Destinations to visit while on a Kenya Safari
Kenya is mind blowing African safari destination worldly known for excellent Kenya safaris, Kenya is situated in the Eastern region of African continent. Kenya is one of the best wildlife destinations on the continent of Africa for game viewing most especially the big five (lions, elephants, buffalo and elephants).
Kenya is rich with numerous tourist attractions one can visit while on a Kenya safari which are situated in various regions of the country, many tourists wonder about the right place or region for go or visit while on safari in Kenya. The question of “where to go on a safari in Kenya” is very intriguing most especially for first timers, if you are not well conversant with Kenya this article answers your question of where to go on a safari in KenyA?
The coastal belt
The Kenya Indian ocean coastline is one of the areas to go to while on a safari in Kenya, the gorgeous Indian Ocean coastline features numerous white sandy beaches with blue clear water which are perfect for relaxation and Kenya beach safaris and holidays. Kenya’s beaches are worldly recognized as one of the great beach destinations and the equatorial conditions make the beaches more ideal destination for beach safaris.
Kenyan coast is more than beaches and blue waters, the coast comprises of coastal towns and villages full of Swahili cultures, Arab and European influenced cultures and practices. The coastal towns and villages are inhabited by Swahili people, some of the coastal towns include Mombasa, Malindi and the ruins of Gedi.
The shores of Kenyan coast consists of reefs, colorful fish and clear blue waters offering world class snorkeling and diving experiences, the coast is also rich with various marine creatures and coastal forests protected by Arabuko-Sokoke national park and Shimba Hills national reserve. In the deeper inlands of the coastal belt of Kenya there are vast plains protected by both Tsavo East and Tsavo West national park. Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks are the largest contiguous protected areas in Kenya and they are usually referred to as Tsavo national parks.
Highlights of the coastal belt
- Mombasa city
Mombasa city is the second largest city in Kenya and a historical island and a port, Mombasa city is filled with numerous tourist attractions such as the historical Fort Jesus a 16 meters high structure built in a shape of a man by the Portuguese, Haller park, Mombasa Marine national park, north coast beaches among others.
- Diani beach
Though the coastal belt of Kenya comprises of many fantastic beaches, Diani beach is the most popular beach among them and a top tourist destination on the Kenyan coast for Kenya beach safaris and holidays. Diani beach is a palm fringed beach resort which crystal white sands, this beach is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, diving and sunbathing.
- Shimba Hills national reserve
Shimba Hills national reserve is one of the largest coastal forests on the coast of Kenya and East Africa coming second to Arabuko Sokoke forest, the reserve is a habitat to rich flora and fauna including African elephants, sable antelopes, elephant shrew, bushy tailed mongoose, fruit bats among others. The reserve is an important bird area hosting various species of forest birds such as red necked spurfowl, croaking cisticola, Zanzibar red bishop and many more.
- Other highlights include Shimoni fishing village and Malindi beach
Southern safari circuit
Southern safari circuit of Kenya runs through the southern region of Kenya, southern region of Kenya offers some of the finest Kenya wildlife viewing safaris. Southern safari circuit comprises of 3 of the most thrilling safari highlights in Kenya and East Africa at large namely the great wildebeest migration in which millions of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles move from Serengeti national park to Maasai Mara national reserve with river crossing at Mara River.
Highlights of the southern safari circuit “Kenya safari circuit”
Southern safari circuit comprises numerous Kenya safari destinations you can choose to visit while on a Kenya safari and these include
Maasai Mara national reserve
Maasai Mara national reserve is the most popular protected area in Kenya and a world’s famous wildlife safari destination located in the great rift valley of Kenya in the South West region of the country. Maasai Mara national reserve gets its name from the local tribal people the maasai whol once lived in the reserve and it is also sometimes called Mara park in honor of these people, the word Mara is a local word meaning shrubs, savanna and grasslands which dominate the reserve.
Maasai Mara national reserve is known for being among the best safari destinations in the world offering excellent Kenya game viewing safaris , the reserve is rich with world life species such as lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos, zebras, gazelles, Nile crocodiles among others. The highlights of Maasai Mara national reserve is the great wildebeest migration the world’s largest migration of wildlife in the world, over 1.5 million wildebeests escorted by thousands of gazelles and zebras cross from Serengeti national park to Maasai Mara national reserve.
Maasai Mara national reserve is one of the best Kenya birding safari boosting over 470 bird species including 60 migrant species and raptors such as Cinnamon-breasted bunting, Denham’s bustard, Giant kingfisher, Grey-crested helmet-shrike, Grey penduline tit, Hildebrandt’s starling, Jackson’s widowbird, Lazy cisticola, Ostrich, Purple grenadier, Red-throated tit, Ross’s turaco, Rosy-throated longclaw, Rufous-bellied heron, Rufous-throated wryneck, Saddle-billed stork, Schalow’s turaco, Secretary bird among others
Amboseli national park
Amboseli national park is a perfect destination for Kenya wildlife safaris and the second most popular Kenya safari destination after the great Maasai Mara national reserve located in Loitoktok district in the rift valley region. Amboseli national park also referred to as “the land of giants” hosts an impressive number of big tusked elephants, the park is also set against the spectacular backdrop of Mountain Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa.
