13 Days East Africa Platinum Safari

Immersed in the leafy surrounds of Kenya’s beautiful Karen Forest is the elegant House of Waine – an upmarket retreat, which offers guests intimacy and superb accommodation. Guests can unwind in one of 11 individually decorated suites —each with a spacious, marble en-suite bathroom, satellite television, a complimentary personal non-alcoholic mini-bar, TV with satellite and local channels, and tea and coffee-making facilities. Appreciate colourful fresh flowers and delicious cookies delivered to your room each day.

House of Waine offers a wonderful selection of menus, served in various locations on the property, which reflect the diversity of flavours found in Nairobi. There are also two bars, which are exclusively for the use of guests and a sparkling heated swimming pool for those quiet hours between sightseeing. Must-see attractions include a visit to Kazuri Beads, the Karen Blixen Museum, Matbronze Art Gallery and Foundry, Giraffe Centre (to hand feed giraffes and for nature walks), the Daphne Sheldrick Wildlife Sanctuary – where you can interact with (and perhaps adopt) elephants and rhinos – and the renowned Nairobi National Park.

Built and run by the Fitzgerald family, Angama Mara sits high on the Rift Valley’s Oloololo Escarpment, bordering the Mara Triangle, Maasai Mara. Serviced by a private hardtop airfield, from the moment guests arrive at Angama Mara they are welcomed into spacious architecture that stresses expanses of open glass and decking from which to appreciate the spectacular views. Inspired by Nairobi’s Muthaiga Country Club, with its old world atmosphere and conviviality, there are a range of excellent dining and relaxation areas as well as a bar.

There is a pavilion between the two residential areas that offers a fitness centre, a large pool, a gallery of local arts and crafts and a workshop in which Maasai women make bespoke jewellery. The property even includes the actual kopje where key scenes from Out of Africa were filmed, and guests wake in the morning to the sight of hot-air balloons ascending over the valley directly outside the windows. Widespread Wi-Fi coverage is available across the accommodation. The sleeping rooms at Angama Mara are extensive: split into two zones and camps, and set along the very edge of the escarpment, there are fifteen suites in each camp, including two family tents in each. Befitting the location, the decor is spare but well-chosen, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over staggering vistas. With brickwork inspired by local techniques and polished wooden floors, very comfortable furnishings and massages available in the tented suites themselves, and including all modern comforts and facilities, the rooms leave guests wanting for nothing.

Located on the shores of Lake Naivasha in Kenya, beneath a grove of acacia trees, Loldia House Safari Game Lodge is one of Kenya's oldest farms and offers charming colonial style. Ideal for romantics and families alike, the lodge offers privacy and romance as well as family-friendly facilities, all against the incredible backdrop of Lake Naivasha and the dormant volcano, Mount Longonot. Loldia is ideally situated for visits to the flamingo lakes of Elementaita, Bagoria and Nakuru, or the nearby rhino sanctuary.

Set off on foot or horseback to explore the beautiful farmlands and see where cattle graze amongst flocks of ostriches and herds of wild antelope, such as waterbuck and impala. Go fishing for tilapia on Lake Naivasha or visit the nearby Hell’s Gate National Park with its spectacular canyons, hot springs and wildlife. In addition to safari activities, you can also indulge in a spot of bird watching, tennis or golf.

With Mount Kilimanjaro serving as its backdrop Angama Amboseli creates an intimate and laid-back atmosphere in the heart of Kenya’s first community-owned conservancy, Kimana. Set within a fever tree forest, Angama boasts passionate born storytellers as guides and exclusive roaming rights on this private reserve – where some of Africa’s last super tuskers roam, elephants with tusks so large they drag along the ground as they walk – you’re in for a unique experience.

The design of Angama Amboseli’s suites is a unique mix of canvas and stone complemented by the rough texture of the walls which add a contemporary take on African design with nods to the giants of this landscape by mixing elephant dung and concrete. Wake each morning with amazing vistas of the mountain, head off to the games room or make use of the personalised drinks armoire right in your room.

Spend your day on your deck's rocking chairs and watch Kilimanjaro play and hide and seek between the clouds. Get a relaxing Swedish massage in your suite or float in the rim-raised pool and enjoy some elephant theatre as the elephants come to drink from the trough below. Have a picnic lunch or sundowners on the special viewing tower or peruse the studio's art, jewellery, fashion and artefacts.

