Kenya for First-Timers: Mount Kenya, Lake Nakuru & the Masai Mara

In the morning, after a hearty breakfast to set you up for the day, your driver and private guide will pick you up from the hotel. Jump into your 4x4 and set off on a journey of about four hours through fabulous highlands. A real land of plenty, the areas leading to the highest point of the country are among the most fertile on the continent. On a clear day, you can see Mount Kenya - known as Kirinyaga - and its snow-capped summit, which overlooks the valleys of small farming villages from its summit at over 17,000ft above sea level. These are landscapes that you won't be able to forget in a hurry. Overnight stay on the mountainous volcano, standing a little over 6,500ft. The lodge is built on stilts for spectacular views over the forest. With their wooden partitions and kikuyu crafts, the rooms have a strong character. The restaurant serves international cuisine with an East African accent. From the windows, galleries and terrace, marvel at the animals as they come to drink side by side at the watering hole slightly below the lodge. Elephants are often thirsty so keep your eyes peeled. The special thing about this place is the peace and quiet. Here, there are no 4x4s clustered around the same animal. You're wonderfully alone. As you sit back and relax, inquisitive animals come closer to you at their own leisure: it's a truly unforgettable experience.

Leave the mountainous landscapes and forests behind and head to the country's mid-west region to explore its lakes. The road leading to the Great Rift Valley winds through green agricultural landscapes. Herds closely guarded by their Maasai owners can be spotted across the land. Arrive at Lake Nakuru National Park after 220 miles and almost five hours of driving. Lake Nakuru is a jewel of Africa's Great Rift Valley and a flamingo paradise. The national park was created around this lake to provide maximum protection for the recently reintroduced black rhinoceros. Many animals can be found around Lake Nakuru: zebras, baboons, ostriches, jackals and even Rotchschild's giraffes. Overnight stay in a beautiful hybrid hotel halfway between a lodge, camp and hotel perched on a cliff overlooking the lake. A special experience due to its concept and pleasant decor, which combines traditional African furniture and European influences. The days pass peacefully between day and night 4x4 safaris (of course), but also yoga sessions in the early morning, lengths in the outdoor swimming pool, workouts in the gym, relaxing massages, aperitifs in the outdoor lounge; all before settling down in your tent for a tranquil night under the stars. There are ten tents in total and each one is spacious and comfortable, with the added bonus of a wide balcony overlooking the lake.

The journey is around 150 miles, taking six to seven hours. Make your way south through a few villages that allow you to experience the daily lives of Kenyans. On your way, pass large tea plantations, lakes, rocky highlands and vast farmlands. After Narok, the rugged and green landscapes gradually disappear to make way for the bush of the Mara, which ends in Tanzania's Serengeti around 310 miles below. The light becomes brighter, the heat intensifies: you have entered the region that has made the Maasai people known to the world. The Mara River forms the natural border with Tanzania. which is crossed by numerous animals every year during the Great Migration when these frantic creatures throw themselves into the teeming floods of hungry crocodiles and along banks frequented by hunting lions. Their one aim is to reach the great grass plains of Tanzania's Serengeti at any cost. The spectacle is one of harrowing beauty and violence. Two-night stay in an elegant camp with luxurious canvas tents, decorated in brick and white tones. True to the typical African style, they open onto the savannah for true bonding with the animal world. It's the perfect base for viewing the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras in late summer. A swimming pool helps guests to cool down during the hot hours of the day.

The Mara, still inhabited by the Maasai people, is no ordinary park. With the contrast of immense plains and hills, the typical landscape of the region is a plain dotted with acacia trees and bush, offering fabulous landscapes as far as the eye can see, especially at sunset. These open savannahs offer endless spaces for herbivores to graze. All the large African mammals can be found here, particularly during the Great Migration, a legendary natural movement that moves millions of wildebeest, zebras and other antelopes from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara and vice versa. This unique event is the opportunity to see the rolling landscape filled with animals, including an impressive number of big cats. Gazelles, hartebeest, damaliscus and elk also freely graze here, which is ideal for their predators: all wild animals quickly learn that nature is cruel to those which don't run fast enough. Hyenas, jackals, vultures and marabouts then make light work of the remains. Elephants' majestic size commands respect, while the hardiness of warthogs also keeps them safe from predators. The park is not just a wildlife display, it is a complete ecosystem that's alive, abundant and breathtaking. You'll have an incredible view from your open 4x4.

It's time to travel to Nairobi. It's a seven-hour drive to Kenya's capital. The second half of the drive is pretty and interesting, as the road leads through larger towns and villages, allowing curious visitors to get a glimpse into the daily lives of Kenyans. The landscapes gradually become steep and green. Then, enter the country's capital. Welcoming you with its usual hustle and bustle, Nairobi is a city that reflects Kenya's tremendous economic dynamism. Your night flight takes off late. Spend the evening beforehand in a comfortable hotel room specially reserved for you at the international airport. From the hotel rooftop, watch the planes landing on the airstrip. Overnight flight, arriving the next day.