Your Kenya safari should not be an ordinary safari. It should be a safari full of memorable moments that you will tell your children and your grandchildren. A Kenyan safari should relax your mind, rejuvenate your soul, and pump your heart with adrenaline. For a memorable luxury safari in Kenya, get in touch with us. Our local experts will curate a personalized and unique itinerary. There are a lot of tourist attractions in Kenya that mainstream media don’t tell you about.
Though the Masai Mara is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, there are hundreds of other tourist attractions in Kenya. Kenya is home to 55 million people and more than 55 ethnic groups. These ethnic groups pride themselves on having a great culture and heritage. A good example is the Maasai people who inhabit the Northern central and Southern parts of Kenya and Tanzania.
The Maasai live within the Masai Mara National Park. The Maasai are known for their unique garb and body ornamentation. They are also brave, and it is not uncommon to see the Masai herding their cattle while lions keep a distance.
Kenya has several tourist attractions, and we will discuss the most popular sites so that tourists coming to Kenya get value for their money. Kenya has much to offer for lovers of adventure travel. You can check the Kenya entry requirements to know what you need to be able to travel to Kenya.
Tourist attractions in Nairobi
One of the best places to visit in Kenya is Nairobi. Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya, and it offers Kenyan tourists plenty of things to see and do. One thing to do in Nairobi is to visit the Nairobi National Park. The park is ideal for tourists who stay within Nairobi due to business or studies.
Nairobi National Park
The Nairobi national park is the only Wildlife Park in the world located close to a city. It is 7 km from the capital city and covers an area of 117 km squared. Adventure travelers will interact with the big five at the Nairobi National Park. It is home to the black rhino, leopard, lion, and buffalo.
The park is also home to animals such as the giraffe, zebra, and 20 species of birds such as the Secretary bird, Martial eagle, and Sooty falcon. Tourists also have an opportunity to see more than 100 mammal species and several reptiles.
Tourists in Kenya can also visit the Nairobi Animal Orphanage, founded in 1963. The orphanage acts as a rehabilitation center for animals such as cheetahs, jackals, hyenas, lions, and several bird species such as the Crowned Crane, Ostriches, Parrots, and Guinea fowls.
There are several activities that tourists can do at the Nairobi National Park. Adventure travellers can visit the Ivory burning site monument, have a picnic, or trek in designated places within the park. The walking trail starts at the picnic area and follows the banks of the Athi River. This is a safe trail protected by Kenya Wildlife Service rangers.
The Giraffe Center
The Giraffe center is an excellent place to relax, feed giraffes, and learn about endangered species. It also has an attic gallery that allows tourists to buy souvenirs and paintings they like. There is also a 1.5 km nature trail that has been created for hiking.
During the stroll, tourists in Kenya will see several exotic birds and animals, such as squirrels and dikdik. You will also get an opportunity to see warthogs in their dens.
National Museum of Kenya
The Nairobi National Museum of Kenya is the custodian of Kenya’s history. The museum is also in charge of other museums around the country, such as the fort Jesus museum in Mombasa, the lamb and Malindi Museum, and the Gede and Rabbi Museum at the coast.
At the museum, tourists can visit the Cradle of Humankind gallery. Here you can interact with your ancestors as you see and experience the stone tools they used. The museum also displays different types of birds that are found in Kenya.
As a custodian of Kenya’s history, the museum has artifacts from almost all 45 tribes in the country. The museum will teach you the history of mammals and how they evolved. Luxury tourists will also see the remains of ancient animals that are now extinct.
In addition, the museum has a gallery section where Kenyan artists display their art. You are allowed to buy some of these exhibits. It has been argued that night visits are the best. Who knows, the museum might come alive when the moon is at its peak!
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
The Sheldrick wildlife trust is known for protecting elephants. To date, the trust has saved more than 316 elephants. This is an excellent place to see small elephants fed using bottles. You will also get an opportunity to see the elephants play in the mud and dust.
In addition, Kenyan tourists can take photos and listen to stories of hope on how the trust saved some of the elephants from poachers. Each elephant has a unique story waiting to share with someone like you.
The Kenya National Archives
The Kenya national archive is situated within the Central Business district in Nairobi. It was established in 1965 as a custodian of Kenya’s documented history. The National Archive has more than 40,000 publicly available records and contains artifacts from various African cultures and societies.
The Kenya national archives have artifacts from West Africa, Somalia, Uganda, and Southern parts of Africa. This is a good place for Kenyan and European tourists to learn about Kenya’s history and past secrets.
