About Kenya
Kenya is an East African country that is touching the Indian Ocean through its coastline. Nairobi is the capital of this diverse country, centrally located with easy connectivity. Kenya is about 5013 Km from India and it takes roughly 6 hours to reach there. The ports of Kenya was used as by the Asian and Arabian traders to bring goods and enter the continent for centuries. The infrastructure and development process as compared to its eastern region is far better in comparison.
This country is one of the most popular countries among its neighbouring countries in terms of the rich forest land, amazing landscapes, picturesque Great Drift Valley, Lakelands, and mountains. Kenya has a very rich wildlife reserve and it is quite famous for the safaris in which one can witness the natives like elephants, lions, rhinos, Cheetas, and hippopotamus. Kenya has also some of the finest beaches in the world which can behold your eyes in the first attempt such as Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi, Diani Beach, Lamu. Kenya is most visited by foreigners to spend time closely with nature and wildlife and you will be surprised to know that there total 54 national parks in the country. Few major parks which are quite cherished by the visitors as Masaai Mara National Park, Amboseli National Park, Nairobi National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park. Tsavo East National Park is the largest national park in the country with covering nearly 22000 km of an area located on the coastal province of Kenya between Nairobi and Mombasa. This is one of the largest wildlife parks in the world. Kenya has a heterogeneous population and the majority of the people are from the Bantu tribe which consists of several small partitions to it. The people of Kenya gain visibility and popularity during the time of the British Empire as well.
Kenya was also ranked as best among the East African countries in a survey done by an international reputed magazine. Because there is a lot of tourist inflow from European countries, North American countries have contributed to the economy. The government has started working on developing the infrastructure to make it a more comfortable and favourable destination for the tourists.
It is necessary to understand the ecosystem of the country, you will find great migrations of the wildebeest, the wildlife around the famous lakes, tribes which are still prevalent in the 21st century. During your tour, you can visit their villages and tribal areas understand the way of life. How these people have survived with such rich wildlife around them.
There are a lot of options for you to enjoy once you visit this diverse country go on game drives, if you love trekking you may choose Mount Kenya which is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in the African region after Mt. Kilimanjaro which is based in Tanzania, enjoy at the wanderlust beaches, closely know the tribal culture, shop the traditional souvenirs, taste some finger-licking dishes, enjoy the free lifestyle and amicable people of the country.
Now, we will let you know about the most important questions that may arise in your mind while planning your trip to the country and keeping in mind these few things would make your trip a memorable one.
Best time to Explore Kenya
Kenya has abundant wildlife in the world, which assists tourists, researchers understand the Ecosystem. This country is based on the equator due to which normally the temperature is on a higher side. It would be most suitable if you plan your journey from the end of June to October. This duration is considered the best time for the wildlife watching being a dry season as the main hot season which the hottest season passes through. The wildebeest migration reaches the Masaai Mara and stays there till October end.
How to reach Kenya
This beautiful country is not too far India and you can take a direct flight to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. This flight would hardly take approx 6 hours for you to reach and there is a daily frequency of flights from major cities from India. Once you come out of the airport post clearing formalities you will find a lot of options for taxi service and reach the desired destination. The taxi service provider has fixed rates, for cheaper options, you can use public transport as well.
Places to visit in Kenya
Kenya is a beautiful country with so much to offer to visitors. The main attraction to visit this amazing place is abundant wildlife. You will find a lot of scenic views like national parks, Lakelands, mountains and much more. We have tried to enlist the main destinations for your ease.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the largest city in the country and along with being the capital of Kenya. It has got multiple reasons to be one of the major attractions as it is considered as an ancient colonial legacy, burgeoning infrastructure, coffee industry and yes wildlife parks. One can surely visit the city looking out for the heritage of the city, breathtaking wildlife, amazing people with splendid culture.
Masaai Mara National Park
This is a vibrant park known for its rich wildlife existence worldwide. The park is named in the honor of Masai tribe, who are the ancestral inhabitant of this region. As a reason it is one of the most renowned visited parks, one can experience the great migration which reaches to this park during the late June and remain there till the end of October before moving ahead to the Serengeti National park in the neighbouring country Tanzania. The park has a variety of creatures to look out for such as leopard, lion, African elephant, southeast African cheetah. A game drive is one the main tourist adventurous activity during which tourists are taken on a safari jeep with open roof with a cover for you to take a close look at these majestic cats and other animals. One can go for the Hot air ballooning to take a gorgeous ariel view of the park with wildlife spottings. Photographic safaris, nature walks, and cultural activities are the options to look out for. If you want to stay in the park the main accommodation option is Mara Serena Lodge.
