 Kenya
is an enriching place to travel with its diverse geography, world-class wildlife viewing, culture and heritage. Kenya's two major cities are Mombasa and Nairobi located along the coast of East Africa. The main tourist attraction in Kenya is wildlife with 59 conservation areas, Masai Mara and Amboseli are the most famous, but they all provide abundant adventure opportunities.
When?
The best time to visit Kenya is during the dry months of January and February. This is said to be the best time for game viewing.
How to Reach
?
Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the hub of East African air transport, and it has connections to many European and US cities.
Visa
Apart from the nationals of certain specified countries, all other nationals require a visa for travel to Kenya.
Currency
The unit of currency is the Kenya Shilling (KSh), which is divided into 100 cents. Notes are in KSh1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, and 20. Coins are KSH 1, 5, 10, 20 and Cents 50, 10, 5. National and international banks have branches in Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Thika, Eldoret, Kericho and Nyeri and in most other major towns.
Things To Do in
Kenya
Nairobi
Nairobi is the city at the heart of Kenya and the primary gateway to the vast game reserves and national parks of East Africa. The name Nairobi comes from the Masai words enkare nyarobe meaning sweet water, as this area was a watering hole for the Masai and their cattle. The city center is modern and prosperous and the services are well organized and efficient.
Nairobi National Park Safari
Be amazed by Nairobi National Park. Just a short bus ride from central Nairobi is this easily accessible and well-stocked safari park. If you don’t have time to travel the countryside to one of the larger game parks, this is the best opportunity to get a taste for safaris. Visitors can be virtually assured of seeing most of the big names in the wildlife world such as lions, rhinos, hippos and zebras.
Karen Blixen’s House and Museum
Perhaps the most famous colonist to live in Nairobi was the Danish author Karen Blixen, who lived in a quaint farmhouse from 1914 to 1931. Most notable for her famous novel Out of Africa, her home has been lovingly restored and turned into a living museum which shows colonist life during the early years in Nairobi. Located just on the edge of Nairobi, the quiet, shady gardens of her house are a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon. The on-site restaurant will keep you fed and watered.
National Archives
Surprisingly, the Archives is more like a history museum, featuring displays of native handicrafts, artwork, old photos and other interesting artifacts. The collection of traditional weapons, domestic items and music instruments is one of the best in the city, but perhaps most engaging is President Moi’s collection of photographs from the early days and the dark days of Nairobi. Easily accessible in the city centre, this is one site worth visiting.
National Museum of Kenya
By far the most comprehensive and interesting cultural site in Nairobi is this massive museum devoted to everything Kenyan. The variety of exhibits is staggering, making this a one-stop educational trip if you want to learn about Kenya’s past and present. From the earliest human remains found in the Rift Valley to displays of modern Kenyan art, you can easily spend a day wandering the grounds. The Botanical Gardens offer a great place to stretch out, while the Snake Park and Aquarium present a live version of Kenya’s wildlife. If you see only one museum in Nairobi, make it this one.
Railway Museum
The railway was an integral component in the creation of Nairobi. In fact, the capital city would not exist were it not for the Ugandan Railway, which rolled right through the area and was the sole reason for establishing a town. This interesting and informative museum sheds some light on the early development of the city. There are 10 classic steam engines which visitors can climb into and explore. Old photos, documents and relics from those first days show Nairobi as a dusty outpost, which is hard to believe when you see the bustling modern version we know today.
Uhuru Monument
Built in 1973 to mark to the occasion of Kenya’s independence from the British, this landmark monument is the spot where Kenya’s national flag was first raised in 1963. A beautiful Ihara tree marks the exact spot where it happened and a map displays all the provinces of the country.
Uhuru Park
Enjoy a cultural taste of modern Nairobi. The small lake with its rental boats and the huge view from the park’s hilltop provide a touch of nature, but it’s really the people make this park so engaging. Locals come to Uhuru to meet up, relax and just hang around. If there’s any kind of political rally, then the park becomes a real hotbed of passion and energy.
Masai Mara
Rich in game and birds, the Masai Mara is the scene of the spectacular annual migration of wildebeest and zebra, when millions of animals follow the unbroken cycle of survival as they move between Tanzania and Kenya in search of fresh grasses. The sight of more than a million of these creatures moving as a great mass across the savannah is one of the most breathtaking sights in nature.
Masai Mara Safari
There are several safari options by road to the Masai Mara. These mostly start from Nairobi, and include a scenic 5 - 6 hour drive into the Great Rift Valley and to the main Sekenani entry point of the Mara. The wildlife in Masai Mara is varied, ranging from the big cats to elephant, rhino and vast herds of herbivores such as wildebeest. A true animal kingdom!
The Maasai Tribe
This warrior tribe of nomadic pastrolists are descendants of Nilotic and Cushitic people originally from north of Lake Turkana over 10 centuries ago. Their life is dominated by their herds of their cattle and livestock. They often move hundreds of kilometers with large herds of livestock in search of water and rich pastures. The Masai diet is based on fresh curdled milk and meat from their livestock.
Balloon Safari
Balloon Safaris Ltd. was the first balloon company in the Maasai Mara and has been there since 1976. It was started by Alan Root who is a famous wildlife film maker. Since then Balloon Safaris Ltd. has grown into the largest and most professional balloon company in the Mara. Watching the African savannah from the sky is truely a unique feeling and an experience not to be missed.
Flora & Fauna
The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving an immensity of herbivores: some 1,300,000 wildebeest, 360,000 Thomson’s gazelle, and 191,000 zebra make up this great spectacle, besides that all members of the "Big Five" are found in the Maasai Mara and make game viewing a mind blowing experience. For the bird lovers there are over 450 species that have been identified in the Maasai Mara Ecosystem.
Mombasa
Mombasa is Kenya's second largest - and oldest - city, with a history that dates back nearly 2,000 years. Mombasa is a mystical mixture of the ancient and the modern with a cosmopolitan population of African, European, Arab and Asian. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and pedestrian lanes lined with quaint shuttered houses and open fronted shops. The smell of spices is always present. Dominating the entrance to the Dhow harbor and overlooking the old town is Fort Jesus built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. A museum in the fort displays antiques from the length of the Kenyan coast, and is always open to visitors.
Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus is Mombasa’s most popular tourist attraction. The fort, located along the coastline near the Old Town, is a monumental piece of architecture that was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese.
Mombasa Tusks
The Mombasa “Tusks” are symbolic representations of entrance into the heart of the town. The tusks were built to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the town in 1952, as they lay directly.
The Old Town Description
The "Old Town" is reminiscent of the days when the Portuguese ruled Mombasa. Houses feature ornately carved doors and balconies, which are typical of coastal East African architecture. The town's inhabitants are mostly of Arab origin; this is evident through the influence on the culture - especially in the architecture and language.
Gedi Ruins
On the North coast of Mombasa towards the town of Malindi lays one the most historic ruins found in Mombasa, called the Gedi Ruins. Gedi was a small town built entirely from rocks.
Hindu Temples
Hindu temples are one of the many symbols of Mombasa’s cultural diversity. Temples are a popular tourist spot and a tour can usually be taken inside the temple, with a historical background of the particular temple given by one of the temple gurus. Extravagant idols and stone carvings of the various religious beliefs are typically displayed within the temple and on its walls.
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