Stunning places to add on your Kenya safari itinerary

Stunning places to add on your Kenya safari itinerary : The term “safari vacation” is practically synonymous with a visit to Kenya. The Nilotic Maasai people of Kenya are known for their distinctive red traditional shuka (checked cloth), and its national park, Maasai Mara, is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant, and buffalo). Kenya, however, is known for more than just its national parks. It has sprawling cities with restaurants, nightclubs, and stores, as well as forested mountains screaming to be climbed. You can go scuba diving safaris in the Indian Ocean, relax on a lovely beach, or embark on an exciting off-road adventure.

Kenya is a fantastic safari destination for every kind of vacation. The top spots to include on your trip are listed below.

1.  

Drop your bags and spend a few days sampling the city’s many bars and restaurants, such as the trendy Cultiva, where the chef’s South American roots shine through in every plate of farm-to-table fare, or the independent art house and rooftop bar Unseen Nairobi, where signature sandwiches are the perfect side to indie films. Nairobi offers a variety of urban activities, including art galleries, open-air cinemas showing African films, shopping, stand-up comedy acts, and museums.

The capital city is a great place to see animals up close, so don’t rule it out while making plans. Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to view orphaned young elephants, feed Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Centre, and see four of the Big Five (excluding elephants) at Nairobi National Park, all against the incongruous backdrop of billboards, traffic, and skyscrapers.

2. Turkana.

 Turkana appears on a map of Kenya as a huge empty territory due to its isolation, in hospitability, and history of drought; nonetheless, this is precisely why it is so popular among adventurers. There is an airport in the area, but the real fun is getting there in a sturdy 4×4 and navigating the rugged terrain.

Considering how hot and dry it is there, the jade-blue waters of Lake Turkana, the world’s largest desert lake, are a welcome sight. You may rent a speedboat and dash across to Central Island, where a short climb goes up to a volcanic crater lake; in Eliye Springs, the sandy beaches and towering green palm trees will make you feel like you’re in Diani Beach on the Kenyan coast. Bring your swimwear, but watch out for Nile crocodiles hiding on the rocks.

Lodwar is a booming city with a thriving nightlife and a copy of Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue. Travel west for 129 kilometres (80 miles) and you’ll see a copy of the Turkana Boy fossils, which have given this area the nickname “cradle of mankind,” a term that seems to be claimed across Africa.

We recommend visiting during the annual Lake Turkana Cultural Festival in June to gain a deeper understanding of northern tribes including the Borana, Rendille, Turkana, and Samburu. The Chalbi Desert is located to the east of Lake Turkana, and its salt pans reach all the way to the Ethiopian border. At North Horr, you can sandboard the dunes and interact with locals to gain insight into their way of life.

3. Maasai Mara National Reserve.

 Located in southwestern Kenya, Maasai Mara spreads over 583 square miles (1,510 square kilometres) into Tanzania’s Serengeti, making it one of Africa’s most famous safari destinations. You may see all five of the “Big Five” animals and over 450 different kinds of birds. Explore the wild on horseback, on foot, from a safari vehicle, or in a hot air balloon while enjoying a champagne breakfast.

Visit a Maasai community to learn more about the culture of these well-known group of people, whose women construct homes by plastering them with cow dung and whose lives revolve around the cattle they herd.

From July to October, millions of wildebeest migrate across the Serengeti-Mara environment in search of green pasture and to calve, a scene that is typically action-packed with crocodiles and large cats hunting down the migrating herds.

4. Kisumu.

Kisumu is the starting point for most visitors to western Kenya, and its location on Lake Victoria, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, is nothing short of exquisite. The main safari activities include going on boat cruises and watching birds. Try tilapia at Le Pearl or Dunga Hill Camp, where fish is served deep-fried or in a thick and wonderful fried tomato and onion foundation, along with ugali (a local staple similar to a thick porridge) with no cutlery.

Kisumu is famed for its beautiful sunsets over the ocean, but the city also has plenty of other attractions to keep visitors busy, such as the Impala Sanctuary and the nearby Kit-Mikayi and Abindu Caves. Fly to Mbita, Rusinga, or Takawiri, three of the most visited islands in the lake, to enjoy the white sands and stunning sunsets. At dusk, you may observe the “ghost cities” created by the hundreds of lamps carried by fisherman in their wooden canoes.

5. Lamu Island.

 The Lamu archipelago is the best area in Kenya to relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches. Lamu Town is the oldest Swahili colony along the East African coast, and as such, it has a rich history that may be experienced through its architecture and cuisine. Narrow streets prevent automobile access; donkeys and foot travel were once the only options, but in recent years, motorbike taxis called boda-boda have transformed the town’s atmosphere by zipping through its alleys while playing the hottest new tunes.

Take a speedboat to Kiwayu Island and other islands in the archipelago. It is a great place to go diving or sport fishing because it is located in Kiunga Marine National Reserve. Vacation villas with infinity pools that look out over the ocean are common in Shela village. Students from all over the world flock to Lamu, Kenya, every October for the annual Lamu Yoga Festival.

6. Amboseli National Park.

Amboseli National Park is home to vast herds of elephants wallowing in the shallows, dust-bathing, or approaching so close to your car that you can see their eyelashes, all while surrounded by kilometres of dry semi-arid grassland unexpectedly interspersed with acacia trees and green marsh nourished by subterranean water sources.

While Tanzania is home to Africa’s tallest mountain, Kenya offers the best vantage points of Mt. Kilimanjaro. On a sunny day, its snowy summit protrudes dramatically into the sky, making for stunning photographic subjects. Relax with a drink as the sun goes down; the sights from a hot air balloon are stunning, but they’re much more so at sunrise.

Your visit will help a community-owned conservancy, the Kimana Sanctuary, which was established in 1996 and serves as a corridor for wildlife travelling between the park and the Chyulu Hills and Tsavo. Young men compete in events including club and spear throwing, high jump, and running during the entertaining biennial Maasai Olympics, which promotes the move from hunting to conservation in a culture where killing lions was previously a rite of passage.

7. Matthews Range.

 It is not a simple task to travel to Samburu’s distant Matthews Range. There are many beautiful trails for hikers to select from, each as peaceful as the next. However, for the most memorable safari experience, hikers should take the path that winds through a forest and emerges at a rock pool on the River Ngeng, where they may cool off in the refreshingly cold water.

In these mountains, which have a top elevation of 2688m (8819ft), temperatures can drop to as low as 10oC (50oF). You can camp out or stay in secluded lodges like Kitich Forest Camp, and your Samburu guide will assist you find your way around and identify animals by their trails and sounds. Try to spot the Kenyan mascot, the Hartlaub’s turaco, a bird with the same colours as the flag, and the expertly camouflaged De Brazza’s monkey as you make your way down the mountain.

8. Watamu.

 Watamu is a fantastic base from which to explore the north coast, and the town has been so heavily influenced by Italian culture that many residents are fluent in the language. Interestingly, the first Italians to settle in the area arrived in the 1960s in search of employment at the nearby Luigi Broglio Space Centre. Pasta, pizza, and gelato are available at a variety of restaurants, and some of the street signs are even written in Italian.

You can go scuba diving or snorkeling in the marine park, party on Saturday nights at Papa Remo Beach Restaurant, see the impressive Marafa Hell’s Kitchen canyons (just not in the middle of the day because you might pass out from the heat), and kite surf at Che Shale, or you can go scuba diving or snorkelling in the marine park.

In October, massive humpback whales can be seen leaping out of the water and splashing down just feet from your boat.