Essential Kenya: Amboseli, Tsavo & the Beaches of the South

Meet your driver-ranger at the hotel and drive south-east to the Maasai lands (approximately four hours). The city gives way to the landscapes of endless great plains and soon, Mount Kilimanjaro rises up on the horizon. Overnight stay in a lodge perched on top of a hill. From its height, it overlooks all of Amboseli Park. From the swimming pool and each of its large tents, extended by a wooden deck, the panoramic view opens onto Kilimanjaro. The feeling of solitude and closeness to nature is exhilarating. Made from thatched and irregular branches of Tortilis wood, the camp is steeped in rustic charm. A fire is lit every night in the large fireplace that warms the living room. At the top of the hill, a telescope allows you to look at the horizon and spot wildlife from a great distance.

In this vast wetland north of Kilimanjaro – which is in Tanzania – large swamp areas are home to countless animals. The endless savannah landscapes are ideal for viewing wildlife. Drive around the park, respecting the code of the trail: elephants, like all animals, have priority over vehicles. Everyone must see a sunrise illuminating the Kilimanjaro from Amboseli at least once in their life.

It's about a two-hour drive to Tsavo West National Park. The road crosses beautiful savannah landscapes studded with baobabs and acacia parasols. Come across quaint bush villages along the way in which everyday life seems unchanged. Little by little, the landscape changes to give way to mountainous formations, including the Chyulu Hills, a rolling mountain range of extinct volcanoes. The contrast between the laterite red slopes and the deep green vegetation on the hills is striking. Rocky cliffs interspersed with lava flows and a savannah of bush make up the landscape. Two-night stay in a legendary camp at Tsavo West, with about thirty suites nestled in the shade of acacias, on the edge of lagoons fed by natural springs where hippos frolic. It's a resolutely glamorous, colonial and nostalgic atmosphere. Sleep under canvas in absolute comfort, amid elegant and sleek design. Between safaris, go for a dip in the infinity pool, relax in the spa, stretch out during a yoga class, sip a glass of gin in the bar, enjoy your dinner on fine porcelain under the stars and listen to Mozart gently playing on the gramophone.

Established in 1948, this reserve is the closest to the shores of the Indian Ocean. At the time, its unprecedented size was equivalent to that of the State of Israel. Today, it is divided by the Nairobi to Mombasa railway line. In the west, there are about 50 species of mammals including elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, lions, giraffes and antelopes. Because of the vastness of the territory, the park is less densely-populated by animals than in Amboseli, but the feeling of being perfectly alone in the park is unparalleled. When you have the patience to explore it in depth, you realise that this park is a complete ecosystem that's alive, thriving and breathtaking. You'll have an incredible view from your open 4x4.

Today you will be privately transferred to Mombasa (around five hours). On arrival, a private transfer will take you to the beautiful beaches of Diani on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Enjoy a four-night stay in a small ten-room hotel on a white sandy beach, built in a Swahili style around a lovely swimming pool. You can see the sea from your bed, and only a few steps separate you from the crystal-clear waters. From the shade of the umbrellas, watch the dhows (traditional wooden boats) glide over the unfolding water.

Now it's time four days of pure rest. You probably won't want to tear yourself away from the soft sand of Diani's almost deserted beaches. However, if you're feeling a little more energetic, you can enjoy a massage at the hotel, go diving or snorkelling and spot the marine life that live in these warm waters, try kitesurfing, windsurfing or kayaking, play a round of golf, or follow a local fisherman at low tide and learn more about the shellfish species that can be found on the shoreline. If you want, you can go even further and visit Mombasa. Soak up its harbour, the testimonies of its history, between Portuguese and Omani settlers; and its maze of alleyways, home to craft stalls and wood-carving workshops.