East Africa’s Kenya & Zanzibar

After jetting into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you are whisked to the family log cabin at Ngong House to wind down and settle into the rhythm of East Africa. Your private villa is the perfect combination of rustic simplicity and 5-star service; set among landscaped gardens in a tranquil enclave of Nairobi, it sets the scene for the rest of your holiday. Take afternoon tea on the cool verandah, splash off in the swimming pool and end the day with a nightcap in front of the roaring fire.

If your schedule allows it, visit the Giraffe Centre to learn more about endangered Rothschild’s giraffes – and feed them in a ticklish ‘giraffe kiss’! – and the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, where little ones are cared for in a safe sanctuary environment.

Leave the hustle and bustle of Nairobi behind as you fly out to one of the most famous safari destinations of all: the Masai Mara. Your final destination is Saruni Nyati House in the Mara North Conservancy, a private reserve with very low visitor and vehicle numbers.

For five blissful days, you will be cocooned in this very special part of Kenya, with a private guide, chef and butler to ensure a highly personalised experience. Set off at dawn to seek out the Big 5, returning to pass the heat of the day like the animals do: by settling into a cool spot on the wide verandah for forty winks or perhaps catching up with your reading (there is complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity for those who can’t manage a full ‘digital detox’). After a refreshing afternoon tea, head out again to enjoy sunset in the Mara and the first rustles of elusive nocturnal animals like leopard, bushbabies and owls.

Having made a thorough acquaintance with the African bush, it is now time to discover the splendours of the African beach. Leave the Masai Mara behind for five sun-soaked days on the east coast of Zanzibar. Matemwe Beach House is just five paces from the powder-soft sand: wake up to the lapping waves and enjoy your first cup of coffee watching the sun rise over yet another perfect beach day.

Zanzibar is a great spot to try new water sports or perfect your rusty skills. Your options include a scuba diving course – the classic diving months are February and March, and July and August – jet skiing, a kite-surfing lesson or a thrilling tandem paraglide, high above the turquoise waters.

Landlubbers can have their fill too: Stone Town is a mesmerising maze of cobbled streets, studded ‘elephant-proof’ doorways to secret passages, shops, temples and mosques. And discover the ancient spices that secured the island its place in historic trade routes: smell out-the-earth cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and pepper on a plantation tour. After a day absorbing all this intriguing Indian Ocean island has to offer, sit back on your patio at Matemwe Beach House, pour yourself a drink and toast your good fortune to be in Africa…