It's not possible to see everything Kenya has to foffer in one trip - and we don't suggest you try. What follows is a taste of the country's highlights, ranging from remarkable events to compelling sights and activities. Contact us for more information.

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

02. Turkana overland safaris
Remote Turkana is most easily visited on a camping safari from Nairobi, involving days of bumping through arid wilderness; encounters with local people, wildlife and swollen rivers are all on the cards.

03. 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.

04. Rhino sanctuaries
Kenya has several of these, such as the Solio Game Ranch, close to the Aberdares, which offers the chance to see both black and white rhino.

05. Eco lodges
Kenya boasts some superb, if pricey, accommodation in pristine parks and reserves, such as at Shompole Consrvancy.

06. Balloon safaris
Not a real safari, these are an unforgettable experience, almost worth every cent of the US$400 or so you will pay to be aloft over the plains at dawn (that's around five bucks a minute.

07. Dhow trips
Sinbad the sailor for a day on a tranquil dhow cruise around Lamu.

08. 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.

09. Lamu
Lamu is a welcoming island getaway with no shortage of things to do. It also has some of Africa's best preserved ancient town architecture, many of the houses dating back hundreds of years.

10. Birdwatching
Kenya's diversity of habitats explains its extraordinary 1070 species of birds, including this Von der Decken's hornbill. Even the uninitiated are soon converted, so take a pair of binoculars.

11. Diving and snorkelling
Kenya's coral reef has superb underwater opportunities, with diving schools in all the main centres, and snorkeling equipment widely available to rent for a couple of hours. Wasini, Watamu and Kiwaiyu are outstanding sites.

12. Maasai Mara wildebeest migration
Observing the cacophonous herds from the banks of the flood-swollen Mara River - especially at one of the deadly, crocodile-infested crossing points - is one of nature's most awe-inspiring experiences. The migration takes place between July and October.

13. 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.

14. The David Sheldrick
This superb Nairobi sanctuary plays an instrumental role in the rehabilitation of orphaned young elephants and rhino.

15. Bush Walks
Immerse yourself in the bush experience by getting out there on foot; bush walks are on offer at game lodges in and around a number of parks and reserves, such as the Maasai Mara.

16. Fort Jesus, Mombasa
The site of gruesome battles between Portuguese and Arab colonizers and local people; today, the fort's spacious leafy interior houses and excellent historical museum.

17. Gedi ruins
Eerily atmospheric ruins of a Swahili town abandoned in the seventeenth century- take time to wander the jungle-shaded lanes away from the main site.

18. Tiwi Beach
Simply one of the nicest beaches in Kenya, easily accessed from Mombasa, and less crowded than Diani Beach, further south.

19. Mzima Springs
A remarkable oasis in Tsavo west National park, bubbling with crystal-clear water and inhabited by hippos, crocodiles and diversity of smaller species.