of privacy and isolation. To reach the camp you walk down attractively built rustic steps-a greet many of them

Built under giant fever tree and facing the lake are eight attractively furnished tents and two wooden bandas. The accommodations are romantic and private .you climb stairs up to your spacious tent which is on a raised wooden platform has a thatched roof and nice stone bathroom. From the rocking chairs on your veranda and from your bed you look out towards the peaceful lake and the steep crater walls beyond. There are some particularly nice touches such as the use of carved acacia and chunks of obsidian in the constructions. Colorful bed covers, decoratively painted clay pots and unusual roofs (thatch lined with Hessian) all add to the charm of the place .there are dressing downs in the bathroom and mineral water by the bed.

The pleasant bar and dining area are fronted by a large open-sided veranda which looks out over the lake .there are chunky wooden chairs with big cushions and day beds for resting on the lawn. Guests can take a walk along the edge of the lake and there are wooden jetty with steps into the lake for those bent on the swim. The bird life is incredible-hosts of waders are in the shallows and swifts skim the water. At certain time of the year pink flamingos add a surreal touch to the vivid green of the lake. Black and white colobus monkeys cavort in the trees and wake you in the morning with their strange calls echoing over the water.

It is possible to take escorted walks on the plains of the historical Ndabibi estate-home to a variety of game including giraffe, eland and cheetah. Lady Dalamere and her two husbands are buried on a panoramic outcrop on the estate. An early morning walk (for the surefooted) around the rim of the crater offers lovely views over the plains and escarpments beyond and down into the peaceful crater below. Night game drives are also offered, Crater lake camp is a wonderfully tranquil and romantic spot-a perfect place to slow down and recharge. Crater Lake offers classic escapes for special interest groups, including painting and astrology weekends, as well as ornithological outings with local experts. The camp will prepare special romantic excursions – sundowners on the panoramic outcrop of Leopard Rock or a candlelit dinner on the lakeside jetty – while our safari vehicles can take you to the dramatic gorge of Hell’s Gate or the shimmering expanse of Lake Nakuru – home to more than half the world’s lesser flamingos. But for all its spectacular surroundings, visitors to Crater Lake often prefer to sit on their verandahs overlooking what must be one of the most beautiful small lakes in creation. Our camp has been described as "Kenya’s most romantic tented camp" – and we challenge any couple not to fall in love all over again!

Accommodation
Eight tents, some with double and some with twin beds the two bandas each have two beds and two bunk beds handy for families but a little darker than the tents. En-suite bathrooms with showers and plenty of hot water.

Joe Mwangi is a Kenya safari expert with Landmark Safaris Ltd- Your one stop consultants in Kenya safari vacations, tours, travel and online African Kenya safari bookings.
http://www.landmarksafaris.com

Kenya Lamu island restaurants- Get a feel of laid back mystic Lamu Kenya

Kenya Lamu island restaurants - advice and tips for travelling around Lamu island Kenya on a budget. Information about eating out, getting around and entertainment around lamu
Get a feel of laid back mystic Lamu Kenya

Following the article on Whispers Garden Restaurant, I must correct the impression that all of Lamu island is touristy with expensive eateries. Infact, Whispers is perhaps one of the few exceptions, most eating places in Lamu island are humble, with truly good food and reasonable prices.
The eating out scene in Lamu island is almost exactly that- eating outdoors.
Nearly all the cafes, restaurants, kiosks and shacks that cater for food have such wide open spaces with views of the sea or the narrow streets that one comes away having experienced the street culture without trying. That is unless you decide not to venture out from the private houses and posh hotels on Shela beach.

Our experience at the restaurants and bars in these places was a waste of time. The rest of Lamu island is so friendly, with genuine people showing great hospitality; in the more stuck up places of Shela, the service is colonially cool at best, with locals being ignored as much as the waiting staff can and the whole experience lacking any fun or warmth.

One of the best things about Lamu is the availability of fresh and cheap juices. It’s a fantastic experience for non- Lamu people because nowhere else in this country can one get juices fresher and cheaper than in Lamu. A pint of fresh juice goes for Shs 50 and a half pint for Shs 30.atshela, It is Shs 20 more expensive, but still worth it. And when I say fresh, I mean fresh. Juices are made as per order and the noise of the electric blenders at the back is evidence to this fact.

