The ornate jewellery of a Kenyan woman

Kenya is known as the "jewel of East Africa" and it certainly deserves the title. This stunning country is located on Africa's east coast and lies right on the equator.

Kenya is also commonly called "the cradle of humanity" as some of the earliest ancestors of humans (going back well over three million years) have been found in the country's Great Rift Valley.

National parks cover one-tenth of the country, and most visitors come to Kenya to go on safari and ogle the elephants, rhinos, lions, antelopes and giraffes. Professional outfitters are plentiful, offering guided tours to Tsavo National Park (the place to see elephants) and the Shimba Hills National Reserve. Kenya's most famous game park is Masai Mara where you have a good chance of seeing lions, cheetahs, baboons, buffalo and even the annual wildebeest migration.

Mum tries to get Dad and the kids to pose for a family photo

Most safari tours use jeeps, trucks, and other rugged four-wheel drive vehicles. If you would prefer something unique for your wildlife tour, think about taking a camel safari, hot air balloon ride or flightseeing tour.

On its Indian Ocean coast, Kenya has many long pristine beaches of sugar-white sand. An abundance of coral reefs makes this an ideal place for swimming, snorkelling and diving. Popular destinations on the coast include the Coral Coast, Diani Beach, Wasini Island and Bamburi. All of these areas are easily accessible for travellers, especially when you use Mombasa as the launching pad. Mombasa is the largest and busiest port in East Africa - take a trip around the harbour or visit Fort Jesus, now a museum.

Survival guide

Kenya's capital is Nairobi and the currency is the Kenyan shilling.

English and Swahili are the main languages spoken.

The climate varies from tropical on the coast to hot and dry in the lowlands and temperate in the highlands.

Tourists should be aware that foreigners are often charged high prices for everything from food to lodging to even the simple act of taking a photograph. Taking a guided tour can cut down some of this hassle. However, you will find that Kenyans are generally incredibly friendly and welcoming towards visitors.