External Reviews

• The Observer, UK. Sunday 27th November, 2005. By Jill Insley

  The black rhino swayed her head then charged towards Imogen, my seven-year-old daughter, connecting with her leg just above the knee. Most mothers watching their offspring being headbutted by one of the world's most unpredictable and irascible animals would be reduced to a gibbering wreck - but I just laughed. So did Imogen, because the rhino concerned was nine weeks old and only slightly bigger than a labrador dog.

  Anna is being hand-raised because her mother is blind and unable to protect her babies from predators. A previous calf had been snatched by a lion or hyena - and with just 450 left in Kenya, Anna is too precious to leave to fate.

  We were on the second day of a safari in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in the foothills of Mount Kenya. Safari holidays are great for single parents - like me - who don't have the back-up of another adult. You don't have to worry about keeping them entertained - each day is filled with activities: game viewing, horse riding, swimming, walking in the bush, visiting locals.

  While most Kenyan safari companies will accept children of any age, you can't expect young children to sit quietly for hours in the back of a Land Rover. The knack, is to spend a bit more and plan for a variety of activities so that everyone is happy most of the time.

  We started at Tortilis Camp in Amboseli National Park at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro. Amboseli is famous for its 1,200 elephants, which had featured in a wildlife programme on BBC1 two days before we flew to Kenya. Studied by conservationists for more than 30 years, each is named and identified by the pattern of wear and tear on its ears.

  The quickest way to travel between safari locations is by small plane. You may land and take off up to five times before reaching your destination, so be sure to pack travel sickness tablets.

  We started seeing animals before we landed. 'There's an elephant!' yelled Imogen. It soon became a herd, which was joined by wildebeest, zebra and buffalo.