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What Are The Best Places To Visit In Kenya? | Where To Go For A Safari In Kenya-H2

There are several Kenyan safari places where you can go for an African adventure and some of them include terrestrial and marine national parks, different wildlife reserves, and sanctuaries.

The Masai Mara annual wildebeest migration makes it among the best destinations in the country.

Kenyan National Parks-H3

This destination boasts both terrestrial and marine national parks, wildlife reserves, and sanctuaries that protect the amazing wildlife of the country.

Some common examples of Kenya’s terrestrial parks include:

1.     Mount Kenya NP & Reserve which is a UNESCO world heritage site and has Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro 2.     Amboseli National Park 3.     Meru NP 4.     Marsabit NP & Reserve 5.     Tsavo West National Park

6.    Tsavo East National Park 7.    Lake Nakuru National Park 8.    Nairobi National Park 9.    Aberdare NP 10.                       Hells Gate NP

Examples of Kenyan safari marine national parks

1. Kiunga Marine National Reserve
2. Watamu Marine NP & Reserve
3. Mombasa Marine NP & Reserve
4. Malindi Marine NP & Reserve
5. Kisite Mpunguti Marine NP

Kenyan Wildlife Reserves -H3

Below are examples of wildlife reserves protecting various Kenyan safari wildlife

 

1. Masai Mara National Reserve
2. Mwingi Reserve
3. Nasolot National Reserve
4. Kakamega Forest National Reserve
5. Bisanadi National Reserve
6. Shimba Hills National Reserve
7. Mwea National Reserve
8. Samburu Game Reserve

 

Kenyan Safari Sanctuaries -H3

On the other hand, sanctuaries in tour destinations include the following;

1. Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS)
2. Lake Simbi National Sanctuary
3. Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
4. Crescent Island Game Sanctuary

Furthermore, the country has some private conservancies including among others the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Mara North Conservancy, and Mara Naboisho Conservancy.

All these destinations are suitable places that you can visit for your Kenya tours.

Types Of Safaris In Kenya-H2

The different types of safaris that you can do during your Kenyan safari tours include

1. Wildlife safaris
2. Birding safaris
3. Adventure Safaris
4. Cultural safaris
5. Beach holidays

Wildlife Safaris In Kenya-H3

With rich wildlife, this country is a remarkable destination for your world class wildlife safaris in Africa. The country has over 400 mammal species, with about 22 that are endemic to the country.

With all the big five of Africa and numerous other herbivores and carnivores, the pride of Africa is a must-visit destination for your wildlife tours.

Below are the different destinations where you can do your wildlife tours in the pride of Africa.

 

1. The Masai Mara
2. Tsavo National Parks, ie Tsavo East, and Tsavo West
3. Amboseli National Park
4. Mount Kenya Park
5. Aberdare NP
6. Samburu Game Reserve
7. Nairobi National Park
8. Meru park

 

Some of the African animals to see in these destinations include the big five like Lions, Leopards, Cape Buffaloes, Elephants, and Rhinos. There are more so both the black and white Rhino in the country which will give you a memorable wildlife experience.

Other animals include the Masai Mara Wildebeests, Antelopes, Zebras, Masai Giraffes, and Cheetahs. More still, the Tsavo National Parks are famous for keeping big cats such as man-eating Lions.

Birding Safaris In Kenya-H3

There are over 1090 species of birds varying from water birds to savannah birds, forest birds and so much more in the country.

Due to the peculiar biomes of Kenya’s protected areas that provide habitat to these different birds, it is no doubt that the country is an ideal destination for your birding tours, especially with Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha arguably being among the very best.

The country is therefore a good place to do your birding safaris and below are the most ideal destinations where you can do your birding trips.

1.     Lake Nakuru park 2.     Arabuko-Sokoke NP 3.     Lake Naivasha park, for example on Crescent Island 4.     Aberdare NP 5.     Kakamega Forest 6.     Nairobi National Park 7.     Samburu Game Reserve

8.     Masai Mara Game Reserve 9.     Amboseli National Park 10. Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve 11. Lake Magadi 12. Lake Baringo NP 13. Tsavo East NP

Additionally, this beautiful country also welcomes migratory birds that come from the Palearctic region and other intra-Africa regions from around November to April. The Palearctic migrants in particular arrive in September and stay until around April.

