Editor’s note: This is a story from one of our UK readers.
Make a change to your annual destination and turn your holidays 2013 into a trip of a lifetime in the majestic country of Kenya.
Kenya is a microcosm of Africa. It packs so much within its borders, including snow-capped mountains, arid deserts, white sand beaches, colorful coral reefs, traditional tribal culture and some of the best wildlife attractions in the entire continent. Stunning landscapes abound from the rain forests of Kakamega and the beaches that span the Indian Ocean coast, to the Masai Mara’s rolling grasslands and the Rift Valley that cuts an enormous gash through it all.
Wildlife safaris have been the tourism industry’s mainstay for decades, and the country is home to several of the best places in Africa to spot elephants, wildebeests, lions, leopards and other exotic species. It is also one of the world’s top five bird-watching destinations, and outdoor enthusiasts can balloon above the Masai Mara, trek Mt. Kenya’s glacial ridges and snorkel in Malindi’s Marine National Park. For a more cosmopolitan getaway, visitors can spend days exploring Nairobi’s interesting urban appeal.
This top five list of the best things to see and do in Kenya show why the country is the most popular tourist destination in East Africa.
The Masai Mara
Safari-goers have always striven to see the “Big Five,” a list of Africa’s most ferocious and elusive species that includes the lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and Cape buffalo. At the Masai Mara National Reserve, you can see all in one morning. The wildlife spectacle is unparalleled there during the dry season that stretches from July to October, and visitors can even watch from a hot-air balloon as over a million wildebeest migrate through the region.
Lamu
One of the country’s oldest towns, Lamu was settled about 700 years ago by the Swahili people on an island just off the Kenyan coast in the Indian Ocean. Largely untouched until backpackers recently discovered it, the island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001 and is the Kenyan heart of Swahili and Islamic culture. The living throwback is characterized by winding streets, traditional houses and the sounds and sights of another age. While there, check out the Swahili House Museum, the Lamu Fort and the Donkey Sanctuary, home to over 3,000 of the island’s beasts of burden.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Famous for the large flocks of flamingos that crowd its shallow soda lake, Lake Nakuru National Park is home to an incredible array of wildlife. In addition to the rose-colored birds, visitors can also spot warthogs, white rhinos, ostriches, lions, giraffes and hippos.
Mount Kenya
At over 5,000 meters this is the second-highest peak in Africa, Mount Kenya is cloaked in moorland and forest that gives way to snow, rock and ice. The snow-capped jagged peaks, diverse vegetation and sweeping glacial valleys make it a strong contender for the best trek in Africa.
Amboseli National Park
This popular park offers breathtaking views of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro and is home to over 400 bird species and over 50 species of mammals. Huge herds of elephants pound across the plains, content hippos wade in the swamplands and the lack of trees makes spotting wildlife in the 392-square kilometer park a cinch.
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