Planning to visit Kenya for a trip? Kenya is a country is East Africa located right at the shores on the Indian Ocean. Kenya adventures are awesome.
With Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Amboseli National Park and Tsavo East/West National Parks being the main point of interest, millions of travelers flock Kenya annually for expeditions.
Kenya was once voted the best wildlife viewing destination in the world. Masai Mara National Reserve and the great wildebeest migration are some of the wonders of Africa and the world at large.
If your main point of interest is seeing the big five game animals and big cats, Kenya should be top on your bucket list for this.
So why visit Kenya? As mentioned above, the prime safari activity in Kenya is wildlife viewing with big cats being the focal point of interest.
Kenya is one of the only 2 countries in the world where you can see the great annual wildebeest migration.
This migration takes place in Masai Mara National Park and Serengeti National Park. Termed as the largest animal migration on earth, you cannot see this experience anywhere else on earth.
The availability of hot air balloon safaris adds great diversity to your wildlife viewing experience. Masai Mara is also known for culture.
The Masai people that live in the park have a very rich culture and history. Other great activities to do on Kenya adventures include mountain climbing and beach holidays.
So what is the best time to visit Kenya for a safari? Since your primary activity is wildlife viewing, you ought to visit when the weather is favorable.
The dilemma with game viewing is, when it rains, animals easily access water from wherever they maybe. This isn’t the case with the dry season when they trek for long miles to search for water and green vegetation.
As a travelers, this definitely becomes an advantage to you. You can see whatever animal you want on your game drives with ease because of their mobility implicating you ought to visit when the weather is hottest.
See some of our packages for Kenya adventures above or send us an inquiry below.
Why go on Kenya Safaris?
Africa’s wild beauty has captivated the hearts of many people all over the world. Kenya is one of the African countries that is most visited, and here are the reasons why:
Wildlife
Kenya has a variety of national parks, including Hell’s Gate National Park, Amboseli National Park, and Lake Nakuru National Park.
Amboseli National Park, located in Kajiado County, is surrounded by swamps, marshes, and dry lake beds, and is home to animal species such as impalas, cape buffalo, gazelles, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, lions, tigers, and monkeys, to name a few.
Amboseli was set aside as a reserve in 1906, officially gazetted as a national park in 1974, and in 2005, it was handed over to the Olkejuado County Council and the Maasai Mara tribe.
Amboseli is world-renowned for its large elephants, including Echo and Tim, who have been written about by many authors.
When visiting this park, make sure you don’t leave the vehicle except at designated spots, and don’t harass the animals in any way—they also have feelings and can get hurt.
There are cases of animals remembering humans who once saved them. Also, keep to the tracks, no off-road driving, and always give the animals the right of way. These are the rules you ought to follow for a safe safari.
The means of transport to get there are either by road or air; choose the best according to your budget.
There are also measures in place to ensure safety, including anti-poaching patrols and law enforcement against those found killing animals, habitat preservation and restoration to provide comfortable and peaceful homes for the species, monitoring programs, and educating the community on the importance of wild animals.
Beautiful Scenery
The landscape covers the Rift Valley, coastal areas, Mount Kenya, and also the arid landscape.
The Rift Valley is a geographical feature that stretches from Lebanon to Mombasa, with national parks such as Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate National Park, and Mount Longonot, all with beautiful sceneries attracting many tourists.
There is also Mount Kenya, the highest peak in Kenya, hosting a variety of wildlife, from reptiles to primates, along with water bodies, caves, and alpine regions.
This makes people participate in numerous activities such as hiking, volleyball, sunbathing, and swimming. The coastal landscape is dotted with coral reefs, mangrove forests, and beaches such as Diani and Watamu.
The highland landscape covers areas like the Aberdare Range, Mount Elgon, Mau Highlands, and Cherangani Hills, while the arid regions cover the Turkana Desert, Chalbi Desert, Lake Turkana, and Samburu National Reserve.
Professional Guides and Operators
Kenya’s tour guides are experienced and knowledgeable about the wildlife and Kenya at large, fully equipped with all the necessities you may need on your trip.
They even speak many languages for easy communication with the natives, enabling them to interpret for their visitors.
The Animals of Kenya
Animals are very harmonious creatures in Kenya, ranging from domestic animals that are kept at home to wild species that have inhabited the national parks.
Some of the wild animals endanger the domestic ones, which is why tight security is put around the shelters of the weaker domestics.
Examples of domestic animals include:
Cattle, which are highly treasured in some Kenyan communities and considered a measure of wealth and blessings.
Goats, cats, dogs, sheep, pigs, and many others. These can be reared on a small scale with few employees, unlike wild species, where a great number of tour guides and other safety personnel have to be employed to ensure proper management and safety. Some of these species include lions, tigers, snakes, turtles, buffaloes, hippos, giraffes, antelopes, the massive elephants, and many others.
Surprisingly, when we talk about wild animals, you may think only of carnivores, but there are also marine animals existing due to the Indian Ocean meeting one side of the country.
Examples of these species include dolphins, which are categorized into spinner and humpback and can be spotted in Kenyan waters. There are also whales, turtles, marlin, manta rays, tuna, kingfish, sea stars, sea urchins, and many others.
When we skip the rope to the left side, we can see Kenya’s national animal, which is the lion, mostly feared by other animals since it is considered the king.
It is categorized among the Big Five and was popular during the Victorian era before strict rules were put in place concerning wild animals.
Where can you find these species? These species can be found in national parks such as Masai Mara National Reserve, Chyulu Hills National Park, Nairobi National Park, Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo National Park, and many others.
There are also bird species that roam mostly in the forested areas, but some can fly even to the city, like those in Nairobi National Park. There are peaceful species, but there are also dangerous ones, including:
Lions that feed on flesh and can even feast on humans if very hungry.
Elephants, one step from these animals can leave you dead; that is why it is important to follow rules and regulations.
Buffaloes.
These species were considered the most dangerous to hunt, but recently they have become popular during sighting safaris.