Top 5 UK Holiday Cities

Weekends and short breaks away are always a treat, whether you're a university student visiting friends or an older couple looking for a romantic getaway. But jetting off to faraway destinations for just a couple of days can leave you feeling a little unfulfilled, and perhaps more tired than before you left. So why not grab an escape closer to home this summer? Here are my five UK city selections to visit this year. Bath The city of Bath boasts a long history and fascinating architecture throughout. Quieter than the neighbouring city of Bristol, it's the perfect choice for a cultured and ambient short break. Shearings offer group tours exploring Bath and the beautiful surrounding region of Somerset, and be sure to visit during the Bath Fringe Festival if you're an arts fan. Norwich Brimming with literature, music, theatre, visual arts and more, the Norfolkian city of Norwich is one of the UK's most interesting destinations. Picturesque streets that have remained largely unchanged since Medieval times are found all over the city and independent boutiques are situated on every corner. Make sure you pop into The Bicycle Shop for a meal while you're in town, and visit one of the city's many museums and galleries. Brighton Often referred to as London by the sea, Brighton is much more laid back than the British capital itself, but just as trendy and appealing. There's plenty to do in terms of food, drink and nightlife, as well as lots of weird and wonderful sights to photograph and experience. If you visit in May, be prepared to encounter a dazzling array of musical artists from all over the world performing in venues across the city during The Great Escape Festival. Edinburgh Scotland's capital is full of fine food and drink, captivating stories from times past, and a huge number of activities on offer to keep you busy. Take a walk down the city's most famous street, the Royal Mile, climb Arthur's Mound, and sample traditional haggis at one of Edinburgh's many fine restaurants. Plan your trip using Scotland's national tourism organisation, VisitScotland. Manchester Cosmopolitan Manchester is a grand and energetic city. Home to a plethora of museums, galleries, opera houses and theatres, and of course an incredibly well-known football team, you won't be stuck for things to do. Be sure to visit the famous Chester Zoo to spend the day with some of the world's most exotic animals!

Great Canadian Cheese Festival

The third annual Great Canadian Cheese Festival takes place on this weekend! The Artisan Cheese & Fine Food Fair runs Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2. RAIN OR SHINE as 80% of the show is indoors. More than 100 exhibitors and vendors, about 125 different Canadian cheeses to sample and buy, and 3,000+ consumers make the event the biggest cheese show in Canada representing producers from coast to coast. One-third of the participating cheese producers come from Québec. This year, we welcome our first cheesemakers from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Winners of the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix are featured, including the Grand Champion Ricotta. CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE

Villa Rosa Kempinski EXCLUSIVE sneak peak

Simba Hospitality and Kempinski Hotels, Europe's oldest Hotelier since 1897, announced they would be working together in a partnership that meant Kempinski Hotels would operate Olare Kempinski Maasai Mara and the 200-room five star city hotel, Villa Rosa Kempinski. Villa Rosa Kempinski, in Nairobi, is set to open in August 2013. Here are some sneak pics

Amboseli tour to celebrate peaceful election

We are praying for a peaceful election this coming March.  To put our money where our mouth is, we are organised a trip to Amboseli on March 30th to celebrate a peaceful election. This will serve as a reminder that there is life after the election, no matter who wins the election.

This tour to Amboseli will provide an opportunity for Kenyans' to appreciate Kenya's diversity in culture and geography, and also to have a gateway from the bustle of the city life to reflect on the years ahead.

The tour will begin at 7 am on 30th March with pick up in Nairobi (Nakumatt Lifestyle) for the road trip to Amboseli.  After a leasure trip from Mombasa road to Namanga road, you will arrive at Amboseli National Park.

You will have lunch at the lodge, and leisure time at the swimming pool or walks at the camp. Later in the evening you will go for a game drive in Amboseli National Park.

Buffet dinner will provided there after and evening will be spend at the bonfire with you drink and conversation of a new beginning - as individual Kenyans and as a country.

Overnight at the lodge.

On 31st March 2013
You will have an early morning game drive and after breakfast. You will depart the lodge for the trip back to Nairobi on this day.

Cost
Kibo Safari Lodge         Ksh 10,100 per person sharing
Amboseli Sopa Lodge   Ksh 12,540 per person sharing
Ol Tukai Lodge            Ksh 13,960 per person sharing

Cost includes: Transport in a safari van, park entrance fees,fullboard meals
Not include:  Drinks, other items of personal nature.