The variety is also stunning; besides the orange, mango (only when in season), lime and pineapple, they offer pawpaw, avocado, banana, tamarind, coconut and a host of others. The tamarind is an acquired taste but very refreshing, the avocado is almost a meal and the coconuts like nothing I’ve tasted before- it is not coconut milk, nor it is coconut water (madafu), it’s the juice of the tender coconut flesh. They do tend to add sugar so you must tell then beforehand if you want your juices natural. Lamu being an Islamic town, alcohol is restricted to a select few places; with the abundant availability of such divine natural products, I certainly didnt miss alcohol.
One of the more popular places is Bush Garden restaurant, along the promenade. They offer a variety of dishes, but the fish kebabs are the best very fresh fish straight from the sea. We didn’t get to try their ginger crab (having had an overdose of crab meat between Malindi and Lamu), but I tried their Chicken Biryani, which was spicy and served with coconut rice on the side rather than together with the meat. Unfortunately, they served slightly burnt pancakes with honey. Pancakes are also a specialty of Lamu. We avoided the Hapa Hapa Restaurant next door after trying their juices, which we found adulterated.

The Stopover Restaurant on Shela serves fantastic grilled prawns and coconut rice, but it takes forever – a sign of the “ pole pole” nature of the area as well as the fact that everything is prepared from scratch. Their pancakes looked deliciously golden brown, although we didn’t get to try them.
Talking trees is a newer establishment set in a cove half way between Lamu town and Shela. It’s within walking distance from either side, provided the tide is not high. A small place, nicely set up with pleasant colors and all seating facing the open sea, it has a set menu every day with dishes like beef curry.

Their coffees are well prepared but their lime cake with passion icing was a bit too frozen. It’s run by almost friendly team and they have evening “beach parties”at least once a week.
It’s a pity that we did not get to try, nor even see any dishes with a Swahili flavor – except for breakfast. Mahamris and Mbaazi being my favorite, we first triad these at the sea Front Cafe….. On the promenade in Lamu Town. A portion good enough for two with traditional tea cost USD 2 each.
My more veteran friend decried this as daylight robbery and the next day we had the same at a local tea room on a street parallel to the promenade for …..0 for two..

All of the places mentioned above are rather basic but with good views, friendly staff, down-to-earth prices and help capture the laid –back, rustic feel of Lamu island.

Joe Mwangi is a Kenya safari expert with Landmark Safaris Ltd- Your one stop consultants in Kenya safari vacations, tours, travel and online African Kenya safari bookings.http://www.landmarksafaris.com

Elsamere conservation center- The African Born Free Vacation Resort

Elsamere conservation center

Elsamere was once the home Joy Adamson of Born free Fame. Several pleasant and bright cottages have been built on the grounds near the main house for guests ar this is a residential conservation center, guests are required to be members of a conservation society, and the rates have been kept very reasonable. The conservation center is beautifully situated under huge old trees on a grassy slope at the edge of the Lake Naivasha .there are lovely views through the trees and across the water. In the main house there is a Joy Adamson memorial room and a separate video room with an extensive library of conservation and wildlife videos. Communal meals are taken in the main house at long tables. You might find yourself sitting next to someone doing research on the lake or the nearby hells gate National park. There are areas for relaxing and reading, a wide veranda and lots of conservation magazines and materials.

It is particularly relaxing and pleasant sitting out on the lawn, listening to the birds, and watching the resident troupe of black and white Colobus monkeys cavorting in the grounds. There are nature trials along the edge of the lake and on higher ground across the road, where you can see many wildflowers and get good views of the lake. It is possible to rent boats to explore this end of the lake

Elsamere can handle15-18 quests in the three cottages. Each cottage has a veranda and faces towards the lake the rooms are bright and attractive and have en suite bathrooms in addition to overnight quests Elsamere attracts day visitors who may come for lunch or a traditional tea on the lawn. They are invited to watch the film the Joy Adamson story and to visit the memorial room. Lunches should be booked in advance .there is a gift shop no pool.

Safariland Club
Safariland is the only other large hotel on the shores of Lake Naivasha. It has a fine setting overlooking the lake .A wide range of rooms and décor are scattered over the spacious grounds. There is a pool, tennis court, an aviary, horse for riding, boats for hire and conference facilities. Safariland can accommodate 114 and there is a campground next door

Joe is a Kenya safari expert with Landmark Safaris Ltd- Your one stop consultants in Kenya safari vacations, tours, travel and online African Kenya safari bookings.
http://www.landmarksafaris.com