Kenya often ranks as a top African destination among tourists worldwide.
The country is home to the big five animals, one of the world’s great wonders, beautiful white sandy beaches, and much more.
Kenya is an excellent location if you are looking for a perfect place to visit all year round.
Here are the 9 top-rated tourist attractions in Kenya to help you choose your destination.
1. Maasai Mara National Reserve
Famously known as `The Mara,` Maasai Mara is one of the largest national reserves in Kenya.
Located in the South West region, in Narok county, the reserve is home to a scenic expanse of African savannas.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve neighbors the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, with the Mara River running between them.
In this river, the world witnesses one of the great wonders; the wildebeest migration.
Top Attraction
Mara River
The Mara River is central to the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Yearly – It sees millions of wildebeest and thousands of zebras, gazelles, and other animals cross over from the Mara to the Serengeti National park in Tanzania.
This migration prompted by the search for greener pastures has seen the Mara get recognition as the Seventh Wonder of the World.
The Big Five
A true Kenyan trip is only complete when you see all the big five animals.
Luckily, a single trip to the Maasai Mara national reserve is enough to witness a pride of lions, a few rhinos, elephants, African buffaloes, and leopards.
Other animals in the park include giraffes, zebras, and antelopes.
There are also several conservancies and ranches in reserve, where you can interact with some of the most diverse African wildlife species.
Freeman Safaris- Mara Photography
Nothing beats a good photo taken at the right moment and with the correct lighting.
If you love nature and want to carry memories of the Maasai Mara with you, then Freeman safaris should interest you.
These safaris traverse the Maasai Mara, getting you closer to the animals like never before; you can take pictures of leopards sleeping on trees, lions relaxing after lunch, or even baby elephants playing in muddy pools.
You can enjoy the safaris and so much more in the low season, between January and May, for as low as $326 per night.
Alternatively, you can spend $372 per night in the high season between June and October.
Hot Air Safaris
Flying over the sky in a hot air balloon is a unique experience.
You watch the sunset, float above animals, and even feel the gushes of fresh air flowing through your skin.
You can start your tour at the Maasai Mara national reserve as early as 6.15 am.
The sessions begin with a flight briefing, where you review your route and emergency protocols.
Once you lift off, you get a breathtaking view of the Great Rift Valley, amongst other magnificent settings that The Mara offers.
Standard rates for a balloon ride range from $445 to $500 per person, including landing fees and breakfast.
If you want to enjoy the views from the Mara and Serengeti from the sky, then Porini Mara Camp and Lion Camp are good recommendations for the hot air safari.
Maasai Villages
The Maasai people are famous worldwide for their charismatic, lively, and beautiful dances.
These traditional dances often include men jumping to unimaginable heights.
At the Maasai Village – You get to interact with the culture of the people, get souvenirs, or even participate in the dance.
Best Time to Visit
The greatest attraction in the Maasai Mara is the wildebeest migration from Kenya to Tanzania and back.
Usually, this migration happens when the Mara side is too dry, while the Serengeti part has greener pastures.
In Kenya, the dry season hits from July to October. Unfortunately, the prices are slightly higher since it is the year’s busiest season.
So, if you want to save on cost, book a trip earlier, get a guide, and travel in groups to enjoy the discounts given by accommodation centers.
2. White Sandy Beaches
Kenya is blessed with land and aquatic life.
So, when you finish your travels and need to relax away from the lions and cheetahs, the country’s sandy beaches should be your next destination.
Top Attractions
Malindi Beaches
You might visit Malindi for the beaches, but you will love the region’s culture.
Malindi holds what is left of the historic Swahili towns.
Malindi was a trade center. So, it is a melting pot of different cultures, from Indian to Arabic.
Therefore, expect to find plenty of delicious street foods.
Diani Beaches
What is a trip to the coastal regions of Kenya without stopping by the clear water and extensive beaches in Diani?
The beaches on the South Coast of Kenya have won the best beach destination award in Africa for 5 consecutive years.
As such, Diani is a tropical paradise that has silky white sand and turquoise water.
Best Time to Visit
You should visit the Kenyan Coast between June and October or January and February.
