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Discover magical Kenya
Kenya has a warm, humid climate along its Indian Ocean coastline, with wildlife-rich savannah grasslands inland towards the capital. Nairobi has a cool climate which becomes colder closer to Mount Kenya, which has only one permanently snow-capped peak left.
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» Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park is in a cloud forest in some of the higher areas of Kenya's central highlands marked by deep ravines and forested mountain slopes. Because of its altitude -- mostly above 10,000 feet -- it's often shrouded in mist. Animals often observed in the park include the black rhino, leopard, baboon, black and white colobus monkey and Sykes' monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis). Rarer are lions and the bongo, an elusive forest antelope that lives in the bamboo forest …
» Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya's most popular nature reserves. This wide stretch of savannah and swampland encompasses the largely dry Lake Amboseli, and much of it is within sight of Tanzania's mighty snow-capped Kilimanjaro. Complementing this awe-inspiring landscape are mighty herds of elephants, the park's biggest draw. Head to Observation Hill for some of the most impressive views; early morning and late afternoon are best for spotting these majestic animals …
» David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Kenya is a nation dedicated to conservation and this elephant and rhino rescue just outside the city is a pioneer for protection and rehabilitation. Expert team leaders retrieve orphan animals from the wild and rehabilitate them to return to their natural environment. Keepers bottle-feed babies every three hours, 24-hours a day, and often sleep with elephants until they can be returned to the wild. The trust no longer allows visitors to feed the animals, but it still offers the rare opportunity to see the offspring of Africa's largest mammals up close …
» Elsamere Conservation Park
One of several private conservancies in Kenya, the Elsamere Conservation Park is located on the southern shore of Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley. It's here that conservationist Joy Adamson nurtured some of her orphaned big cats -- including the most famous: Elsa. This orphaned lion cub was hand-raised in the 1950s by Joy and her husband, George, and released into the African bush. The book Joy wrote about the experience, "Born Free", was made into a movie …
» Giraffe Center
This 120-acre conservation center in the heart of Kenya's largest city provides a natural breeding ground for one of Africa's most graceful animals. As part of a concerted effort to increase numbers for these endangered species, giraffe calves are bread, born and raised in this protected environment before being introduced to the wild at the age of two. Visitors can sit in on talks about the center's conservation activities and efforts, then climb a raised platform to pet and feed giraffes before taking to the 1.5-kilometer nature trail …
» Great Rift Valley
The Rift Valley provides some of Kenya's most dramatic scenery, with sheer cliffs, algae-rich lakes and desert expanses dotted here and there with fertile farming land. Apart from famous flamingo hotspot Lake Nakuru National Park, there are a number of nature reserves, including Hell's Gate National Park. The natural hot geysers and steam vents here are a reminder of the geothermal activity which carved out the valley. Not only does this park have some of the most amazing landscape in the Rift Valley, you can (unlike most nature reserves) tour it without a guide …
» Hell's Gate National Park
One of the lesser visited of Kenya's parks, Hell's Gate National Park is small (just 27 square miles) and primarily savannah (grassland). It was named for a narrow break in the sheer red cliffs (the outlet for a prehistoric lake in the Rift Valley) by Scottish explorer and geologist Joseph Thomson (Thomson's Gazelle is named for him). One of the few parks were walking and hiking is encouraged, it's known for its nature trails as well as its herds of buffalo, zebra, giraffe, eland, hartebeest and two species of antelope: klipspringer ("rock jumper") and Chanler's mountain reedbuck …
» Karen Blixen Museum
Better known by her pen name, Isak Dinesen, Karen Blixen is the woman behind the colonial-era love story Out of Africa. Her historic farm, located at the foot of the Ngong Hills just outside Nairobi, was the setting for her timeless story of a broken marriage, cross-cultural romance and adaptation to a new foreign land. Today, literary buffs, history junkies and nature lovers can all enjoy a visit to Blixen's former home and farm. The museum, which explores her life within the context of Kenya's rich history, is situated on a portion of the original 4,500 acre plantation …
» Kenyan National Archives
Visitors to the Kenyan National Archives will find its name only somewhat accurate. Sure, it houses an expansive collection of documents on almost any area of government. But it's also home to two huge galleries, which showcase pre-colonial artifacts and the largest collection of Africana from across the continent. Travelers can choose to page through volumes of Kenya's history and public records, or they can stroll through hallways and explore the artwork, crafts and weaponry that makes this nation's past so rich …
