Lapped by the Indian Ocean to its east and straddling the south of the equator is Kenya – a land of plentiful experiences. It boasts a stunning landscape of hills, carpeted with lush greenery, patchwork farms, and the wooded savanna that hide many interesting flora and fauna species, which make for the country’s top tourist attractions. Aside from wildlife and rich foliage, Swahili city-states on the coast and the Maasai of the Rift Valley are equally amazing experiences that Kenya has to offer. This list of the top things Kenya is famous for should be a great place to make a start, so keep reading and start planning.
1. Samburu National Reserve - contributed by Tour Guide, Lewenei Japhet
Samburu National Reserve is home to giraffes and is perfect for animal enthusiasts. Apart from having uber-long necks, the spots on giraffes are some of their most noteworthy features. The spots on the reticulated giraffes are vastly different from the other kinds. Some of the spots are slightly lighter brown in color and are shaped very similarly to polygons, with straight, smooth sides.
Samburu National Reserve
Website: Samburu National Reserve
Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)
Price: From 500 KES (3.14 USD) for Kenyan citizens
2. Nairobi (from USD 55.0)
Kenya’s capital city Nairobi started as a settlement of the Maasai peoples and was later converted into a railway camp by Europeans. Today, it is East Africa’s commercial, economic, and transport hub, and a gateway to the many brilliant safaris that attract footfall from across the world. No less are other attractions in Nairobi: stroll through the city centre, marvelling at the many towering highrises, or soak in the lively and energetic vibe of the market there. You may even make a trip to the many museums, galleries, nightclubs, casinos, and parks strewn all around. Else, there’s the famous Nairobi National Park that you can visit. Those of you pressed for time, check out the four-hour city highlights tour, offered by third-party travel website Get Your Guide.
Nairobi: Private 4-Hour City Tour
Duration: 4.5 hour
3. Nairobi National Park (from USD 58.5)
Spread across a sprawling area of 117 sq km (45 sq miles), is Nairobi National Park. The park is characterised by its swathes of grassy plains that are home to about 80 species of game and 400 birds, including wildebeests, zebras, bongo antelope, black rhinos, and baboons among others. It is Kenya’s first national park, established in 1946, and is another excellent spot to sight wildlife. Safari tours are a popular activity here, taking visitors on a boardwalk trip across a patch of indigenous forest with about 150 species of local flora, white rhinos, albino zebras, giraffe, etc. Else, a trip to the animal orphanage, Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters, and Athi River track on-site may be well worth your time. The park has a well-maintained network of roads with adequate signage to waterholes, viewing spots, and picnic areas, so you need not hitch a pre-planned conducted tour.
Nairobi National Park Full or Half-Day Tour with Guide
Duration: 5.0 to 8.0 hour
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4. Lake Nakuru National Park (from USD 250.0)
Tourists mostly visit Lake Nakuru National Park on an organized safari tour, most often en route to Samburu-Buffalo springs and the Maasai Mara. While the open floodplain south of the lake is a popular game drive area, those with more time can also head over to the lesser-visited southern half of the park. The African spoonbill, lesser flamingo, white rhinos, baboons, and leopards, among several other animals, are often sighted at the park, while the rare black rhino populations are concentrated towards the park’s southern side. The park is also an excellent spot for marvelling at immense greenery and natural beauty, which includes Lake Nakuru, thick woodlands, and the Enasoit Hill – a thickly vegetated volcanic plug that rises above the grassland north of the park’s Naishi sub-headquarters.
Lake Nakuru National Park: Full-Day Tour
Duration: 11.0 hour
5. Local food
If there’s one dish you’ll most definitely find cooked in a Kenyan household on a special occasion or at a local food festival, it is nyama choma (roasted meat) with ugali (maize meal), with a side of salsa-like salad kachumbari. While the salad’s ingredients may differ, its main elements remain the same – onion, tomato, and coriander. The dish is a common dining-table feature when celebrating special occasions, and such is its popularity that it is the country’s national dish too! Nothing like washing down this dish with a glass of Kenyan beer, Tusker.