For bookings call +254 - 787 687800 / +254 - 705 648246

God of all creation, Bless this our land and Nation.

Lake Naivasha Excursions

Lake Naivasha is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus whose waters are shallow with an average depth of five metres. The lake is popular gateway from Nairobi because it is 2 hours drive from the city. Some of the excursions at Lake Naivasha and its environment include:  

i). Hell’s Gate National park is a unique among Kenya’s parks, as you are allowed to walk or cycle unguided across its breadth. There’s dramatic scenery, with looming cliffs, gorges and basalt columns. Lurking lions and leopards add to the excitement! Marking the eastern entrance to Hell’s Gate Gorge is Fischer’s Tower, one of the park’s many popular rock-climbing sites. Lake Naivasha makes a convenient base for exploring the park, but camping here is recommended and Ol Dubai and Naiberta camp sites are probably the best. Access is by private vehicle or by hiring a bike from Lake Naivasha.  

ii). Crescent Island: A short boat trip from the mainland out into Lake Naivasha gives you access to the unique Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary. There is also possibility to access it by road passing through the "Horse Riding Complex" A wide variety of wildlife, birdlife and flora lives quite freely out there and as there are no predators to be found, quite happily as well. Spend some time wandering around at your own pace and enjoy the peace and quiet broken only by the sounds of the Islands wild inhabitants.

 iii) Mount Longonot is a dormant stratovolcano located southeast of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya, Africa. It is thought to have last erupted in the 1860s. Its name is derived from the Masai word oloonong'ot, meaning "mountains of many spurs" or "steep ridges". A mountain climbing trail runs from the park entrance up to the crater rim, and continues in a loop encircling the crater. The whole tour is only about 8-9 km long but very steep, so that the round trip of park gate - Longonot Peak - park gate takes around 5 hrs hiking. The gate is around 2150 m asl and the peak at 2780 m asl but following the jagged rim involves substantially more than the 630 m vertical difference.

 iii) Lake Baringo: - As a freshwater Lake it is home to hippos, crocodiles and an abundance of fish and birds, but it does not have flamingoes, as these feed on the algae specific to soda lakes. Despite this, it is most famous as an ornithologist's paradise, with 500 bird species, many of which are extremely rare or otherwise only seen in this area.

 iv) Lake Nakuru National Park: - Take a short drive to Lake Nakuru and experience nature at its bests toll at Lake Nakuru National park Which offers a wide variety of wildlife including the bats, colobus monkeys, spring hares, otters, rock hyraxes, hippopotamuses, buffalos, waterbucks, leopards, lions, hyenas and giraffes, but the most popular reason for visiting is the wonderful sight of hundreds of flamingoes in the Lake itself. At one time there were thought to be around 2'000'000 flamingoes here, about one third of the world's entire population, but the numbers have diminished in recent years.

  v) Thomson’s Falls:-Travelling from the dust bowl of Nakuru it was a joy to see the ever changing landscape and vegetation. Tea and coffee plantations merged with the lush forests, colours of Africa that fight for attention in your head, around every corner another view which makes you want to stop and enjoy Thomson's Falls is a beautiful waterfall at the Ewaso Nyiro River in Central Kenya. The waterfall is 74 meters (243 feet) high. One of the biggest hippo pools of Kenya is located upstream from the falls. It’s possible to view the falls from above, and there’s also a trail down to the bottom of the ravine.

Accommodation at Lake Naivasha Sawela Lodges, Lake Naivasha Resort, Enashipai Resort, Lake Naivasha Simba, Lake Naivasha Country Club and Lake Naivasha Sopa.

Fountain Safaris - Introduction video

Check out this video about Fountain Safaris - our services and tour destinations. Leave a comment below.

Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve is the largest stretch of coastal dry forest remaining in Eastern Africa.It is second in Africa in birdlife conservation from Congo and also famous for the wide variety of butterflies.. The ecosystem comprises of three forest types, Mixed forest, Brachystegia Woodland and Cynometra, each containing different rare species of  Birds, Mammals, Butterflies, and Plants. There are 270 birds, 263 butterflies, 79 amphibians  , 52 mammals  and 600 plants species . The Clarke's Weaver is completely endemic to the forest, while the Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit, east coast akalat, Amani Sunbird and Spotted Ground Thrush are only found in the park and a few in Tanzania. 3 mammals which are endemic species :- Aders duiker, Sokoke Bush Tailed Mongoose, and Golden rumped elephant shrew.