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Top 19 Places to Visit in Kenya

Kenya is an enchanting place, the embodiment of the African continent all by itself. This East African country indeed presents a great diversity of landscapes; Savannah as far as the eye can see, the Great Rift Valley, huge mountains or gigantic lakes share this territory almost as large as France and home to lions, elephants, antelopes, rhinos, giraffes and hippopotamuses. It is here that the safari was democratized, within preserved spaces and reserves which later became splendid national parks!

In addition, Kenya offers visitors many other points of interest such as seaside resorts or coral reefs along the coast around Malindi, grueling treks on the highlands or cultural stops to better appropriate the history of this colorful country.

But then, what to do in Kenya? We have concocted a list for you with our favorites in the country of the cheetahs: come on, let’s go!

Summary

  • 1. Amboseli National Park, Loitoktok
  • 2. Tsavo East National Park, Taita
  • 3. Masai Mara National Reserve, Narok
  • 4. Lac Nakuru, Nakuru
  • 5. Ewaso Ng’iro, Central Province
  • 6. Mount Kenya, Central Province
  • 7. Samburu National Reserve, Samburu
  • 8. Diani Beach, Kwale
  • 9. Aberdare National Park, Nyeri
  • 10. Lac Bogoria, Baringo
  • 11. Tsavo West National Park, Coast Province
  • 12. Hell’s Gate National Park, Nakuru
  • 13. Kisite-Mpunguti National Park, Kwale
  • 14. Shaba National Reserve, Isiolo
  • 15. Wasini Island, Kwale
  • 16. Thomson’s Falls, Laikipia
  • 17. Kakamega Forest National Reserve, Kakamega
  • 18. Karura Forest, Nairobi
  • 19. Sibiloi National Park, Marsabit

1. Amboseli National Park, Loitoktok

Amboseli National Park, Loitoktok, Kenya

Photo credit: Unsplash -Matthew Cramblett

This exceptional nature reserve is located very close to Kilimanjaro; Among the most famous national parks in the country, it is classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO and offers people who come to visit Kenya a postcard setting and the chance to observe unique flora and fauna.

2. Tsavo East National Park, Taita

Tsavo East National Park, Kenya

Photo credit: Unsplash – AP

Tsavo East is one of Kenya’s largest parks; opened in 1948, you can admire herds of buffaloes, lions and many other worthy representatives of African fauna!

If you are looking for what to do in Kenya, you can also visit the Lugard Falls, rapids of the Galana River, which you can follow via a track leading to many points of interest in this formidable nature reserve.

3. Masai Mara National Reserve, Narok

Masai Mara National Reserve, Narok, Kenya

Photo credit: Unsplash – Michael Rodock

Masai Mara is a savannah area located along the Tanzanian border in southwestern Kenya. Here, one can admire lions, cheetahs or elephants, as well as an astonishing landscape made up of plains and hills where the Mara and Talek rivers lace. Do not miss to observe the incredible migration of the wildebeest, which cross the plains on this occasion!

4. Lac Nakuru, Nakuru

Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Photo credit: Unsplash – Aftab Uzzaman

Lake Nakuru is one of the lakes in the Great Rift Valley. This salt lake has the particularity of hosting nearly a million flamingos simultaneously! In addition to these, you can observe many other species of birds. For those who come to visit Kenya, Lake Nakuru is a perfect place to go on their first safari: many tourist agencies organize one in the area!

5. Ewaso Ng’iro, Central Province

Rivière Ewaso Ng'iro, Kenya

Photo credit: Flickr – Ninara

Fed by the waters of the Mount Kenya glacier, this river is popular with kayaking enthusiasts who come to visit Kenya! You can also take a quieter hike along the river on the paths provided for this purpose. Whatever its objective when looking for what to do in Kenya, the Ewaso Ng’iro River is one of the country’s major points of interest, not to be missed under any circumstances.

6. Mount Kenya, Central Province

Mount Kenya

Crédit photo : Flickr – chris.murphy

Mount Kenya is a 5199 meter high mountain: it is the highest point in Kenya, and the second highest peak in Africa behind Kilimanjaro. It is possible to climb the summit and some of the most beautiful viewpoints in the country are found on the slopes of Mount Kenya! A national park classified by UNESCO is located around its summit and a unique fauna and flora are present within this unique natural space. A nice adventure to savor without moderation when you come to visit Kenya.

7. Samburu National Reserve, Samburu

Samburu Game Reserve, Kenya

Crédit photo : Flickr – Weldon Kennedy

This national park runs along the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River in central Kenya; close to the Buffalo Springs and Shaba reserves, it can be visited by car and offers lucky visitors to Kenya the chance to enjoy a unique moment of relaxation and the opportunity to meet fabulous animals!

8. Diani Beach, Kwale

Diani Beach, Kenya

Crédit photo : Wikimedia Commons – Łukasz Ciesielski

Diani Beach is a seaside resort facing the immensity of the Indian Ocean. Located about thirty kilometers south of the city of Mombasa, in Kwale County, it is renowned for its sublime beach where it is good to relax! Here many tourists come to rest or enjoy the holidays. You can also dive there, and party in one of the many bars or nightclubs in the area!

