From a vast ecological diversity to extensive variation in cultures and being an African country located on the Eastern coastline of the Indian Ocean, Kenya embraces key physical highlights like the endless savannah plains, fresh water bodies, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands. It’s also home to wildlife like lions, elephants and rhinos. From Nairobi, the capital, safaris visit the Maasai Mara Reserve, known for its annual wildebeest migrations, and Amboseli National Park, offering views of Tanzania’s 5,895m Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our safari experts have come up with a list of top Kenya places to visit for 2023 adventure.
We now bring to you a list of some of the top Kenya places to visit for 2023 adventure that you must not miss during your next voyage to this African jewel. Make sure you don’t forget to bring your favorite travel buddies along!
Amboseli National Park as one of the top Kenya places to visit for 2023 adventure
Amboseli national park lies below the crown of Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro 5, 895m (19, 340 ft) the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. The surrounding area is flat, covered by savannah and acacia scrub and the animals stand in silhouette against the giant mountain, its snow-clad peak floating in the stark blue African sky. A large part of the park consists of the alluvial dried-up bed of the seasonal Lake Amboseli, which in the rainy season can transform into a shallow flood while the dry season brings strange mirages above the lake’s dry sparkling surface.
Towards the Centre of the park is a series of swamps, fed by the underground rivers running off the mountain. It is here, closer to the water, that the concentration of wildlife intensifies, from the ever-present ponderous herds of elephants to abundant birdlife. This includes a wide variety of water birds such as grey heron, saddle bill stork, Egyptian goose as well as long-toed lapwing. Yellow-throated sand grouse, and up to six species of vulture. The rare Madagascar Squacco Heron is a frequent visitor. Other games frequently seen include buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, Maasai giraffe, and if you look carefully in the grass, the occasional lion and cheetah.
Lake Nakuru National Park – another top Kenya place to visit for 2023 adventure
Beneath the high cliffs of the Eastern Rift, lies Lake Nakuru which is among the top Kenya places to visit for 2023 adventure. Situated between Lakes Naivasha and Baringo, Lake Nakuru is a shallow soda lake enclosed by yellow-barked acacia woodland and grasslands, rocky cliffs, and hillsides covered with the infrequent giant Euphorbia trees.
Lake Nakuru is world famous as home to flocks of greater and lesser flamingoes, which frequently form a stunning pink ribbon along the edges of the lake. Though they migrate up and down the Rift Valley from Natron to Turkana in search of the best food supply, and their numbers at Lake Nakuru have declined in recent years. However, other species still populate the area in healthy numbers. An entertaining spectacle is the large flocks of pelicans found fishing and washing at the southern end of the Lake. Over 400 species of birdlife have been recorded at the lake, making this yet another of Kenya’s major ornithological sites.
In addition to the birdlife, the park is home to herds of buffalo, waterbuck, impala, Rothschild giraffe, and leopard. A defined area of the park has now been designated a rhino sanctuary, making it one of the best places in Kenya to see rare black rhino.
A mix of Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru is a good introduction to the taste of Kenya magical experience. For those on a short holiday in Nairobi, this short safari adventure is a must take.
The Aberdares – Such a unique Kenya place to visit for 2023 adventure
The Aberdares are a beautiful mountain range in the central highlands of Kenya with over 3000m (10, 000ft) in altitude. Within the heart of these mountains is the Aberdares National Park, a magical place of dense forest, and misty moorlands, where icy rivers plunge in glorious cascades and waterfalls. The area is very rich in flora and fauna. Among a variety of mammals more commonly seen are elephants, buffalo, rhino, forest-hog, colobus and Sykes monkeys, and a wide variety of antelope including the legendary and rare bongo. Birdlife is abundant and varied. 200 bird species have been recorded, perhaps the most conspicuous group of which are the sunbirds. Birds of prey such as the crowned eagle, mountain buzzard, and African goshawk are of special interest. A game viewing drive, possibly en route to Treetops or the Ark, is essential here. You can consider including the below adds on.
