KENYA
Kenya - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Kenya Calling | |||||
| By Anna Reid, Issue 39 – Winter 2009 | |||||
| (Kenya) | |||||
| EMBARK ON AN ADVENTURE AND DISCOVER THE JEWEL OF EAST AFRICA. | |||||
| Famous as the iconic setting of the book and film, Out of Africa, Kenya is a mixture of pristine coastal beaches, wildlife-abundant savannahs, snow-capped peaks and tribal, traditional and modern culture. It’s known as the “jewel of East Africa”. On safari in some of Kenya’s national parks you can find all of Africa’s “big 5” wildlife: cheetahs, lions, elephants, rhinoceros and buffalo. You can watch them from camp or take to the skies in hot air balloon to witness the ultimate wilderness experience: the annual wildebeest migration, a popular sight for filmmakers and travellers. You can sail on a traditional Swahili Dhow along pristine coastal waters, climb Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest peak, or visit the site of East Africa’s biggest mystery – the Gedi Ruins, a town inexplicably abandoned in the 17th Century. Here’s a list of some of Kenya’s best safari lodges, beach properties and urban hotels. | |||||
| BEACH GETAYAYS Alfajiri | |||||
| Rated among the top 20 luxury beach villas in the world, Alfajiri is a collection of three private luxury villas that overlook the Indian Ocean. Set on Kenya’s tropical South Coast at A secluded Diani Beach, one hour’s drive from bustling Mombasa, the villas are appointed in traditional African style with hand crafted artefacts, Makuti roofs, wooden beams and Danish ivory floors. Large verandahs with plush cushioned sofas are the ultimate place to take in the seamless view of the cliff top swimming pool, ocean and horizon. Guests at the Cliff Villa – past visitors include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie – have exclusive use of the property. Meals are served privately, either alfresco on your verandah or in your villa, and feature only the freshest local produce: seafood brought daily to order from the beach and vegetables and fruit from local farms and orchards. With butlers, nannies and masseuses on hand 24 hours a day, access to the health club and 18-hole championship golf club and snorkeling off a nearby coral reef, Alfajiri is one of the most glamorous destinations on the Kenyan Coast. | |||||
| CITY HOTELS The Nairobi Serena Hotel | |||||
| The Nairobi Serena Hotel is one of Nairobi’s finest hotels. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, this hotel is centrally located amid tropical gardens and commands panoramic views over the city’s Central Park and skyline. The Serena was awarded Kenya’s Leading Hotel and Africa’s Leading Green Hotel at the World Travel Awards this year. Constructed with eco-friendly materials, the interior is reflective of Kenya’s many cultural influences, with Moroccan and African inspired decorations giving the hotel an authentically African ambience. With 184 rooms the hotel has a wide range of amenities including the exquisite Mandahari Restaurant, Café Maghreb, a world-class cocktail bar, pool bar and 24-hour lounge for all guests. | |||||
| SAFARI LODGES AND CAMPS &Beyond’s Batelur Camp at Kichwa Tembo | |||||
| &Beyond’s Batelur Camp at Kichwa Tembo is set just below where the famous final scene from Out of Africa was filmed. It’s nestled deep in a belt of dense riverine forest with sweeping views of a quintessential African landscape. At the camp you can journey back to the style and glamour of vintage Africa as you sip G&Ts and gaze out onto the expansive panorama of the Masai Mara grasslands. &Beyond’s Batelur Camp is set on lands leased from the Maasai that lie directly in the path of the Great Migration. (The best time to see this epic event is generally between June and August when the wildebeest congregate and prepare to cross the Grumeti River. From &Beyond’s Batelur Camp you can expect to see the wildebeest make their arrival as early as July, but they generally arrive between August & September and remain in the Masai Mara between October & November.) Among the hardwood floors, polished silver and sparkling crystal of this luxury camp the romance of Africa comes alive. Step from your elegant tented suite and sink into a deep leather chair on your verandah or swap the shade of the forest for a dip in the sparkling lap pool. This is one of Africa’s finest traditional safari lodges. | |||||
| Details: | |||||
Alfajiri | |||||
| The Nairobi Serena Hotel | |||||
| &Beyond’s Batelur Camp at Kichwa Tembo | |||||
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