Top 8 places to visit in Kenya
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Loading... - Wanjiku Gacheri
- 19 Apr 2022
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The country has forested mountains begging to be crested and sprawling cities with restaurants, nightclubs and shops. Relax on pristine beaches, dive uncrowded spots on the Indian Ocean or go on a thrilling off-road adventure.
Whatever the type of trip you’re after, you can find it in Kenya. Here are the best places to add to your trip itinerary.
Nairobi
A city at the center of it all, Kenya’s capital is a great stopover if you’re looking to head off on safari, the beach or everything in between. Unpack your bags and spend a couple of days eating your way across the array of bars and restaurants in Nairobi, with new buzzy spots such as Cultiva, where the chef’s South American roots are distinct in each farm-to-table dish, or Unseen Nairobi, an independent art-house movie theater and rooftop bar where indie films serve as the perfect side to the signature sandwiches. With art galleries, open-air cinemas showcasing African films, shopping, stand-up comedy shows and museums, Nairobi offers it all.
Even in the capital, you can get up close with wildlife. Your options range from orphaned baby elephants at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, feeding Rothschild giraffes at Giraffe Center or spotting four of the Big Five (excluding elephants) at Nairobi National Park against the backdrop of billboards, traffic and skyscrapers.
Turkana
Remote, inhospitable and historically drought-stricken, Turkana looks like a vast empty area on Kenya’s map, but it’s a big draw for adventurers who thrive on challenge. Although the region has an airport, the thrill is in driving, which requires a reliable 4x4 to maneuver craggy roads – or the lack of any.
For how hot and arid the region is, jade-blue Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world, seems out of place. Visit Eliye Springs with its sandy beaches and towering green palm trees and you’d think you’re on Diani Beach on the Kenyan coast. Rent a speedboat to Central Island where a short hike leads up to a volcanic crater lake. Don’t forget your swim trunks, but be wary of Nile crocodiles that camouflage so seamlessly on the shore you’d mistake them for rocks.
Fast-developing Lodwar town has lively nightlife, as well as its own replica of Brazil’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue. For a real glimpse into the past, drive 129km (80 miles) west to the site with the replica of the archeological fossil remains of Turkana Boy, which has earned this region the name “cradle of mankind,” a title seemingly claimed across Africa.
Time your visit with the annual Lake Turkana Cultural Festival in June for better insight into northern tribes such as the Borana, Rendille, Turkana and Samburu. Drive farther east of Lake Turkana and you’ll get to the Chalbi Desert, which has salt pans that spread to the Ethiopian border. You can sandboard the dunes and meet the villagers at North Horr for insight into their culture.
Maasai Mara
One of Africa’s bucket-list safari destinations, Maasai Mara lies in Kenya’s southwestern region and stretches on for 1510 sq km (583 sq miles) into Tanzania’s Serengeti. Spot all the Big Five and other wildlife, as well as more than 450 species of birds. Encounter wildlife from a safari vehicle, hot air balloon with a champagne breakfast, on horseback or on a guided walking safari. The best time to visit is in October when millions of wildebeest migrate across the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem in search of verdant pasture and to calve, an action-packed scene that often involves them being hunted down by crocodiles and big cats.
You can also visit Maasai villages for first-hand insight into this famous tribe’s way of life, from women building houses plastered with cow dung to their reliance on cattle for their livelihood.
Kisumu
Kisumu is the gateway into western Kenya and is idyllic for its proximity to one of the African Great Lakes, Lake Victoria. Getting here from Nairobi is a 45-minute flight or at least six hours by road, and a passenger train service launched in December 2021.
Boat rides and bird-watching is the name of the game here. Head to Le Pearl or Dunga Hill Camp to try local-style tilapia, either deep-fried or slathered in a thick and delicious fried tomato and onion base, served with local staple, ugali (similar to a thick porridge) and no cutlery. The sunsets over the water in Kisumu are worth the trip, but you can also dance until morning to popular ohangla music at various spots in town, walk around Impala Sanctuary or explore out-of-town caves and rock formations such as Kit-Mikayi and the lesser-known Abindu Caves.
Zip down to the lake’s most popular islands: Mbita, Rusinga or Takawiri where the beaches are powder white and the sunsets storybook. Stay up late to witness the “ghost cities” formed by hundreds of lanterns hoisted on wooden canoes by fishermen heading off to work in the night. Read More…
