Happy World Elephant Day!

KENYA, Ol Kinyei, Maasai Mara: In a photograph taken by the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism (MEAACT) 14 June 2015, a young African Elephant is urged by it's mother in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy in Kenya's Maasai Mara. The management of Ol Kinyei and similar conservancies bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve and in other areas of Kenya is an alternative approach to wildlife conservation. The land on which the conservancies are located is leased from local communities who directly benefit from its use to naturally host and protect wildlife populations. The privately owned and managed conservancies also offer employment to members of these communities and further opportunity of training in different areas of expertise from guides and trackers to chefs and camp management. Strict regulation of visitor numbers and the construction of camps inside the conservancies also limit the amount of people and vehicles present at any given time, offering tourists a much more personal and exclusive wildlife safari experience while at the same time reducing stress on and the disturbance of wildlife populations, which quickly begin to return and repopulate areas and land transformed under the conservancy model. MANDATORY CREDIT: MEAACT PHOTO / STUART PRICE.

Random world celebratory days don’t get much cuter than this, because today is World Elephant Day.

And to mark this adorable occasion, we’re revelling in all things elephant, in particular the top 5 places to catch a glimpse of the gentle grey giant, along with its buddies in the Big 5 category.

Elephant numbers have dropped by almost two thirds in the last decade. If this continues, elephants could be extinct by the end of the next decade.

However, efforts are being made to save these amazing giants, with Kenya’s President Kenyatta continuing Kenya’s long history of leading the way in Africa on wildlife issues through a new agreement with the Elephant Protection Initiative.

In support of the big, beautiful creatures, as well as the remaining 4 in the Big 5 party, here are the top 5 places to see the Big 5:

1. White Water Rafting and an up close encounter with Kenya’s wildlife on the banks of Ewaso N’giro river

One of the world’s best adventure safaris is a rafting expedition along the Ewaso N’giro river where you can see Kenya’s amazing wildlife whilst you navigate the river’s rapids.

The Ewaso N’giro river provides a home to both crocodile and hippo, with the banks attracting plenty of big game; herds of Elephant, antelope, zebra and giraffe are usually seen along the way.

Each night camp is made on a sandbank, and rafters sleep under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of the African night. For the real adventure traveler, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Best time to visit: May – December

2. Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya is an impressive extinct volcano dominating the landscape of the Kenyan Highlands. The mountain has two peaks: Batian (5,200m) and Nelion (5,188m).

These beautiful high altitude plains boast pristine wilderness, lakes, tarns, glaciers, forests, mineral springs and a variety of rare and endangered species of animals; including elephants, black rhinos and over 130 recorded species of birds.

Best time to visit: All year round

3. Sky Diving with a Birdseye view of the Indian Ocean and Kenya’s famous white sands coastline

There are many ways to see Kenya on safari, but how about from 14,000 feet above the ground, falling earthwards at 120 miles per hour?

For adrenaline junkies, the Kenyan coast has become the latest hot spot for aerial adventure where the equatorial atmosphere at sea level can give skydivers more than a minute of full freefall over the beautiful blue Indian Ocean, before touching down on pure white sands on one of the world’s best beaches.

Best time to visit: All year round

4. Maasai Mara

The north-east corner of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is well-known for their unique approach to wildlife conservation.

The Ol Kinyei Conservancy, and similar conservancies bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve is an alternative approach to wildlife conservation where the land on which the conservancies are located is leased from local communities who directly benefit from its use to naturally host and protect wildlife populations.

The privately owned and managed conservancies also offer employment to members of these communities and further opportunity of training in different areas of expertise from guides and trackers to chefs and camp management.

Strict regulation of visitor numbers and the construction of camps inside the conservancies also limit the amount of people and vehicles present at any given time, offering tourists a much more personal and exclusive experience with wildlife.

Best time to visit: All year round

5. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Lewa is an endangered species sanctuary in East Africa and a Unesco World Heritage site, offering stunning wildlife, scenic landscapes and the indigenous Ngare Ndare Forest.

Lewa is home to 70 mammals, including the elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, antelope and more. It is also home to both black and white rhino, offering vistors a truly unique safari experience.

Best time to visit: All year round

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