Kenya is one of the leading African countries when it comes to tourism and travel. It being the world’s 48th largest country and the third-largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria and South Africa makes it even more appealing and marketable.
There are numerous reasons that make Kenya a top tourist
attraction country as listed below. After reading this article, you should be
booking your flight and packing your luggage ready to travel.
Suitable for all budgets
There is something for everyone who is planning to visit
Kenya. From high-end five-star hotels, Airbnb's, hostels, camps, rental
apartments, glamping, and even backpacking. You will get value for
your money. Whatever budget you have, you are guaranteed to get what you need.
Eat breakfast with giraffes
Have you ever thought of having breakfast with giraffes? Not
watching giraffes in the wild while you are eating your breakfast but actually
sharing a meal with giraffes. That only happens at the Giraffe Manor in Karen.
It is one of the most recommended and most visited tourist sites for anyone
looking for a unique lifetime experience in Kenya.
Also a few kilometers from the Giraffe manor, we have
the Giraffe Center which is quite affordable. If you can’t
afford to be at the giraffe manor, then you have another option whereby you can
feed the giraffes and even get an appreciation kiss from them.
Feed Elephants at David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
This is one of the best experiences within the city. The
DSWT is the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation center in
the world. Their opening hours are strictly between 11-12 noon everyday. This
is the time when they feed the baby elephants. The place is affordable as they
charge ksh 500 for citizens and Ksh 1,000 for non-citizens. I recommend
visiting the place during the week as it tends to be overcrowded during the
weekends.
Ride hot air balloons at Maasai Mara
Imagine watching the annual wildebeest migration just a few
metres above the animals. What a view!!! An African safari to the Maasai Mara is not complete without a hot air balloon
ride. You get to watch the animals in the park with a birdview. Did you know
that Maasai Mara has one of the largest densities of lions in the world? Also
BBC Wildlife channel Big Cat diary is shot here.
Witness the annual Wildebeest Migration
The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the Seven New
Wonders of the World. This immense movement only happens between the Serengeti
National park in Tanzania to Maasai Mara National reserve in Kenya during July
through August and their return from October to November. It is an incredible
event whereby millions of wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes migrate searching
for greener, wetter pastures. The event attracts tourists from all over the
world.
A National Park within the Capital City
The Nairobi National park is located inside the capital city
of Kenya just a few minutes from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. You
don’t need to travel a thousand kilometers to get to a national park. Inside
the national park, there is an animal orphanage and you can also have a safari
walk. There is a variety of animals in the park except for the elephants but you
can see them at the David Sheldrick’s Wildlife Trust.
Visit a Marine Park in the Kenyan Coast
Apart from the animal parks, Kenya also boasts of having
marine parks. If underwater photography or just viewing life underwater excites
you, then this is the place for you. The parks were established so as to protect
the rich aquatic life in the Kenyan waters. Some of the places include but are not
limited to Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve, Malindi Marine Park,
Watamu Marine Park and the Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park. All these parks provide
a home to a wide variety of marine species. The places are also ideal for water
skiing, snorkelling, diving, and windsurfing.
Swim With dolphins
Though most parts of the Kenyan Coast offer great views for
dolphin watching, Wasini and Watamu Island are the most commonly known place to
go swimming with dolphins. There are three species of dolphin that you can see
in Watamu which are the Indo Pacific Bottlenose dolphin, the rare Indo Pacific
Humpback dolphin, and the offshore acrobats Spinner dolphin. It is an incredible
experience. My first time seeing a real-life dolphin was on my trip to Lamu Island.
Enjoy the white sandy beaches
Kenya boasts of having some of the best beaches in the
entire world. The Kenyan coast is popular with tourists because of its
beautiful sandy beaches. Accommodation on the coast is quite affordable
depending on the time you visit. The off-peak season tends to be in January,
May, June, July, and around September. Get a chance to explore Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi and many more cities in the Coastal
region.
Stay at the best camps/lodges in the whole world
Kenya is home to some of the world’s best camps and lodges.
In 2019, Sirikoi Lodge was ranked number 1 as the most luxurious game resort in
the world. Laikipia county boasts of world-class lodges with a view of the
Maasai Mara. Home away from home. They are also among the most expensive lodges
in Kenya. If you are looking for a five-star Safari tour, then make sure you
find your way to Laikipia County.
Eat Local Kenyan foods
Get to enjoy the Kenyan local foods. Eat ugali,
matoke, mokimo, irio, githeri, mutura, and our famous nyama choma. Kenyans are
very friendly. Get to mingle with the locals and explore their lifestyles. You
might get a chance to taste the local brews too like busaa and chang’aa haha. I
would recommend tasting the local beers too like tusker and Pilsner Imara kama
simba.
Have you ever seen a Pink Lake?
Lake Nakuru is home to over 400 bird species with its
largest population being the pink flamingos thus the name the pink lake. You
will get to enjoy amazing views of the lake and also get a chance to explore
Lake Nakuru National Park.
Climb Mt. Kenya
Mt. Kenya is the largest mountain in the country and the
second-largest in Africa after Kilimanjaro in neighboring Tanzania. It
takes about 3 to 5 days for fit trekkers to climb the mountain. The mountain is
surrounded by beautiful sceneries and the Mt. Kenya National Park. You can also
camp at the beautiful Lake Ellis which is accessible by a good 4×4 Car.
Go white water rafting at River Sagana
Kenya has something for everyone. For the adrenaline
junkies, River Sagana is perfect for white water rafting. Though the river is
not as big as the river Nile in Uganda, it offers a unique experience to water
rafting. You can also bungee jump into the river and get to camp there at the
end of the long active day. River sagana is the only location in Kenya with
bungee jumping and white water rafting activities.
Waterfalls in the city
Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya is home to pleasant
sceneries. Within its vicinity, there are quite a number of waterfalls and all
are just a few kilometers away from the CBD. We have waterfalls at Karura
Forest, Fourteen falls, Oloolua Nature trail, and my latest discovery of a hidden waterfall in Ruaka.
Go for a desert safari.
When talking about desert safaris, what most people think
about is Dubai, not knowing that they can have the same experience here in
Kenya for a quarter the cost or even an eighth. Chalbi Desert in the Northern
part of Kenya is the perfect place for a desert safari. The roads are easily
accessible by a 4 by 4 car and you get to go for sand dune racing and sand
surfing.
Not only would you enjoy a desert safari, but also get the
chance to have a game drive at Lake Turkana National Park. It is the ultimate
safari and you get a chance to ride a camel, “the desert ship”.
Kenya has a wide variety of sceneries and experiences to suit any type of a traveler. All you need is to do research on what kind of adventure you want to have, and you will be directed to the right path. The Ministry of Tourism is working hard to ensure that all areas are easily accessible and affordable to all. So start packing your bags because you are missing out if you are not touring Kenya!!