Amboseli National Park
This park is one of the top tourist attractions in Kenya for wildlife admirers. Join the safari at this place for the scenic plains of the park with vibrant wildlife creatures like zebras, Cheetahs, unseen bird species, and giraffes along with the mammoth Mt Kilimanjaro peak sightings, the highest mountain in entire Africa. You can indulge in a game drive as per the applicable park fees, please note that during the high season the park fees increase.
Mount Kenya National Park
This Majestic mountain has a lot offer not just the second highest peak in Africa but the rich wildlife it preserves near to the foothills and plains. This wildlife park was created to save the endangered species and the mountain itself earlier, and now it has become one of the important tourist attractions. This place was also named as a world heritage site. You can go for an amazing sightseeing experience and Magical wildlife spottings. The fauna consists of monkeys, cape buffaloes, lions, black and white colobus. Also, this area is conserved the water catchment for the surrounding area. Apart from a game drive, you can also involve in trekking to an exciting and enjoyable trekking peak at 4895 meters till point Lenana. On your route to the point, you will find beautiful flora and it conserves some fauna as well. Once you reach the top you can take a clear of the plains of the park and the nearby surroundings.
Lake Victoria
This the largest lake in the entire African continent touching these countries Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. This lake was named after Queen Victoria once it was found by an English explorer. this is the world's largest tropical lake and second-largest freshwater on the surface lake in the world. This is a place in Kenya where you can look for a soothing atmosphere and exorbitant variety of aquatic wildlife. You will find several species of African turtles, Williams mud turtles, varied mud turtles and more than 500 species of fishes.
Tsavo East National Park
Tsavo East National Park is the largest national park in the country with covering nearly 22000 km of an area located on the coastal province of Kenya between Nairobi and Mombasa. This is one of the largest wildlife parks in the world. Tsavo has two parks East and west if we combined both of them if form nearly 4% of the entire area of the country. This park not only includes abundance in wildlife however it comprises of waterfalls, rivers, savannah, hills, almost every type of natural formation. The Tsavo East provides photogenic sights for large elephants, lions, and other wildlife animals. You may also look for crocodile-filled pools, Lugard falls, Mudanda rocks, and the world's longest lava flow of Yatta Plateau. You will have an amazing game drive experience here in this park.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
This conservancy is on the foothills of Mount Kenya is known for its conservative program. They have still protected the female white rhino and keeping a close watch to save the endangered spicy. You will find a huge population for the Chimpanzee and some of them are kept here post they are rescued from the black market. It is worth a day trip to visit this place to enjoy the magical relationship between animals and nature. You can indulge in multiple activities like Lion tracking, night game drives, bush walks.
Mombasa
Mombasa is located on the southeastern coast of Kenya and is the largest port city in the country. This place has got some finest of beaches in the country which attracts a lot of diversified tourists. This place has a beautiful blend of culture which compels the visitors to explore this city. One can have exhilarating experience visiting this place with varied options available like culture, tradition, forts, beaches, markets, architecture, cuisine and much more to offer. This is a multicultural city which has got immigrants like Arab, Asian, British, Portuguese, and Indian which adds to its rich cultural mix and will find its impressions on the architecture and variety of cuisine available. You can perform various water activities like snorkelling, diving opportunities.
Samburu National Reserve
This national park is located in northern Kenya and it is considered the best national reserve to visit in this region. This park is named after the Samburu tribe people and other tribes which are famous for bright coloured beaded jewellery. You will spot more than 400 species of beautiful birds, that's not all look out for leopards, lions, elephants and cheetahs. If you are lucky then might spot Grevy's zebra, African oryx, reticulated giraffe, and wild dogs.
Malindi
This southeastern resort town has two different faces and it quite explored due to its amazing white sand beaches. It is an amazing amalgamation of history and modernization. One part of the town you will find a historical place to know more about the existence of the place and another part of the city the infrastructure is developed to cater to the burgeoning flow of tourists. You can look out for serene beaches, exciting corals and ancient monuments.
