Kenya as a whole
Kenya, an eye-catching close neighbor to Tanzania, stretches along the coast of East Africa. The nation touches the Indian Ocean on one side, and on the other is bordered by the nations of Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda. The eastern half of Kenya slopes down to coral-lined beaches, while the western half rises up to the hills and plateaus of the Rift Valley.
The capital city, Nairobi, is modern and full of life. In other words, it’s an ideal destination for a one to two day excursion full of tasting local specialties in gourmet restaurants and partying until you drop in clubs, bars, and other night-life hotspots. I personally enjoyed the Nairobi atmosphere during my time here.
The east coast of Kenya is paradise on Earth. Each beach seems to be nicer than the last, and all feature fine white sand and make perfect spots for chilling, tanning, kitesurfing, and hanging out at the popping beach bars. Of all the beaches of course I have a personal favourite, but I recommend trying them all and finding your own favourite spot. I also recommend visiting the historic island of Lamu. There you will be treated to Swahili culture – and a notable feature of the island is its lack of cars. Instead, you can get around by donkey – donkeys, everywhere!
Kenyan Must-Sees
The national park safaris should be at the top of your Kenyan to-do list. The most famous is the Masai Mara Park, home to the famous ‘Big Five’ – Elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos! The park is relatively small (compared to the Serengeti in Tanzania), which gives you the chance to take it all in on your visit. You can also see members of the Masai tribe during your visit here – they will treat you to a traditional welcome jumping ceremony before giving you a tour of their village.
The Amboseli Park. is another important destination to mention. It is a favourite because of its elephant herds and epic views. When the clouds part the park treats visitors to a view of the impressive slumbering Kilimanjaro. Another great park is Nakuru Park, where you can see rhinos up close! Finally, there is Naivasha, where you can just wander and see zebras, giraffes, wildebeests and more.
A cool convenience offered in Kenya is the train connection between Nairobi and Mombasa. To give you an idea of this ‘unique’ experience – a seat for one person is about the size of a small saucer, and the backrest sits strictly upright at a 90 degree angle… The number of passengers per seat is usually 2 or 3, the number of armrests 0, and next to no wiggle room…That being said, the breathtaking views from the train are undoubtedly worth the suffering!
What else is worth it to check out?
Transportation in Kenya is easy to arrange anywhere – from hyper-comfortable flights to nice buses, trains, and matata delivery (fast and slow), to very local and very cheap vans (full to the brim with locals and traveling at a snail’s pace) – you will never be in search of a way to get around. I personally recommend trying all levels of transport for the experience. Compared to Tanzania, Kenya has a much better established infrastructure, so you will always get where you want to go without issue.
A tip for powerful athletes/climbers – the highest mountain, Mt. Kenya, can be conquered in a few days. Yes, it hurts, but it can serve as great preparation for the neighboring Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Finally, if you want to get to know the real, off the beaten track Kenya, then I recommend trekking to Lake Turkana. Getting there is not exactly a cheap or easy affair, but the Kenyan wilderness is worth the effort. It is the largest permanent desert and largest alkaline lake in the world. A drive through the Chalbi desert awaits you, where nomadic tribes (Samburu, Rendille, Turkana, and Gabbro) can be seen. Better keep your eyes peeled on the water too – crocodiles lurk here and there beneath the waters.
Cool Fact
Fun fact: The Masai tribes in the Masai Mara National Park are, compared to the Tanzanian tribes, much more cunning business people. Be prepared, at the end of your excursion you’ll have to buy some souvenirs from them (beads, etc.).
So? Can you resist the call of the African rhythms, sparkling sandy beaches, towering mountains half-shielded in clouds, shapely craters, ancient cultures and free-roaming wild creatures? If you’ve succumbed to the ‘call of the wild,’ give me a shout and together we will plan your African excursion!
