It is peace and quiet that attracted writer Somerset Maugham when he sought to work on a novel without interruption. Most visitors do not however come here to work. The main draw of islands has always been beaches, snorkeling and diving. The attractions of natural world particularly birdlife, tropical fish and unique physical environment are a bonus.

After your Seychelles holiday you may want to impress your friends by these two facts. The islands are only mid ocean island group in world with a granite rock formation. And that Aldabra, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site is largest coral atoll in world. Some will of course not understand what you are talking about but point will be clear that you have traveled to a place of distinction.

Jacques Costeau whose part of documentary, The Silent World was shot in Seychelles said that he had never been anywhere else with such clarity of water or diversity of reef life.

In our day however, a Kenya safari is accessible to many more people. Despite competition from other destinations, Kenya remains heart of African safari experience. The magnificence and diversity of wildlife and landscape is unsurpassed. You are guaranteed to tick off full roster of big five -lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino and elephant. Other less well-known but essential and chartered members of savannah ecosystem are also abundant. The landscape kaleidoscope rolls out magnificent rift valley, central highlands, savannah grasslands, snow capped Mount Kenya and desolate moonscape of north. This is perhaps why experts advise all those faithful lovers of wildlife and nature that at least once in their lifetime they must partake of a Kenyan safari.

Kenya has over 50 national parks and game reserves where wildlife is protected. But as you already suspect, on average safari you cannot hope to cover all of them. It is therefore a good thing that you get very good value by visiting only a few of them. This is unless of course you have a lot of time and can afford to take off beaten track. The most popular and from which those with limited time and budget need to pick from are- Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Aberdares, Samburu and Tsavo. Top in off-the-beaten track category for either wildlife or back to nature activities are- Kakamega Forest, Marsabit, Meru, Mount Kenya, Mount Elgon and Shimba Hills.

Maasai Mara is big one. This is where you must go even when all time you can spare is two nights. This is mostly where all those wildlife videos on Kenya are filmed. The Mara, as Maasai Mara Game Reserve is commonly known, is part of ecosystem that includes equally famous Serengeti of Tanzania. Covering 320 square kilometers, it is nested in southwestern corner of country. The Mara offers wildlife in such variety and abundance that it is difficult to believe. On a two-night visit, I saw lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, leopard, nine kinds of antelopes and elephant. The birds are also in plenty -secretary birds, cranes, stork, vultures and ostriches.

It is in Mara that perhaps most spectacular event of natural world takes place. I refer to annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra from Serengeti in search of water and pasture. The timing of phenomena is conditional on rains and occurs between June and August. The reverse journey is usually taken in October. With or without migration Mara has abundant numbers of resident animals and you are sure to have a good wildlife viewing experience whatever time of year you visit. If you have sufficient funds, consider taking a balloon trip over reserve. This popular and thoroughly memorable ride usually commences before dawn and includes a champagne breakfast. The Mara is 5 hours from Nairobi by road and 45 minutes by light aircraft.

Amboseli National Park sits on lower slopes of mighty Kilimanjaro whose peak is across border in Tanzania. It is quite an experience to see Kilimanjaro hovering above clouds in an early morning. As keen photography enthusiast can already imagine, mountain gives a dramatic backdrop for animal pictures. Amboseli is renowned for its huge elephant herds. You will also see buffalo, black rhino, zebra, wildebeest and other plain animals. Lions and other cats can be seen but are less plentiful here than in Mara. The park is 3 hours from Nairobi by road and can be approached through Namanga, border post between Kenya and Tanzania.

Lake Nakuru's claim to fame is anchored on its flamingo's and over 400 species of birds found here. The lake itself is a soda lake on floor of rift valley. The sight of at times millions of flamingos is quite spectacular. From a distance lake appears ringed in pink. Lake Nakuru is also host to a sanctuary for endangered black and white rhino. Lions, Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo and baboons are all residents here. The park is most accessible of Kenya's bigger parks and is only two hours from Nairobi by road.