Kenya

WHY VISIT KENYA

Great safari adventures. Including wildlife sightings and encounters such as The Great Migration which forms part of the wonders of the world.

Proximity to several travel destinations. Including Zanzibar Island, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda.

Beach getaways. Kenya offers great beach experiences ranging from the sandy Diani beach, Watamu turtle experience, the Lamu archipelago.

Luxury accommodations. Offering a wide range of hotels to suite each guest preference from luxury, mid range, all the way to budget travellers

Varied attractions. Including the national parks, national reserves and wildlife conservancies.

BEST ATTRACTIONS IN KENYA

Kenya is known for its unspoiled and varied landscapes, remarkable conservation initiatives, high concentration of game, exceptional sightings and sensational diversity of wildlife including the renowned Big 5, these has dubbed Kenya as one of Africa’s top wildlife and safari destinations. There are a ton of magical places to visit in Kenya, each offering their unique charm and attraction. Major destinations can be divided into:

Central Kenya. This marks the beginning of most Kenyan safaris with Nairobi as the country’s logistics hub. Including attractions such as Nairobi National Park, Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Museum.

Western Kenya. Here is the home to the premium of Kenyan safaris, the Masai Mara National Reserve famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration.

Northern Kenya. Includes Samburu National reserve, Lewa Wildlife Conservation and the Laikipia Plateau.

Southern Kenya. Where you will see Africa’s highest peak Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park and down to the south eastern are Kenya’s best beaches.

Boasting an endless variety of things to do and experience, here are top tourism attractions in Kenya.

Nairobi National Park. Worldwide Nairobi is famously known as ‘The World’s only Wildlife City’, Nairobi National Park. Despite a startling backdrop of city skyscrapers, Nairobi National Park is a haven for lions, rhino zebras and various species of antelope and serves as a great introduction to animal encounters in Africa.

Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Bordering the park is Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage which offers a safe haven to orphaned baby elephants rescued from parks and reserve and includes hand rearing them until they are old enough to be gradually introduced back into the wild in Tsavo National Park among other places.

Giraffe Centre. This plays a vital role in conserving the critically endangered Rothschild giraffe, here one interacts with the giraffes, hand feeding them from raised viewing decks. Stay at the Giraffe Manor, where the gentle creatures poke their heads through your bedroom window for a truly unforgettable experience. 

Karen Blixen Museum. Set in the serene suburb of Nairobi, the Museum not only provide the most comprehensive insight into the person of Karen Blixen, but also offers a fantastic space for personal reflection in nature against a backdrop of Karens beloved Ngong Hills. If you loved ‘Out of Africa’ then you’ll love the museum in the farm house where author Karen Blixen lived. The lovely colonial house has been preserved as a museum.

2. MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Masai Mara is undoubtedly one of Kenya’s most sought-after tourist attractions. The reserve is remarkable for The Great Wildebeest Migration. The migration is regarded as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles and natural wonders to witness first-hand with the most anticipated part, the dramatic Mara River crossing that occurs between July and September as the animals enter Kenya from Tanzania’s Serengeti. It also has exceptional large populations of wildlife, sightings of the Big 5, and the big cats including lions, cheetahs and leopards.

3. SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE

Situated in northern Kenya on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River, Samburu Reserve is a unique wildlife conservation haven famous for the abundance of rare species of animals famously known as ‘The Samburu Special’. These include; the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and Beisa Oryx. The reserve is also home to large populations of elephants, large predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah. Kamunyak the famous lioness that adapted a baby oryx is a resident in the reserve.

4. LAIKIPIA PLATEAU AND CONSERVANCIES

Laikipia is a must-visit Kenya vacation spot for guests in search of an air of exclusivity, diverse and intimate Kenya safari experience away from the crowds. Laikipia is home to nearly half of Kenya’s critically endangered black rhino and about 70% of its white rhino. The Rhino sanctuaries in Lewa, Solio, Borana, Ol Pejeta and Ol Jogi conservancies are at the forefront in protecting both white and black rhinos from poaching. Ol Pejeta Conservancy, found in the Foothills of Mount Kenya is one of the prime sanctuaries of Laikipia Plateau. Its highlight includes the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, a population of southern white rhino, refuge for the last two northern white rhinos (last females of the subspecies) left in the world. The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is also in the location, it houses orphaned and abandoned chimpanzees as well as chimpanzees rescued from the black market.

5. LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK AND RIFT VALLEY LAKES

Lake Nakuru National Park. Known as bird lover’s hub because of the numerous birds that make home in this park. It is home to over 400 bird species including the flamingos that live on the lake and in the savannah grasslands. It also inhabits over 100 endangered rhinos including the black and white rhinos, the endangered Rothschild giraffe and other animals including buffalos, waterbucks, lions’ impalas and many others. Travellers to Lake Nakuru get to indulge in activities such as bird watching, game viewing camping and picnicking on the beautiful rocky view points in the park.

Kenya’s Rift Valley boasts sheer basaltic cliffs and classic landscapes of open savannah, studded with jagged volcanic outcrops and surrounded with beautiful lakes. It’s known for its prolific birdlife and in addition to lake Nakuru there is Lake Bogoria, Naivasha and Baringo. Crescent Island Game sanctuary, Lake Naivasha, offers an isolated quiet sanctuary where you can interact and walk among wildlife including giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, impalas and various bird species and a close view. 

6. MOUNT KENYA AND THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

Mount Kenya is the second tallest mountain in Africa topped only by Kilimanjaro of Tanzania, it is linked to the central highlands including the Aberdare ranges forming a great tourism destination for hikers. Visitors who are after less crowded safari destinations head this way for the rugged central highlands which include Meru National Park, Mount Kenya National Park and Aberdare National Park. Meru National Park is one of the areas in which George Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness made famous in the best-selling book and award-winning movie ‘Born Free’. Aberdare National Park is renowned for its torrential waterfalls plunging from cloud shrouded heights to spray filled ravines. Treetops Lodge makes Aberdare predominantly famous as it is where Princess Elizabeth found out she was going to be queen upon the death of her father.

7. AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

Amboseli national park named after the Masai word that means ‘salty dust’ is famously known as The Home of the African Elephant, Amboseli is synonymous for majestic herds of the African elephant and the glorious views of Mount Kilimanjaro which crown the park in the neighbouring Tanzania. The park has high concentrations of wildlife especially elephants. Other resident wild life includes Cape buffalo, lions, cheetah, hyena, giraffe Zebras, wildebeests, impala and many more.

8. TSAVO NATIONAL PARK

Divided into Tsavo West and East, together the parks make up the largest national park and protected wildlife sanctuary in Kenya. Tsavo West is known for its spectacular scenery with a rolling volcanic landscape, jagged black outcrops, solidified lava flows and tangled acacia woodlands overshadowed by Kilimanjaro on the southwest horizon. The East has more open savannah than its western counterpart. Being the largest protected wildlife area, the park boasts significant populations of the renowned Big 5, to incredible sightings of giraffe cheetah serval cat species, oryx, gazelles and over 500 bird species.

9. KENYAN BEACHES

The sandy shores and crystal blue oceans are widely considered as a break off point to unwind and relax after great safari journeying. The dazzling tropical coastline has a number of beaches including; Diani beach famous for its silky white sands, warm turquoise waters and palm lined streets, Watamu which is an excellent location for snorkelling and diving among the dolphins and turtles, Lamu archipelago which consists of the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement perfect for historical tourists and Malindi beach famous for the numerous coral reefs that lie just 1,000 feet off its shore.

Kenya is a beautiful country with so many attractions including the different cultures, the wonderful people, wildlife, lakes, mountains, beaches just to name a few. The vast wildlife reserves and conservations protect thousands of various flora and fauna like the Big 5, majestic elephants and rhinos. The Great Rift valley opens tourists to thousands of birdlife which form part of the major attractions to the rift valley lakes. Not forgetting the rich lifestyle and culture of the Masai tribe, native art and cultures.