9. Aberdare National Park, Nyeri

Parc national d'Aberdare, Nyeri, Kenya

Crédit photo : Flickr – orientalizing

This national park is one of the highest of the most wooded in Kenya – covered with forests and green plains, it culminates at 4000 meters above sea level. The Aberdare is a mountain area which is among the rainiest areas in Kenya! If the dense vegetation of the tropical forests makes it difficult to observe wild animals, you can however discover major points of interest such as the Gura Falls and Karuru Falls, the most beautiful waterfalls in Kenya.

10. Lac Bogoria, Baringo

Lac Bogoria, Baringo, Kenya

Photo credit: Flickr – thaths

This salt lake sits in the heart of the volcanic region of the Lake Baringo Basin. When looking for what to do in Kenya, you can come and discover majestic colonies of pink flamingos, as well as a whole series of activities related to nature: treks over several days, but also safaris organized with the help of guides local.

11. Tsavo West National Park, Coast Province

 Tsavo West, Kenya

Photo credit: Flickr – Ninara

Tsavo West is the greenest and wettest part of Tsavo National Park; unlike the eastern part, which is much drier and presents landscapes characteristic of the African savannah. Its steep and volcanic landscapes lend themselves particularly well to the observation of wild elephants, leopards and rhinos, and promise to be a must when you come to visit Kenya!

12. Hell’s Gate National Park, Nakuru

Parc national Hell's Gate, Kenya

Photo credit: Flickr – Ninara

Hell’s Gate is badly named; in fact, this splendid natural park, located south of Lake Naivasha and about a hundred kilometers northeast of the capital Nairobi, is a formidable reserve popular with wildlife photographers and scientists who come to learn more about the local fauna. Visitors looking for what to do in Kenya can enjoy the trekking trails, but also the activities allowing to wander in the park such as horse riding, cycling or quad biking!

13. Kisite-Mpunguti National Park, Kwale

Kisite-Mpunguti National Park, Kwale, Kenya

Photo credit: Flickr – Brad Knabel

This marine national park located on the south coast of Kenya, very close to Wasini Island, covers nearly 40 square kilometers and allows you to observe many cetaceans, fish and coral reefs, to practice snorkeling or to enjoy a nice boat trip. If you are in the area, and you are still looking for what to do in Kenya, do not hesitate, come and enjoy the charms of the Indian Ocean at Kisite-Mpunguti National Park!

14. Shaba National Reserve, Isiolo

Shaba National Reserve, Isiolo, Kenya

Photo credit: Flickr – Ninara

The Shaba reserve is a protected area in northern Kenya, close to the Samburu and Buffalo Springs reserves. If we tell you about it, it is because the sector is one of the best places to approach giraffes and that it is possible to rub shoulders with animal keepers and photographers who have come to observe the Grévy zebra, an endangered species but still present in the park.

15. Wasini Island, Kwale

Wasini Island, Kwale, Kenya

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons – rcrhee

Located in the Indian Ocean, near the southern coast of Kenya, this small island , five kilometers long and only one wide, is a mecca for seaside tourism in East Africa. Surrounded by a multitude of national parks, it is also popular with visitors from all over the world for its luxury hotels, and the many famous nightclubs allowing you to party until the end of the night!

16. Thomson’s Falls, Laikipia

Thomson's Falls, Kenya

Photo credit: Pxhere

This 74 meter high waterfall is on the Ewaso Narok River, just two kilometers from Nyahuru. Discovered in 1883 by the Scottish geologist Josesph Thomson, Thomson’s Falls is also famous for hosting, upstream of the waterfall, a basin where hippos come to splash around! When you come to visit Kenya, this point of tourist interest is certainly a must.

17. Réserve nationale de la forêt de Kakamega, Kakamega

Kakamega Forest National Reserve, Kenya

Photo credit : Wikimedia Commons – Nao Iizuka

Kakamega Forest located in the county of the same name, is one of the great forest estates of the country and the last primary tropical forest in Kenya. If we tell you about it, it is because the place is really worth the detour and can be visited, winter or summer, on foot or by bike. You can also sleep there, since this national reserve has a few campsites and hotel areas, and that is very pleasant when you come to visit Kenya!

18. Forêt de Karura, Nairobi

Karura Forest, Kenya

Photo credit: Flickr – Ninara

The Karura forest is a very special forest since it is located in Nairobi . Yes, in a metropolis!

This urban forest, therefore, is a unique place and acts as the lungs of the Kenyan capital. You can walk the paths along it while enjoying an ice cream, and many Kenyans come to eat there during their lunch break or, quite simply, to spend an afternoon there with their family during the weekend.

19. Sibiloi National Park, Marsabit

Sibiloi National Park, Kenya

Photo credit: Instagram – mistri_webi_mugo

is Sibiloi National Park on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana, very close to the Ethiopian border, in northern Kenya. Created in 1973, it is characterized by the presence of fossils in an impressive number, which explains the attraction of paleontologists from all over the world for the place, but also of a fauna made up of species such as oryx, gazelles-giraffes or zebras by Grevy.

20. Mombasa Island, Mombasa

Mombasa island, Kenya

Photo credit: Flickr – United Nations Photo

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Mohamed SAKHRI

I am Mohamed SAKHRI, the creator and editor-in-chief of this blog, 'Discover the World – The Blog for Curious Travelers.' Join me as we embark on a journey around the world, uncovering beautiful places, diverse cultures, and captivating stories. Additionally, we will delve into mysterious and, at times, even bizarre destinations.

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