Diani Beach
If you want to explore the amazing beach life in Kenya, you can't afford to miss this picturesque beach. This is about 30 km from the main city of Mombasa and if you have arrived in Nairobi you should catch up a short flight to this place. White sand beaches are treated to an eye and get some suntan along with some breathtaking clicks to capture. Wander around in the forests just backing the waters once your quench your thirst by taking a dip. You can indulge in snorkelling, surfing, swim with whale sharks, or take a sunset dhow cruise.
Lamu Island
Kenya port was once used extensively to supply goods to this region from Arabian and Asian countries. This is the place which will take you back in time to witness the rich trading history. You can find various old architecture buildings inspired from Arabic, Indian and British styles. The city has still maintained its historical ways and they rely on Dhows, donkeys for commuting for different places. This place will take you to an old era and you would understand how things changed over time. This city Lamu is an Island which compels you for an exciting Dhow cruise.
Lake Nakuru National Park
If you are a bird lover then is the park you can't miss out. Lake Nakuru park is based in central Kenya and is renowned for its tremendous flock of pink flamingoes. This is one of the largest soda lakes of the Great rift valley comprises one-third of the entire area. The prime attraction of this park is more than 450 diverse species of birds recorded here along with a wide variety of other wild animals like lions, leopards, waterbucks, pythons, white rhinos are some animals to spot. The park has beautiful landscapes, grasslands, and woodlands. This scenic place has a lot more to offer and it should be your list of check out for.
Lake Naivasha
This used to be covered a larger area however as the time passed, the lake has shrunk considerably due to extreme drought. This lake is based on the height point of the Great rift valley in Kenya. This place is a home for birds with over 400 bird species have been found at this lake. You can take a boat ride to view the awesome aquatic life here. You might spot a Hippo doing fun, zebra, giraffe, buffalo can be seen on the shores of the lake usually.
Nairobi National Park
Once you arrive at the airport and reach in the city of Nairobi full of liveliness and people around, then the nearest centre to increase your closeness to nature is Nairobi National Park. This park is just on the 15-minute drive from the city. You can start capturing an amazing pride of lions resting post their run for the food or amazing giraffe grazing the grass in the golden sunlight. If you stay is at the Nairobi then this park is the one you cant miss out and it very well deserves a day trip on the game drive to enjoy the rich wildlife around. You will find the variety in the field as hippos, elephants, rhinos, Lions, Leopards, buffaloes, wildebeest, zebras once you on a drive. Apart from these are more than 400 species of birds which you can look for.
Hells' Gate National Park
This national park lies in the southern part of Kenya. The name of the park is derived from its entry a narrow break in the cliffs, it is a treat to watch. This place in ancient times used to be a pass for the river and used to feed the early humans at this place. This is park includes three main attractions like Fischer's tower, Hell's Gate Gorge and Center tower columns. This place is one the main spot for climbers and one of those few parks in which camping is allowed and you can explore it by cycle. You can do the climbing in this place at the two extinct volcanoes. This park preserves a large variety of wildlife including baboons, leopards, hartebeest gazelles and ostriches. Also, for birding, they have more than 100 species recorded here along with vulture and eagle breeding places.
Things to do in Kenya
There are so many beautiful activities to do for in Kenya, that your trip can become a never-ending one. This is an amazing country full of richness in terms of wildlife, nature, culture, people. Every aspect of Kenya will give to witness the best of Africa, however, the country is in the early stages of development however their hospitality is one of the most cherished one in the entire world. You will find a lot of activities here to spend your time in wildlife safari, trekking and hiking, rafting, bird watching, cycling, water sports, Dune biking, skydiving and much more.
Wildlife Safari / Game Drive
This one of the primary reason for most of the tourist visits in the country. The travellers visit the country to know the wildlife more closely and understand the ecosystem of the natural habitats of the wild animals. During the Game Drive, the visitors are taken on a 4x4 wheel drive jeep which takes you to the open area in the park. This is a commendable experience for a first-timer when you watch wild animals passing through your jeep and maybe predator like Lion, cheetah or leopard is chasing them to hunt. The country has around 54 national parks which conserve the wildlife and open for game drives out of which the famous ones are Masaai Mara National Park, Amboseli National park, Mt. Kenya National Park, Largest in terms of area Tsavo East National Park, Samburu National Park, Nairobi National Park.
