Republic of Kenya
Kenya, country in East Africa famed for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife preserves. Its Indian Ocean coast provided historically important ports by which goods from Arabian and Asian traders have entered the continent for many centuries. Along that coast, which holds some of the finest beaches in Africa, are predominantly Muslim Swahili cities such as Mombasa, a historic center that has contributed much to the musical and culinary heritage of the country.
Some of the Many Reasons to Visit Kenya
Kenya is undoubtedly the Hollywood of safaris, and if you can stomach the paparazzi (in the form of legions of camera-wielding tourists), you’re in for a mind-blowing show.
Answering the question of “Why holiday in Kenya?” is nearly impossible, as everyone who has been will have a different answer depending on what they most loved about the country. |
|
Here are the main reasons you should go on safari in this spectacular country:
1. Fun and adventure
If you love fun and adventure, Kenya is a melting pot with an endless array of activities and destinations that promise undiluted fun. It is the world center for animal safaris and active adventure holidays. Enjoy wildlife safaris, bird watching, windsurfing, horseback riding, golfing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, mountain biking, snorkeling, scuba diving, hot air ballooning, mountain climbing, hiking, water skiing, fishing, and many more wonderful activities.
2. Affordability
With a favorable exchange rate against many international currencies, Kenya is a inexpensive tourist destination. Exchange rates are currently around KES 83-86 to a US Dollar, KES 129 to a Sterling Pound and KES 110 to a Euro.
The cost of living is much lower in Kenya compared to Europe or the United States. Credit cards, including Visa, Master Card, and American Express, are widely accepted in all major hotels and establishments.
With the affordability, you can shop until you drop.
The medley of European, African and Arab architecture that defines Old Town dates from the 16th century and the maze of winding streets is bustling, its air heavy with the scent of spices. Buildings are ramshackle and beautiful: the traditional wooden Arabic doors and fretwork balconies (designed to protect the modesty of female inhabitants) are charming.
Longhaul flights are usually better priced than they are into surrounding countries. With Kenya Airways being one of Africa's leading airlines, the inter-Africa connectivity from Nairobi is extremely good and affordable.
Low cost safari is probably the number one reason that people visit Kenya.
3. Natural Beauty
From snow-capped mountains to the deep Rift Valley with its extinct volcanoes and hot springs, Kenya offers a breathtaking natural beauty that is distinctly spectacular. Inland, there are wide-open plains and savannahs, arid deserts and undisturbed forests. Along the coast, there are magnificent sandy beaches and access to amazing coral reefs. Kenya has something for everyone.
The mystical forests of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares National Park provide a hauntingly beautiful setting for animals like elephant, buffalo and leopard, and are well worth a visit for those wanting something different on their safari itinerary.
Tens of thousands of lesser and greater flamingos gather in the alkaline lakes of the Great Rift Valley and turn them from blue to pink. Best places to see this breathtaking spectacle would be Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria.
Nature lovers will love Mombasa as it gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with giraffes, reptiles, birds, and other wild animals. You will be able to hand-feed some of these animals as tortoises wander around your feet and you take a closer look at all the varieties of wildlife that make Kenya truly special.
4. Wildlife
Kenya is the home of the wildlife safari, and offers some of the best and most accessible game viewing in the world, including the hard-to-resist attraction of the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino).
Go on safari to spot the "Big Five" animals in the wild, or simply enjoy Kenya’s history, culture, and lifestyle.
Kenya has some expansive and attractive national parks. Visitors can enjoy traveling through the scenic and wildlife landscapes of the Great Rift Valley or enjoy an expedition to view the large cats of the expansive Maasai Mara National Park.
Kenya is a country where nature has been exceedingly gracious. Within one country, you can travel through lush green forests, deserts, equatorial rainforests, montane vegetation, mountains, and witness thousands of wildlife, birdlife, and insect life species being supported and sustained within the respective ecology.
Therefore, if Wildlife and Nature Experience is key for you, then a visit to Kenya will provide an authentic African experience.
5. Cultural Interaction
Do you have a diverse and open-minded personality about other cultures and their ways of life, and enjoy reading and learning more about people from other parts of the world, especially Africa? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come enjoy a genuine African experience by visiting the diverse cultures, ways of life and traditions of the people of Kenya.
Kenya is renowned for its diverse culture and heritage. Despite the numerous ethnic tribes that exist, Kenyans embrace a great sense of unity, peace, acceptance and closeness as one people and one country; all strong virtues of traditional African culture. The Kenyan people are warm, friendly, and hospitable.
