Kenya is one of the prominent safari destinations in Africa, offering great activities like wildlife safaris, hot air balloon rides, luxury safaris, and beach holidays among others.
With over 50 national parks and reserves, Kenya is a wildlife lover’s paradise. The Masai Mara Game Reserve, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Mount Kenya and Tsavo National Parks are the most popular destinations among many Kenyan safari enthusiasts.
Easily accessible from the capital Nairobi, the national parks offer opportunities to get up close and personal with Kenya’s Big Five – elephants, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard – as well as other wildlife species.
Masai Mara Game Reserve is considered a must-see for those looking to enjoy the best that a Kenyan safari has to offer. The reserve is home to 95 species of animals and more than 400 species of birds.
Masai Mara is best known for the Great Wildebeest Migration, a dramatic annual event in which millions of wildebeest and zebras cross into the reserve from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park in search of water and pasture. Animals return to the Serengeti as the seasons change.
Masai Mara is also popular for hot air balloon safaris. Balloon rides, which usually take place early in the morning, give tourists a spectacular aerial view of the Mara’s wildlife. A Masai Mara safari does not automatically include a balloon ride and you may need to ask your agent to customize your trip to include the ride.
In addition to wildlife tours, Kenya offers ample opportunities for memorable beach safaris. The country that is endowed with marvelous beaches stretching from Somalia to the Tanzanian border is ideal for honeymoons and beach holiday safaris.
Lamu, a UNESCO world heritage site, is especially popular with those looking to enjoy their holidays in a romantic setting away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. The archipelago has very few trappings of modernity and has retained its ‘rustic feel’ despite being close to some of the best beaches in Kenya.
Lamu safari offers an interesting insight into Swahili and Islamic culture and traditions dating back 700 years. Historical walking tours, diving, snorkelling, sport fishing, and dhow sailing are some of the activities that take place during a tour of Lamu.
Diving and snorkelling are the highlights of Lamu Safari. Although diving is relatively new to the archipelago, there are several excellent dive sites in the area waiting to be explored by diving enthusiasts.
Lamu is famous for its deep-sea fishing, with Kiwayu Island, located to the north of the archipelago, ranked among the top 10 dive sites in the world. Sailfish, tuna, wahoo, kingfish, giant trevally, and barracuda are some of the fish species caught in Lamu.