Kenya is a land of spectacular beauty and rich cultural diversity, offering travelers a unique and unforgettable experience.
In addition to its natural attractions, one of the best things about Kenya is its incredibly friendly people. Kenyans are the best!
After traveling through Kenya for three months, this article explores the top 10 best things to do in Kenya that will create lifetime memories.
We aim to convince you to book a Kenya holiday for your next trip and we can guarantee, like us, you won’t regret it. Let’s find out why.
What Are the Kenya Attractions?
There are a variety of incredible things to do in Kenya. From discovering “The Big Five” in Maasai Mara to chilling on the endless pristine beaches along the Kenyan coast.
These remarkable places showcase the best of what this East African gem has to offer. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a culture seeker, or simply in search of stunning landscapes, trust us Kenya attractions have it all.
Get ready to be captivated by the natural wonders and vibrant traditions that make Kenya a top choice for travelers from around the world and one of our favorite countries we have ever visited.
1. Best Things to do in Kenya: Maasai Mara
Starting with the most popular Kenya Attraction – Maasai Mara National Reserve. A world-famous destination for a good reason.
From the moment we crossed through the entrance gate we were blown away by the vast number of wildlife walking around freely whilst surrounded by stunning landscape.
From the “Big Five” to thousands of zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, and lots of different antelope species. You also have a good chance of spotting cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, ostriches, mongooses, and warthogs.
This is the real Lion King People! Just check out our video below.
Every year between July and October, Maasai Mara hosts the grand spectacle of the Great Migration. This is one of the most awe-inspiring wildlife spectacles on Earth that you can witness.
Millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles cross the treacherous Mara River that borders Tanzania and is filled with crocodiles.
During our Cairo to Cape Town journey, we embarked on three safaris in total: Maasai Mara, Etosha Park in Namibia and Kruger Park in South Africa.
Without a doubt, Maasai Mara offered the most exceptional value and unforgettable experience among them all. Find out below in more detail why Maasai Mara is the best value.
Surely that article has you thinking about a Maasai Mara safari?! If so, click this link to compare all the different safari budgets available and find the best deal for yourself.
2. Best Things to do in Kenya: Nairobi
Not many tourists spend much of their time in Nairobi, the country’s largest city and capital.
Instead, they hit the road almost immediately to explore other “more popular” Kenya attractions.
In our opinion, this is a missed opportunity. Nairobi is a city which offers it’s own fascinating attractions, parks, museums, excellent shopping in both Maasai markets and modern shopping centers, dining options, and a vibrant nightlife scene with some fantastic bars to explore.
If your time in Kenya is short, then you will still have the opportunity to see some of the famous Kenya wildlife.
Visit one of the few national parks in the world within a capital city – Nairobi National Park. Just imagine witnessing a wild lion, elephant, or rhino against a mega city skyline.
The second biggest Kenya attraction in Nairobi is The Giraffe Centre, allowing visitors to get up close, feed giraffes, and learn about them while enjoying their meal.
To read more about all the reasons to spend more time in Nairobi click here.
3. Best Things to do in Kenya: Naivasha
You might not be familiar with Naivasha, but it’s home to some of the best Kenya attractions on offer.
Less than a 2-hour drive from Nairobi, it is possible to visit on a Nairobi day trip, but we suggest staying for three days to fully enjoy the fantastic activities and natural sights around Naivasha for the three main activities on offer.
Firstly, for you wildlife enthusiasts, a cruise on Lake Naivasha provides opportunities to observe hippos and flamingos in their natural habitat.
Next up is to hike Mount Longonot, an inactive volcano with some spectacular views at the top. The hike up is short, allowing the option to include the additional 7-kilometer rim trail if you’re up for it!
Lastly, Hell’s Gate National Park is renowned for its hot springs, strange rock formations with steam coming out, and picturesque gorges.
Here you can cycle among freely roaming giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests safely as there are NO predators within the park.
4. Best Things to do in Kenya: Amboseli National Park
If you have ever seen a famous picture of elephants walking with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background, then chances are quite high that was taken in Amboseli National Park.
Located close to the Tanzania border, Amboseli is around 3 hours away from Nairobi.
Unfortunately, only four of “The Big Five” animals can be spotted here, but the good news is that there are some huge herds of elephants.
Additionally, visitors can engage with Maasai communities for unique cultural experiences.
5. Best Things to do in Kenya: Mombasa
The second biggest city of Kenya, and just like Nairobi, a city that is often overlooked. Mombasa is located in the bottom right corner of Kenya.
Many travellers arrive in Mombasa as a gateway to the stunning beaches Kenya has to offer right on the Indian Ocean, but we recommend spending time to explore what this old town has to offer.