Bomas of Kenya
A Nairobi safari can not be complete without a visit to the Bomas of Kenya. Here, you will experience Kenya’s cultural diversity. The center employs the Bomas Harambee dancers who showcase Kenya’s music and dances to local and international tourists. The repertoire consists of more than 50 dances from different communities in the country.
Bomas of Kenya also displays cultural artifacts from various communities in the country. At the center, you will see traditional homes and settings as they used to be 100 years ago.
Lastly, tourists in Kenya can visit famous malls such as Two rivers and the village market to eat, drink and shop. The malls are safe and a good place to interact and play games such as paintball and pool.
Best Places to visit in Mombasa
One of the best places to visit in Mombasa is the Wild waters. Wild Waters is an entertainment theme park for tourists traveling with their families. The theme park is also ideal for hosting corporate dinners, conferences, team building, and weddings.
Wild waters boast several water slides such as a Kid’s pool, Mutine & Harakiri, Spirals, and a Play area. Other best places to visit in Mombasa are:
Fort Jesus Museum
The Fort Jesus Museum is a UNESCO-protected historical site. Fort Jesus was built in 1593 by the Portuguese, who feared an Omani invasion through the sea. The Fort was made by an Italian architect known as Batista Cairato, and it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2011.
Tourists who visit Fort Jesus can walk down history Lane and see military fortifications used hundreds of years ago. The Fort has a dungeon and an art exhibition from famous regional artists.
Haller Park
A Mombasa safari cannot be complete without visiting Haller park. Haller Park is a fun place to stay in Mombasa, particularly for animal lovers. The Park is located in Majengo Mombasa, made from an abandoned quarry converted into an ecological area. To do this, Rene Haller introduced trees and animals to rehabilitate the quarry. When millipedes were introduced, they created a chain reaction that attracted other animals, such as birds, mammals, and insects.
The Park boasts several animals, such as hippos, tortoises, fish, crocodiles, warthogs, and giraffes. The Park is also home to a reptile sanctuary that hosts reptiles such as lizards and snakes. Snakes in the reptile park include pythons, bush snakes, vipers, cobras, and Mambas.
Nyali Beach
Nyali beach is one of the best places to visit in Mombasa on a budget. The beach forms part of the Mombasa Marine Reserve, and it has white sand, high-end restaurants, and plenty of sea activities such as windsurfing, water skiing, and sunbathing.
Nyali beach is a good place for tourists looking to interact with the local population and feel the magical nightlife that thrives under the magical moon. Beaches nearby include Kenyatta beach, shelly, Bamburi, Tiwi, and Galu Kinondo beach.
Bamburi Beach
Bamburi beach is a good place to go for a Mombasa safari. It is an ideal location for relaxation and sunbathing. It is one of the best beaches to visit in Mombasa. The beach is known for its white sand and calm Waters. It is also home to luxurious hotels, nightclubs, and restaurants. At first, I thought the beach was private, but I later realized that it is a public beach, open all year round.
Bamburi beach is also good for adventure travel because you can ride camels, sunbathe, scuba dive, and snorkel.
Mombasa Marine Park
The Mombasa Marine Park is a National Park that is spread over an area of 2500 acres. The Park lies between Mtwapa and Tudor Creeks. It is known for its swaying coconut palm trees and white sandy beaches, including Bamburi and Nyali. We like the Park because it is home to several marine species, such as cucumbers, sea urchins, corals, turtles, and stone fish.
Tourists at the Park can see and interact with migratory birds such as Crab plovers and Roseate tern. The Marine Park offers several adventures, such as diving in the warm azure ocean and snorkeling. Snorkeling is done using a motorized dive or glass-bottom boat that shows you an uninterrupted view of life under the sea.
Experienced surfers are allowed to surf and water ski. The Park offers accommodation services at the Mombasa Marine Campsite. The campsite is a romantic place to visit in Mombasa with a loved one.
The Park can be accessed by road from Mombasa City through various entry points along Kenya’s coastal beaches. These entry points include the Serena Gate, along the Serena beach hotel, or the Nyali gate at Mombasa Marine Park Headquarters.
Luxury tourists can also access the Park through the voyager gate at the Voyager water sports area. We have created a comprehensive guide on the Kenya safari Cost to know how much you will need for a luxury stay.
Old Town
Another fun place in Mombasa is Old Town, located near Tudor Creek. The town covers an area of 180 and is home to six settler groups, such as the Swahili, Arabas, British, Asian, and Portuguese settlers. Old town is home to historical buildings with unique culture and architecture.