6. Coffee (from USD 150.0)
While Kenyans are long-standing tea drinkers, the popularity of coffee is rapidly increasing. Local cultivation of coffee for commercial purpose was banned in Kenya until the mid-20th century, but it is today one of the topmost drivers of the country’s economy. Reason: the volcanic soil found along the Kenyan highlands makes for the perfect base to cultivate coffee, giving it a rich undertone. That, coupled with the ideal climate, and you have one of the best coffee roasts available for consumption. Kenyan coffee is largely produced in small-time coffee farms, so you can organize a tour for yourself.
Nairobi: Coffee Farm and Factory Tour with Tasting
Duration: 5.0 hour
7. Maasai beads
Women of the African Maasai tribe are famous for producing some of the most exquisite beadwork items that include a range of products such as coasters, belts, jewellery pieces, and other decorative items. Colours and patterns play an important role in the jewellery made from this beadwork and they are meant to symbolize social status and age among the tribal women as well as meanings that are unknown to foreigners. While it was earlier only worn by those who belonged to the tribe, it has now gained massive popularity among travellers as well. These items make for great keepsakes and souvenirs, so do remember to invest in a few pieces.
8. Kikoi
Aside from Maasai beads, kikois (fabrics) are another thing you ought to invest in while in Kenya. It derives its name from Swahili, which loosely translates to ‘something that can be wrapped around’. It is a traditional rectangular woven cloth that can be fashioned as a wraparound for men, head wrap, sarong, makeshift sling to carry babies, and what not! Traditional kikoi designs feature a plain, simple loom centre with striped edges, but newer variants showcase stripes all across the fabric. It is traditionally worn by people from Kenya and Tanzania, but has picked up popularity among foreign travellers as well. You’ll find several shops selling these, so head into one and pick up a kikoi for yourself.
9. Malindi (from USD 95.09)
Malindi is Kenya’s second-largest coastal settlement and among the oldest ports along the Swahili coast. It is popular among visitors as a beach resort town, offering interesting beach activities as well as watersport opportunities. While non-beach activities at Malindi are sparse, they’re worth your while: Uhuru Gardens, Malindi Tourist Market, Malindi Museum, Portuguese Chapel, and the Vasco de Gama Cross are some such spots you can check out. Third-party travel website Get Your Guide’s pre-packaged city tour of Malindi covers quite a few of these attractions, so check it out.
Malindi: City Tour & Che Shale Beach Day Trip with Transfer
Duration: 9 hour
10. Masai Mara National Reserve (from USD 440.0)
You’d faintly recognize Masai Mara National Reserve as a backdrop for the American animated film The Lion King. It is named in the honour of the area’s ancestral inhabitants, the Maasai people, and is today one of the most popular and important centres of wildlife conservation. The reserve is broadly divided into three sections – the eastern sector, central sector, and the western sector. It is the eastern sector that is most commonly toured by visitors, allowing gorgeous views of lions, the African leopard, cheetah, wildebeests, zebras, and the African bush elephant among several others. However, those around for longer stays can venture to the other sectors as well.
3 Days Masai Mara Budget Camping Safari - with Private 4X4 JEEP
Duration: 3 days
11. Kenyan tribes (from USD 210.0)
Kenya is an ethnically and culturally diverse country, home to more than 40 ethnic groups that can be broadly divided into three communities – the Bantus, Nilotes, and Cushites. Among the most famous of these communities is the Nilotes, that is comprised of the famous Maasai tribe, among others. Maasai tribal settlements are mostly located in southern Kenya and they are a major tourist hotspot. You can spend an entire day interacting with the Maasai peoples and gaining insight into their daily life and culture. It may be a good idea for you to hitch a guided tour, such as the one offered by Viator, because their tour guides are mostly locals who are able to bridge language gaps and also provide interesting information. You don’t need to limit your interaction to just the Maasai tribe, meeting people from Embu, Kamba, Luo, Kikuyu, and Kalenjin tribes is just as fun.
Lonely Planet Experiences: Private Day Tour with the Maasai Tribe
Duration: 7 hours 30 minutes
Rewarding experience
Kenya’s magnetic appeal and exotic image stem from its history and culture-steeped past, breathtaking scenery, friendly people with an infectious warmth. You may choose to follow the typically touristy path or follow the off-beat track: Kenya will not disappoint. Make the destinations on this list your starting point and you should be covered for good.
History
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