THE last time I went on holiday was to recuperate from the madness of filming a Corrie wedding.

This time it's to avoid the viewing public's outrage at my character Molly doing the dirty on hubby Tyrone and having an affair with his boss Kevin Webster.

I really wanted an adventurous holiday so I opted for Kenya, enticed by the idea of lions, tigers, cheetahs and zebras.

With my younger brother in tow, I arrived at Mombasa airport ready to embark on phase one of our holiday - the safari.

Our suitcases were shipped off to the hotel where we would later be staying and we clambered into a jeep with our overnight bags - cameras and khaki shorts at the ready.

We took the Nairobi Road passing by Mombasa's busy port which is used mainly to trade with neighbouring Uganda, and Rwanda.

The journey was a real feast for the eyes. The streets were alive with locals trading exotic fruit, clothes, furniture - and even goats!

It suddenly dawned on me that we were a long, long way from home and my stomach flipped with the excitement and buzz of energy that Africa has to offer.

We drove through arid landscapes and waved at the local children marching to school, saw remote shacks and stopped at a tourist shop for some unexpected bartering until we finally arrived at Tsavo East Game Lodge where we were to spend the next three nights. We received a warm welcome and a very cold cocktail - just what we needed after our journey.

The staff were kind, friendly and hospitable - something we would later learn was typical of the Kenyan people. We soon adopted the laid-back attitude of our African hosts and with the tours being so well organised, we could afford to relax and go with the flow.

The accommodation at the game lodge was beautiful and would rival any four-star hotel. It was a lot of luxury situated in a vast landscape.

There was an option to stay in a tent and I know I said I wanted adventure, but the last time I agreed to sleep under canvas I was in the Brownies. After a long, tiring day travelling the lure of a proper bed was irresistable so I turned down the camping offer.

We were lucky enough to enjoy four safari trips in our two-day stay and with Chester Zoo being my only point of reference I had no idea what to expect.

At 6.30am, five of us set off towards the rising sun with our driver James at the helm.

Unlike a trip to the zoo, you may have to travel an hour or so in order to spot the animals - but when you do it's well worth the journey. The sight of a herd of elephants lumbering towards us will remain with me forever. It was a magical experience and I count myself incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to glimpse stunning creatures in their natural environment.

Each of the four safaris brought more exciting scenes and gripping drama than a Coronation Street omnibus!

We witnessed a pack of lions waiting to pounce on a lone zebra, giraffes running across the plains with a surprising amount of grace and we had to laugh at the capers of the blue bottomed monkeys.

We had some unforgettable moments. In the second leg of our trip, we moved to The Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort - a luxury five-star hotel on Kenya's north coast.

It boasts five pools and three restaurants. Our stay was very chilled out, with guests at the hotel being a mix of Kenyans, Americans and very few English (three more days of peace!)

Our room looked onto the beach - which was total bliss - and nothing was too much trouble for the staff.

The resort ran like clockwork but at a very relaxed pace. This hotel is strictly for those wanting to kick back and chill out. We had great fun making use of all the pools, and yes, I think I was the oldest person to go down the water slide, but who cares? People-watching from the hotel's beach bar was a great way to pass the sun-drenched afternoons, although a stroll down the beach was slightly tricky as the locals are out to sell, sell, sell, so you need your assertive head on otherwise you'll come back with more than sand in your shoes.

Tour

For those like me who get a little restless, there were numerous trips organised through our tour operator, Monarch Holidays, and we opted for a half-day tour of Mombasa which was well worth doing.

As a result of Kenya's colonial past, which dates back to the 12th century, Mombasa is a kaleidoscope of different cultures and languages.

The old town is reminiscent of the days when the Portuguese ruled and its history speaks for itself through the architecture of the buildings - the most famous of which is Fort Jesus which dates back to 1593.

Walking through the snaking back streets of Mombasa was a real eye-opener. It was quite humbling to see the locals' different way of life.

Some parts were rather run down. While children played in the streets, carpenters could be seen carving furniture for foreign markets in tiny backroom workshops as chickens pecked around their feet.

On the way back we stopped for a cuppa at a women's refuge and learnt just how few opportunities there are for many people in these villages.

Just as I was thinking how far removed it all was from our lives back home - and on the cobbled streets of Weatherfield - I turned the corner . . .

And there loomed a huge sign supporting Manchester United's rivals. It read: "Liverpool Football Club Forever!" Unbelievable.

Getting there

MONARCH Holidays offers two nights full-board at the Tsavo East Game Lodge, including four safari trips, followed by five nights all-inclusive at the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort at Bamburi Beach, with return flights from Gatwick to Mombasa and transfers from £1,029 per person based on two sharing. Visit Monarch Holidays on www.monarch.co.uk or call 0871 423 8642.

For more details on Kenya, visit www.magicalkenya.com

This article has 1 comment