One of Kenya's original National Parks established in 1948, it features 117 sq. kms of pristine savannah and yet is only 8 kms from the city centre. Large populations of Giraffe, Wildebeest, Eland and Gazelle dominate the plains. Of the big five only the Elephant has not been spotted. Prides of Lions appear at the entrance to Mbagathi Gorge. This park, so convenient to the business traveller also offers the spectacle of a Nairobi silhouette on the near horizon. Bounded by the Athi River to the south with its Hippo pools, here there are two animal orphanages including Daphne Sheldrick's Home for Orphaned Elephants and Rhinos.

The airport stands in splendid isolation on the low plains between Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, equidistant from the towns of Moshi and Arusha.

For those climbing the mountain, Moshi is the nearest town, and Kilimanjaro Airport the usual entry point. An international airport, most visitors coming to the northern Game Parks of Tanzania arrive in Tanzania here. Some arrive on International carriers, while others come in with Airkenya from Nairobi.

Those visitors arriving or leaving on Airkenya will have to clear customs and immigration, before continuing their journey. If you are climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, then this will be your disembarkation point.

These ranches cover a wide range of landscapes, with high plains and low forested valleys. On most ranches cattle share the land with free ranging wildlife. In recent years this wildlife has become a valuable asset, with many ranches now establishing guest houses, home stays and private camps within their boundaries. This has proven a great success, and many ranches now rely on a thriving tourist trade.

Importantly, community ranches have also formed. These are sanctuaries created by local communities, who have combined small scale farms and grazing land into large group ranches. Once again, the tourist trade has proved infinitely more profitable than agriculture or herding, and this allows them to use their traditional lands in a way that is sustainable and productive. Significantly, they are conserving more than just wildlife, but also a way of life. These ranches have bolstered a sense of local identity and strengthened community ties. These community ranches are the best place in Kenya to learn more about traditional cultures and their role in modern world.

The result is an area of beautiful wilderness, where protected game roams freely and safely. Centred around the original Laikipia National Reserve, this area has become a sanctuary for Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, and a wealth of plains game, including many endemic Northern species.

Northwest of Malindi is the spectacular Marafa Depression, locally known as Nyari and popularly known as Hells Kitchen. An extensive series of sandstone gorges and sheer gullies, this unique and otherworldly landscape has become part of local folklore.

The thick jungles of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest reserve hide a world of wonders. In the cool of the forest winding paths will take you in search of rare endemic birds and mammals, and visiting herds of Elephant.

The forest holds another secret, the lost town of Gedi, a deserted trading Swahili town hidden deep in the forests, whose winding passages and crumbling walls tell of a long and mysterious past.

Walk through the Forest, explore the mangroves by boat, dive on the reef or try your hand at big game fishing. At the North coast you have all these choices and more, with the space and freedom to relax, unwind, and soak up the atmosphere.