Kenya is a culturally diverse place that is home to many different ethnic and cultural groups. Perhaps the most well known of these are the storied Maasai people, who are known for their survival skills and hunting prowess.
One of the most exciting aspects of a safari in Kenya is the chance to meet and interact with local tribespeople...
If you want to add a touch of true and firsthand anthropology to your credentials, then plan a visit to Kenya.
6. Food and Drink
Kenya coffee, tea and beer have received accolades as some of the best products in the world. Kenya also has a rich variety of cuisine. The ethnic cuisine of Kenya's various tribes includes the famous nyama choma and ugali.
In the restaurants, you will find a sophisticated blend of European standards with ethnic Kenyan food. There is also a host of international cuisine available in restaurants and hotels including Italian, American, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, French, Mexican, Korean and Lebanese dishes.
Kenyans love food, and the cultural mix of Mombasa’s coastline means you’re never far from an exotic treat.
7. Beach destination of Mombasa
Mombasa is Kenya’s second largest city. It is much more laid back than Nairobi and boasts some great beaches and a good restaurant and nightlife scene. Nearby unspoilt islands and mangrove forests make it possible for nature-lovers to add an element of adventure to their stay in Mombasa.
After you have seen enough of the Kenyan wildlife, take a trip into the city and check out Old Town for yourself. The life and character of the place are infectious and you’ll find yourself swept up in the vivacious culture. Markets are everywhere and the old style buildings are currently under consideration as a UNESCO Heritage Site. The Portuguese Fort Jesus is the most visited tourist attraction in the city of Mombasa – it is an amazing place.
It all starts with finding a place to stay and there are a number of great options. Whether you’re looking for a cheaper stay or a 5 star ocean front villa, there is something for everyone in Mombasa. Then once you get settled it is time to start exploring.
The areas surrounding Mombasa are a paradise for fans of outdoor pursuits and autumn provides the best weather for having a go. South of the city is the vibrant Diani, with a wealth of water sports and idyllic places to stay.
With 480 km of beautiful coastline, Kenya has a variety of coastal locations to visit, ranging from quaint little fishing villages with hardly any cars to be seen, to thriving tourist areas with every amenity for party animals or families. Tall palm trees gently swaying in the cool breeze – it’s just heaven.
If you want to enjoy your time on the Indian Ocean's warm turquoise waters with a book in your hand while soaking up the most sun and with plenty of white sandy beaches to take home to make up for the nostalgia you will face, then Kenya is the right place to enjoy your vacation.
Imagine beauties far more spectacular than anything ever seen in reality except on television. We are talking about the magic beneath the waters of the Indian Ocean: corals exist with rainbow colors as if someone conscientiously painted these seemingly dead rocks with blue, red, green and yellow; fishes deep down in the sea have evolved luminous scales making the schools of fish look like a huge gigantic fish, and where wild dolphins and whale sharks curiously examine the commotion when your boat sails by and compliment the scene with a very close and friendly encounters.
8. Home of Safaris
When most people think of Kenya, the first things that come to mind is a safari tour. Kenya is widely considered to be the home of safari.
This is a wildlife-rich country, with famous safari destination like the Serengeti Plain offering tourists the chance to enjoy a classic safari experience.
During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century it was Kenya which hosted the greatest and best-known private hunting safaris. It was here that American presidents and European royalty chose to spend their time in pursuit of hunting trophies, immortalised in Hollywood blockbusters such as the 1953 Mogambo with Clark Gable and Ava Gardner.
Kenya is therefore one of the first places that people turn to for their first safari, an obvious port of call for people who who are only just starting to learn about Africa.
The combination of a week on safari and a week or more on a tropical beach is a magical one, which only Kenya and Tanzania are really well placed to offer.
Both Kenya and Tanzania have safari and beach in close proximity. An hour or two in a light aircraft can see you fly directly out of a dirt airstrip in a prime game reserves to a small airport down on the palm-lined coast.
Kenya is also uniquely positioned to offer safari in combination with beach in the Seychelles and other more remote Indian Ocean islands. Besides the fact that safari is a Swahili word...
9. Climate
Kenya enjoys a wonderful tropical climate. It is generally warm all year round, with plenty of sunshine and cooler nights and mornings. Visitors are able to enjoy most activities on the beaches and in the national parks all year round. Since Kenya lies on the equator, the seasonal temperature changes are not extreme.
10. Wildebeest Migration
The wildebeest migration in Maasai Mara is one of the natural wonders and beauties of the world.