During this time, the ocean is relatively calm, and the weather is pleasant.
3. Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is located at the center of Kenya. It offers many attractions, from beautiful landscapes, and wildlife to fantastic hotels.
Amazingly, the late Queen Elizabeth was visiting the region when she was declared Queen after her father’s death.
Top Attractions
3 Peaks of Mt. Kenya
Mount Kenya stands at 5,199 meters above sea level, making it the second tallest Mountain in Africa.
It is made up of three peaks, namely:
- Batian- 5199 meters (17,053′)
- Nelion- 5188 meters (17,017′)
- Lenana- 4630 meters (16,355`)
This volcanic mountain also has 3 glacier-cloaked peaks, with snow covering them.
Mount Kenya National Park
If you tour Mount Kenya national park, be sure to carry your camera.
The beautiful coexistence of flora and fauna on the mountainsides and the vast savannahs are something to behold.
You will also pass by dense pockets of bamboo and see monkeys, buffaloes, and elephants.
So, spend a few days trailing or hiking the mountain, and be sure to take photos.
Best Time to Visit
When you plan to hike the mountain, it is better to do it on a sunny day than during a downpour.
December and March are the best times to tour the Mount Kenya region and national parks in between.
4. Hell’s Gate National Park
The Hell’s gate national park sits at the base of the Rift Valley and is home to some beautiful sceneries.
In this park, tourists can hike gorges and see plenty of wildlife.
Top Attractions
Wildlife Variety
As you cycle through the park, you appreciate the local fauna.
Here, you get to see some unusual but exciting things. The wildlife there ranges from small warthogs to giant giraffes and elephants.
There are also plenty of monkeys.
If you remember Rafiki from Lion King, then the canyons in Hell’s gate will excite you since it is the inspiration behind the movie.
Hiking
Hell’s Gate national park is perfect for a single-day trip.
However, if you want to explore more, you can always pack a bag and hike the trails in the park.
You can go through the Hell’s Gate gorge, visit the geothermal springs, and even dip in the country’s first-ever geothermal heated pool.
Best Time to Visit
Over the years, the gorge has had several deadly accidents resulting from flash floods.
Therefore, it is advisable to only take a hike in the canyon during the dry months of June to October.
5. Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru sits in the middle of the Great Rift Valley.
It is home to different wildlife species, from monkeys and baboons to seasonal birds.
However, the park is famous for its incredibly large population of pink flamingos.
Top Attractions
Diverse Birdlife
Visitors of Lake Nakuru national park often marvel at the diverse and abundant birdlife in the area.
Since the lake has a lot of algae, it is home to millions of birds, especially the pink flamingos that migrate during the dry season.
In Lake Nakuru – You can see over 450 species of birds, from tiny kingfishers to greater flamingoes.
African Rhinos
Lake Nakuru is truly a sanctuary for rhinos.
Here, you can see both the white and black rhino.
These majestic beasts live in the protected area, hence are not easy to spot in any other region of Africa.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Lake Nakuru national park to see flamingos should be in January, February, July, August, September, or December.
During this time, the algae in Lake Nakuru starts to protrude on the shores of the lake.
This change causes large swarms of flamingos to fly into the park.
6. Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is the crem’e del a crem’e of tourist destination. The park hosts Kenya’s largest herd of free-roaming elephants.
Top Attractions
Wildlife
Amboseli is home to the largest herd of elephants in Kenya. Many animals stroll down dusty roads in the morning or evening.
Most of these elephants spend their time near swampy regions.
The water in the swamp keeps them cool, while the mud protects them from the harsh sun during the day.
Apart from the free-roaming elephants, you can also see Maasai giraffes, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, and much more.
Birdlife
When Former US President Barrack Obama quoted the Amboseli National Park as having one with the most diverse birdlife, he did not exaggerate.
The park is home to hundreds of birds, which mostly migrate during different seasons.
Some of the species you can find in the region include:
- The red-billed buffalo weaver
- African gray hornbill
- laughing dove
- 7 species of kingfishers
- Seasonal flamingoes
The Best Time to Visit
You can spot animals throughout the year.
However, most animals move further and further away, looking for food and water when it’s dry.