The buildings date back to the 18th century when Old Town was the main trading route. Oldtown is also near Fort Jesus, so we recommend tourists in Kenya visit Old Town when they visit Fort Jesus.
Mama Ngina Waterfront
The Mama Ngina Waterfront is named after Kenya’s former first lady. It is a public park that was opened on October 2019 after being redesigned at the cost of 4.6 million dollars. The Waterfront occupies 26 acres of public land that overlooks the Kilindini channel.
The Waterfront is a modern urban tourist attraction site with a cultural center and an amphitheater. It is family-friendly because it has rail guards that protect you from the pounding wave crashing onto the Park. The stadium has a Roman-style design with a seating capacity of 3,000 tourists. In addition, the Park has adequate lighting to sustain a 24-hour economy.
Tourists at the Park can enjoy local cuisine, a jog along the ocean, and taste Mombasa’s famous pastries, fried potatoes, and cassava.
Jumba La Mtwana
Jumba La Mtwana is a ruined historic village located 15 kilometers north of Mombasa. The town is unique because it has no written records about it. However, it has ceramic evidence that shows when it was built. Evidence shows that the city was built in the 14th century but abandoned in the 15th century.
According to archaeologists, the village’s inhabitants chose the location because of its strategic importance, such as the presence of Freshwater. Also, the town is exposed to both the North East and South-East breezes, which helped keep the inhabitants cool and safe from external attacks by sea.
Jumba La Mtwana is a fun place to visit in Mombasa, especially if you are curious about past civilization and their way of life.
Places to visit in Nanyuki
Olpe Jeta Conservancy
Visiting the Olpe Jeta Conservancy is one of the memorable things to do in Kenya. The Olpe Jeta Conservancy was home to one of the last northern white rhinos in the world. This Rhino was known as Sudan. Sudan lived for 45 years and died on march 19th, 2018.
Sudan left behind two females, the only two subspecies alive in the world. Ol Pejeta conservancy offers several conservancy experiences, such as a cycling Safari, dog tracking, and Bush and bird walks. It is also ideal for a luxury safari in Kenya because you experience first-hand how it feels to track lions in their natural habitat.
During the tracking experience, you will track lions that have radio collars. Sometimes, the guide will use their natural tracks to know where the lions are. I found this as one of the most exciting safari experiences in my life!
Another experience that adventure travelers can do is a night game drive. A night game drive safari is one where nature has been stripped of its fancy clothing, and its true self is shown to the wild. On a night safari, you will see animals that hide from the sun, such as bat-eared foxes, the leopard, Aardvark, and lion hunt. For Safety purposes, the activity is done between 5 – 7 pm.
The Equator Mark
When on a Kenyan safari to Nanyuki. The tour guide must stop at the Equator mark, known for its Coriolis effect. The equator is where the southern and northern hemispheres are divided into two using an imaginary line, and the latitude is zero degrees. A small experiment can be done to determine if you are on the equator in Nanyuki.
To do this, you will require a jug with a hole at the bottom, two small pieces of sticks, and water. Pour the water into the jar while covering the hole with your finger. Stand 10 feet on the southern part of the equator and remove the finger from the hole. The sticks will rotate in an anti-clockwise direction.
The stick will rotate clockwise if you do the same experiment on the northern side. However, if you put the jug directly on the equator, the sticks will not turn.
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
Mount Kenya wildlife conservancy is located at the foot of mount Kenya, and it was created to protect endangered wildlife such as the mountain bongo. It is also home to wild animals such as antelope, leopards, and elephants. Mount Kenya Wildlife conservancy also runs a breeding program for endangered animals such as the bongo and rare white Zebra.
Solio Wildlife conservancy
Another place to visit in Nanyuki is the Solio wildlife conservancy, 22 kilometers from Nyeri town. It is a 17,500 reserve and home to rhinos, Lions, buffalos, and more than 300 species of birds. The conservancy promises you a safari of a lifetime.
Adventurers can experience nightly game safaris to track and look closely at the big cats. You will see lions hunt and others fight with hyenas for food. You will see the clear night skies with billions of stars above you. If you are lucky, you can see a shooting star and make a wish!
Explore the Mau Mau caves
A visit to the Mau Mau caves is a great opportunity to travel back in time. These caves were used by Kenya’s freedom fighters when they were fighting the British colonial administration. The fight was a fight for freedom and land that had been taken away by the colonialists.
The caves are located in an indigenous forest that opens up to a magnificent waterfall. Chasing the Mau Mau caves is a Safari you will always remember.
