KENYA: The animal magic of Kenya

May 19 2008 by Emma Pinch, Liverpool Daily Post

The vibrant fortress town of Mombassa dominates the north coast, which is lapped by the Indian Ocean. The fringes of Mombassa are home to some of the poorest Kenyans, but even the poorest we met wanted to trade, not beg, and were smiling, dignified and welcoming. Much income relies on tourism, especially around the coast, and were hard hit when the tourism dried up following the well-publicised but isolated spate of violence 300 miles west in January.

Diani Beach is the sort of beach that millions of retirement dreams are made of. Sixteen miles of white icing sugar sand, swaying palms and a shimmering blue sea, kept calm by a coral reef, and warm even in winter. We found ourselves shaking our heads in disbelief that we had so much room to ourselves.

We stayed at the German-owned Diani Sea Resort, directly on the beach. Tumbling bougainvillea, mango and coconut palms, with monkeys scurrying about overhead, and staff who sing "jambo" at you out of pure friendliness, it’s a tropical paradise, and we wished we could have stayed longer. The fantastic diving to be had here, on the coral reef which is accessible from the beach, and the game fishing are activities which are still something of a well kept secret.

Few places that you go really match up to what you’ve read and hoped, but Kenya was everything I’d hoped Africa would be. I can’t wait to say jambo to it again.

emmapinch@dailypost.co.uk

Getting There

VIRGIN Holidays South Africa offer five nights on a Masai Mara safari and five nights on Mombassa Beach from £1199 per adult all inclusive, from Heathrow.

To book visit www.virginholidays.com or call 0844 5573 861 or visit the tourist board site at www.magicalkenya.com

Activities:

Savage Wilderness Safaris www.whitewaterkenya.com

Safari tours with Vintage Africa, www.vintageafrica.com and As you Like it Safaris www.asyoulikeitsafaris.com

Hotels:

Outspan in Aberdare National Park, www.aberdaresafarihotels.com

Borana Lodge, www.borana.co.ke

Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge, www.sarovahotels.com

Diani Sea Resort, www.kenya-hotels.de

Sun n Sand Beach Resort, www.sunnsand.co.ke.

Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, www.windsorgolfresort.com