Balloon Safaris
Not a real safari, and madly expensive, balloon safaris are almost worth every cent of the US$400 or so you'll pay to be aloft over the plains at dawn (that's around five bucks a minute): an unforgettable experience.

The Tea Country
Kericho, Kenya's tea capital and the most important centre for the bush in the whole of Africa, is surrounded by an endless rolling sea of brilliant green plantations.

Mzima Springs
A remarkable oasis in Tsavo West National Park, bubbling with crystal-clear water, Mzima is inhabited by hippos, crocodiles and a diversity of smaller species. Check out the walkways and underwater viewing chamber.

Lamu Island
Lamu is a relaxing and welcoming island getaway with no shortage of things to do and a variety of low-key facilities. It also has some of Africa's best preserved ancient town architecture, many of the houses dating back hundreds of years.

Crocodiles Hatching
Central Island, in Lake Turkana, is an important breeding place for Nile crocodiles. Visit at the right time of year, and you can see hundreds of baby crocs breaking out.

Gedi Ruins
These eerily atmospheric ruins, of a Swahili town abandoned in the seventeenth century, are easily visited from Watamu or Malindi. Take time to wander the jungle-shaded lanes away from the main site.

Nyama Choma
Kenya's most popular big meal out is nyama choma or roast meat - goat, mutton or beef - and lots of beer. Nyama choma bars are to be found throughout the country.

Kakamega Forest
An isolated patch of the equatorial forest that once girdled the breadth of Africa, Kakamega is a haven for hundreds of species that exist nowhere else in Kenya.

Climbing Mount Kenya
An extinct volcano straddling the equator, glacier-topped Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest peak. You can hike the lower slopes at will, but if you attempt the 5200m summit you need to go slowly enough to acclimatize to the altitude.

Maulidi
The annual Muslim celebrations to mark the prophet's birthday are an important event on the coast, best witnessed in Lamu. Book a place to stay well in advance.