Destination Highlights
Kenya is located in the eastern part of the African continent. Kenya offers the best place for any safari adventure on the African continent. From the diverse landscapes of the beautiful savannah grassland filled with the best wildlife that there is, to the unique cultural experiences. Kenya is a must-visit for every visitor interested in adventure as it offers unforgettable adventurous scenes such as the famous wildebeest migration in Masai Mara National Reserve. The flying safaris are also available offering the best aerial views that help you to spot the wildlife up close from a bird’s eye in the park.
Why travel to this country?
Wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara
The wildebeest migration in Masai Mara National Reserve is not only the major attraction in Masai Mara National Reserve but also in the entire Kenya. The wildebeest migration is the biggest animal migration in the world which sees over a million wildebeests cross to the south following the rains. The wildebeests in the company of other wild animals like zebras, and a few antelopes move south following the rains to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The wildebeest migration is a world wonder as it is the biggest animal migration in the world. When the hot dry season in Kenya hits Masai Mara, the wildebeests decide to follow the rains south to Tanzania. They cross the dangerous Mara River close to the border with Tanzania. This river often claims over a thousand lives of wildebeests that fall victim to the dangerous Nile crocodiles. The banks of the Mara River are steep and some wildebeests often break their legs as they jump and also the strong river current push them to drown. The Mara River is the biggest obstacle in the wildebeest migration.
The wildebeest migration takes place from July to October at the peak of the hot dry season in Masai Mara National Reserve. The wildebeests follow the rains south for fresh pastures in the Serengeti National Park. As the other wildebeests lose their lives to the Mara River, more are born later in the fresh fields of Serengeti National Park.
The best national parks to visit in Kenya
Kenya is a vast land full of the best there is to see in the wild. The rich savannah plains that are overlooked by the highlands are filled with flora and fauna. Visitors from far and wide flock to the land of Kenya for an opportunity to spot the hidden gems of this magnificent land. The following are some of the best national parks in Kenya.
Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve is the main safari conservation area in Kenya. It offers the best there is in the game of adventurous safari experience. The Masai Mara National Reserve is home to numerous savannah wildlife including the big 5 animals. The rolling savannah plains of Masai Mara offer the best platform for the entertaining dangerous game of the hunt versus hunted predator versus prey. The national reserve gives you a front seat to nature’s epic showdown of survival for the fittest. The Masai Mara National Reserve is the peak of any savannah experience which offers unbeatable safari adventures. Lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, hyenas, antelopes, and warthogs to mention but a few are some of the animals to spot while on a safari in Masai Mara. There are several activities to take part in while at the reserve including game drives, nature walks, cultural encounters, and more.
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is located south on the border with Tanzania in Loitoktok District, Kenya. It is known for harboring large herds of elephants and numerous birds. The nature walks in the park are also thrilling as they offer beautiful views of Mountain Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The attractions in the park include Observation Hill, Sinet Delta, elephant research camp among others. Lake Amboseli is also another attraction in the park and the main water source and the park was named after this lake.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya is the best place in Africa for spotting the famous flamingo birds. This beautiful birders’ haven is located on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The park is mainly a savannah woodland standing at an altitude of about 1,734 meters above sea level. There are tons of attractions in the park including lions, cape buffaloes, rhinos, spotted hyenas, giraffes, and many others. The activities in Lake Nakuru National Park often include birding, game drives and nature walks to mention but a few.
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve is a must-visit for adventure enthusiasts as it offers a superb safari experience like no other. This protected area first came into existence in 1948 after it was gazette. It offers some of the best attractions with some of the unique wildlife including the reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra which are rare to spot and only recorded in Samburu. The reserve also harbors lions, hyenas, leopards, elephants, and many more.
Mount Kenya National Park and Reserve
It was established in 1968 covering an area of about 2,800 square kilometers. Mount Kenya National Park has an altitude of approximately 17,000 meters above sea level. The park has animals like elephants, elands, white spotted mongoose, bushbucks, waterbucks, and many others. Activities include hikes and nature guided walks, camping, cave exploration, and game viewing among others. The park has a woodland vegetation and montane climate thus favoring these activities.
The above are some of the best places that you should not leave while you are planning to have a safari experience in Kenya.
What to know before to travelling
Flying Safaris
Flying safaris in Kenya are some of the tourist activities on the rise due to the diverse landscape of Kenya that often proves difficult to exhaust on the ground. Flying safaris give you a much closer experience of the wildlife as you get to spot wildlife hidden in the hard-to-reach areas of the park. Flying safaris offer you the best aerial view of the entire park while viewing the vast landscape and the variety of wildlife. Flying safaris save time and energy because you get to explore a wild range of safari experiences in a short time thus exhausting your stay in Kenya.
Balloon Safaris
Balloon safaris are offered at Masai Mara National Reserve under the flying safari package. The balloons are gas-powered and environmentally friendly. The vastness of Masai Mara National Reserve sometimes makes it close to impossible to explore all of time. The balloon safaris give you an aerial view of the wildlife and in a short time you exhaust the thrilling hidden treasures of Masai Mara.
Masai Cultural Tours
Kenya has a variety of unique cultures but the most commonly visited culture is the Masai. The Masai people are one of the oldest tribes of people in Kenya. The Masai cultural tours are mainly done in the Masai Mara National Reserve. The Masai people are traditional cultural cattle keepers. They once lived in conflict with the wildlife after their land was gazette into the reserve. However, due to the government interventions the Masai people have learnt to live together with the wildlife and have further been involved in the conservation efforts. Their culture and way of life are among the reasons why visitors from far and wide visit Kenya for the Masai cultural tours.
Beach Safaris at Mombasa
Mombasa is located on the coast of the Indian Ocean with numerous beautiful beaches. Visitors after an exhausting adventure safari in the parks in Kenya, often visit the beaches and relax. These beaches have plenty of games including beach soccer, swimming, surfing, and sunbathing to mention but a few.
The best time to visit Kenya
Kenya is ever open and welcoming to visitors all year round. The best time to visit Kenya depends on the activity and place to visit and also the budget. For visitors on an epic wildlife safari adventure, June to October and December to February are the best months. This is the dry season and the tracks in the parks are dry with clear vegetation making spotting wildlife very easy. However, for visitors interested in birding and those traveling on a budget, the wet season is the best time. It is because the migratory birds can easily be seen and also the prices of the accommodation facilities are reduced.