Eat fish at the trout restaurant
A safari in Nanyuki can only be completed when you eat fish at the trout tree restaurant. It is one of the best places in Nanyuki, where you can eat fresh trout in the wild. The restaurant is unique because it is built around a sacred African fig tree on the banks of the Burguret river. The atmosphere and ambiance make this place suitable for a romantic outing.
Masai Mara
Tourists in Kenya can only complete a Kenya Safari with a trip to the Masai Mara. It is named Masai Mara after the indigenous Masaai tribe who live within the reserve. The Masai Mara reserve is the biggest in the country and extends to the Tanzanian side.
The Masia Mara is known for its wildlife conversation and unique population of wild animals, such as the mighty African bush elephant, the lion, the cheetah, the leopard, and the buffalos.
The Masai Mara is also known for being home to the Great wild beast migration, with more than a million wild beasts crossing the river in search of pasture. The Great Migration is a Safari to remember. Tourists in Kenya can see hundreds of thousands of wildebeest cross the mighty mara river as vast and scary Nile crocodiles wait to prey on the weak.
The wildebeest migration does not spare the weak. The weak are eaten by the crocodiles or trumped upon by the strong. Once the animals cross over into Kenya, they cross into Tanzania after a few months.
Masai Mara Safari
There are plenty of things to do during a Masai Mara safari. One of them is to have a balloon ride early in the morning before the sun rises. This is a romantic experience as the sun rises in the east and as the African Savana roars to life
After the hot air balloon ride, luxury tourists can have breakfast in the wild as they breathe cool fresh air. Other things to do at the Masai Mara include mingling with the Maasai community and mastering their courage. The Maasai are known as fierce warriors. So feared are Massai men that lions are afraid of anyone wearing red {The Maasai wear a red body wrapping known as a Shuka}.
The Massai also entertain tourists with their cultural songs and dance. These people jump high, very high! Another safari adventure you can do is explore the mighty landscape while riding a horse.
The Massai mara is home to 8 private campsites. Five are designated for use by the public, while three are designated for use by tour operators. These are modern campsites with wifi, a hot shower, a TV, and 5-star food. Campsites such as the Oloololo campsite enables tourists to interact with the Massai population and see their “Manyattas” {houses}, culture, crafts, and traditional dance performances.
Tsavo National Park
The Tsavo National Park is 233 km south of Nairobi and 250 Km of Mombasa. The park can be accessed using several airstrips, such as the Voi, Aruba, Cottars, and Bachuma airstrips. If you are on a Kenya safari, ensure you visit the Tsavo national park. The park entry fee is $35 for non-resident tourists.
The Tsavo National Park is one of the oldest parks in Kenya. It has two sections; Tsavo East and Tsavo West. In total, the Tsavo National Park is almost 22,000 kilometers squared. The park is a good place for adventure tourism. For example, adventure travelers can interact with large mammals such as elephants, buffalos, black rhinos, and Masai lions.
Adventure tourists can spend time at the Taita Hills wildlife sanctuary or Mzima springs. You can also visit the Lumo community wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is located along a historical elephant migration path that links the Shimba hills to the Tsavo ecosystem.
At the Tsavo national park, tourists can engage in a wide range of activities such as bird watching {There are more than 500 species in the park}, game viewing, camping, and trekking in designated places. These activities make Tsavo National park one of Kenya’s best places to visit.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru national park is a beautiful wildlife haven on the Great Rift Valley escarpment. The park has incredible ecological diversity and is home to Kenya’s largest population of flamingos.
Lake Nakuru National Park is ideal for camping, hiking, picnics, and game drives. Non-residents are charged an entrance fee of $35, while Kenyan residents are charged $8.60. Tourists in Kenya can access the park either by road or by air. The park is 156 km west of Nairobi and only 4km from the Nakuru business district.
To acces the park, the tour guide needs to use either the Nderit or Lanet gates. Before, tour guides accessed the park using the Northern and western sides. However, due to the increase in water levels, the Northern side is not accessible.
There are alot of things to do in Kenya, and it can be confusing to know the best holiday location. Therefore, get in touch with one of our local expert travel guides, who will help curate a safari itinerary that suits your interests. For example, if you prefer bird watching, the best itinerary should include the Tsavo National Park because it has more than 500 bird species.
If you are an adventure traveler, choose a Kenya Safari itinerary that includes the Olpe Jeta Conservancy. This is because the conservancy allows tourists to trek and track down lions.
