Only a couple of hours north of Nairobi, the Rift Valley Lakes are a lovely place to start your holiday in Kenya. This is the Kenyan section of the enormous Rift Valley which stretches from Lebanon to Mozambique, one of the main defining geological features of the African continent. The birding here is excellent, the vast flocks of pink flamingos on Lake Nakuru are one of Kenya’s iconic sights. There are daily flights from here into the Masai Mara so it is easy to start your Kenyan holiday here, catch your breath after your flight and head on to a safari in the Masai Mara. The lodges at Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru are reminiscent of colonial homesteads and the hospitality you will receive here is second to none.

Sitting between Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake. It is a relaxed, tranquil setting, perfect for a few nights after a Masai Mara safari to round off a luxury Kenyan holiday. The birding here is excellent - over 350 species have been identified - and the fishing is superb with plenty of opportunities to land a Nile perch or Tilapia.

For information about places to stay, see Rift Valley Lakes & Lake Victoria acccommodation.