Kenya is home to the original safari and has much to offer travellers. Here are ten of the top attractions Kenya has on offer.

1. Lake Baringo

Home to approximately 450 species of birds, Lake Baringo is a bird watcher’s paradise where the highlight is to take an early morning cruise as the world wakes up. The hippos wallow in one vegetated corner and African Jacanas step lightly among the lilies. Fishermen are out in dugout canoes collecting the catch to sell at the market later. They compete with the magnificent fish eagles for food; the sight of this large bird swooping gracefully down to fetch breakfast is amazing.

2. Lamu

Experience true Swahili culture on Lamu Island. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, the Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. The simple architecture of the town is characterised by inner courtyards, verandas and the famous wooden doors with their intricate carvings. The Lamu Festival in November is a highlight in the island’s calendar.

3. Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests

Kaya Kinondo is one of 11 sacred forests and has been set up as an eco-tourism project by local villagers whose ancestors used the sacred forest for traditional purposes. You can walk through the forest, learning about the ancient culture and rituals while soaking up the sense of how special this place is to local people. UNESCO has also recognised the importance of these forests that spread some 200km down the Kenyan coast.

4. Community projects

Founded by a group of young Kenyans, Amani Kibera works with young people in Nairobi’s slums. They have established a football competition, a women’s group and a library. The library hosts book clubs and tutorial sessions for students, while the women’s group helps get girls back to school. Meeting Kenyans is the only way we can get a true understanding of Kenya, and visiting projects such as this is a great way to engage with locals. There are plenty of projects being undertaken by people in their local communities including:

Muungano Development Gateways: Blue Bells Orphanage and School; soya bean farming; micro-finance
Still Kids For Life: Refuge centre for girls fleeing female genital mutilation
Suswa Clinic: Health centre specialising in maternity care in a remote area

5. Tsavo eco-system

Tsavo East and West form the largest national park in Kenya, and together with Taita Hills and Lumo Community Wildlife Sanctuary, provide a vast refuge for animals. A great project operating in the Tsavo eco-system works around the human-wildlife conflict. Recently a donation allowed them to purchase desks, shoes and uniforms for children in the village, bringing huge joy to the community. Afforestation and de-snaring elephant traps are important activities that visitors can get involved with.

6. Amboseli

Watching the sun rise and Mt Kilimanjaro come into view is one of Kenya’s most magical experiences. Surrounded by Maasai villages, still living their traditional lifestyles, a visit to Amboseli provides a good mix of wildlife watching and culture. The national park, nestled at the foothills of the highest mountain in Africa, is a top destination in Kenya for wildlife. Indeed, one of the classic images of East Africa is that of a herd of elephant strolling across the plains with the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro in the background. It is to catch this sight that people flock to Amboseli National Park.

7. Samburu

In Northern Kenya, we find many different species of animals to the southern parks. These include gerenuk, Somali ostrich, Beisa’s oryx, Reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra. The Samburu eco-system comprises three national reserves: Shaba, Buffalo Springs and Samburu. The landscape offers amazing variety from open savannah to scrub desert to lush river foliage, offering fantastic opportunities for excellent wildlife encounters.

8. The Great Wildebeest Migration

Each year approximately 1.3 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 500,000 Thomson’s gazelle travel an 1800 kilometre circuit around Serengeti and Maasai Mara. The rains from November to June create a magnet for game into Maasai Mara. Between January and March about 400,000 wildebeest are born in Serengeti. The trek begins in April as the plains dry up; herds gather and move north-west, joined by travelling lions, hyenas, and vultures. Only one in three calves will see Serengeti again. Herds arrive in Serengeti’s western corridor and feed until late May, then move into Maasai Mara. By June they prepare to cross the Mara River. Animals that cross first wait for the rest of the herd, encouraging them. They spread out through the Maasai Mara and return to Serengeti by the end of October. (Timings are approximate and change according to specific weather patterns for that year)

9. Mount Kenya

Also featured on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, Mt Kenya is Africa’s second highest peak after Kilimanjaro. The extinct volcano stands at 5199 metres but at its peak of activity it is thought to have risen to 6500m. Even though it sits almost right on the equator, there are 12 glaciers on the mountain, although they are all receding quickly. The rugged mountain forms an impressive backdrop to surrounding national parks and reserves, as well as providing a good challenge for intrepid climbers.

10. Lake Turkana

This unlikely lake in the middle of Kenya’s northern desert provides a stopover for migratory water birds. Surrounded by three national parks, the lake also serves as a major breeding ground for crocodiles, hippos and various snakes. UNESCO has listed Lake Turkana as a World Heritage site for its incredible amount of fossil remains and the opportunities to study plant and animal communities.

If you enjoyed this article and want to learn more, read our Spotlight On: Family Fun in East Africa, Spotlight On: One Family’s Real Safari Experience and follow the links below!

This article comes to us courtesy of Tracey Bell, the director of Overland Travel Adventures, a tour company based in Kenya operating tailor-made tours throughout East Africa. OTA offers trips where you can experience the local culture, stay in villages, and engage with community development organisations as well as view the amazing wildlife and spectacular natural scenery in this amazing country. They can cater to groups (large and small) for any budget, offering a range of accommodation from camping to luxury lodges. Please contact tracey@ota-responsibletravel.com or visit their website www.ota-responsibletravel.com.