Why Kenya is a Top Travel Destination in Africa? Kenya is often considered as the perfect safari destination, with some of the continent’s most rewarding and fascinating national parks and animal reserves. The Masai Mara is most renowned for its undulating green grasslands, which sustain startling concentrations of lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, and other predators.
From August to October, the Mara offers the world’s largest wildlife extravaganza, when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest stampede across the Mara River from neighboring Tanzania.
Equally famous is Amboseli, where some of the continent’s most magnificent and well-habituated elephant herds may be seen wandering the dry plains behind snow-capped Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.
The nation is divided by a stunning length of the Rift Valley floor, which is dotted with gem-like lakes. Lake Nakuru’s beaches are nibbled by prehistoric-looking rhinos; Lake Bogoria’s shallows are stained pink by more than a million flamingos; and picturesque Lake Naivasha, surrounded by reedbeds teem with birds and hippos.
The Kenya reserves located north of the equator are arguably the most distinctive. Laikipia, Samburu-Buffalo Springs, and Meru support a variety of dry-country specialists, including the gorgeous Reticulated giraffe, the massive Grevy’s zebra, the bizarre Gerenuk, and dozens of colorful birds near the southern end of their limited range.
There may be no greater indicator of Kenya’s biodiversity than its national bird checklist of over 1,000 species, which places it third in Africa, a statistic made all the more astounding when you consider that it does not rank among the continent’s top 20 countries by surface area.
Kenya is probably one of Africa’s best Big Five safari sites. But it has much more to offer than just safaris. Culturally, it is an intriguing collection of paradoxes.
It is one of Africa’s most developed countries, with an extraordinarily high level of education, a sizable middle class, world-class tourism facilities, and a burgeoning industrial belt that extends beyond its busy city. However, away from the cities, on arid plains populated by pastoralists like the Maasai, Samburu, and Turkana, it is one of Africa’s most overtly traditional nations.
Then there’s the steamy Indian Ocean coastline, which includes almost 500 kilometers (311 miles) of gorgeous beachfront against a backdrop of fascinating mediaeval ruins, deep tropical rainforests, and traditional Swahili port towns. Coral reefs off the coast attract snorkelers and divers with their colorful swirl of fish, just like the country’s more recognized terrestrial biodiversity.
Comparing a Safari in Kenya vs South Africa.
Kenya is more of a wildlife-focused location than South Africa. National parks and other animal reserves cover a far larger section of the country. These have a wilder and more unlimited feel than their fenced-in South African equivalents, with asphalt roads and village-style rest sites.
Kenya would consequently be a better choice for anyone seeking a safari-focused wilderness tour. However, Kenya’s safari circuit is far less suitable for budget-conscious travelers or self-drivers than South Africa’s Kruger National Park or Pilanesberg.
A wildlife safari in South Africa has a far lower chance of catching malaria, bilharzia, and other tropical illnesses. This makes it a safer option for families, first-time safari visitors, and other health-conscious travelers. Indeed, South Africa is the only country in Africa with many malaria-free safari sites.
South Africa is a far more family-friendly safari location than Kenya. Both nations offer stunning coasts, but South Africa’s beach resorts are better designed for families and children. In contrast, Kenya’s old ports have an intriguing cultural dimension supplied by the Swahili people, as well as some beautiful remains going back to the mediaeval period.
Comparing a Safari in Kenya vs Uganda.
Kenya outperforms Uganda for quality Big Five sightings and plains wildlife in general. Its game reserves are often larger than those in Uganda, with a wider range of lodges and tented camps. Similarly, a safari in Uganda has various features not present in Kenya or most other safari locations.
The most notable of them is the possibility to follow mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and chimps in Kibale National Park. Overall, Uganda has significantly more diversity in primate safaris and is comparable to Kenya in general birding safaris. However, it is more effective on woodland birds, which are difficult to view elsewhere in eastern and southern Africa.
Uganda’s three main savannah national parks are likewise breathtakingly beautiful, and boat tours of the exhilarating tropical waterways are available. Nothing in landlocked Uganda can compete with Indian Ocean beach resorts like Diani and Watamu.
Kenya is also a more obviously diversified and intriguing country in terms of traditional cultures, whether it is the pastoralist Maasai and Samburu or the Arab-influenced Swahili people on the coast.
What are the highlights of Visiting Kenya?
Most safari in Kenya draws a lot of return visitors. The major reason for this is the unpredictability of its game reserves, no two safari days are ever the same, and the vast number of safari places which makes it difficult to cover more than half of them in a single holiday.
A lot of people acquire a preference for a certain beach resort, such as Diani, Watamu, or Malindi, and return every few years to enjoy the sun and relaxing ambiance. For independent travelers, Kenya’s incredible diversity and amount of sites will keep you occupied for a two-month journey – or numerous shorter ones!
How to travel to Kenya?
Most international guests arrive by plane. Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) is the principal international airline arrival point, with strong links to the rest of Kenya and many other African countries. Some airlines also fly internationally to Mombasa’s Moi International Airport (MBA). Kenya Airways, the national airline, provides a vast network of flights to and from key cities in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
A majority of international carriers, including Air France, Air Mauritius, British Airways, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, KLM, LAM Mozambique Airlines, Lufthansa, Malawian Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar, RwandAir, Royal Air Maroc, South African Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic, fly directly between their home countries and South Africa. Coming from a large European city like London or Paris, there may be hundreds of indirect possibilities, and shopping around may save you a lot of money.
It is easy to travel to Kenya by land from the neighbouring nations of Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania, but only as part of a longer overland excursion through Africa or on a multi-country safari
