by Jeni Rosier

Created on: April 05, 2007   Last Updated: April 11, 2007

If you're looking for the big five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard) you can't do much better than Kenya. There are plenty of National Parks in the south to choose from, the most famous being Maasi Mara, which is the Kenyan part of the Serengeti.

Other major parks are around the lakes (Navasha, Nakuru and Baringo) situated in the Rift Valley between Nairobi and the Ugandan border. It's worth noting that these parks are only a few days drive from each other so it is possible to visit more than one in a stay of over a week.

In terms of wildlife, there are never any guarantees but if you pick your season correctly, there will be plenty to see. The great migration happens across Maasi Mara in Oct Nov and from March to May there'll be plenty of young animals to see. Lake Baringo is famous for the flamingos, but you're likely to find these at all the lakes along with countless other bird species.

Although you can often take a day trip into the park, staying overnight is advisable; the more time you spend in the park the more you'll see. Accommodation ranges depending on the park from tents to top hotels with bandas (tent on a platform with a wooden frame and roof around) in between. Wherever you stay the guides are incredibly hospitable and have some great stores to tell.

Be ready for some less than pleasant toilet facilities. Remember to always follow your guide's instructions.

Porters, cooks and other staff earn little or no money from your original payment so tipping is very important. If you feel that the guides or any staff have been unhelpful or rude then do not tip; tourism is one of the most important industries at the moment and if you reward bad work then it will not develop.

The weather can change dramatically near the equator so pack for all eventualities. Sun cream, a hat, insect repellent, a warm jumper and a waterproof. Your tour company should provide drinking water but you might need your own bottle.

You will need to make sure that your vaccinations are up to date and have others such as cholera and yellow fever. The rabies vaccination is expensive and only gives an extra 24 hours to seek medical assistance, however if you are camping in a National Park it could take a day to reach a doctor so it's best to get the shot.

The parks in Kenya have some of the most breath taking scenery in the world, and plenty of animals to see. The most important thing is to make sure you have plenty of batteries for your camera and to enjoy it, of course.

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