Common birds to see while on your Kenya safaris include

·        Bateleur Eagle ·        Vultures ·        Vulturine Guinea fowl ·        African ox-pecker ·        Secretary bird ·        Weavers ·        Ostriches ·        Broad-ringed White-eye

·        Flamingoes in Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha park ·        Kori Bustard ·        African Fish Eagle ·        Pelicans ·        Yellow-throated longclaw ·        Starlings ·        Long Crested Eagle

Adventure Tours As You Visit Kenya-H3

Adventure tours are experiences that involve a tourist taking on challenging and risky explorations. This tourist destination offers various places where to do adventurous safaris including,

1. Mountain hiking for example on Mount Kenya, the second highest African peak after Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain in Tanzania, and the Aberdare Mountain which makes up the central highlands. The walking safari on the Aberdare ranges is particularly a great opportunity for also touring coffee plantations.
2. White water rafting at River Tana.
3. Hot air balloon adventures at Masai Mara and Tsavo East NP.
4. Swimming in a waterfall in Sirikoi.
5. Horse riding at Laikipia.
6. Safaricom Marathon.

Also, great water sports endpoints like Diani Beach will allow you to enjoy scuba diving, kayaking, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and so much more.

Kenyan Cultural Tours-H3

The cultural tours will allow you to have an amazing cultural experience where you will be able to experience the cultures of the Kenyans in terms of their indigenous tribes, festivals, dances, music, marriage ceremonies, food, way of life, and history.

Among the cultural adventures, you can experience the best by visiting the following people and tribes during your tours.

1. Visiting the Masai people of the Loita plains in Narok where you will get to see a typical Maasai warrior and other groups in the tribe. The Maasai warriors usually keep the animals safe from predators and attacks from other tribes.
2. You can also visit the Samburu people who are close relatives of the Maasai.
3. Discover, through a walking safari the Islamic culture in Lamu Island, the oldest Kenyan town along the coast of the country near the Indian Ocean. The Lamu old town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. You can also visit the Luo-speaking people that live in Kisumu and Nyanza provinces near Lake Victoria.
5. Likewise, you can also visit the Turkana and the El Molo people who are pastoralists like the Massai.
6. The Kamba people in Machakos can also be visited during your tours.
7. There are also the elders of the Mijikenda Kaya forests that you can visit. These elders live in one of the oldest villages that were built in the sixteenth century. They are devoted to keeping the values and cultural practices of their tribe.
8. The Bomas in the country will allow you to experience different cultures in one place if you do not get the time to visit the other tribes one by one.
9. The Nairobi national museum is also another destination to experience when you visit Kenya cultures and ways. With lots of cultural artifacts and the history of the country, you will have a lot to experience.

Kenya Beach Holidays-H3

Beach holidays are another type of the best Kenya safari tours to experience. This is a country that is at the shorelands of the Indian Ocean and hence presents a lot of beaches at her shores.

Through the many beaches by the Indian Ocean, travelers have the opportunity for beach safaris like exploring Diani Beach. Also, it has enabled the country to establish some marine parks that tourists can adventure through their holidays.

Kenya Tourist Attractions-H2

This country is a land of boundless major attractions of the African continent some of which include;

• Wild Animals
• Birds in Lake Nakuru NP and other amazing destinations.
• Both terrestrial and marine parks
• Both terrestrial and marine national reserves, for example, Tsavo West and Tsavo East parks, etc.
• Various unique cultures of East Africa.
• Unique physical features like Mount Kenya/Mt Kenya in Mount Kenya NP.

Safari Activities In Kenya/What Things To See On A Kenya Safari Tour?-H2

There are various safari activities that you can do in this beautiful country and they include;

• Game drives in the different national parks; various savannah parks support game drives for the game viewing of special animals in the country.

Examples of such parks with game drives as part of their offers include Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo East National Park, and Tsavo West park. Other captivating places to do game drives in the favorable safari vehicle are Samburu Reserve, Meru park, and Lake Nakuru National Park.

