Royal Zanzibar

This is a newly opened resort and it does have a nice feel to it, it has some good amenities,a fitness centre, massage room, beauty salon and Dive centre,for those who like to enjoy different sports the animation team arrange lots of fun things to do in the day, ranging from volley ball on the beach to water polo.There is a man made beach area for sunbathing that leads onto the main beach. It also has a number of pools, including an infinity pool to lounge the day away. 2 restaurants with a good choice of food although it is recommended to take the All inclusive option as this is better value for money.

This hotel caters for all including families, with a kids club and even their own little eating area.

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Samburu and Maasai Mara – by Sally Watson

On my recent visit to Kenya I was fortunate to go to two areas of the country to experience a safari. The first was Samburu in the north and the Masai Mara in the South west. Both were fantastic regions to see a variety of game but were very different in there scenery. Samburu is very rugged and quite hilly with large ravines which creates long and wide river beds where game come to drink. The Masai Mara was much greener with vast endless plains which was due to the May rains. The wildlife which I experienced was much the same in both areas the only animals I didn’t see in Samburu were lions but I did see a cheetah and in the Mara I was lucky to see the elusive leopard. There seemed to be more wildlife in Masai Mara probably due to it being so green and this creating an abundance of vegetation for many of the animals including giraffe and elephants. Because of the rains and being so in the Mara my visit coincided with the Wildebeest migration from the Serengeti and I actually saw the start of this which was an amazing spectacle.

While in Samburu national park I stayed at the Sopa Lodge which is a 3* property. I was extremely impressed with the standard of comfort in the rooms, the quality of the food and the attentiveness of the staff. While staying at Sopa Lodge I visited the 5* luxury tented lodge of Sasaab which was perched high up over the Ewaso Nyiro River. The tents were of a superb standard and the views from them were amazing. I would recommend Sasaab if you were on honeymoon or a very special occasion and you can afford to push the boat out.

Kenya -June 2010 by Val Fitzpatrick

I was recently invited on a trip to Kenya to visit the Northern regions which encompass the Reserves of Samburu, Lake Nakuru and also the Conservancies of the Massai Mara.  I have been very fortunate in the past to visit other reserves in the Southern and Eastern areas, so was very excited to explore foreign landscapes and vistas that Kenya had to offer.  I was not disappointed.  We first stayed in Samburu at the Sopa Lodge, which was a delight.  Individual rondavel rooms with all the facilities along with personal attention from the staff make your stay extremely pleasant.  The restaurant, overlooking a waterhole and the hills beyond, allows guests to indulge in the great Kenyan experience.  A special ambience surrounds you as every meal has either wonderful night sounds over dinner or vistas at breakfast.
From our very first Game Drive we saw an array of wildlife the country has to offer.  Herds of Elephant, Water Buffalo, Antelope, Eagles and the towering Giraffes.  We then moved to our next Lodge the Sarova Lion Hill in Nakuru.  This was a larger Lodge with hotel style rooms situated on a hillside, overlooking the magnificient Lake Nakuru, famous for Flamingos.  And what a sight.  Even though through the rain the spectacle before us was completely undiminished.  A sea of Pink.  For the evenings the lodge has a large restaurant offering a wide range of cuisine for all tastes, making the perfect edible end to a perfect day.
Next stop at the Mara Porini Camp whereupon we were met by the famous Massai people.  Being a private conservancy, the tribesmen not only own the land but, in conjunction with the Porini Group, are conserving the wildlife.  The people benefit from tourism which acts as a means of conserving the Massai way of life.  So it was really back to the wild without another Minibus (we had brilliant 4 wheel driver vehicles) in sight.  Truly an experience with the Massai Guides giving detailed information on any wildlife you care to mention and showing a deep love of their environment.  Back at the Camp there are only ten tents which, in turn, offer an intimate setting with all the comforts of home: proper beds and bathroom facilities.  This is certainly not camping in the traditional sense.  Furthermore, your own verandah allows you to sit and enjoy the peace and tranquility of this beautiful country.
We ventured to our next and final destination:  the Porini Lion Camp.  A large site with larger tents, again, boasts all the facilities you would require, complimented by great food and fireside conversation over the days exploits.  Everyone is so excited to tell of their experiences.  The camp definitely lived up to its name as we had seen a pride of lions, including six-week old cubs, that day.  At the camp photographic evidence is kept of all the prides currently residing in this conservancy.  These are monitored for development purposes showing the health of this area in terms of wildlife.
Throughout the trip we met a diverse age range of people staying at both Lodges and Camps and all had only praise for both.  So, if you are thinking of experiencing the wildlife of Africa, I can highly recommend a mix of Lodges and Camps to get the true African experience.