8+ Best Attractions & Things To Do in Kenya
From rural to urban landscapes, 1.5 million people a year travel to beautiful Kenya in east Africa for an experience of a lifetime.
Despite popular belief, Kenya doesn’t only offer safari adventures. There are plenty of things to do in Kenya, like visiting beautiful Indian Ocean beaches, hiking mountains, and experiencing the lively culture and nightlife.
However, African wildlife is one of the main attractions in Kenya, and for a good reason. Here, you can witness the Great Migration of wildebeests in Maasai Mara, elephants in Amboseli, and Nile crocodiles at Lake Turkana in northern Kenya.
Ancient tribes like the Maasai, Kikuyu, and Samburu value the natural world and practice traditional customs. You can visit the Oloor Karia Maasai Cultural Centre in Hell’s Gate National Park to experience Maasai singing, dancing, and jewelry-making demonstrations.
Parks like Tsavo National Park and Amboseli National Park are among the top tourist attractions for outdoor adventures in Kenya. Tsavo is Kenya’s largest park and contains two sections: Tsavo West and East. This park is also home to the world’s longest lava flow.
Furthermore, Kenya’s coastline has beautiful beaches, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling among fish and coral reefs, and more. There are also many small towns filled with history and culture to explore.
Overall, the best things to do in Kenya will allow you to witness natural sights you have never seen before.
8 Top-Rated Attractions & Things To Do in Kenya
1. Lake Nakuru National Park
Home of the pink flamingos and 240 other bird species, you will find that Lake Nakuru in central Kenya is the perfect place to bird-watch.
Around one to two million flamingos flock to the lake to relax in its water, making the flamingos at Lake Nakuru a famous sight to see. Lions and rhinos are also known to be around the lake.
The lake is in Rift Valley, where the waters take up one-third of the park itself. The park landscapes around the immense lake include grassland, rocky cliffs, and woodland forest.
The park also protects the largest Euphorbia Candelabrum forest in Africa.
Euphorbia Candelabrum is a native plant species restricted to the park’s forest. They are tall, succulents with branches that add a unique texture to the park’s landscape.
2. Amboseli National Park
Amboseli is one of Kenya’s most popular tourist parks because it is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, which is Africa’s highest mountain at 19,340 feet in elevation.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a snow-capped volcano made up of three active volcanoes. The three volcanoes that make up the mountain are Kibo, the highest summit, Mawenzi, and Shira.
The park is also one of the best places for elephant sightings in Africa. Here, it’s possible to see large elephant herds up close and personal!
Other wildlife spotted in this park are cheetah, lions, giraffe, waterbuck, gazelle, and impala. There are also many different habitats to explore in the park, such as dried desert, woodlands, wetlands with sulfur springs, and savannah.
3. Hells Gate National Park
Hells Gate is perfect for adventure-seeking, outdoorsy people since it is one of the best places for rock climbing and is one of the only parks that allow camping on the premises. There are also foot and bike trails that offer stunning landscapes.
The park has geothermal activities such as hot springs and geysers. Wildlife includes over 100 bird species, gazelles, ostriches, eagles, hartebeest, baboons, and leopards.
Along with rock climbing, there are hiking adventures to set foot on, such as on the park’s two extinct volcanoes: Fischer’s Tower and Central Tower.
Also, the Red Cliffs have a campground on the Tana River Delta in Kipini, a small fishing town. The campground is near Malindi, where you will have ocean views and be able to witness breath-taking African sunsets.
4. Mount Kenya National Park
This park houses Kenya’s highest peak at Mount Kenya. It is 17,057 feet tall and comprises three glacial peaks: Batian, Nelion, and Lenana.
When visiting the park, you can see wildlife such as hyenas, leopards, tree hyrax, colobus monkeys, buffalo, and elephants.
Additionally, the variety of landscapes has tourists coming back for more with incredible views of the mountain, bamboo forests, and crystal lakes.
5. Malindi
Malindi is an ancient town on the Kenya coast. With palm trees and a beachy atmosphere, this spot is perfect for relaxation.
Malindi has a split personality because it is half beach and half old town where you can take a break from the wildlife and ride down the narrow streets on motorized vehicles.
Some other popular tourist attractions near town are the Falconry of Kenya, the Marafa Depression, and the oldest standing monument in Africa, the Vasco De Gama Cross.
Tourists also come to this area to see the white sands of Watamu Beach and the coral reefs of Watamu Marine National Parks. With all these attractions, you won’t want to miss out on exploring the Kenyan coast.
6. UNESCO World Heritage Sites
UNESCO runs a World Heritage Program that maintains a list of sites worldwide with cultural or natural significance. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kenya alone.
Every UNESCO World Heritage Site is a popular attraction in Kenya that is worth a visit. The list is as follows:
- Lake Turkana National Park
- Mount Kenya National Park and Forest
- Lamu Old Town
- The Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
- The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley
- Fort Jesus Mombasa
- Thimlich Ohinga Archaelogical Site
7. UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
Biosphere reserves are places for sustainable development. There are six biosphere reserves in Kenya established by the national government:
- Mount Kenya – Lewa Biosphere Reserve
- Mount Kulal Biosphere Reserve
- Malindi Watamu Arabuko Sokoke Biosphere Reserve
- Kiunga
- Amboseli Biosphere Reserve
- Mount Elgon Biosphere Reserve
8. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is where orphaned baby elephants are rescued and nursed to adulthood. When healthy and well, they are reintegrated back in the wild to Tsavo East National Park, Kenya’s largest national park.
This elephant nursery is an incredible experience to see elephants of two or three years of age bottle-fed by their keepers. You can even adopt and foster orphaned elephants, giraffes, or rhinos and make a difference on your visit to the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is near Nairobi National Park, so you can easily see a baby elephant and the park in one day.
Other Places To Visit in Kenya
The list of things to do in Kenya goes on and on. Whether you are looking for a safari, underwater activity, community service, or a meal in town, Kenya offers multiple places. Above were the most talked-about attractions and sights, but there are plenty more for tourists and locals to see and do.
Here are additional sights to see in Kenya.
- Central Island National Park
- Mara National Reserve
- Lamu Island
- Bio Ken Snake Farm
- Blue Green Crater Lakes
- Diani Beach
- Ancient Trading Port
- Karen Blixen Museum
- Kenta Coast
- Nairobi National Museum
- Fort Museum
- Nairobi (The capital city)
- Maasai Mara National Reserve and Mara River Crossing
Conclusion
Whether you are trekking Mount Kenya, exploring the African bush, or diving into Kenya’s coast, you will have an unforgettable wildlife experience when you visit Kenya.
The country contains tons of diverse wildlife, Maasai culture and history, and walking safaris with a stunning landscape. Or, you can take a trip into Kenya’s history by visiting Kenya’s capital and largest city, Nairobi.
Kenya is a place to immerse yourself deep into nature and culture. For instance, the national parks in Kenya have lots of unique landscapes, like volcanic views, savannahs, and woodland forests.
Furthermore, if you want to do some good on your trip, visit the African Rhino Conservation or adopt an elephant at the Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery and make a positive impact on Kenya’s wildlife.
Overall, these destinations offer plenty of things to do in Kenya and will leave you satisfied when you visit Africa.
