THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN KENYA
Despite having a coastline of beautiful beaches perfect for lazing on, visitors to Kenya rarely sit still – the country simply has too many exciting things to do.
Stirring landscapes ranging from equatorial glaciers and jagged peaks to wildlife-laden plains and tropical reefs provide an epic natural playground for all who venture here, while the intoxicating mix of cultures surprises at every turn. Here are some the best experiences you can’t miss in Kenya.
See the Big Five on safari
Not only were safaris born in Kenya, but so was the very word itself – it means “journey” in Swahili. Spotting the much-heralded Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant) is a major aspiration of many visitors to Africa, and Kenya provides some of the continent’s most impressive natural settings for the search.
No natural reserve is more famous than the Masai Mara, where sightings of all these species are common. Lake Nakuru National Park, with its flamingo-lined lake and forest-clad escarpments, is another incredible place for Big Five safaris, as is Amboseli National Park, where Mt Kilimanjaro provides a staggering backdrop.
Samburu Game Reserve in the remote north is prime safari territory and, as well as being a great place to spot a leopard, it also hosts its own “Samburu Special Five”: Beisa oryx, Grevy’s zebra, long-necked gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, and Somali ostrich.
Rising to just over 17,000 feet (3,800 meters), Mount Kenya is the continent’s second highest peak. But the summit trails are far less crowded than its snowy counterpart (Kilimanjaro) across the border in Tanzania.
You’ll likely have the mountain all to your own during a trek that normally spans five days from start to finish (with four overnights on the mountain). True to its name, Mount Kenya Safaris offers guided trips via any of the three main routes to the top.
Summit Mount Kenya
Watch the Great Migration in Masai Mara
Arriving from the neighboring Serengeti Plains, millions of wildebeest, antelope and zebra – and the predators that follow them – thunder through Masai Mara National Reserve between July and October during the Great Migration. The spectacle can be viewed on game drives, airplane or hot-air balloon flights, walking or horseback safaris.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust rescues, cares for and rehabilitates orphaned elephants, rhinos and other wildlife from all over Africa. This Orphans’ Project offers hope for the survival of Kenya’s elephant and rhino populations that are threatened by poaching, loss of habitat due to human conflict, deforestation and drought.
For as little as USD 50 a year, you can support the Orphans’ Project by adopting one of the orphans who are in the care of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, offering life and hope to an animal in need.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has a public viewing from 11:00 to 12:00 daily, which can get rather busy with many visitors. If you’ve adopted an animal, you can have a more intimate encounter by enjoying the private viewings at 15:00. You can walk among the baby elephants with their keepers.
Adopt an Elephant or Rhino at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Dance the night away in Nairobi
The capital city’s staid colonial club scene has segued into a thriving modern nightlife world equal to any on the continent.
The Westlands neighborhood and nearby Waiyaki Way in the city’s northwest offer numerous bars, clubs and cocktail lounges where a heady blend of locals, expats and visitors quaff (and dance) the night away.
One of Kenya’s strangest places, Central Island National Park in the middle of far-away Lake Turkana hosts the world’s largest colony of Nile crocodiles.
As well as three active volcanoes, three blue-green crater lakes, black-sand beaches and a single campsite, the island flaunts a primordial, end-of-the-Earth atmosphere that seems little changed from 3.5 million years ago when our ancient ancestors called the region home.
Crocodiles in Lake Turkana
Scuba or snorkel the Indian Ocean
Tucked down at the bottom end of the Kenya Coast, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park provides a safe haven for whales, dolphins, sea turtles, more than 250 species of tropical fish, and 56 different types of coral. Scuba and snorkel trips are available from Diani, Tiwi and Shimoni.
More than 240 bird species frequent Lake Nakuru in the Great Rift Valley. But the most photogenic are the pink flamingos that descend upon the lake in flocks that sometimes number one to two million birds.
Rhino and lion are among the other denizens of the national park that surrounds the lake. Eight campsites and upscale Lake Nakuru Lodge provides luxury accommodation along the waterfront.
Watch nature’s version of ‘Pretty in Pink’ the pink flamingos
Get licked by a hungry giraffe
A wooden observation platform brings you literally face-to-face with rare and endangered Rothschild’s giraffes at the AFEW Giraffe Center on the outskirts of Nairobi. Feeding them – and getting licked by their long, black tongues – is part of the adventure.
Founded in the 14th century by Swahili sultans, Kenya’s big port was later a Portuguese and British colonial bastion.
The Old Town retains its bygone ways, means and architecture, a warren of narrow streets flanked by mosques, coffee houses and homes with massive wooden doors – 16th-century Fort Jesus looming over all.
Time trip in Mombasa’s Old Town
Cycle through the Gates of Hell
Hell’s Gate is located in an African national park where it’s safe to cycle. Located about 60 miles (96 kilometers) from Nairobi in the bowels of the Great Rift Valley, Hell’s Gate is a gnarly lava-carved landscape.
Lacking dangerous animals, it’s also that rare African national park where it’s safe to cycle. Bikes are available for rental inside the park and from vendors outside the main gate.
Sure, you can camp in Kenya. But why rough it when you can snooze al fresco (in luxury) at the Star Beds safari camp in Loisaba Conservancy. Staffed by local Samburu and Masai peoples, the camp features four-poster beds that are rolled out onto the deck each night on the side of rocky outcrop beside a waterhole where elephant and other animals come to drink.
Sleep beneath the stars
Dine at Ali Barbour’s Cave
Imagine sitting in a naturally sculptured coral cave, marveling at the moon and stars shining through an open ceiling while you sip on a delicious glass of wine and nibble on ocean-fresh seafood. Welcome to Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant in Diani Beach!
Believed to be around 150,000 years old, the cave comprises a series of interlinking, open-air chambers at depths of up to 10 metres (33 feet). World-renowned for an unrivalled romantic atmosphere, the restaurant serves mouth-watering cuisine and specializes in seafood dishes.
Ali Barbour’s serves an incredible fine dining experience in an unforgettable setting. If you’re spending a couple of days on the coast near Diani and looking for one of the most unique things to do in Kenya, make a reservation at Ali Barbour’s Cave. The restaurant offers a free pick-up and drop-off service from most hotels along Diani Beach.
Car Rental to Explore Kenya?
Planning to explore Kenya requires you to book a strong, reliable 4×4 Land Cruiser and 4×4 Africa doesn’t recommend Safari vans to Kenya!
Don’t miss to undertake the Kenya Safari to visit the beautiful and amazing National Parks, and enjoy adventuring African ‘’big five’’. We do offer the best required car rental services to explore Kenya . Check on the discounted rental deals to explore East Africa with 4×4 Africa.
When to go? Best time to visit Kenya
The best time to visit Kenya is from June to October when there’s virtually no rain and daytime temperatures are not too hot. However, with a diverse geography and a moderate climate, Kenya is considered a great year-round safari and beach holiday destination.
Most Kenya safari destinations are also at their best between January and the end of March; the climate is mild, mostly dry and game viewing is fantastic. A rainy season visit – between mid-March to June and again between November and December – is well worth considering. You’ll avoid the peak-season crowds and take advantage of lower, off-season rates for safari lodges in Kenya.
The best time to visit Kenya’s renowned beach destinations is a moot point: Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline is hot and very humid all year round and rainfall can occur at any time.