Where to explore on a safari in Kenya?
Where to explore on a safari in Kenya? Safari is a must-do when visiting Kenya, and for good reason. The Masai Mara Game Reserve, which is well-known for the Big Five—lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant, and buffalo—as well as the Nilotic Maasai tribe and their characteristic red traditional shuka (checked fabric), is one of its many national parks that are teeming with wildlife. However, Kenya offers much more than only its national parks. There are expansive cities full of thriving social and cultural scenes, as well as wooded mountains that beg to be climbed. You can go on an exhilarating off-road adventure, dive into underwater wonderlands in the Indian Ocean, or simply unwind on immaculate beaches. Whatever kind of vacation you’re looking for, Kenya has it. The top locations to include on your trip are listed here.
Nairobi
Kenya’s capital, a city in the middle of everything, is a fantastic place to stop if you want to go on safari, visit amazing restaurants, or the beach. Unpack your bags and spend a few days exploring Nairobi’s many bars and restaurants. Popular places include Cultiva, where the chef’s South American heritage is evident in every farm-to-table dish, and Unseen Nairobi, an independent art house and rooftop bar where their signature sandwiches make the ideal accompaniment to independent films. Nairobi offers a wealth of cultural events, including museums, art galleries, outdoor theatres showing African films, shopping, and stand-up comedy performances.
You may see wildlife up close even in Nairobi city. Among the kenya safari tour options are feeding Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Centre, viewing orphaned baby elephants at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and seeing four of the Big Five with the exception of elephants at Nairobi National Park against the backdrop of skyscrapers, billboards, and traffic.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve, one of Africa’s top safari tour destinations is located in southwest Kenya and stretches 1510 square kilometres (583 square miles) into Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It is also a great birding safari in kenya destination with more than 450 bird species found here, along with all five of the Big Five and other wildlife making it a all time choice for great kenya wildlife safaris. Pick your own experience and take in the animals from a guided Nature walking safari, a hot air balloon ride with champagne brunch, a safari vehicle, or a horseback ride. For a closer look at the manner of life of this fabled tribe and their spiritual and historical ties to the land, you can also travel to Maasai settlements.
The greatest time to go to Maasai mara national reserve for safari tours is from July to October, when millions of wildebeest migrate across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in search of green pasture and to give birth. It’s an exciting time of year, with many crocodiles and big cats hunting them down.
Lamu Island
Are you looking for quiet, beautiful beaches? The Lamu archipelago in Kenya is the location. History aficionados should visit ancient Lamu Town, which is the oldest Swahili community on the coast of East Africa. The town’s architecture and cuisine are both legendary. The town’s feel has altered in recent years because to motorbike taxis, known as boda-boda, which speed through the hallways while playing the newest music. Previously, the only ways to get around were on foot or on donkeys because the streets are so tiny that cars cannot fit through them.
Take a speedboat and visit safari tour destinations across the archipelago, like Kiwayu Island in Kiunga Marine National Reserve, which is a great place for sport fishing and diving. Vacation villas with infinity pools that overlook the sea are common in Shela village. Every year in October, students from all over the world come to attend the Lamu Yoga Festival. It is essential to take a sunset tour in the evening in a traditional wooden boat, or dhow, in the style of Mozambique. Enjoy a drink at the Floating Bar or dine at one of the many excellent restaurants on the island, including the Peponi and Kijani hotels.
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is home to vast herds of elephants moping in the shallows or dust-bathing. The park is made up of kilometres of dusty semi-arid grassland that are surprisingly peppered with acacia trees and green marsh that is nourished by underground water sources. Although Tanzania is home to Africa’s tallest peak, Kenya offers the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro without a doubt. On a clear day, its snow-capped top rises into the sky, providing photographers with an amazing vantage point. Come nightfall, relax with a sundowner and take in the scenery, or get up early and go before dawn, when the views are even more breathtaking from the hot-air balloon.
The nearby Kimana Sanctuary serves as a corridor for wildlife moving from the park to the Chyulu Hills and Tsavo. Your visit helps fund the establishment of Kenya’s first community-owned conservancy, which was established in 1996. Young men engage in club and spear throwing, high jumping, and sprinting events in the entertaining biennial Maasai Olympics held in Amboseli to promote the transition from hunting to conservation in a culture where killing lions was long considered a rite of passage.
Watamu
Italians first arrived in Watamu in the 1960s to work at the neighbouring Luigi Broglio Space Centre, and the city is an excellent place to explore the north coast. The culture in the town is so strongly Italian that many residents speak the language. Some street signs are in Italian, and a lot of eateries provide pasta, pizza, and gelato. Join the Saturday night parties at Papa Remo Beach there are many kenya safari activities. You can go diving or snorkelling in the marine park, visit the breathtaking canyons at Marafa Hell’s Kitchen, sign up for drunken sunset cruises down Mida Creek, or go kite surfing at Che Shale.
Matthews Range
It’s difficult to get to Samburu’s remote Matthews Range. The ideal experience is to choose a track that travels through a canopy of trees with emerald undergrowth so dense that you’ll need a machete to clear the pathway, until you reach a freezing cold rock pool on the River Ngeng. There are many beautiful Kenya safari pathways to choose from, and each one is as peaceful. Temperatures in these mountains can drop as low as 10ºC (50ºF), with the highest peak standing at 2688m (8819ft). At isolated lodges like Kitich Forest Camp, where you can camp overnight, you’ll be accompanied by a Samburu guide who will assist you find your way around and identify animals by its sounds and footprints. Try to see Hartlaub’s turaco, a bird nicknamed the Kenyan mascot due to its similar colours to the flag, and De Brazza’s monkey, a master of camouflage, as you descend from the summit.