1.6 million Wildebeest, 250,000 zebra (and 450,000 gazelle) partake annually in this powerful movement of animals between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Nevertheless, the Mara must surely be the most dramatic of all their obstacles.
Although the Masai Mara is a small part of the overall system, it particularly plays host to a large proportion of the wildebeest and zebra migration during a peak visitor season July to October... it is a wonderfully pretty area.
If you love fun and adventure, Kenya is a melting pot with an endless array of activities and destinations that promise undiluted fun. It is the world center for animal safaris and active adventure holidays. Enjoy wildlife safaris, bird watching, windsurfing, horseback riding, golfing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, mountain biking, snorkeling, scuba diving, hot air ballooning, mountain climbing, hiking, water skiing, fishing, and many more wonderful activities.
- Birds
- Big Tuskers
- Cats
- Underwater safaris
- The endless plains
- Climbing Mount Kenya
2. Affordability
With a favorable exchange rate against many international currencies, Kenya is a inexpensive tourist destination. Exchange rates are currently around KES 83-86 to a US Dollar, KES 129 to a Sterling Pound and KES 110 to a Euro.
The cost of living is much lower in Kenya compared to Europe or the United States. Credit cards, including Visa, Master Card, and American Express, are widely accepted in all major hotels and establishments.
With the affordability, you can shop until you drop.
The medley of European, African and Arab architecture that defines Old Town dates from the 16th century and the maze of winding streets is bustling, its air heavy with the scent of spices. Buildings are ramshackle and beautiful: the traditional wooden Arabic doors and fretwork balconies (designed to protect the modesty of female inhabitants) are charming.
Longhaul flights are usually better priced than they are into surrounding countries. With Kenya Airways being one of Africa's leading airlines, the inter-Africa connectivity from Nairobi is extremely good and affordable.
Low cost safari is probably the number one reason that people visit Kenya.
3. Natural Beauty
From snow-capped mountains to the deep Rift Valley with its extinct volcanoes and hot springs, Kenya offers a breathtaking natural beauty that is distinctly spectacular. Inland, there are wide-open plains and savannahs, arid deserts and undisturbed forests. Along the coast, there are magnificent sandy beaches and access to amazing coral reefs. Kenya has something for everyone.
The mystical forests of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares National Park provide a hauntingly beautiful setting for animals like elephant, buffalo and leopard, and are well worth a visit for those wanting something different on their safari itinerary.
Tens of thousands of lesser and greater flamingos gather in the alkaline lakes of the Great Rift Valley and turn them from blue to pink. Best places to see this breathtaking spectacle would be Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria.
Nature lovers will love Mombasa as it gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with giraffes, reptiles, birds, and other wild animals. You will be able to hand-feed some of these animals as tortoises wander around your feet and you take a closer look at all the varieties of wildlife that make Kenya truly special.
4. Wildlife
Kenya is the home of the wildlife safari, and offers some of the best and most accessible game viewing in the world, including the hard-to-resist attraction of the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino).
Go on safari to spot the "Big Five" animals in the wild, or simply enjoy Kenya’s history, culture, and lifestyle.
Kenya has some expansive and attractive national parks. Visitors can enjoy traveling through the scenic and wildlife landscapes of the Great Rift Valley or enjoy an expedition to view the large cats of the expansive Maasai Mara National Park.
Kenya is a country where nature has been exceedingly gracious. Within one country, you can travel through lush green forests, deserts, equatorial rainforests, montane vegetation, mountains, and witness thousands of wildlife, birdlife, and insect life species being supported and sustained within the respective ecology.
Therefore, if Wildlife and Nature Experience is key for you, then a visit to Kenya will provide an authentic African experience.
5. Cultural Interaction
Do you have a diverse and open-minded personality about other cultures and their ways of life, and enjoy reading and learning more about people from other parts of the world, especially Africa? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come enjoy a genuine African experience by visiting the diverse cultures, ways of life and traditions of the people of Kenya.
Kenya is renowned for its diverse culture and heritage. Despite the numerous ethnic tribes that exist, Kenyans embrace a great sense of unity, peace, acceptance and closeness as one people and one country; all strong virtues of traditional African culture. The Kenyan people are warm, friendly, and hospitable.
Kenya is a culturally diverse place that is home to many different ethnic and cultural groups. Perhaps the most well known of these are the storied Maasai people, who are known for their survival skills and hunting prowess.
One of the most exciting aspects of a safari in Kenya is the chance to meet and interact with local tribespeople...
If you want to add a touch of true and firsthand anthropology to your credentials, then plan a visit to Kenya.