As a popular destination for Kenya wildlife safaris, Amboseli national park offers excellent views of animals such as elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, Maasai giraffes , zebras, wildebeests, impalas, hippos among others. Amboseli national park is also a good destination for Kenya bird watching safaris as it boosts over 400 bird species including African swamphen, Common redshank, Dickinson’s kestrel, Eurasian thick-knee, Greater flamingo, Hartlaub’s bustard, Lesser flamingo, Long-toed lapwing, Pangani longclaw, Rufous chatterer, Rufous-bellied heron, Spike-heeled lark, Steel-blue whydah, Taveta golden weaver, Von der Decken’s hornbill, Yellow-necked spurfowl among others
Other amazing destinations to visit in the Kenya southern safari circuit include Hell’s gate national park, Lake Baringo, Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot, Lake Nakuru national park among others
Northwest safari circuit
The northwest safari circuit is a very scenic Kenya safari circuit comprised of geographical features and it is one of the finest safari circuits for game viewing safaris, Northwest safari circuit stretches from Nairobi towards the remote border of Kenya with Ethiopia. The circuit is characterized of Mount Kenya the second tallest mountain on the African continent standing at the altitude of Mount Kenya
Highlights of Northwest safari circuit
Laikipia plateau
Laikipia plateau is a scenic Kenya destination situated on the edge of the Northern Kenya Frontier stretching from the slopes of Mount Kenya to the rim of the Great Rift Valley, this plateau is in a shadow of the snow capped Mountain Kenya and is made up of ranches and conservancies. Laikipia Plateau has very different unique landscape found in no other area in Kenya, some of the conservancies found in this plateau include Ol Pejeta conservancy, Borana conservancy, Rhino sanctuary among others.
Ol Pejeta conservancy
Ol Pejeta conservancy is a private conservancy of 90,000 acreas situated between Aberdares ranges and Mount Kenya, this sanctuary is a home to a concentration of both chimpanzees and rhinos.
Borana conservancy
Borana conservancy hosts lions project
Rhino sanctuary
Rhino sanctuary is a habitant to a huge population of rhinos with over 100 black rhinos, the sanctuary is a home to the last remaining population of Northern white rhino.
In Laikipia plateau you get to watch many animals such as lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, Grevy’s zebra, the plateau experiences the migration of over 20,000 elephants between mount Kenya and Samburu and they cross through the plateau.
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain on African continent coming second to Mountain Kilimanjaro standing at the altitude of 5,199 meters, Mount Kenya is one of the major tourist attractions in Kenya as well northwest safari circuit and a perfect site for Kenya mountain climbing safaris.
Mount Kenya is located in the former eastern and central provinces of Kenya currently known as Meru, Embu, Laikipia, Kirinyaga, Nyeri and Tharaka Nithi countires. Mount Kenya is made up of numerous peaks including
Major / highest peaks – Batian (5,199 m), Nelion (5,188 m), Pt Lenana (4,985 m), Coryndon Peak (4,960 m).
Other peaks – Pt Piggot (4,957 m), Pt Dutton (4,885 m), Pt John (4,883 m), Pt John Minor (4,875 m), Krapf Rognon (4,800 m), Pt Peter (4,757 m), Pt Slade (4,750 m) and Midget Peak (4,700 m).
Mount Kenya national park
Mount Kenya national park is a scenic national park located in the east of the Great Rift Valley and stretches along the foot hills of Mount Kenya which is the highlight attractions in the park, Mount Kenya national park covering an area of 2800 square kilometers has a breathtaking scenery made up of lakes, tarns, moorland rocks, ice, mountain rivers, glaciers, mineral springs, dense forests and the glittering twin peaks of Batian and Nelion.
Mountain Kenya national park is a home to a diverse species of wildlife and birdlife, animals in the park include black rhinos, white tailed buffaloes, leopards, African elephant, genet cat, black fronted dickers’, giant forest hog, antelopes, bongos, antelopes, waterbucks, bush pig, olive baboon, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
Birds found in Mountain Kenya national park are recorded to be over 130 species and these include Sharpe’s Longclaw, Olive Ibis, Lammergeier, Ayres’s hawk-eagle, African Crowned Eagle, African Grass Owl, Cape Eagle-Owl, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Long-tailed Widowbird, Abyssinian Owl, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Kenrick’s Starling among others.
Other highlights in the Northwest safari circuit include Samburu-Buffalo Springs national reserve, Namunyak wildlife conservancy, Meru national park and many more.
