10 best experiences in Kenya
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Loading... - Ali Mohamed
- 09 Nov 2022
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Despite having a coastline of beautiful beaches perfect for lazing, Kenya rarely inspires visitors to 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 the top things to do 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 as one would suspect, Kenya provides some of the continent’s most impressive natural venues for it.
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 too and also hosts its own "Samburu Big Five": Beisa oryx, Grevy’s zebra, long-necked gerenuk, reticulated giraffe and Somali ostrich. If you’re in Nairobi, don’t dismiss Nairobi National Park on the outskirts of the capital. Often billed as the only national park within a city in the world, Kenya’s first game reserve has wildlife in abundance, from lions, leopard and buffalo to the endangered black rhino and around 400 species of birdlife.
Head out on a hike
Mt Kenya’s trekking terrain is arguably the African continent’s most beautiful and rewarding. Its diverse valleys, equatorial glaciers and dramatic, towering summit are extraordinary sights, and they are best seen over a challenging multi-day hike to Point Lenana (4985m), the mountain’s third-highest peak and highest reachable without climbing equipment.
The more gentle slopes of Mt Elgon, technically in Uganda but on the border with Kenya and often visited from Kenya, are home to elephants, primates, antelopes and some 240 species of birds. It’s another great option for treks lasting several days, as are captivating walks with the Maasai through their homelands. Incredible day hikes are also possible throughout Kenya: climb up Mt Longonot to its crater rim, seek out remote waterfalls in the mountains of Aberdare National Park or take a leisurely stroll in the dense Kakamega Forest while listening to birdsong. If you’re craving greenery in Nairobi, Karura Forest is the capital’s oasis with around 30 miles of trails set around a waterfall, caves, rivers and wetland. Read More…
