Kenya holidays

Situated on the east coast of Africa, where the sun climbs swiftly into the big sky, Kenya's coastline is kissed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. This makes Kenya holidays a popular choice for holidaymakers.

Visitors can sun themselves at the beach resorts one day, and spot elephants and lions on safari the next....

It's easy to be romanced by Africa during holidays in Kenya. From the brilliant white of the beaches, through the patchwork of colours and animal markings spotted on safari, to the striking reds and oranges of a sunset, where silhouettes of trees and great animals stand against the sky and burn into your memory - this African nation delivers everything you've seen in pictures, and more.

Kenya can be reached by flights into Moi International Airport (MBA) in Mombasa, following a flight time of around nine hours from the UK.

Popular beach resorts are dotted along the coastline that extends away from the lively island city of Mombasa. They include Malindi, Watamu and Lamu in the north and Diani Beach to the south. Most of the hotels along this stretch of the coast offer all-inclusive holidays and feature everything holidaymakers could require, such as restaurants, bars, activities and entertainment.

But it's the animals that many visitors flock here to see. The majestic creatures of Africa are magnetic to wildlife-loving travellers and Africa's big five - lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhino - can all be spotted in Kenya.

You can organise overnight trips to many of the best wildlife spots from your hotel in Mombasa. Some of the best reserves include Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Amboseli, and the Masai Mara, while Lake Makuru is positively pink with flamingos.

Tsavo East is great for seeing elephant, cheetah and zebra, while its sister, Tsavo West, features rhinos, elephants, lions and leopards, and shares a border with neighbouring Tanzania. Amboseli is swampy and quieter than the others and many small animals can be seen here.

The world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, or simply, The Mara, is home to a huge population of big cats and is the destination of animals that take part in the 'Great Migration' from the adjoining Serengeti.

You can also reach Kenya by flying into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi. Kenya's capital is an interesting diversion from lazing on the beach and being eagle-eyed on safari. The bustling metropolis shows a stark contrast of rich and poor, with shanty towns nestled up to modern skyscrapers. There's a wealth of colonial buildings here and you can also visit the former home of Karen Blixen. Now a museum, the author lived here while writing the famous 'Out of Africa'. Be swept up by the romance of her book, which was later turned into a movie starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.

Kenya is also an ideal destination for a twin-centre holiday, with nearby Tanzania and its island paradise of Zanzibar within easy reach.