Trek to Mount Kenya
Mt. Kenya is the second highest peak of the entire continent after Mt. Kilimanjaro which is based in Tanzania. This would be a once in a lifetime trekking experience for climbers as this mount is rich in flora and fauna. On the foothills of this particular mountain conserve a lot of wildlife species. You will find some rare plantation on this trek and it takes around 5 days to come back from this trek. There are mainly there different ways from which you can start your trek to Point Lenana.
Sail by Dhow in Lamu
An opportunity to go back in the ancient times when Dhow was being used a medium to transport the good and trade between this part of the region and India and middle east. Lamu is the one of the oldest port used for trade-in Kenya which provides this extravagant activity to enjoy in the seashore of Lamu.
Ariel view of Tvaso by Mini Aeroplane
This is one of the most amazing activity to be performed. Taking an ariel view of the wildlife in the largest parks of them all. You will have scenic views of the endless fields with animals like buffaloes, lion, elephant, leopard running around and click some picturesque moments.
Snorkelling or Scuba Diving
Kenya has some of the finest beaches in the world with white sand, a plethora of aquatic wildlife, backed lush green forests make it a lifetime experience for the wanderlust lovers. You will find the most amazing beaches like Tiwi, Diani, and Shimoni. At these amazing beaches, you may get involved in snorkelling or scuba diving with whales, turtles, dolphins, and over 250 species of fishes. These are the activities to check out for in the deep blue sea.
Bird Watching
This can a special moment for bird lovers, you will find the huge flock of flamingoes that will surface the entire lake with pink colour. This is a treat to watch. This is not all capture around more than 450 species of birds in your DSLRs. Spot Lion, Rhino and buffaloes on the lakeshore would be an added pleasant thing to watch.
Know more about Archaeological History
Visit the town of Mombasa, this is the oldest town founded by the Swahili sultans in the 14th century. It was later ruled by the British and Portuguese which is quite visible in the architecture of the old buildings. You can look us for 16th century Fort Jesus which is one of the prime attraction and find other old buildings with huge doors. This part of Kenya is known for its rich amalgamation of culture as the impressions left from Portuguese, Indian and British. You can also explore the nearby beaches and rest in the white sand getting a suntan.
Cycling through Hell's Gate
This is the only place in the entire great rift valley in which travellers are allowed to use a cycle to roam around. This Hell's gate was once used to be a way for the water to pass out and over the time the water sources have dried up and now it is a narrow passage to enter the national park. You can do the cycling here and enjoy the beauty of nature very closely feel the fresh air touching your face.
Kenya Weather
Kenya is comparatively a hotter destination due to its closeness to the equator. Generally, the temperature of the entire country remains on a higher-end however still manageable. Kenya experiences warmest season between February to March and the coolest temperature remains from July to August. If you compare the figures the variation is not that much between the seasons. The weather is primarily driven by the winds coming from the surrounding oceans. You will find a hot and humid environment in the nearby area of the Indian ocean and Hot and dry weather in the inner part of the country. Kenya doesn't have winter and summer as it is close to the equator, however, they have a dry and rainy season.
Dry Season – January – March and June – October
Wet Season – April – May and November – December
Popular shopping places in Kenya
Shopping helps one retain the memories of the trip and it is required to take some souvenirs for the loved ones as well. Kenya has a rich culture and thereby forms a very good market to buy local artefacts, clothing, footwear. Masai Market is a normal street market you will find at any corners in the country. You can go crazy to shop at places like these prices are really cheap with so much variety of things to choose from like clothing, African jewellery, curios, decor items. City Market is a market in the Nairobi it is actually a combination of the street market and wet market. You would have good options to look out for like items of clothing, flowers, meat, paintings, and different type of artworks. The prices are quite reasonable at this place. The other such popular markets are Old town market, Gikomba market, and Biashara Market. They also have got some of the most amazing centres for modern markets like malls and centres. Some of the main malls considered best for the shopping are Cedar Mall, The Hub Karen Mall, Westgate Shopping Mall, Yaya Centre.
Food to try in Kenya
It is definite that when one is planning to visit a particular location they will try to find the best food available to cater to the taste buds. Kenya has a variety of foodstuff available in terms of meat, fish, vegetable, pulses to compel one to lick the fingers. The Kenyan dishes are high on meat as it is being one of the prime food ingredients for them however they do offer a variety for the vegetarians as well. Some of the main dishes which should not be missed on the tour to Kenya are Kenyan Pilau, Sukuma wiki, Ugali is one of the most appreciated dish, Kenyan Stew, Matoke, Kenyan Bajias, Mutura.
