AFRIPLACES MAGAZINE

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August 2012

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CONTENTS
WELCOME TO OUR AUGUST ISSUE

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Giraffe Manor, Kenya Mara Serena Lodge,Maasai Mara

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Amboseli National Park. Kenya

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Malindi, Kenya

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Ole Polos, Kenya

Mara Serena Lodge, Masai Mara. Kenya

Located at the very centre of the famous Mara Triangle of the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Serena Safari Lodge is the ultimate safari destination. Set high on a bush-cloaked hill with long views over the savannah and down to the winding coils of the hippo-filled Mara River, it stands

tyled to echo the circular motif of a traditional Maasai manyatta, the lodge blends international sophistication with raw African beauty, while featuring twin rows of individual rooms, each with its own view of the famous Mara River. The central bar and dining areas enjoy spectacular views, as does the rock-surround swimming pool. Each luxuriously-presented room is accommodated in its own stand-alone modular unit, with uninterrupted views, private balcony and spacious seating area. Activities include three daily game drives in custom-built traditional safari vehicles, sundowners in the bush, breakfast by the hippo pools, balloon safaris and exotic Maasai bush suppers. Word renowned for the breathtaking spectacle of the greatest wildlife show on earth, the awe inspiring annual migration of the wildebeest, the Mara is Kenyas most visited protected area. Technically an extension of Tanzanias renowned Serengeti National Park, the Mara constitutes only 4% of the entire Serengeti ecosystem but its rolling grasslands, meandering rivers and towering escarpments offer one of the worlds most rewarding and evocative wildlife arenas. etting ThereMara Serena Safari Lodge is located within the famous Maasai Triangle of the Masai Mara National Reserve, which lies 320 kilometres from Nairobi.By road: Transfers by road from Nairobi take approximately 5 hours. By air: Mara Serena Airstrip is 2 kms from lodge, meet and greet and transfer services can be provided (Please let us know your arrival time in advance).Facil

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli Park, Kenya is a land of giants. This is a place of wide dry plains, where the horizons stretch into the furthest distance and become one with the sky. Amboseli is renowned for its elephant populations and large herds, including some impressively tusked bulls are drawn to a series of large, lush swamplands. But the most impressive giant of all is Mt Kilimanjaro. Africas largest mountain lies just over the border in Tanzania, but the most impressive views of its snow-capped peak are to be found in Amboseli.

he early light of dawn turns the mountain a dark hue of purple, and its snows into an ethereal pink. The sight of Kilimanjaro high above herds of elephant crossing the plains of Amboseli is a timeless African image. This area is home to many Maasai communities, centred around the Amboseli National Park. The park is 400 sq kms, with its southern boundary along the Tanzanian border. The park is home to more than just Elephants, and herds of wildebeest, zebra and impala graze on the open plains.. There are areas of acacia forest that make for good birding, and are home to many small mammals. Cheetah are also often sighted here. The park is centred around a large hill, with fantastic views of the surrounding plains, often crossed by whirlwinds that send winding columns of dust into the sky. This open country is good walking territory, and many camps and lodges organise game walks, or trips to spend time in local Maasai villages.

Have you ever wanted to eat breakfast with a giraffe? The only place youll be able to do that is at Giraffe Manor. Located in Nairobis most iconic historical buildings, dating back to the 1930s, Giraffe Manor offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

BEST DINING PLACE

GIRAFFE MANOR, KENYA

The manor is home to 10 luxury rooms, all en-ensuite, and accommodates 26 people total at any given time. Sightseeing vehicles can be arranged for tourist attractions in the local area, with the cost of the driver and vehicle included in the rate. The best time to see a giraffe is in the mornings and evenings. The gracious animals greet guests and sniff out treats before making their way back to their sanctuary of 140 acres.

Giraffe Manor offers you an unparalleled experience of the giraffes, with them vying for your attention at the breakfast table, the front door and even your bedroom window.

AMU ISLAND KENYA

amu is a place like no other, a peaceful tropical island where life is lived at its own relaxed rhythm, but a place whose history is as mysterious and fascinating as the winding streets of its medieval stone town. The island itself is a beautiful place of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where tiny villages nestle among coconut and mango plantations and lateen sailed dhows ply the waters.

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amu Old Town

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ut Lamus real attraction is its Old town. The town of Lamu began life as a 14th century Swahili settlement, but the island has seen many visitors and influences, including Portuguese explorers, Turkish traders and the Omani Arabs. ll left their mark, but Lamu developed its own particular culture, which has ultimately endured.

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CARNIVORE JOBURG
The Carnivore is the ultimate Beast of a Feast A variety of meat including ostrich, crocodile and camel, it is roasted over charcoal and carved at your table.

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elicious side dishes and an exceptional array of sauces complement this fixed price feast that also includes soup,a selection of desserts and Kenyan coffee. Set in attractive tropical gardens, the service and the dcor are outstanding.

he Carnivore is also home of the Simba Saloon, a delicious a la carte restaurant by day and Nairobi's most popular nightclub. The informal indoor/outdoor atmosphere, exceptional snacks and the pulsating rhythms of Africa combine to ensure an exciting ambiance.

MALINDI, KENYA

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he small town of Malindi is at the centre of a strip of idyllic tropical beaches offering the visitor a range of world class resorts and quiet relaxing hideaways. urther south, the sleepy village of Watamu is fronted by wide white beaches. his tranquil haven is home to several well established resorts, and many private guesthouses scattered through the forest

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t Watamu a Marine National Park has been established, an ideal day trip for divers and snorkellers alike.

orthwest of Malindi is the spectacular Marafa Depression, locally known as Nyari and popularly known as Hell's Kitchen. An extensive series of sandstone gorges and sheer gullies, this unique and otherworldly landscape has become part of local folklore

he gateway to the North Coast is Mombasa, although some visitors fly directly to Malindi. The Coastal highway runs north of Mombasa all the way to Kenyas northern frontier. Driving your own car or hired car as far as Malindi is very easy.

he thick jungles of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest reserve hide a world of wonders. In the cool of the forest winding paths will take you in search of rare endemic birds and mammals, and visiting herds of Elephant. The forest holds another secret, the lost town of Gedi, a deserted trading Swahili town hidden deep in the forests, whose winding passages and crumbling walls tell of a long and mysterious past.

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vate Charters.

alk through the Forest, explore the mangroves by boat, dive on the reef or try your hand at big game fishing. At the North coast you have all these choices and more, with the space and freedom to relax, unwind, and soak up the atmosphere. here are regular buses and matatus along the North coast. Many hotels and resorts in this area have Mombasa shuttles or can arrange vehicle transfers. Private taxis from Mombasa will also take you to the North Coast beaches for an agreed fare. alindi airport has daily scheduled flights to Mombasa, Nairobi and Lamu. The airport also serves Pri-

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OLE POLOS
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reat nyama choma. Great family atmosphere. Stunning views of the Great Rift Valley. Sit outside in individual bandas or on the large verandah, looking out over the Kenya's Southern Great Rift Valley towards Lake Magadi. t is well known to locals both for its meat and its location. On a ridge overlooking the Ngong Hills, it stradles the boundary of the central highlands and the Great Rift Valley with the sun setting over sweeping views of the latter. The place is run mostly by the Masaai, who rule the Rift Valley

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t is well known to locals both for its meat and its location. On a ridge overlooking the Ngong Hills, it stradles the boundary of the central highlands and the Great Rift Valley with the sun setting over sweeping views of the latter. The place is run mostly by the Masaai, who rule the Rift Valley

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