This nation in East Africa is turning into an more and more sought-after journey vacation spot with many curious guests drawn to its huge expanses of spectacular pure magnificence, preserved parks, snow-capped mountains, and unimaginable – and really photogenic – wildlife.
I actually suppose that it’s one of the underrated journey locations within the nation and after spending many journeys right here, I found a few of its most extraordinary spots. Listed here are my private favorite most lovely locations to go to in Kenya…
1. Giraffe Manor
The place else on this planet are you able to get this near a pleasant, inquisitive giraffe? Within the eating room at Giraffe Manor, the home windows are left open at simply the suitable peak so the resident giraffes can look in for a deal with throughout breakfast or afternoon tea.
Company also can take part feeding these charming creatures on the lawns within the morning, or hand them a snack on the balcony from the inventory of giraffe nuts saved in every room.
Situated within the Langata suburb of Nairobi, the Manor recreates1930s hospitality with manicured gardens, interval furnishings within the 12 visitor rooms, and The Retreat spa to appease and loosen up you.
The Manor has been a pioneer in a giraffe breeding program that has helped stabilize numbers of the once-endangered Rothschilds Giraffe. Mix a go to along with your journey to the close by Maasai Mara Park, for an unforgettable assembly with African wildlife.
2. Diani
Commonly voted the perfect seashore in Africa, Diani is simply south of Mombasa and near the Shimba Hills Nationwide Reserve alongside the shores of the Indian Ocean.
It’s a paradise for water sports activities, from diving and deep sea fishing to kite and windsurfing, and for different adventures like skydiving and camel rides alongside the seashore. And whenever you wish to dance barefoot on the seashore, head for the numerous energetic bars and eating places lining the shore.
Subsequent to the seashore alongside the shoreline is the unspoiled magical “Dwelling of the Dolphins”, the Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park which additionally protects coral gardens and islands and the habitat of marine animals and migratory birds. It’s an ideal location for snorkeling, birdwatching, diving and simply mendacity within the solar.
To spherical out your journey, mix it with visits to the Shimba Hills Nationwide Reserve and Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary close by.
3. Nairobi Nationwide Park
Only a brief drive away from the bustling capital with its skyscrapers, Nairobi Nationwide Park is an efficient introduction to the wildlife, with 4 of the Massive 5 of African wildlife – rhinos, lions, buffalo, and leopards – all current and dwelling fortunately within the broad plains. You’ll additionally discover cheetahs, giraffes, antelope, and a whole lot of chicken species right here.
One of the simplest ways to see the park is by automobile, whether or not you drive your self or be a part of a guided tour. Guests can observe some strolling trails, and if you wish to spend extra time on the park, there are three campsites as effectively.
The Sheldrick Belief and Giraffe Manor are each close by if you wish to make an extended journey.
4. Lamu Island
Lamu Island epitomizes the appeal of Kenya’s Swahili coast, with a wealthy historical past and tradition and beautiful pure magnificence. Shela Seaside gives over six miles of white sand and heat waters in shades of blue and inexperienced. Guests are warned in opposition to swimming, nonetheless, as a consequence of rip tides.
Shela has some luxurious lodging with artwork, wellness, and fusion meals, after which there’s Lamu Previous City to discover. The picturesque stone buildings are perched alongside the coast and you’ll spend hours exploring the intricate streets and carved picket doorways.
With out paved roads, the one option to get across the island is on foot or by donkey cart, or by crusing across the island in a standard dhow. Lamu Fort homes a wonderful library and an artwork gallery, and the Museum on the waterfront has displays on boat constructing, home life, weddings, door carvings, and conventional silver jewellery.
5. Tsavo East Nationwide Park
When you’ve all the time dreamt about happening a safari the place you watch elephant herds crossing a large, lazy river and lion cubs enjoying within the tall grass, chances are high it’s Tsavo East Nationwide Park you’ve been dreaming about.
Well-known for its elephants and lions, this “Theatre of the Wild” as its official tag describes it, is the most important protected space in Kenya. In addition to the Massive 5 – lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo – Tsavo East is house to cheetahs, waterbuck and different antelopes, hippos, and over 300 chicken species.
A few of the spectacular landmarks you’ll see on the park are the Tsavo River, the Yatta Plateau which at 180 miles is the longest lava circulate on this planet, and the enigmatic Mudanda Rock which overlooks a watering gap common with the elephants, leopards, and different wildlife.