Recommended places to eat in Kenya
Carnivore Kenya (Recommended for African Cusine, Barbeque, meat dishes)
Jiko (Recommended for Bar, International Cusine, Vegetarian Friendly)
Harvest Restaurant (Recommended for European Cusine)
CJ's (Recommended for Cafe)
The Talisman Restaurant (Recommended for Local cuisine, Fusion, Italian)
Fogo Gaucho (Recommended for Barbecue, Steakhouse, Brazilian cuisines)
About Thyme Restaurant (Recommended for African cuisine)
Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant (Recommended for Seafood, International cuisines)
Haandi Restaurant ( Recommended for Indian Cuisine, Asian Cuisine)
Tips for Travelers
As the weather conditions would be on a hotter side do keep light coloured and lightweight clothes. It is advisable that you keep a copy of your passport and ticket in the luggage. Crime graph is on a high level ask for unsafe areas from hotel people. Don't roam around alone in late-night especially in isolate areas. Keep the contact details of Tourist Safety and Communication Center. Take a taxi from taxi stands preferably to ensure your safety. Keep your valuable, camera, purse safely to avoid any loss due to snatching.
Things to Carry
It is suggested to carry your sport/ canvas shoe light weighted. Also, if you have plans for trekking then don't forget the trekking shoes with extra grip and trekking gear. You should keep along with light clothing for the safari keep little warm clothes like a jacket, warm scarf, jumper as evenings can be really chilling. Carry all your gadgets you will need them like Mobile, DSLR, power bank, Some basic medicines, Hat, Sunscreen, torch and bag pack. Carry your passport, tickets and your itinerary would keep things easy along with a copy of each in your luggage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit Kenya ?
There are two dry seasons in Kenya and either can be the best time to visit Kenya. During the wet seasons while raining is not a good time to watch wildlife and it can become dangerous as well if you jeep gets stuck somewhere in the park. The dry seasons are from January to March and the second one is from July to October. We would suggest you visit due to the second one because the great Migration safari takes place during this season when the wildebeest reaches Masai Mara National Park in June end.
How to reach Kenya ?
One can reach Kenya via a flight. One can easily book a flight from any major cities in India have daily departures to the Nairobi International airport. It takes around a 6-hour journey to reach the ground of your destination.
What is Kenya famous for ?
Kenya is famous for its breathtaking wildlife reserve. this country has more than 54 wildlife parks in which they are preserving more than 25000 different wildlife species. You can also find amazing landscapes, splendid more than 500 bird species, mountains, grasslands, flora, culture and tradition of the tribal people.
What are the best things to do in Kenya ?
Kenya is a very beautiful country rich in culture, heritage, wildlife and greenery. There are various activities which you can take part in and make your tour even more enjoyable. Apart from wildlife safari from a jeep, you can indulge in trekking, hot air ballooning, Air Safari, boating, snorkelling, scuba diving, dune biking, rafting.
What are the things to do in Kenya ?
Kenya is a country rich in culture, heritage, wildlife and greenery. There are various activities which you can take part in and make your tour even more delightful. Apart from wildlife safari from a jeep, you can indulge in trekking, hot air ballooning, Air Safari, boating, snorkelling, scuba diving, dune biking, rafting.
For how many days should I plan for Kenya ?
To explore the entire country it will take around 3 to 4 weeks to visit every attraction in this region. However, if you want to cover major attractions then it should take 7 to 8 days. This destination has over 54 national parks and each one has different offerings still the main sighting are Big 5 which you can cover in the Masai Mara, for herds of elephants you can visit Samburu. To enjoy the hills and conservation of wild animals you can visit Mt Kenya. Enjoy the Hippos in the lake at Lake Naivasha. Nairobi should be an endpoint where you can shop and return home.
How many days should I plan for Kenya ?
To explore the entire country it will take around 3 to 4 weeks to visit every attraction in this region. However, if you want to cover major attractions then it should take 7 to 8 days. This destination has over 54 national parks and each one has different offerings still the main sighting are Big 5 which you can cover in the Masai Mara, for herds of elephants you can visit Samburu. To enjoy the hills and conservation of wild animals you can visit Mt Kenya. Enjoy the Hippos in the lake at Lake Naivasha. Nairobi should be an endpoint where you can shop and return home.