Aberdares Country Club – This is a romantic, quiet and relaxing getaway with a game sanctuary. Guests stay in cozy grey stone cottages nestling among swanky gardens.
The Ark – It’s an architectural masterpiece standing high above the ground in a secluded forest glade where wildlife viewing takes place at close range. Not recommended for children.
TREETOPS – Overlooking water holes and a salt lick, this is a functional lookout lodge solely dedicated to game viewing at close range.
Masai Mara National Reserve – This is a must select for the top Kenya places to visit for 2023 adventure
Maasai Mara National Reserve is situated to the west of Nairobi, on Tanzania’s northern border. This 1,812 km² (700 sq. miles) Reserve is the northern extension of the larger Serengeti National Park – a massive 56,000 km² (5,600 sq. miles).
The Masai Mara offers wonderful scenery and an abundance of big games. It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where the visitor may see animals in the same super-abundance that existed a century ago. It is a reserve of breathtaking landscapes, panoramas of vast rolling plains, hills, and woodland groves, well watered by the lovely Mara River which bisects the Reserve from north to south.
The Mara is home to the largest population of lions in Kenya. These magnificent beasts spend most of the day sleeping in the shade of acacia trees. Vast herds of buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest roam the plains. Impala, gazelle, giraffe, and hartebeest grace the landscape. The cautious topi may also be seen standing sentinel on earth mounds on a constant look-out for predators. The waters of the Mara River are home to crocodiles and pools of hippo, the acacia woodlands and riverine forests favored by leopard and elephant, and the open savannah and dry bush areas host the plains game and their attendant predators such as lion, cheetah, hyena, and jackal.
The birdlife of the Mara is as profuse as the animal life. On the open plains, there is a variety of bustards and ground hornbills. Birds of prey are abundant – no less than 53 species have been recorded, including the magnificent Bateleur eagle. In the sky, there are always opportunistic vultures circling and waiting in anticipation, and distinctive secretary birds are a common sight as they stalk sedately over the open plains.
Adventure safari to Masai Mara – Kenya’s crown jewel, with the Big 5 in abundance, Masai Mara is the perfect destination for those who want to have the complete safari experience in a short time frame and is a home to wildebeests – A splendid wildebeest migration safari starts here. Spend 3 days of marveling bliss.
Kigio Wildlife Conservancy – Less known but a top Kenya place to visit for 2023 adventure
Kigio Wildlife Conservancy is a noteworthy 3,500-acre conservancy between Nakuru and Naivasha in Kenya. The beautiful conservancy with its wide-ranging habitats, from riverine and euphorbia woodlands to short grass and Leleshwa shrub, holds approximately 3,500 heads of wildlife (including the endangered white rhino and Rothschild giraffe, a 200-strong herd of buffalo, impala, Grants and Thomson’s gazelle, eland, hyena, leopard, hippo, and over 200 bird species) which are protected by an electric fence on three sides and the Malewa River on one.
The Conservancy’s rich bio-diversity has been recognized internationally by Tusk Trust, Born Free Trust, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and several private donors who have provided funds to improve the infrastructure in the conservancy and to help wildlife conservation and surrounding communities. The Conservancy is at the forefront of Eco-tourism in the Rift Valley lakes area.
Samburu & Buffalo Springs National Reserves
Rugged and remote, these wildlife reserves lie within the fascinating semi-desert area of Kenya’s Northern Frontier District. The Samburu National Reserve – lava plain with steep-sided gullies and rounded hills – is physically dramatic with the great Ololokwe table mountain in the background
A safari to Samburu which is a top notch Kenya place to visit for 2023 adventure will take you to explore the national reserve which is located on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River in Kenya. On the other side of the river is the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. The park is 165 km² in size and is situated 350 kilometers from Nairobi. The reserve is well known for the presence of unique species such as Gravy’s Zebra, the long – necked Gerenuk gazelle, Biesa Oryx and the Blue necked Somalia Ostrich among the wildlife.
