In 2018 alone, over 2 million tourists visited Kenya and the number is growing. But what makes this East African country such a charging destination? Is it the country’s vast expanse of scenic landscapes or its pristine coastal and inland waters? Is it the imposing mountain ranges or the majestic Great Rift Valley? Well, if you asked anyone who has ever been to Kenya, they’ll readily admit that there is an endless of fun things to do and see during a safari trip to Kenya.
Indeed, Kenya is the preeminent safari destination. Its rich and diverse assortment of wildlife species and natural scenery, as well as the graceful hospitality of its locals, makes it ideal for all kinds of tourists. Whether you’re a couple looking for an exotic honeymoon destination or a family seeking an adventure-filled experience, Kenya has your back.
Since there’s a lot to see and do in the country, it pays to have a bucket list of the top destinations to visit. It’s also prudent that you work with a local travel agency that understands the lay of the land and offers reasonable Kenya tour packages.
In this post, we shall review some of Kenya’s major points of interest.
Kenya’s Top Points of Interest
1. Mount Kenya
There’s no better place to begin your holiday in Kenya than from the highest point in the country. Mount Kenya is Kenya’s highest mountain and the second-highest in Africa, after Mt. Kilimanjaro, that’s also partly within the country.
With peaks that tower to a height of over 5, 000 meters, a camping trip around Mt. Kenya is especially ideal for hikers. The mountain is split into three peaks, namely, Batian, Nelion, and Point Lenana. With varying altitudes, you can easily choose the peak to conquer, depending on your resilience and endurance. At the foot of the mountain is the famous Mount Kenya National Park.
Located 175km from Nairobi, Mount Kenya National Park covers approximately 700 square kilometers and rises to an altitude of over 17,058ft above sea level. Some of the highlights include guided hiking tours, mountain treks, and sightseeing opportunities. Access to the park is made easy by a tar road that goes around the base of the mountain, connecting the park to nearby towns of Nanyuki, Laikipia, Embu, and Meru. Nanyuki and Laikipia have airports, but you’ll do just fine with a road trip from Nairobi to Mount Kenya National Park. Nearby accommodation facilities, such as the Serena Mountain Lodge, make your stay here all the more thrilling.
The best time to climb Mount Kenya is during the dry season of January to March, as well as June to October.
2. Diani Beach
Nestled in the coastal county of Kwale, Diani Beach is located some 539 km from Nairobi. A road trip from the capital will take you approximately 9 hours. However, the quickest way to get to the beach is by a flight from Nairobi to Mombasa, which takes a staggering one hour. From Mombasa, you can either take a connecting flight to a small airstrip in Ukunda or simply drive yourself to the beach.
Diani Beach has been voted as a leading beach destination in Africa for six consecutive years.
The beach is known for its pristine waters and sandy beaches, which makes it an ideal place to enjoy some cocktails as you relish the sunset beneath the clear skies. The waters around Diani Beach are so clear that, in most cases, they offer a perfect view of the sandy bottom.
There are also lots of swimming, kitesurfing, jet-skiing, skydiving, and snorkeling, activities to take part in. But if you aren’t into any of that, you’ll do just fine feasting your eyes on the lush vegetation inland — sample numerous collections of palm trees, coral reefs, and the black-and-white colobus monkeys. Better yet, you can explore the nearby Robinson Island on a boat excursion or head to the Shimba Hills National Reserve for a complete wildlife experience.
The ideal time to visit is during the cooler months of July through September and the hot, dry months of January to early March. The best way to explore this enchanting beach is to choose a reputable tour company that offers affordable Kenya holiday packages.
Sailing around Diani Beach
3. Hell’s Gate National Park
The Hell’s Gate National Park is another excellent spot to go on African safari holidays. And don’t let its spooky name fool you; a tour of Hell’s Gate is nothing but thrill-inspiring. Located 69 km from Nairobi, the best way to get to the park is by road.