Tsavo lies midway between Nairobi and Mombasa within the south, and there are a selection of luxurious lodges for guests to remain.
6. Mount Kenya
The second-highest peak within the African continent is positioned throughout the Mount Kenya Nationwide Park and Biosphere Reserve.
Despite the fact that it stands proper on the equator, the volcanic mountain has glaciers protecting its peaks and alpine meadows on its slopes. Mount Kenya is sacred to the Kikuyu and different ethnic teams that stay there, and the world is a UNESCO World Heritage website.
The park might be reached by highway or air. When planning your journey, be sure you make your reservations early, because the lodges refill rooms shortly. Guests will need to have a licensed information with the intention to enter the park, whether or not you’re mountaineering, climbing, tenting or simply sightseeing.
The park is a haven of biodiversity, with many endangered chicken species and bigger mammals like elephants, leopards, antelopes, and extra.
7. Ol Pejeta Conservancy
In opposition to the beautiful backdrop of snow-capped Mount Kenya and the Aberdares foothills, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy has a typical panorama of open grassland and acacia woodland with evergreens at larger altitudes.
Greatest referred to as the most important black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, Ol Pejeta can also be house to lions, elephants, leopards, and buffalo, and there’s a chimpanzee sanctuary as effectively.
A go to to the Conservancy is a once-in-a-lifetime safari expertise, with night time drives to see lions and leopards, campfire chats with rangers, and quiet cottages the place you possibly can soak within the feeling of being in certainly one of true wild locations on this earth. Guests also can select to volunteer, with packages usually working for every week.
8. Chale Island
The breathtaking great thing about the Indian Ocean shore, with white sands, blue-green waters, mangrove forests, and coral reefs is the setting for the unique Sands resort, which sits proper on the shore overlooking a tidal lagoon.
The privately-owned Chale Island is definitely a headland on the northern finish of Msambweni Bay in southeastern Kenya.
You’ll be sharing the seashore and surrounding coral reefs with a number of species of endangered sea turtles, and never very many individuals. You’ll be able to go snorkeling or scuba diving on the close by Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Nationwide Park, kayaking within the mangroves and catamaran crusing.
On the resort, you possibly can loosen up on the spa, watch the solar go down at a waterside bar, and pattern Kenyan and world cuisines at a number of wonderful eating places.
9. Sheldrick Wildlife Belief
For everybody who has a gentle nook for child elephants and orphaned wildlife, a go to to the Sheldrick Wildlife Belief is a should.
Based by the naturalist Daphne Sheldrick who first found the suitable milk method for feeding toddler elephants (coconut oil is used as an alternative to the fats in elephant milk), the Belief now raises and rehabilitates not solely child elephants but additionally different orphaned wildlife like rhinos, giraffes, and hippos.
You’ll be able to go to the rescued child elephants at their Nursery at Nairobi Nationwide Park by making a web-based reserving upfront. You’ll spend an hour with the nursery herd as they slurp down their noon milk, play and take mud baths, whereas educated keepers share the tales of the orphans and concerning the want for elephant conservation.
Guests’ charges assist to pay for the price of maintenance and rehabilitation of the orphans, and you may as well “undertake” a number of child elephants and observe their progress by the nursery and within the wild.
10. Hells Gate Nationwide Park
You’ll discover some breathtaking surroundings, tradition, and wildlife at this small park close to Lake Naivasha, a straightforward day journey from Nairobi. Regardless of the forbidding identify and the official tag that invitations you to take “A Stroll on the Wild Aspect”, these volcanic cliffs and gorges have been the inspiration for the Circle of Life within the animated film The Lion King.
This a part of the Nice Rift Valley is known for its geothermal exercise, and you’ll see volcanos right here in addition to some spectacular lava rock formations.
A few of the wildlife you’ll see right here embrace wild buffalo, zebra, antelopes, and over 100 species of birds within the park, together with vultures, Verreaux’s Eagles, augur buzzards, and swifts.
The park is run by the Masai neighborhood, who additionally provide guided excursions. This is among the few parks the place you possibly can hike, bike, climb, and camp throughout the boundaries. There’s even a spa that makes use of the pure geothermal options of the park, which additionally present over half the nation’s electrical energy.
Don’t miss a go to to the Pleasure Adamson Centre and the Maasai Cultural Middle, and in case you have time, boating on close by Lake Naivasha.
