Kenya Tourism & Travel Guide - Places to See in Kenya

Kenya Tour & Travel Guide - Places to See in Kenya

The legendary Masai Mara reserve in Kenya is home to the annual event of the Great Migration, sometimes called the greatest living spectacle on earth. Every year, approximately, one and a half million wildebeest and gazelles migrate north to the Western Corridor of the Serengeti encountering crocodile-filled rivers and other predators such as lions and cheetahs on the way. The experience of watching the gigantic herd pour across the border is unparalleled and the accompanying heat, dust, grunts and paws of two million hooves can shake the most indifferent spectator to amazement. While of course, you will need to plan your holiday for either November or July to see the Migration, no time is a bad time to visit the Mara. The word “Serengeti” means endless plains and this isn’t far off as the reserve stretches over a staggering fifteen hundred square kilometres of open plains, woodlands and forest. It is one of the most richly populated areas in the world in terms of wildlife. While the plains are scattered with herds of zebra, giraffe and gazelles, the forests abound with birdlife and monkeys. Let’s not forget the waters - elephants and buffalos wallow in the Musiara Swamps while the Mara and Talek rivers brim with hippos and crocodiles. With this abundance of wildlife, it would be easy to overlook the human factor. With the Masai, however, that is impossible. In one of the rare examples of a people utterly at one with their land, the Masai are strongly independent and value their rituals and traditions. Dignified and proud, they are still a strongly independent race who seldom hunt and believe in living in harmony both with their beloved land and the other inhabitants of the Mara. Accessing the Mara area is practically impossible without private transport. Most visitors come here. The park has well established internal roads and tracks. Accessing areas outside the reserve is only possible using basic public transport, and finding your way around can be difficult. Several safari operators can arrange specialized tours, treks or hikes in this area. It takes about five to six hours to reach here from Nairobi by car.

The Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru

Running for approximately six thousand kilometres (did you know that one end of the rift starts in Syria), the Rift cleanly slices Kenya into East and West before continuing on into Mozambique. In Kenya, the valley is at its deepest just north of Nairobi, and there are several viewpoints on the Nairobi-Naivasha road. The region is dotted with lakes such as Elmenteita, Baringo, Bogoria, and Nakuru. Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the best places in Kenya to see leopards, and white rhinos are commonly seen at the lake’s southern end, but the park’s most famous attraction is the flamingos that ring the lake in thousands. Nakuru is about a hundred and forty kilometres from Nairobi and can be easily visited as a day visit or over two days.

Lake Naivasha and Hell’s Gate National Park

The highest of the Rift Valley Lakes, Naivasha is home to a huge range of birdlife and is fringed with thick papyrus swamps. Sunset at Naivasha with the flamingos taking flight is a scene described in most books of the “Out of Africa” genre. Lying to the south of Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate National Park offers both dramatic scenery as well as an opportunity to bike or walk – something that is not possible in most of Kenya’s other reserves. Try to spot lions, leopards, and cheetahs or if your interest is in the ornithological, there are over a hundred species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux's Eagles, augur buzzard, and swifts. Other inhabitants include the African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson's gazelle, and baboons as well as antelopes and reedbucks. Fans of “Born Free” can also visit the Joy Adamson Centre on Lake Naivasha. Naivasha and Hell’s Gate are both reasonably close to Nairobi, about an hour away and can be visited by bus or by car. Main road access to Naivasha is directly from Nairobi by bus/Matatu or private transport. The main highway continues from Naivasha to Nakuru. Naivasha is just over an hour from Nairobi. There is an airstrip in Naivasha, with charter flights available and some of the hotels and lodges can organize transfers from Nairobi to Naivasha.

Amboseli National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro

Mandatory for all Hemingway buffs, of course. Again part of the Rift Valley province, Amboseli attracts the most visitors after the Masai Mara. Famous for its elephant population, Amboseli also possesses one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world – that of Mount Kilimanjaro. The picture of elephants ambling past a snow-capped peak is often used to showcase the endless contrasts that Africa offers but is none the less beautiful for that. The grassland is relatively sparse and hence offers more opportunities for wildlife spotters. Lake Amboseli dries out for most of the year but a few days of rains can transform it into the prehistoric lake that it was once. Accessing Amboseli is easy and two or three day road safaris are offered by many tour operators with stays included in the safari lodges. Another good option is to camp it. Tents can range from luxury ones (watch sunrise over Kilimanjaro from your four-poster double bed) to very basic (think mobile loos). While the park can be visited in a day if you like, a two day trip works better as this lies approximately four hours from Nairobi and on the Tanzanian border.

Tsavo National Park

For those who want that off the beaten track experience - please excuse the pun. Part of the coastal areas of Kenya and spanning twenty thousand square kilometres, Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya. The park has been split into Tsavo West National Park, with an area of 8500 sq km and Tsavo East National Park which covers 11,000 sq km. The northern area of Tsavo West, west of the Nairobi-Mombasa road, is the most developed and has some beautiful scenery, particularly at the end of the wet season when Tsavo transforms into a blaze of green. Tsavo East is more familiar savannah territory and has vast rolling plains with scrubby vegetation. One of the most spectacular sights in Tsavo West is the Mzima Springs, part of an underground river that supports a large crocodile and hippo population. By Kenyan standards, Tsavo sees relatively few visitors, which translates into less congestion and access to either part is by private vehicle or organised safari from Nairobi or Mombasa. Accommodation includes the usual camping options or safari lodges.

Kakamega National Reserve

Catch me a colobus. Kakamega Forest National Reserve abounds in black and white colobus monkeys as well as other rarer primates such as the Blue Monkey, the Olive Baboon and the Red Tailed Monkey. Unexpectedly for Kenya, Kakemega is a verdant slice of rainforest left over from past millennia and is another one of those strange contrasts that Africa delights in. The reserve is filled with majestic hard and soft woods, exotic orchids and flashes of vivid color and birdcalls under the lush canopy of leaves that rainforests provide. Trails are well-marked and can be travelled on with a guide with the most common being the walk to Buyango Hill. Accommodation is available within the reserve with retreats and campsites as well as nearby hotels.

Mombasa:

Once a key city on the spice route, Mombasa looks very different from other cities in Kenya. Influenced by Indian, Portuguese and Arab traders, the city is fringed with blue seas and white sand and boasts of architecture that includes traditional Swahili, intricate Arab and British colonial. Fort Jesus, built on the harbor is Mombasa’s biggest attraction and was built by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century to fend off local enemies and Turkish warships. The Omani House, located in the north-western corner of the fort has fascinating displays on Swahili life and breathtaking views over the old town. The Old Town itself is really worth exploring on foot with houses that boast intricate fretwork windows and some really beautiful doors. Nearby Haller Park offers a chance to see some wildlife up close and personal without needing to go on safari.