Thinking of visiting Kenya? We highly recommend it!
Kenya has a diverse indigenous tribal culture. The legendary Masai with their cattle and traditional red shukha (blanket) is just one of many. There is also a rich blend of colonial and Indian heritage mixed with Italian and Arabic influences.
The country has lakes, mountains, forest, savannah, beaches, city, tea / coffee farms and iconic safari.
Kenya is definitely a place for nature lovers and culture vultures.
There is so much to see and do, but we recommend at least these three things that we believe encapsulate Kenya;
A Masai Mara safari, a beach stay and a few Nairobi days
Masai Mara safari:
The word safari means journey in Swahili and the Masai Mara is probably the most iconic African Safari destination! It is also very possible to see the Big Five in the Masai Mara.
From Nairobi, it takes approximately one hour to fly into the various bush airstrips from Wilson Airport or a half-day road trip. Be aware there are a lot of trucks and often road works, so ETA is unpredictable.
There are many driving options from Nairobi. For example, you can be collected in a pop-up van or Landcruiser and do your safari in that vehicle. Or, drive yourself to the National Park gate and be collected or drive yourself into the camp.
We drove ourselves from Nairobi to the Masai Mara in 2020. We left early morning and easily got to Sekenani Gate on a tarred road. It is a scenic drive with plenty of places to stop.
The last town before you arrive at the National Park gate is Narok.
We were met by our driver and guide at the gate who drove us to the Camp inside the park. Our car was safely parked at the gate until our return.
There are accommodation and safari packages for every budget and you get what you pay for.
The Masai Mara is extremely commercial and accessible; expect to see a lot of vehicles, the Masai with their cattle and even a school bus driving through the park! With that said it is wild and we have had fantastic Big 5 and hot air balloon safari experiences.
We also recommend:
- A road trip to Lake Nakuru or beyond to see country side and flamingos in season.
- Other Kenyan game parks like Amboseli, Samburu and Tsavo.
- Mount Kenya area which is picturesque and only 4/5 hour drive north of Nairobi
Lake Nakuru
Drive to Lake Nakuru or beyond to see country side / flamingos
Other Parks
Other game parks like Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo
Mount Kenya area
Picturesque, 3 hour drive from Nairobi
A beach staycation on the Kenyan Coast is something you will never forget. We have visited and can recommend:
Lamu, Watamu, Mombasa, Diani
These beaches have white sand are mostly clean and welcoming. Getting a share house with a chef is awesome fun & the best value for a group in each of the locations. There are plenty of hotel options too.
You can fly into each location for approximately USD250pp return from Wilson Airport, Nairobi
Lamu old town is a UNESCO site and walk back in history with its beautiful carved doors, fort and authentic vibe. It reminded us of Stone Town, Zanzibar. We stayed on Manda Island which faces West and therefore enjoys spectacular sunsets.
Mombasa conjures images of spices and white sandy beaches. The reality is, it is a busy port city with a strong African / Arabic culture. You might even feel transported to the Middle East! We stayed at a large resort, the first time, which was a fun (and safe) introduction to the Kenyan coast and lifestyle. With that said, the beach was full of locals trying to aggressively sell you a water activity or handicrafts and was not as clean or quiet as the south or north coast beaches.
From Nairobi, the drive to Mombasa is a day trip on one-lane roads full of container trucks going to and from the port. On our drive in January 2020 we left Nairobi at 6am and arrived at 12.30pm but it took 10 hours to return.
The SGV Train to Mombasa goes through Nairobi and Tsavo National parks with views of Mount Kilimanjaro, on a clear day. The terminal is 1.5 hour drive from the Mombasa coastline. From there a ferry can be caught to the south coast.
Diani and the south coast is our favourite. The pristine beach is wide with white soft sand. It is clean and has a laid back, quiet vibe.
Did you know that Diani has just be voted as the best beach in Africa?
Nairobi
Nairobi is a melting pot of cultures, race, food and religion. It’s a crowded bustling city with plenty to offer visitors.
Here’s our recommendations:
Nairobi National Park Nairobi is the only city with a National Park within city limits. You can self drive. There are no elephants. Expect to see plenty of field game, and if lucky Lion and Rhino.
The Giraffe Centre is worth a visit to feed the giraffes and learn about the different species. They are the same giraffes from the Giraffe Manor.
David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage where you can watch and sponsor baby elephants.
Karen Blixen House is the original house and true story of Karen Blixen – a famous Kenyan colonial.
Masai Markets are on every day, except Monday, in a different location. All the Kenya souvenirs and artifacts are available.
Lake Naivasha is about a two hour drive from Nairobi. You can enjoy the Lake vista, stay and play on the lake.
Riara Tea Plantation is about 1 hour drive from Nairobi. Learn how tea got started in Kenya and enjoy a delicious lunch.
Kitengale Glass factory is about 1 hour drive from Nairobi. Watch how glass is blown and made into beautiful, colourful creations.
Getting To Kenya & Around
Kenyan Airways flies to a lot destinations, so the chance of a direct or good connection into Nairobi or Mombasa is great.
When is the best time to visit Kenya?
Anytime, as the weather is temperate! Kenya is on the equator and Nairobi is at high elevation. Of course if you want to see the great migration or avoid the rains, come from July to September.
It’s a lot of info designed to get you thinking about what you want to do in Kenya.
Good luck, but its worth it.