9492 TRAVELTRAVEL ++ LEISURE / JANUARY 2017 LEISURE / JANUARY 2017
Guide
T
H
E
EAST AFRICAKenya
J
UST when you said dismissively
“Kenya, been there, done that,” this
sultan of all safari destinations like a
wily cabaret dancer pulled up its skirts
a little further to keep you enticed. Yes,
Kenya has been seductively unveiling
unimaginable nooks (and “nook” in
Kenya means endless wild expanses) of
seldom-explored territories that change
so dramatically so rapidly that you
wonder if you’re in the same country.
And just when you thought you’d done
the Masai Mara (if it’s possible to!) Great
Plains Conservation lures you back
with their latest little number Great
Plains Mara Expedition Camp, a more
intimate interpretation of its celebrated
Mara Plains Camp, the classiest safari
camp on earth, surely. Ensconced on
a riverbed where throbbing forest and
savannah meet Mara Expedition quite
simply enchants, casting you back to
Africa’s romantic safari era. Experience
camp life à la Africa’s original explorers.
Exclusive and exquisite this camp has
but 5 tents and the best food on safari-
we don’t mean in the wild (don’t feed the
animals and don’t feed on the animals
or in these parts you’ll have more than
the RSS baying for your blood). Great
Plains’ most unique feature is that
they’ve hand-picked the best guides
in the business- they’re savvy, funny,
sharp, they can spot a leopard a light-
year away and tell a tale with as much
drama as Willi Shakespeare and with
more wit. Mara Expedition’s attractionsinclude access to two migrations—the
renowned Serengeti migration and the
green season Loita Plains migration.
Moreover, leopards famously slink its
riverbed so you needn’t squat around a
month to spot the clandestine spotted
creature. Find the heights of luxury at
Angama Mara precipitously perched
on a ridge. It’s new, has too many
famous names behind it to enumerate
and Rift Valley views to make your jaw
drop 1,000 feet down to the Masai Mara
below. Finch Hattons in Tsavo National
Park has fi nally re-emerged and sports
a sensational new look. They’ve tiered
tents so big you’d get lost in them but
it’s best not to if you want to make
your way to the chandeliered, silver-
candelabrad dining hall where 7-course
suppers still unleash. And if you didn’t
know Laikipia then you will now that
Elewana Collection has launched Loisaba
Tented Camp by Elewana, one of the
most exciting new properties in Kenya
with ten suites fl aunting contemporary
African elegance. Loftily swaying on an
escarpment, the camp off ers uninhibited
views across Laikipia’s variegated
landscape straight to Mt Kenya. ▪Expect sky safaris and one
of Africa’s most picturesque
infi nity pools that seemingly
fl ies to the horizon.
TOP 5 THINGS
TO DO IN KENYA
BREAKFAST WITH GIRAFFES (thesafaricollection.com)
The Giraffe Manor is home to a herd of
the Rothschild's giraffe. Don't be
surprised if you find them craning their
necks through the large windows to
eat your breakfast.FOSTER AN ELEPHANT (sheldrickwildlifetrust.org)
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in
Nairobi rescues orphaned elephants
and rhinos. You can play with baby
elephants during their mud-bath
sessions every morning.OL MALO RANCH (olmalo.com)
A privately ranch owned by the
Francombe family, Ol Malo is a game
sanctuary right in the centre of African
bush. The ranch is also known as a
popular proposing spot for lovers.CHEESE TOUR (brownscheese.com)
The award-winning Brown’s Cheese
factory has won many accolades,
including the South African Dairy
Championship and awards from the
East Africa Cheese Festival.ALI BARBOUR’S CAVE RESTAURANT (alibarbours.co)
This cave restaurant in Diani is thought
to be around 1,20,000 to 1,80,000
years old. The seating is 10 metres
below ground in an open-air coral cave.
The restaurant specialises in seafood.You can fly directly from New Delhi
Indira Gandhi International Airport
to Nairobi, Kenya (NBO). Many
airlines including KLM, Etihad, Jet
Airways, Emirates and Kenya
Airways fly directly to Nairobi.
magicalkenya.com/HOW TO
GET THEREFROM TOP: COURTESY OF MARA EXPEDITION CAMP; INSET(COURTESY OF KENYA:FINCH HATTONS)