The Driftwood Beach Club ('Informality At It's Best') is a bit of an institution in Malindi. Set on quite a narrow white beach, the Driftwood used to be the Christmas getaway of choice for the white Nairobi population, where their teenagers could get together by the pool and socialise at the bar in the evening.
Still quite a popular place with the English contingent (Malindi is mainly an Italian beach resort these days), it is quite a lively place. The rooms are simple, clean and neat but without any real character and very little privacy as most have verandah's facing straight on to the footpath that ever other guest troops down. The swimming pool area is pleasant but can get quite busy in the peak seasons and the bar is usually patronised by a fair collection of older Malindi residents enjoying 'when we' sessions. The food is fairly average and it is only really possible to enjoy the sea at high tide as the water disappears at low tide into shallow pools.
It is a friendly, unpretentious place, though and one of the few worth staying at in Malindi itself.
Also known as 'Milan-di' or 'Little Italy', this small coastal town has developed over the years into the beach destination of choice for half of Italy, especially during the Italian summer in August and between Christmas and New Year. All the local Kenyans, who have an uncanny knack for languages, now all speak Italian and greet every white face with "Ciao!". Read more?
Kenya is the most established safari country, and consequently you have to step a little off the conventional route to find real wilderness, but it’s certainly there. Kenya also has much going for it as a family destination, and also a good number of very individual safari camps and lodges with a personal approach that makes your experience very special. Kenya also has a particularly diverse ecology which ranges from snowy mountains to true desert, rolling grassy plains filled with wildlife to craggy scrub intersected with dry riverbeds, sparkling beaches and volcanic ranges. Read more?
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Vanessa's 16 years in travel has seen her knowledge develop from sub-Saharan Africa into North Africa, Central and Southern America and the Galapagos. Consequently, she’s a veritable encyclopaedia of travel information and exceptionally cool, calm and collected in the face of the greatest planning demands.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.
