Kenya has Hundreds of Attractions to Pull You!

The country of Kenya has something to offer that suit each tourist. For bird lovers, it is ranked among the top five bird-watching sites in the world; while for sport enthusiasts, it offers trekking on the glacial ridges of Mt. Kenya, ballooning at the Masai Mara, and snorkeling at the Marine National Park on the coast of the Indian Ocean. To the nature and scenery admirers, astonishing landscapes await them from Kakamega’s rainforests, beaches of the Indian Ocean, the undulating grasslands of the Masai Mara, to barren deserts on the coast of the Jade Sea.

Above all, the wildlife safaris are the major tourist pullers in the country since innumerable years.

Prime Attractions

• Lake Nakuru National Park:
  After three hours drive from Nairobi, it was really beautiful to watch myriads of flamingos rejoicing in the alkaline waters of the low soda lake. We could also spot a white rhino, warthog, giraffe, hippo, ostrich, and a lion here. In the park, you can plan to stay at either of the two main lodges or in any of the public and private campsites.

• Amboseli National Park:
  Located at a 4 hours journey from Nairobi, I reached here where we first looked out for accommodation in a camp. Spread across the Kenya-Tanzania border, this park secures two out of the five major swamps. We also saw a dried-up Pleistocene lake. Offering semi-arid vegetation, this park is full of elephants, hippo, cheetah, and leopard and also provides the captivating views of Mount Kilimanjaro actually in Tanzania. The park offers many lodges and campsites for stays. The best time to visit here is from June to October.
• Mombasa:
  This is the old town where we saw the beautiful old quarter and the great Fort Jesus.
• Tsavo National Park:
  After driving for 4 hours from Mombasa, we reached at this largest national park in Kenya. Divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West, Tsavo West is more developed but less accessible. We explored the Tsavo West where we could spot elephants bathing among the hippos and were lucky enough to see the “Big Five” carefully.
• Mt. Kenya:
  This is the second highest peak in Africa on which we could easily trek to its two main peaks namely, Batian at 5200 m and Nelion at 5188 m. It was a memorable experience as we ascended through the slopes of forests, rock, ice, and snow. Being a part of a larger reserve, it houses many rare species of animals too. The best time to trek is from January to February and July to October. We could even rest at the huts on the mountain. However, you can camp. Be ready to pay around $600 per person that is based on the route of ascending.

• Hell’s Gate National Park:
  Located in the Great Rift Valley, this park is named after the pair of huge red cliffs of the Njorowa Gorge that contains hot springs and steams. We explore this park on foot where you can even opt to pedal and camp. We were lucky enough to see an eagle and vulture on its cliff and zebra, buffalo, eland, and gazelle.
• However, we could not see a lion, leopard, and cheetah.
• Mt Marsabit:
  This is a verdant island holding volcanic landscapes located at northern Kenya’s shrub desert.
• Lamu:
  Accessible by a flight from Nairobi, Lamu is among the oldest towns settled some 700 years ago and recently found by backpackers. We lighten ourselves at the Banana house, the cheapest house on rent. Only donkeys and the sound of the ocean waves around us, we discovered its few islands by taking a Dhow and enjoyed strolling in the narrow passages. The Shela Beach area, the Peponi Hotel, and Petley’s Inn (the best place) are some good options to stay. Cheaper stays can be at Pole Guest House and the Kipepeo Guest House.
• Kisite Marine National Park:
  This is full of unspoiled reefs and water where one can try for snorkeling, diving, and dhow tripping.
• Lewa Wildlife Conservancy:
  This is a private sanctuary that safeguards extinct species such as black rhino, Sitatunga, and Grevy’s zebra. Brilliantly maintained, this park offered us the choices of viewing it on foot, on the camel back, or in a traditional safari vehicle.
• Masai Mara National Reserve:
  This is precisely the place where we could easily spot the ‘big five’ in morning. Located in western Kenya, the dry season from July to October offers an unmatching wildlife scene. The exciting attraction here was to observe the annual migration of million wildebeest through a hot-air balloon. Once can also try out the different game drives, walking safari with a local guide, and exploring the Maasai settlement. We reached here after a 6 hours drive from Nairobi using a 4WD vehicle. Avoid this visit during the rains and any other vehicle except for the 4WD as the road is not that good. However, one can fly from the Wilson Airport that takes 45 minutes but with a loss of safari adventure coupled with expensive tickets. In 2005/6, the entry fee  was $30 per adult and $10 per student and child.

Best Time to Visit

The ideal time to visit Kenya for wildlife safaris is from July to March. For the rest, any time in the year is conducive.