Take a high factor sun screen. Don't forget you are going to Africa from an English winter and so you will be very vulnerable from the sun. You will need a hat which is best bought in Nairobi.

Nine hours flying time from London and you land at Nairobi, my favourite of the African Capital Cities.

Nairobi is a Maasai word meaning "Place of cool waters". Named for its vast swamps, the city of Nairobi had its origins in the construction of the East African Railway line at the close of the 19th century. Once the railway line reached Nairobi in 1896, it became a railway town, populated by labourers, soldiers and traders. It was the ideal climatic conditions, and the centrality of Nairobi that led to its transformation into a major trading town and two years later, in 1898, the sprawling capital of Kenya was officially established.

The turn of the century saw more white settlers arriving, many of whom settled in Nairobi and the highlands, a few miles outside the city.

In 1920 Kenya became a British Crown Colony. Following the 2nd World War, Kenyans began to agitate for independence from the British Crown. This led to the birth of the Mau Mau movement and, 15 years later, in 1963, the Republic of Kenya was established.

As you leave the airport which is normally pretty early in the morning after a night flight, the first thing you notice is the profusion of bougainvillaea along the road. We have stayed at several of the hotels, our favourite is the Serena.

These days, sadly, it is not safe to walk down into the City centre, even during the day, but the Serena has a courtesy bus that is on hand and will take you down and bring you back. It is not safe to walk out at night under any circumstances. During the day If there are four of you you are as safe as you can be. Don't wear expensive jewellery, or have handbags hanging off your shoulder. In fact just be aware that the cameras you may carry and the jewellery you may wear would keep a poor family for a year - or even for a lifetime.

The indoor City Market is well worth a visit and the courtesy bus will drop you right outside the entrance. We always go into the Nation Bookshop which is just beside the New Stanley Hotel, and a great place to browse if you enjoy books. The first year we were in Nairobi I saw a book "Learn to Drive By Pictures". We had already bought several books so decided we would get it another year. We have searched for it ever since and never found it. There is a moral here; if you see something you really like, buy it then and there.

The best time, we think, to go to Kenya on safari is in February. There are several reasons for this. For one thing it is a good time to leave the UK winter behind. It is also the best time to see the animals as there has been no rain for a while and so the undergrowth has died down. If you go just after the long or the short rains the grass is so high that you see little wildlife and they are all hiding in the long grass.

We have been to Kenya a lot and we have usually travelled with a travel company called Kuoni. Kuoni do the best and the most reasonable safaris. Two of the best they do are the Leopard and the Cheetah safaris. Both these safaris are good value and you see a lot of the country and a lot of wildlife.

With most travel companies you are given a couple of days to get acclimatised to the heat Nairobi is 5,000ft above sea level so the temperature is always very pleasant. One of the first things you need to buy is a safari hat.

The very first time Ralph took me to Kenya I woke up in the morning and said to him "I wonder what the weather is doing?" he said "It's a beautiful sunny day." I challenged him on, saying how could he possibly know. But Ralph had been there before and knew that Nairobi is always warm and sunny in February. He was in Kenya with the Royal Army Vet. Corps in the late 1950's

If you are staying in Nairobi for more than a couple of days there are lots of very good tours you can take. You can visit Daphne Sheldrick's elephant orphanage between 12 - 1pm and watch the baby orphan elephants and rhinos having their daily mud bath. We have visited Daphne on several occasions and one of the things that I will never forget is a baby elephant coming up to me, reaching out with his trunk and ever so gently feeling all over my face; quite enchanting. You will probably end up as we did, adopting a baby elephant.

The photographs show Skud the young rhino that Daphne Sheldrick reared. This young rhino was adopted by Arsenal Football Club. Skud grew up and had her own calf. The other picture is of the baby elephants having their mud bath which is essential to young rhinos and elephants to keep their skin in good condition.