11. Masai Mara Nationwide Reserve
Together with its neighboring Serengeti Nationwide Park in Tanzania, Maasai Mara is among the nice nationwide parks of the world, with the “Massive 5” of African wildlife – lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and rhino – in addition to hippos, crocodiles, antelope, wildebeest and nearly 500 chicken species. Right here you’ll additionally see different well-loved favourite animals like the lovable bat-eared foxes and officious secretary birds.
Situated within the Rift Valley Province in southwestern Kenya, the spectacular landscapes of plains and escarpments are immediately recognizable by their depiction in movies and TV packages.
The park is house to the annual Nice Migration from July to mid-September, when over one million wildebeest, antelope, and different grazers transfer from Serengeti by Maasai Mara in a round sample, following the out there meals and water. The grazers are in flip adopted by predators together with the massive cats, making for an awe-inspiring pure drama.
A scorching air balloon safari is among the finest methods to see the park. A Maasai Village Go to will introduce you to the tradition of those nomadic herding folks, who play an ideal half in conservation. Guests can keep at lodges or tents within the park or surrounding conservancies.
12. Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is known because the flamingo lake, the place hundreds of thousands of those humorous pink birds make their house because of the abundance of algae and plankton within the heat volcanic waters. Regardless of a variety of ups and downs as a consequence of drought, fluctuating water ranges, and discount of algae concentrations, flamingo numbers have rebounded on the lake.
In addition to flamingoes, you’ll additionally discover pelicans and cormorants, together with 400 different species of birds, and huge animals like lions, leopards, rhinos,s and giraffes. This lovely wildlife haven has a typical Rift Valley panorama of grassland edged with excessive cliffs, and the Baboon Cliffs are a favourite lookout spot, although picnickers needs to be warned that the baboons will not be shy about demanding your meals.
One of the simplest ways to see the park is with a guided drive, and there are a selection of lodges and campsites the place you possibly can keep on the park. A visit to Lake Nakuru might be mixed with visits to 2 different well-known Rift Valley locations, Maasai Mara and Lake Naivasha the place you may as well make a cease at Elsamere, the house of Pleasure Adamson, writer of the Born Free books.
13. Watamu Seaside
A part of the Watamu Nationwide Marine Park, Watamu Seaside is named one of the lovely seashores on this planet. The hauntingly lovely Indian Ocean panorama of white seashores, palm timber, sunken mangroves and clear waters appears like a dream of a coastal Eden.
Watamu is house to a number of species of sea turtles, and pleasant dolphins who will preserve you firm as you kayak or paddle board. You’ll be able to watch the migratory pods of humpback whales go previous from July by September, and go snorkeling with the light whale sharks. Close by journeys embrace the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve and Mida Creek which winds by mangroves.
Water sports activities lovers will take pleasure in kitesurfing, paddleboarding, boogie-boarding, snorkeling by the coral reefs and crusing. There’s an intriguing mixture of cultures at Watamu with the ruins of a Swahili city at Gedi, and modern Italian espresso retailers, gelato bars, bars, bakeries and golf equipment.
14. Gazi Bay
The secluded Indian Ocean seashores at Gazi with white sand, palm timber, and dazzling blue waters are a playground with water sports activities like swimming, snorkeling, crusing, scuba diving, browsing, windsurfing, kayaking, and diving. Situated on the coast between Diani and the border between Kenya and Tanzania, the world is house to landmark mangrove conservation initiatives.
It’s the right ecotourism retreat for a quiet vacation in spectacularly lovely environment. Meet with the native conservationists on the Gazi Girls Mangrove Boardwalk alongside the seashore, watch the native fishermen convey of their catch, and spend an evening or two in a romantic treehouse or a luxurious tent lodge on the seashore itself.
Michael Cowley – author and photographer
Ever since he was knee-high to a grasshopper Michael has all the time had an affinity for journey. Rising up he was fortunate sufficient to stay in a handful of unique far off places together with Hong Kong, Pakistan, Kenya and Tanzania and since then he’s continued looking for out new locations and cultures. In his spare time he explores all over the place from the scorching avenue markets in Bangkok to random again alleys in Sri Lanka and all the pieces in between! He additionally has a particular fondness for Cohibas, making an attempt all types of avenue meals, enjoying carrom with random strangers, and superb wine – he is aware of his clarets from his chiantis. He counts Cuba, Amsterdam, Indonesia, Goa, Cambodia and Italy as his favorite locations. Discover Michael on Instagram or Twitter.