Therefore, the best times to visit would be when the area is experiencing light showers.
A few weeks after the long-rainy season in April to June or during the short rains between October and December.
7. The Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift valley is the battle scar left behind when the land decided to move.
It was formed after violent subterranean forces tore apart the earth’s crust.
This forced a huge chunk of the earth to sink between parallel fault lines and force up molten rock through volcanic eruptions.
Top Attractions
Viewpoints
All along the roads leading to and from the ”dip regions” from Kenya to Tanzania, you can stop by viewpoints to marvel at the work of nature.
On these viewpoints, you get to see and appreciate the dip in the terrain and snap some killer photos of the vegetation and landscape below you.
A Plethora of Lakes
The lakes in the Rift valley range from salty to fresh water.
Lake Turkana welcomes the rift into Kenya, while Lake Magadi bids it farewell as it crosses over to Tanzania.
Lake Bogoria – Located south of the rift, is famous for its hot springs.
Other lakes on the floor of the Great Rift Valley include Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita, and Lake Natron.
The Best Time to Visit
All the fun stops in the Great Rift valley are open 24/7.
You can visit a viewpoint and admire nature any time of the year.
However, ensure you choose a day that is not cloudy so that you can admire the rift entirely.
8. Tsavo National Park
The Tsavo National park is so huge that it is divided into 2 regions.; Tsavo West, and Tsavo East.
Remarkably, these 2 parks occupy 4% of the total Kenyan land.
The park has:
- rivers
- savannas
- volcanic hills
- an impressive wildlife variety
- and some waterfalls
Top Attractions
Volcanic Landscape
Tsavo National Park is home to several volcanic hills.
And although they are dormant, they provide beautiful backgrounds to take photos.
Also, the Yatta Plateau, a product of the longest lava flow in the world, is found within the park.
Trail Tours
If you want to see the oasis, the waterfalls, and the beautiful majestic creatures in Tsavo, you can take a trail tour.
Usually, you can travel with your friends and see Lugard Falls, Mzima springs, or the Chaimu crater.
During these tours, you get to see large numbers of hippos and crocodiles moving up and about.
The big five
Tsavo is home to all the big five animals.
In particular, there is a rhino sanctuary in the park, which makes it easy for you to interact with these gentle giants.
The Best Time to Visit
The Tsavo national park is open to all every day of the week.
However, the best time to visit is during the dry months of June through October and January through February.
9. The Capital City- Nairobi
Nairobi remains another spectacular place to visit when touring Kenya.
And before you dismiss it, we are talking about something other than the high-traffic areas within the city.
Rather, we are talking about the city’s most significant attraction: Nairobi National Park.
The park holds the record of being the only national park located within a capital city. It is located only 10 minutes from the CBD.
However, there are other attractions in Nairobi, including:
Top attractions
Safari tours
Despite its closeness to the capital, the Nairobi national park has many animals.
You can find tiny animals like antelopes and zebras roaming around, and in the next minute, you see a lion hunting down a gazelle.
Giraffe Center
While there are many giraffes in the Nairobi national park, you can also visit the Giraffe center to interact with them up close.
Here, you can also find the endangered Rothschild giraffe species.
Elephant orphanage
The David Sheldrick elephant orphanage is the perfect place to interact and even adopt an elephant.
The conservancy raises orphaned elephants and rhinos and reintegrates them into the wild when they are mature enough.
Nairobi National Museum
Nairobi’sNairobi’s museum serves the purpose of collecting, preserving, and studying Kenya’sKenya’s past and present.
It also stores information on both the people’s cultural and natural heritage.
If you enjoy a good dive into people’s history, fights, struggles, and wins, then the Nairobi National Museum is the place to be.
Best Time to Visit
Kenya’s capital is a buzzing economy. It operates 24/7, which means it is open for visits.
The same goes for the national park and rescue conservancies.
However, if you want to catch a better glimpse of the wildlife, try visiting between July and September.
Final Thoughts
Kenya is as beautiful as its people. There are many tourist attractions distributed across the country.
You can visit the coastal regions, the highlands, the north or the south.
Either way, you can enjoy your memorable and relaxing safari at a destination of your choice.
