When you think of African safaris, chances are the first place that comes to mind is Kenya. The East African country, roughly the size of Texas, takes center stage as the world's safari capital. Travel writer and photographer Nick Kontis takes you on a tour of the safari mecca. Kenya is one of the world's most geographically diverse countries. Crossed by the Equator, the East African nation is bisected north to south by the Great Rift Valley. Its landscape covers vast expanses of savannah, highland ranges, equatorial rainforests, extinct volcanoes, freshwater lakes, desert, tropical beaches, and glaciers. Kenya dazzles visitors with an impressive array of varied terrain, as well as the bucket-list destination of Maasai Mara, a nature preserve located near the border with Tanzania. Kenya is a year-round destination. The period from July to September coincides with the Great Migration, when animals migrate across the Serengeti and Mara ecosystems. But the window from January to March is actually an excellent time to view wildlife. It is considered "off-season" for most travelers so crowds are smaller and prices are better. Amboseli National Park is most noted for its elephant population, where it is common to find herds of up to 100 drink from its marshy springs. Amboseli, with its Kilimanjaro backdrop, is one of Africa's most sought-after sights. 📸. Nick Kontis for @usatodaytravel #kenya #safari #travel #wildlife