The Great Rift Valley is perhaps at its most staggeringly beautiful in Kenya. The sheer sides of the escarpment offer endless views of wide plains and dramatic volcanic sculptures. There's also sweeping savannah, offset here and there by lakes of jewel hues, from emerald to sapphire, supporting both wildlife and birds.

Naivasha, is home to rafts of pelicans bobbing upon its deep green waters, while Nakuru is festooned with flamingos. The adjacent wildlife parks and sanctuaries hold further delights - from giraffe to rhino - and make for super, short safaris. The ultimate safari destination of the Masai Mara, famous for its big cats and the incomparable wildebeest migration, lies at the southernmost reaches of the Great Rift Valley.