Kenya is famous for its classic savanna safaris. It is a country of striking extremes and classic contrasts. You can find deserts and alpine snows; colorful tribal cultures and the metropolis of Nairobi; forests and open plains; freshwater lakes and coral reefs in Kenya.
Kenya is East Africa in microcosm for many people. For decades, the top tourist attractions in Kenya have been the wildlife safaris. Other activities include trekking Mount Kenya, snorkeling in Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast and ballooning over the Masai Mara.
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Tourist Attractions in Kenya:
10. Nairobi National Park
Just a 10 minutes’ drive from the center of Nairobi, the Nairobi National Park is separated from the metropolis with only a fence. The skyscrapers of Nairobi can be seen from the park.
Nairobi National Park boasts a large and varied wildlife population despite its proximity to the city and the relatively small size of the park. During the dry season, migrating wildebeest and zebra gather in the park. It is one of the most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries in Kenya.
Major attractions:
- Nairobi National Museum
- Ngong Hills
- Karen Blixen Museum
- David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
9. Malindi
With its widespread coral reefs and beautiful beaches, Malindi provides a very nice introduction to the coastal tourist attractions in Kenya. The attractions include surfing, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, and other water sports.
Having fine beaches clear water and very colorful fish, the Malindi Marine National Park is protected. A domestic airport and a highway between Mombasa and Lamu served as the transport to Malindi.
Major attractions:
- Malindi Marine National Park
- Malindi Pier
- Vasco da Gama Pillar
- Marafa Depression
8. Mount Kenya
After Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa. The mountain features a gorgeous sight. The series of peaks of the mountain are crowned with snow and its slopes are covered with forest. Several lower peaks are an easy destination for any fit trekker; however, the 5199 meter (17,057 ft) high summit is a difficult technical climb.
Major attractions:
- Meru National Park
- Shipton’s Caves
- Rhino Sanctuary
- Fourteen Falls
7. Samburu National Reserve
Located in Northern Kenya, the Samburu National Reserve is a very peaceful national park. The UasoNyiro River that runs through the park and the mixture of forest and grassland vegetation attract the wildlife.
Lion, cheetah and leopard, all three big cats can be found here. This tourist destination of Kenya also contains elephants, hippos and buffalo. Large numbers of Nile crocodile can be seen in the UasoNyiro River.
Major attractions:
- Shaba National Game Reserve
- Mingle with the Samburu people
- Mount Ol Lolokwe
- singing Wells
6. Hell’s Gate National Park
Hell’s Gate National Park is a small park named after a narrow break in the cliffs, which was once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley. It is one of the very few places in Kenya as you are allowed to walk or cycle without a guide. It is unique among Kenya’s wildlife park because of that.
The park features spectacular scenery with steep cliffs, gorges and basalt columns. Though many are few in number, the national park houses a wide variety of wildlife. Little seen wildlife includes lions, cheetahs, and leopards as examples.
Major attractions:
- Obsidian Cave
- Crater Lake Game Sanctuary
- Hell’s Gate Gorge
5. Lamu Island
Lamu Island is a part of Lamu Archipelago of Kenya. It has managed to stay unblemished and untouched by the mass tourism that has hit much of the coastline of Kenya. Lamu Town has retained all the charm and character built up over centuries as the oldest town in Kenya.
This beautiful laid-back Island has no roads, only alleyways, and footpaths, so there are few motorized vehicles on the island. Donkeys are used to transport goods and materials while the residents move about on foot or by boat.
Major attractions:
- Lamu Museum
- Siyu Fort
- Lamu Old Town
- THE RUINED CITY OF TAKWA
4. Tsavo National Park
Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya and one of the largest in the world. The park was divided into Tsavo West and Tsavo East due to its huge size. The Tsavo West offers stunning scenery with a rolling volcanic landscape while Tsavo East features more open savannah than its western sibling.
People who seek solitude and privacy as well as the chance to explore the wilderness; Tsavo National Park is the ideal destination for Big Game Safari in Kenya.
Major attractions:
- Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
- Shetani Lava Flows
- Chaimu Crater & Roaring Rocks
- Ngulia Hills
3. Lake Nakuru
Located in central Kenya, Lake Nakuru is a very shallow lake. Vast quantities of lesser flamingos are attracted by the abundant algae of the lake, sometimes more than one million at once. That makes it placed among some of the most colorful lakes around the world.
Frequently referred to as the greatest bird exhibition on earth, Lake Nakuru is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Kenya. Due to environmental degradation and pollution, the number of flamingos at Lake Nakuru has been decreasing in recent years.
Major attractions:
- Baboon Cliffs
- Makalia Falls
2. Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is comparatively a small park. It is located close to the Tanzania border at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants.
Opportunities to meet the Maasai people and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro are the other great attractions of the Amboseli National Park. In fact, if you are planning for an African ecotourism destination this year, Amboseli is undoubtedly the best.
Major attractions:
- Lake Amboseli
- Elephant Research Camp
- Sinet Delta
1. Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve is the most popular game park in the country. Thousands of tourists visit the Masai Mara National Reserve each year to watch the extraordinary population of game and the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest. From July to October, “The Great Migration” takes place when millions of wildebeest and zebra migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania.
Major attractions:
- Hot Air Balloon over the Masai Mara
- See the Wildebeest Migration
- Visit the Maasai people
- Mara River
- Mfangano Island on Lake Victoria
Really thanks for sharing this useful post !! kenya is a nice place to visit for holidays and i will definitely visit these places with my friends.