> WHEN YOU GO

Do your research: The Kenya Tourism Board offers good tripplanning resources at magicalkenya.com. Safaris can be arranged through hotels or via tour operators like DK Grand Safaris (dkgrandsafaris.com), which took us to Ol Pejeta Conservancy. You will likely need a cocktail of vaccinations before travelling to Kenya. Get there: Kenya Airways (kenyaairways.com) and its partners can get you from Toronto to Nairobi via several European cities. Once in Nairobi, you can get to Mount Kenya or the Maasai Mara overland with your safari operator or via a short flight on a domestic airline such as Safarilink (flysafarilink.com). When to go: Kenya’s two dry seasons — June to October and December to March — are the best times to visit the country. April, May and November are the wettest months and many safarirelated businesses close during these periods. Where to stay: In Nairobi, the Radisson Blu Hotel (radissonblu.com) boasts fine dining, a pool and airport-style security. In the Mount Kenya region, the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club (fairmont.com) offers rooms equipped with fireplaces. In the Maasai Mara region, the Mara Ngenche Luxury Tented Camp (maasaimara.com) provides first-class comforts amidst an expansive wilderness.