6. Food and Drink
Kenya coffee, tea and beer have received accolades as some of the best products in the world. Kenya also has a rich variety of cuisine. The ethnic cuisine of Kenya's various tribes includes the famous nyama choma and ugali.
In the restaurants, you will find a sophisticated blend of European standards with ethnic Kenyan food. There is also a host of international cuisine available in restaurants and hotels including Italian, American, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, French, Mexican, Korean and Lebanese dishes.
Kenyans love food, and the cultural mix of Mombasa’s coastline means you’re never far from an exotic treat.
7. Beach destination of Mombasa
Mombasa is Kenya’s second largest city. It is much more laid back than Nairobi and boasts some great beaches and a good restaurant and nightlife scene. Nearby unspoilt islands and mangrove forests make it possible for nature-lovers to add an element of adventure to their stay in Mombasa.
After you have seen enough of the Kenyan wildlife, take a trip into the city and check out Old Town for yourself. The life and character of the place are infectious and you’ll find yourself swept up in the vivacious culture. Markets are everywhere and the old style buildings are currently under consideration as a UNESCO Heritage Site. The Portuguese Fort Jesus is the most visited tourist attraction in the city of Mombasa – it is an amazing place.
It all starts with finding a place to stay and there are a number of great options. Whether you’re looking for a cheaper stay or a 5 star ocean front villa, there is something for everyone in Mombasa. Then once you get settled it is time to start exploring.
The areas surrounding Mombasa are a paradise for fans of outdoor pursuits and autumn provides the best weather for having a go. South of the city is the vibrant Diani, with a wealth of water sports and idyllic places to stay.
With 480 km of beautiful coastline, Kenya has a variety of coastal locations to visit, ranging from quaint little fishing villages with hardly any cars to be seen, to thriving tourist areas with every amenity for party animals or families. Tall palm trees gently swaying in the cool breeze – it’s just heaven.
If you want to enjoy your time on the Indian Ocean's warm turquoise waters with a book in your hand while soaking up the most sun and with plenty of white sandy beaches to take home to make up for the nostalgia you will face, then Kenya is the right place to enjoy your vacation.
Imagine beauties far more spectacular than anything ever seen in reality except on television. We are talking about the magic beneath the waters of the Indian Ocean: corals exist with rainbow colors as if someone conscientiously painted these seemingly dead rocks with blue, red, green and yellow; fishes deep down in the sea have evolved luminous scales making the schools of fish look like a huge gigantic fish, and where wild dolphins and whale sharks curiously examine the commotion when your boat sails by and compliment the scene with a very close and friendly encounters.
8. Home of Safaris
When most people think of Kenya, the first things that come to mind is a safari tour. Kenya is widely considered to be the home of safari.
This is a wildlife-rich country, with famous safari destination like the Serengeti Plain offering tourists the chance to enjoy a classic safari experience.
During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century it was Kenya which hosted the greatest and best-known private hunting safaris. It was here that American presidents and European royalty chose to spend their time in pursuit of hunting trophies, immortalised in Hollywood blockbusters such as the 1953 Mogambo with Clark Gable and Ava Gardner.
Kenya is therefore one of the first places that people turn to for their first safari, an obvious port of call for people who who are only just starting to learn about Africa.
The combination of a week on safari and a week or more on a tropical beach is a magical one, which only Kenya and Tanzania are really well placed to offer.
Both Kenya and Tanzania have safari and beach in close proximity. An hour or two in a light aircraft can see you fly directly out of a dirt airstrip in a prime game reserves to a small airport down on the palm-lined coast.
Kenya is also uniquely positioned to offer safari in combination with beach in the Seychelles and other more remote Indian Ocean islands. Besides the fact that safari is a Swahili word...
9. Climate
Kenya enjoys a wonderful tropical climate. It is generally warm all year round, with plenty of sunshine and cooler nights and mornings. Visitors are able to enjoy most activities on the beaches and in the national parks all year round. Since Kenya lies on the equator, the seasonal temperature changes are not extreme.
10. Wildebeest Migration
The wildebeest migration in Maasai Mara is one of the natural wonders and beauties of the world.
1.6 million Wildebeest, 250,000 zebra (and 450,000 gazelle) partake annually in this powerful movement of animals between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Nevertheless, the Mara must surely be the most dramatic of all their obstacles.
Although the Masai Mara is a small part of the overall system, it particularly plays host to a large proportion of the wildebeest and zebra migration during a peak visitor season July to October... it is a wonderfully pretty area.