Mombasa’s main attraction is the Old Town which is a UNESCO Heritage city, although quite small, you can still explore for a few hours and engage with the friendly locals.
Located next to the Old Town is Fort Jesus. A fort built by the Portuguese over 400 years ago and offers stunning views over the sea.
We would recommend exploring the city for at least one day if time is on your side that is.
Alternatively, you can always do a day trip from Diani Beach.
There are also day-trip safari options available from Mombassa.
6. Best Things to do in Kenya: Diani Beach
The most popular beach in Kenya is Diani Beach, only a half hour south of Mombasa. Diani Beach is famous for its chilled vibes, white sandy shores, and stunning turquoise waters.
This makes it perfect for snorkeling, swimming, boat trips, and many games of football that are played every day by tourists and locals. Game on!
For those who came to relax, you will be in your element too with many Diani Beach hotels and beachfront resorts for very affordable prices.
7. Best Things to do in Kenya: Watamu Beach
Kenya boasts many great beach towns, such as Diani, Malindi, and Kilifi. However, our top choice for the best beach in Kenya is Watamu Beach.
Despite being just 100 kilometers north of Mombasa, the journey to this natural Kenya attraction takes over two hours, but believe us, a visit to Watamu Beach is worth it!
Watamu Beach is another picturesque town with a chill atmosphere. But what makes it so special is the sight of the clearest water ever, dotted with little islands reachable when the tide goes out, just make sure to get back on time or else you will be swimming back!
For our next Kenya destination, we will be continuing North.
8. Best Things to do in Kenya: Lamu Island
Inhabited since the 12th century, Lamu Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and Kenya’s oldest continually inhabited settlement, and it feels like a step back in time!
Get lost on purpose in this maze of stunning Swahili stone architecture and narrow streets that are influenced by a blend of Islam, Arab, Indian, and Swahili cultures. You may even find yourself questioning whether you’re still within the borders of Kenya!
These days life is very chilled and slow on Lamu island. There are no cars on the island, boats cruise up and down the waterfront, donkeys leisurely roam the streets, and welcoming locals gather and hang around for their daily chat.
Besides the UNESCO heritage site, visitors can also enjoy stunning beaches and various tours. Lamu Island is truly a very unique place where history, culture, and natural beauty all meet up making it one of the best Kenya attractions to visit.
Any purchases will give us a small commission at no extra expense to you! If not, no problem, we’re still happy! Please continue to read and most importantly – Enjoy!
9. Best Things to do in Kenya: Lake Nakuru
It isn’t easy to spot rhinos in Maasai Mara National Reserve. Consider adding an extra day to your Maasai Mara safari to visit Lake Nakuru where you are guaranteed a rhino sighting.
Located in the Rift Valley this Kenya destination is renowned for easier and many rhino sightings.
The lake also hosts flamingos, various birds, lions, giraffes, and zebras. For additional details on extending a Maasai Mara tour, click here.
10. Best Things to do in Kenya: Mount Kenya
If you like hiking and hiking Mount Longonot is not difficult enough for you, then consider climbing the challenging Mount Kenya.
Mount Kenya is Africa’s second highest peak after Mount Kilimanjaro at a height of 5199 meters/5670 yards and the last of our list of top Kenya attractions.
There are different routes on Mount Kenya, all with different degrees of difficulty. The most popular one is Point Lenana which is the third-highest peak on Mount Kenya, and stands at an elevation of approximately 4,985 meters.
This can take 3 to 5 days to climb depending on your fitness and expertise.
The highest summit is Batian and it demands technical expertise and takes 5 to 7 days to complete. This is only suitable for highly skilled climbers.
Is Kenya Worth Visiting?
We hope that we have made our answer very clear is how we feel about the question “Is Kenya worth visiting?” Our answer is – Absolutely!
The people, the attractions, the landscape, the food. For us, it is more of a question “Why wouldn’t you visit Kenya?!”
You can find all the information you need to prepare you for your Kenya Holiday and answer any questions you may have here.
Not only is Kenya worth visiting, but we will even go a step further and add that Kenya is now at the top of our list of favourite countries.
We stayed for 3 months and we only left because our visa was up, we could have happily stayed on in Kenya and this just means that we will most definitely be back to visit Kenya again.
What are you waiting for?!
Enjoy Kenya!
Surely by now you must be getting excited and thinking of booking that Kenya holiday?!
If you have any questions, then please let us know, because we would love to help you create an unforgettable Kenya holiday experience.
We would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to leave us a message below or contact us through our socials.
Slán go fóil
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the links to make a purchase, we will earn a small commission. This is at NO EXTRA COST to you. This is a free way to support us and allow us to continue to create inspiring adventure travel guides.