The Buffalo Springs Reserve connects to Samburu in the south and is more or less an extension of the same kind of environment. However, as the name implies, the major source of relief in this reserve is an outflow of clear spring water which attracts migrant game and predators from miles around. This reserve is bounded in the north by the Ewaso Nyiro which doesn’t reach the sea but meets the Lorien Swamp to the east.
The Splendid Coastline
Kenya is lined with white sandy beaches – fringed with palms, casuarinas, bright bougainvillea, mangrove swamps, and magical creeks, all washed by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The air is scented with the sweetness of frangipani and refreshed by gentle monsoon breezes. Gazing calmly out across magical coral reefs to the open sea, this is one of the most idyllic resort areas in the world. Most come to enjoy the simple pleasures of this sun, sand, and water wonderland. For those inclined to snorkel or scuba dive, Kenya’s reefs, coral gardens, and lagoons rival the world’s most beautiful.
For much of its length, from Malindi in the north to Vanga in the south, the shore is protected by the fascinating coral reef. Inside this protected environment in sheltered lagoons grow magical marine plants and other creatures and contains over 250 brilliantly coloured species of fish. National marine parks off Watamu, Malindi, Mombasa, and Shimoni protect these reefs and the waters they embrace.
Mombasa is the old and flamboyant gateway to Kenya and is a vibrant mixture of the ancient and modern, with an interesting blend of African, Arab, and Asian cultures. This beautiful port, evocative of the east, is actually an island. Fringing the dhow marina is the old town, a maze of narrow streets, quaint shuttered houses, and open-fronted shops. The ancient Portuguese ‘Fort Jesus’ still stands sentinel – now a fine museum of antiques. The experience of Mombasa somehow isn’t quite complete without a trip aboard the exclusive Tamarind Dhow.
Mombasa is the old and flamboyant gateway to Kenya and is a vibrant mixture of the ancient and modern, with an interesting blend of African, Arab, and Asian cultures. This beautiful port, evocative of the east, is actually an island. Fringing the dhow marina is the old town, a maze of narrow streets, quaint shuttered houses, and open-fronted shops. The ancient Portuguese ‘Fort Jesus’ still stands sentinel – now a fine museum of antiques. The experience of Mombasa somehow isn’t quite complete without a trip aboard the exclusive Tamarind Dhow.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Established in 1977, this wildlife conservation charity is amongst the most popular places in Nairobi that a visitor cannot go without tasting. Managing an orphanage which looks after rhinos and elephants, this trust is known to help the Kenya Wildlife services with funds. One can also adopt an elephant at this place at a minimum price of USD 50. So, are you ready to include this stopover among the Kenya places to visit for 2023 adventure? Speak to any of our safari consultant in order to tailor make your dream African vacation
Nairobi city
Nairobi is the capital and the largest city of Kenya. It is one of the most popular Kenya tourist places which are known for its legendary colonial history, sprawling infrastructure, tea and coffee industry, and wildlife parks. One should definitely visit this city to capture a glimpse of the historical heritage of Kenya, peep into its vibrant culture, spectate its vivid wildlife, and witness its splendid contemporary art.
The Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is an exclusive boutique hotel, owned by The Safari Collection. Often referred to as one of the most instagramed properties in the world, Giraffe Manor is set in 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest in the Langata suburb of Nairobi. Giraffe Manor is one of Nairobi’s most iconic buildings. The historic manor house has extraordinary appeal that harks back to the 1930s when visitors first flocked to East Africa to enjoy safaris. With its stately façade, elegant interior, verdant green gardens, sunny terraces and delightful courtyards, guests often remark that it’s like walking into the film Out of Africa: indeed, one of its twelve rooms is named after the author Karen Blixen.
One of the most fascinating things about Giraffe Manor is its resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffes who may visit morning and evening, poking their long necks into the windows in the hope of a treat, before retreating to their forest sanctuary. Giraffe Manor can be booked for the night or as part of a complete tailor-made Kenya safari
Be part of our safari family and let your dream African adventure come true by consulting any of our safari consultants to tailor make it just for you. Come see the Africa we love. Choose your best Kenya places to visit for 2023 adventure.
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