One of the best things about Hell’s Gate is that it allows you to camp within and explore its splendor on foot or bicycle. Though it’s a favorite destination for climbers, Hell’s Gate boasts numerous other sightseeing opportunities as well. The park features extinct volcanoes and lots of geothermal highlights, which include natural geysers and hot springs. A tour of these geothermal features will culminate at the Olkaria Geothermal Station, a geothermal plant that generates power from the heated and pressurized water underneath.
Hell’s Gate is another haven for wildlife, teeming with leopards, baboons, gazelles, hartebeest, and over 100 bird species. What’s more – you can visit the Oloor Karia Maasai Cultural Centre to keep up with the cultures of some of Kenya’s indigenous communities.
The dry months of June to November are perfect for walking, cycling, and hiking.
4. Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park, located 157 kilometers from Nairobi, is another major point of interest on the floor of the Rift Valley to consider for a Kenya safari trip. Lake Nakuru, which is the most important feature here, takes up about a third of this park. The lake’s special highlight includes a huge flock of pink flamingos and over 450 species of birds.
Lake Nakuru National Park also offers a habitat for various kinds of wildlife, including lions, leopards, waterbucks, white rhinos, and pythons. The park is home to Africa’s largest euphorbia candelabrum forest. These dense, succulent plants offer a natural contrast to an otherwise arid landscape.
Though it’s relatively set on a lowland, the park offers scenic views of the surroundings. From the lake’s sweeping grasslands, you can cite rocky cliffs on the horizon, such as the Baboon Cliff, as well as the majestic Menengai Crater.
The park is conveniently located within Nakuru County, which is roughly a 2-hour drive from Nairobi. A road trip from the country’s capital to Lake Nakuru National Park is in itself scenic. Besides, you can choose to proceed and explore the hidden gems west or north of the country.
The rainy season between November and May is ideal if you want to catch the flamingos. In the dryer months, these birds move northwards to Lake Bogoria.
Pink flamingos on Lake Nakuru
5. Maasai Mara
You can hardly discuss Kenya safari destinations without making reference to the Maasai Mara game reserve. Maasai Mara is located 280 kilometers from Nairobi. The easiest way to get there is by taking a flight from Nairobi to Mara Serena Airport, which lasts about an hour. A road trip will take you roughly 6 hours.
Maasai Mara is the perfect spot to get a glimpse of the Big Five – lion, leopards, rhinoceros, African elephants, and buffalos. In addition, the park teems with cheetahs, zebras, antelopes, and scores of migratory bird species. In 2017, Masai Mara was voted Africa’s best national reserve.
Maasai Mara is tucked away in a rather remote region of the country’s southwestern plains. That makes it an ideal park to catch all the animals in their raw elements. Within the park’s sweeping grasslands, you can glimpse the red-cloaked Maasai people grazing their cattle alongside the wildlife in what appears to be a harmonious coexistence between man and beast.
But the greatest highlight of Maasai Mara National Park is the Great Migration that takes place between July and October. In this historic migration, millions of wildebeest and other herbivores cross over from the neighboring Serengeti National Park in pursuit of greener pastures. The epicenter of the Great Migration is at the Mara River, where the Nile crocodiles lie in wait for the imminent banquet.
There’s no right time to visit Maasai Mara, as the weather is stable all year round. But to catch the Great Migration, you’ll need to visit between July and late November. Head over to Masaimarasafari.in and learn more about planning an adventure-packed, Masai Mara safari packages.
A lioness and her cubs chilling out at the Maasai Mara
Wrapping Up
As you might have deduced from the list, Kenya is a land of abundance. How you choose to explore this beautiful country is up to you. I toured all these destinations with AjKenyasafaris.com and the experience was great. From tailor-making my safari itinerary to airport pickup, everything was smooth. Booking an African safari holiday through local agencies is also cheaper compared to booking with international tour companies.