Amboseli National Park and Tsavo West will give you great sights of Mount Kilimanjaro since they lie below it.

• Watch the Masai Mara great migration at Masai Mara reserve.
• Mountain hiking and rock climbing especially on the famed Mt Kenya.

Other special safari activities that you can do while on your Kenya safaris include;

·        Birding ·        Cycling at the Great Rift Valley ·        Do a walking safari ·        Boating in the different lakes like Lake Naivasha ·        Bungee Jumping ·        Hot air ballooning ·        Scuba diving ·        Camel riding ·        Horseback safaris

·        Mountain biking ·        Snorkeling in marine parks near the Indian Ocean ·        Jet skiing ·        Windsurfing ·        Paragliding ·        Quad biking ·        River rafting ·        Windsurfing

Kenya Safaris To Masai Mara Game Reserve-H2

Masai Mara Game Reserve is a magnificent tourist destination with wide spreading acacia dotted plains that protect thousands of wildlife. The Masai Mara Reserve has the highest concentration of animals in the Kenyan territory.

It gets its name from the Maasai residents, a pastoral community who migrated from the Nile Basin.

Found in the South Western part of the country, this reserve is 1,510 square kilometers and is famous for accommodating more than two million Wildebeests, Antelopes, and Zebras that form the famed great migration to and from Serengeti park in Tanzania.

Likewise, you will find numerous other wildlife in the Masai Mara reserve for example the Cape Buffalo, Rhinos, Crocodiles, Giraffes, Elephants, and more than 450 bird species.

Therefore, visit the Masai Mara today to experience the peculiar holidays in the African continent in a true animal kingdom.

What Is The Great Migration And When Is The Best Time To See It In Masai Mara National Reserve?-H3

The great migration is one of Africa’s major attractions in which over 1.4 million wildebeests and hundred thousands of Antelopes and Zebras are on a spiral move between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania (South) and Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya (North).

This annual wildebeest migration occurs in different patterns that may involve violent dramatic and fast moves, others are slow and gentle but watching the experience is surely mind-blowing and striking.

Among all the game viewing experiences, the great migration is an uplifting adventure for your safari tour. However, it is important to note that before booking a tour to watch this remarkable scene, the experience is not a guaranteed adventure at any moment of the year.

Nonetheless, sometimes tourists witness the game viewing of this migration even out of the expected high season for watching them. This is because the animals leave Serengeti as soon as the grasses start to dry and they return as soon as possible for them.

Tourists may either wait for the migrating animals to come to them depending on where they are waiting from or decide to track where they have gone.

The Great Migration In The Different Seasons Of The Year-H4

Below, we look at what to expect in the different seasons so that you can be able to plan for your Masai Mara safari tour accordingly.

December to April

In this season, the Wildebeests are present within the open short grassy plains in the South of Serengeti. Such a setting is advantageous to them as predators find little covering as they try to seek out a target amongst the Wildebeests.

The nutritious soils made up of volcanic ash provides very healthy milk to the thousands of Wildebeests that are born every year. More so, the calves are usually born in February and March so this is a more favorable time for those interested in seeing newborns.

You will be able to see numerous wildebeests spread from the Moru Kopjes of Central Serengeti to the Southern slopes where there is the Ngorongoro crater.

May to June

This is the season that marks the beginning of the great migration because the grasses dry out due to the end of the rains and the beginning of the dry season.

The animals will take different routes as some will go north while others head west before connecting to the North.

Many of the animals will travel through Seronera, Lobo, and Loliondo while those who travel through the Western Corridor will go through River Grumeti before they can connect northwards.

July to September

These are conventionally known to be the best months to witness the Great Migration of the Wildebeests, Antelopes, and Zebras.

From July to August, the animals cross the Mara River in large numbers to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The Mara River crossing moment is undeniably the most sought-after of this great migration by tourists.

October to November

This is also a great season to view the great migration as the animals begin to move southwards to Tanzania.

During this season, game viewing in both Masai Mara and Serengeti is great. Depending on the rainy season, some animals will remain behind while others will cross over or even re-cross back.