Lake Manyara National Park offers a true wilderness experience in diverse habitats, from its Rift Valley soda lake to dense woodlands and steep mountainsides. Cradled in the boughs of an ancient mahogany forest, &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge melts into the natural beauty of its breathtaking surroundings. Ten stilted treehouse suites, crafted from local timber and makuti palm fronds, weave a sophisticated blend of intimacy and romance, offering privacy and exclusivity in the cool, leafy surroundings, with elephant visitors passing through.

Designed to exert minimal impact on the environment and provide a tranquil haven, the Lodge offers an exclusive interpretive safari in a more remote area of the National Park. Gentle Tanzanian hospitality is exuded from the team, who have a passion for delighting guests, whether you are on honeymoon or a family safari. The ultimate spot to rejuvenate mind, body and soul, wellness is a pivotal thread at the Lodge and the lush forest environment is an idyllic cocoon to recharge. Holistically centred, enjoy healing therapies, organic practices and connecting with nature. Dine on nourishing dishes with our food-to-table philosophy, sip the freshest juices and smoothies. Work out in your room with our convenient Gym in a Basket and unwind with a massage in the massage sala.

Nimali's high-end boutique properties set the gold standard for opulence, class and style. And Nimali Mara is no exception. Tucked away in a remote sector of the famed Serengeti National Park, this eco-luxe retreat gets you away from the crowded areas of this famous safari destination in favour of a more tranquil spot near the Mara River.

The lodge occupies an enviable location that's perfect for viewing the river crossings during the annual Great Wildebeest Migration. Witness thousands of wildebeest and zebra make their way across the river in search of better grazing. And, if you can't make this grand show, the area still has excellent year-round game viewing that can be done on game drives, walking safaris or from the comfort of a hot-air balloon.

Nimali Mara is ideal for the leisure traveller who wants a classic safari and a luxury vacation all in one. The tented suites the opulent, the facilities are state-of-the-art and you'll feel be treated like royalty from your arrival up to the moment you say goodbye.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to an ecosystem that is unlike any other in Tanzania. Designed with the utmost respect for the environment, this lodge allows you to sleep with the sounds of nature in the background, wake up admiring the Ngorongoro Crater, and enjoy a truly extraordinary safari experience.

600-metre deep crater, more than 25,000 animals and 2.5 million years of history are just some of the treasures awaiting you in this "Garden of Eden". Ngorongoro Lodge Meliá Collection is fully integrated with the local biodiversity, home to the Maasai, one of the largest tribes in the country. Relax in its exclusive spa and delight yourself with a gastronomic proposal deeply rooted in the local cuisine.

With only six tented suites on offer and located in a private reserve adjoining Tarangire National Park, Nimali Tarangire is perfect for privacy-seeking and discerning safari travellers. A destination that is generally part of the northern Tanzania safari circuit, Tarangire is less than a 3-hour drive from the international airport at Arusha, making the park and Nimali Tarangire a convenient start to your Tanzanian safari. The camp is set on the thickly vegetated banks of a seasonal river; the use of natural materials and canvas ensures Nimali Tarangire blends into this primal and untouched landscape. Solar power provides electric lighting and battery-recharging points for your camera and mobile phone, and there is limited Wi-Fi access. The intimate nature of such a small camp and its devotion to personalised service means Nimali Tarangire is a good choice for honeymooners and couples. Two of the suites are set close to each other for a family or small group travelling together to use, and there are baby cots and high chairs available for those travelling with infants.

Closed only in April and May during the ‘long rains', Nimali Tarangire lies in a small private reserve where you can undertake guided nature walks and night drives. Most of the classic 4×4 game viewing, however, takes place in next-door Tarangire National Park. Best known for its large elephant herds and tree-climbing lions (they rest in the boughs to escape the heat), Tarangire offers classic savannah species plus a few of East Africa's more unusual ones, such as the long-necked gerenuk, which can stand on its hind legs for minutes at a time to reach fresh leaves. Home to all the big predators and over 500 bird species, this is a reserve can also be explored by hot-air balloon and on foot. Nimali Tarangire offers day tours to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, and you can also experience a taste of local culture at a nearby Maasai village.