Kenya, for those who are vaguely familiar with it (apart from Obama of course), is a country found along the East African coast that thrives on the wonders and beauty of nature. And did we mention that the equator cuts right across it? If you’ve had the pleasure of visiting magical Kenya, then you know there are a thousand and one reasons why it is the perfect holiday destination, if you want to be one with nature. From the highlands, rift valleys, and sprawling plains, to the wild animals in their natural habitats and white sandy beaches, we’ve compiled a few reasons why you should include this African jewel in your holiday plans and your bucket list.
Whether you are backpacking alone, with friends, on a couples’ holiday or with family, Kenya should be on your list of places to visit in this lifetime (and the next). This beautiful African gem boasts of a tropical climate and is one of the leading real safari destinations in the world. Magical Kenya, as it is known by those who’ve had the great pleasure of experiencing what it has to offer, is one place you’ll live to remember, and never want to forget.
Places to Visit While in Magical Kenya
The Nairobi National Park
Since chances are very high your plane will land in Nairobi (the capital city), it might be a great idea to hang around for at least 24 hours before heading to your next destination. Here you’ll find the Nairobi National Park, which is the only wildlife park in the world that is within a city. For this reason, Nairobi has come to be known as the world’s wildlife capital.
The park is a wide open grass plain with scattered acacia bushes with a view of the city skyline. It is a sanctuary for the Black Rhino and home to four of the big five – lions, buffaloes, rhinos, and leopards. Apart from the big four, you’ll find other wild animals such as elands, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, cheetahs, hyenas and a diverse birdlife among other things all within a 20-minute drive from the city center.
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The Giraffe Manor
The Giraffe Manor is home to the endangered Rothschild giraffe. What makes the giraffe manor unique, and in a class of its own (apart from Ellen Degeneres’ recent visit) is that you can have your breakfast with these gentle giants. The giraffes usually poke their long necks through the windows to have a bite of what you have to offer them. After sharing breakfast with the giraffes, you can take a walk around the sanctuary or stroll across to the giraffe center. Thanks to its extraordinary appeal, it is like walking into ‘Out of Africa’ – the movie.
Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve
From Nairobi, you can take a short flight to Watamu, which is a marine lovers’ paradise, where you’ll find the Watamu National Park and Reserve. From the unique coral gardens, green turtles, and the Gede ruins to the diverse birdlife, fish, and dugongs, Watamu is the place to be. The reserve rests along Kenya’s North Coast and it is part of a complex marine and tidal habitat. While there, be sure to check out the unique coral garden, the kipepeo project (kipepeo is Swahili for butterfly), mida creek, the haven of green turtles, and more. The attractions are just endless.
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The Maasai Mara
The Maasai Mara should not only be among your holiday plans but on your bucket list as well. The game reserve is best known for its annual wildebeest migration which is always a sight to behold as 1.5 million wildebeests, antelopes and zebras migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Mara in magical Kenya. This great migration, as it is known, takes place between July and September each year, and these animals usually make the great trek and crossing in search of food and water. The Maasai Mara is in the Great Rift Valley and the wild animals wander in and out of the park freely. Just so you know, 40% of Africa’s larger mammals are found here.
While at the Maasai Mara, if you are not on a game drive crossing out the wild animals on your list, depending on the hotel/camp you have chosen, you can have the great honour of dining under the stars in the wild while being entertained by the local tribe which in itself is in a class of its own. Simply put, it’s the one place you should aim to experience.
Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is located between Shimba Hills and Mwaluganje Forest Reserve in Kwale county which is in the southwest of Mombasa. It is made up of a beautiful rugged terrain and sightings of these magnificent beasts is guaranteed. The park is community owned, a conservation area for elephants and it is a great example for ecotourism, in addition to it being a source of revenue for the locals.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is best known for rescuing baby elephants, rhino, and giraffe orphans and rehabilitating them until they are old and strong enough to walk back into the wild. Located at the Nairobi National Park they conserve, preserve and protect wildlife. While there you can interact with the baby elephants and even get a chance to see them being bottle-fed. In addition, to help in this beautiful and worthy cause, you can adopt an elephant, regardless where you are in the world.
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Hells Gate
Hells gate national park is more like ‘A Walk on the Wild Side’. It is the ideal place for a day trip from Nairobi city. Here you’ll get to enjoy the spectacular scenery of water gouged gorges, stark rock towers, towering cliffs, scrub-clad volcanoes and the belching plumes of geothermal steams which makes it one of the most atmospheric parks in Africa. You also indulge in a natural spa in addition to rock climbing and mountain biking. There is also wildlife viewing, hot springs, raptor nesting in cliffs, health spa, the Mervyn carnally raptor hide, tourist circuits, nature trails and the Olkaria Geothermal Station.
Mt Longonot
If you are looking for sheer adventure, then Mt. Longonot is the place to be. It is an extinct volcano rising from the floors of the Rift Valley. What makes it unique is the thick forest that lies within the crater of the mountain. Here you can indulge in the scenic views provided by the crater rim across the spectacular Rift Valley all the way to Lake Naivasha. There are also wildlife species including elands, leopards, lions, buffaloes, bushbucks, giraffes, Grant’s gazelles and the common zebra.
Sibiloi National Park
Sibiloi national park, also known as ‘the cradle of mankind’ is located on the rugged and wild shores of Lake Turkana. It is home to archaeological sites and the area is characterized by open plains flanked by volcanic formations such as Mt. Sibiloi with a semi-desert habitat. Also found here is Lake Turkana, which happens to be Africa’s most saline lake as well as the world’s largest permanent desert lake. Here you’ll find over 100 archaeological sites with human fossils remains of the Australopithecus robustus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Homo sapiens.
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We could go on and on and on about the reasons to visit magical Kenya, but we’ll leave it there because the experiences are simply endless. But if you are really curious about knowing more about what attractions magical Kenya has to offer, you can take a look at the Kenya Tourism Board and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for more information.
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