Named after Mount Kenya (17,058ft), or Kirinyaga, ‘the mountain whiteness’, Kenya straddles the Equator and is bisected by the Great Rift Valley. Often described as the ‘Cradle of Humanity’, Kenya offers the all-round holiday experience – from the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro, through forests, lakes and deserts, to warm days, cool nights and beautiful beaches.

Whether you explore the terrain by foot, on horseback or by jeep, Kenya provides one of the best chances of spotting the all-important Big Five (elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros). Kenya also witnesses one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth – the annual migration of wildebeast and zebra (around 2.5 million plains game) takes place, across the plains of the Serengeti, and into the Mara. To catch the event, visit the Masai Mara National Reserve in July and August.