» Kenyatta International Conference Center
The Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) is a 28-story building located in the central business district of Nairobi. At 105 meters tall, the KICC is the third tallest building in Kenya and is used for national and international conferences and exhibitions, along with a variety of other meetings and events. This terracotta, cylindrical tower reflects traditional African architecture, as does the use of cuboids inside many of the main rooms and halls inside. The KICC features a revolving restaurant with panoramic views of the city …
» Lake Naivasha
Situated at an altitude of 1884 meters, Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in Kenya located around 100 kilometers northwest of Nairobi and near the town of Naivasha (formerly East Nakuru). The lake is part of the Great Rift Valley and its name comes from the Maasai word, Nai'posha - which translates as "rough water" - on account of the storms that can suddenly arise here. This vast lake is surrounded by a swampland and fringed by papyrus plants. Among the residents of the lake are over 400 species of birds …
» Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru sits within one of Kenya's most visited national parks and is located around 160 kilometers from Nairobi in the Rift Valley region of the country. The Lake Nakuru National Park comprises of the lake itself and the rocky caves and bushy grassland that surrounds it. The lake supports a whole host of bird life, including a swath of distinctive pink flamingos along with a variety of other water birds. Once simply a bird sanctuary, the Lake Nakuru National Park has since become a national rhino sanctuary …
» Lake Nakuru National Park
Pink flamingos are the top reason to visit Lake Nakuru National Park. At times, there are as many as 2 million lesser and greater flamingos around the edges of the lake -- an astonishing sight. They're drawn here by their favorite food, Cyanophyta Spirulina Plantensis -- a type of blue-green algae that fills the lake. In addition to the flamingos, more than 400 different birds have been spotted in the park, which is on a migration route for many European species. This is one national park where you definitely want a spotter's guide …
» Masai Mara National Reserve
Kenya's most popular nature reserve is renowned for its impressive number of big cats, most notably lions, though you may spot the odd cheetah as well. The Serengeti plains, irrigated by the River Mara, make up much of the park and sustain huge populations of migratory animals, including wildebeest, giraffes and zebras. 4WD safaris at different times of the day will ensure you get the most out of your visit. Find out how the indigenous Maasai live with and from the land in one of their villages dotted around the reserve …
» Nairobi National Museum
The National Museum of Kenya opened in 1930 as a place for local naturalists to collect and display their specimens. But in 2005, the museum doors closed and the once archaic structure got a much-needed facelift. Today, it houses more than mere evidence of Kenya's unique flora and fauna (although its massive East African bird collection is impressive and the botanical garden and nature trail are perfect for afternoon wandering). In addition to biological wonders, the National Museum now houses galleries that examine the rich culture and traditions …
» Nairobi National Park
With the exception of zoos, there are few places on earth that put visitors face-to-face with wild animals in urban settings. This is what makes Nairobi National Park, the first game reserve in Kenya, so unique. Located just a few kilometers south of the city, this national park is the only protected area in the world that sits so close to a nation's capital. Visitors are likely to spot black rhinos, lions, giraffe and zebra, as well as some of the 400 birds that make Kenya a destination for birders …
» Tsavo National Park
With the exception of zoos, there are few places on earth that put visitors face-to-face with wild animals in urban settings. This is what makes Nairobi National Park, the first game reserve in Kenya, so unique. Located just a few kilometers south of the city, this national park is the only protected area in the world that sits so close to a nation's capital. Visitors are likely to spot black rhinos, lions, giraffe and zebra, as well as some of the 400 birds that make Kenya a destination for birders …
» Tsavo National Park, Kenya
Though forming one contiguous stretch of land, Tsavo is split into two entities either side of the main Nairobi-Mombasa road. Tsavo East National Park is the larger of the two, and is famed for its huge numbers of elephants that gather at the Galana River and wander across the plains. You may also spot lions, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes to complete the 'Big Five' of game-spotting, and the park is a haven for a huge range of bird species. Tsavo West extends southwards to the Tanzanian border, and includes the beautiful Mzima Springs …
