Is Kenya Worth Visiting In 2024? 10 Reasons To Visit
Is Kenya worth visiting? Read why you should visit Kenya at least once in your lifetime
Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes, wildlife, fascinating sunsets, people, the sounds of lions roaring, elephants trumpeting, birds singing, monkeys screaming, hyenas laughing, and the smell and taste of Africa will create your lifetime experience and stay in your heart forever like it stayed in mine.
Moreover, Kenya has one of the most beautiful beaches. Not only Kenya but the whole of Africa is so special in every way, even the sun shines more beautifully here. And so I fell in love with Africa.
If you want to know all the reasons why Kenya is worth visiting, keep reading.
Is Kenya Worth Visiting?
Kenya is a very popular tourist destination, mostly because of the safari and wildlife but also for its beautiful white sandy beaches. Kenya pays high attention to the tourism industry as it is one of the most important sources of income for the country.
Hotels and lodges are prepared for tourists with excellent customer service and welcoming hospitality. Kenya’s people are very welcoming and friendly.
If you are not sure whether it is worth flying such a long distance to Kenya and spending money on your trip, let me tell you the reasons why you should visit Kenya at least once in your lifetime.
1. Safari Adventures
The number one and the most important reason why Kenya is worth visiting and why we also visited Kenya is Safari Adventure. There are many National Parks which you can visit.
The best and biggest are Maasai Mara, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo East, and West, Samburu National Reserve, and more.
All of these parks are full of wildlife which you will see during your day driving around. Tourists usually take organized tours with a professional guide and a driver who knows every meter of the parks, and everything about the animals living here. We were not an exception.
We went to Amboseli National Park, and Tsavo East as we stayed in Malindi which is a small town close to Mombasa and these two parks were the closest.
We spent one night in Tsavo East in a lodge called Voi Wildlife Lodge and one night in Amboseli National Park in Kibo Safari Camp with a stunning view of Kilimanjaro.
While driving through the parks you can see zebras, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, wild dogs, wild pigs, lions, buffalos, wildebeest, hippos, cheetahs, antelopes, and monkeys. We haven’t seen rhinos as these are mostly in Maasai Mara.
You can see these animals very close to your car and you see them behaving in their natural habitat. It is not like a zoo. We saw lions relaxing in the grass, cheetahs hunting antelopes, and elephants crossing the roads.
When you go for a game drive you should not get out of the car as it is dangerous, while staying in the car is safe.
It is very difficult to describe how amazing an experience it is in Kenya’s nature with the animals and with the most extraordinary sunset. Even if this is the only reason to visit Kenya, it is worth it.
2. Great Migration
Great Migration is the migration of wildebeests and zebras crossing the Mara River from Maasai Mara, Kenya to Serengeti, Tanzania at the end of the year in October, and November, and from Serengeti to Maasai Mara in July and August.
Even though I haven’t seen this migration, I know it is an amazing experience where millions of wildebeests and thousands of zebras cross the river to search for grass and water.
For more sensitive people this could be a little bit heartbreaking as the hungry predators are waiting to catch the weakest from the group. Only the strong ones survive this migration. However, this is the cycle of nature.
3. Maasai Culture
Maybe you know, but for those who don’t, Maasais are people belonging to a tribe living in Kenya and Tanzania.
Some of them live in rural areas living their way of life in huts made of mud and elephants’ excrements. They make fire with a stick, use natural medicine, drink blood from goats or cows, and speak their language.
However, these days many of them live more civilized lives and speak English and Swahili, which are the main languages in Kenya. You can recognize Maasais based on their clothes.
When you are in Kenya, you can visit a Maasai Village where they will show you around, explain everything about their lives, what natural medicines they have and what are they good for, and show you how they make fire.
They also perform their traditional dance with singing and you can join them. Another amazing experience for which Kenya is worth visiting.
However, the Maasais are not the only tribe living in Kenya. There are more tribes with their habits, clothes, and traditions that you can get to know.
4. Breathtaking Landscape
If you think that Kenya is dry land, you are wrong. Kenya has a wide range of landscapes. From the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya through the idyllic beaches of the Kenyan coast to the Great Rift Valley, with its lakes and volcanoes, the country with endless opportunities.
Whether you are coming for a beach holiday, climbing mountains, watching flamingos on the lake, or just simply admiring the wildlife and nature, you can all find it in Kenya.
Mount Kenya is the highest peak in Kenya and the second highest in Africa after Kilimanjaro. Lake Turkana is the world’s largest desert lake and in the Great Rift Valley, you can find Menengai Crater, a volcano that was formed like 200 000 years ago.
There are many stunning beaches with crystal clear water and white soft sand and the most beautiful beach not only in Kenya but in Africa is Diani Beach.
5. Unique Wildlife
Kenya together with Tanzania and South Africa are countries with the best safaris due to the unique wildlife. I can’t disagree on this.
Zebras, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, wild dogs, wild pigs, lions, buffalos, wildebeest, hippos, cheetahs, antelopes, monkeys, rhinos, leopards, crocodiles, all of these can be seen in Kenya.
However, there are 5 most important animals that everybody wants to see so they can say they saw The Big 5. The animals belonging to the Big 5 are lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and buffalo.
Let me not forget about the 1,000 bird species living in Kenya. It is a haven for bird enthusiasts.
6. Adventure Activities
What adventure activities can be done in Kenya? Safari is considered as one of the adventure activities. However not only safari, but you can also go diving and explore the beauty of the ocean.
If you prefer to fly like a bird, you can go on a hot air balloon trip. Other adventure activities are climbing Mount Kenya, taking a small boat tour to see the wildlife, and walking or cycling in Hell’s Gate National Park.
7. Conservation efforts
Kenya is one of the countries supporting wildlife conservation. Many projects are fighting poaching and illegal activities, they do lion monitoring, land conservancies, supporting eco-tourism, and working hard to protect endangered species.
8. Delicious cuisine
Not a very well-known fact, but Kenya has many unique dishes and they vary throughout the country. The national food of Kenya that every Kenyan family eats is Ugali.
Ugali is made of corn flour or maize and cooked in water or milk until it gets a dough consistency. You can eat Ugali with beef stew for example, which is another favorite dish.
Kenyans love to eat meat, so they grill beef meat or goat but also fish, which are delicious. They also prepare Chapati, which is soft flatbread.
Another meal is Samosa, which in some Middle Eastern countries is called Sambosa, and it is pastries triangles filled with minced beef, peace, or potatoes.
They also have different dishes with fried rice or rice cooked with coconut milk, fried spiced potatoes, plantain bananas, and many more.
9. Historical Sites
Kenya has several historical sites like ancient Swahili ruins called Gedi Ruins in the coastal town of Malindi.
When you stay on the coast, in Mombasa you can take pictures of Fort Jesus, which was built by the Portuguese between 1593 and 1596 and is under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Another place in Kenya that is under the Unesco World Heritage Sites is Lamu Old Town located north of Mombasa.
10. Friendly People
Kenyan people are not only very friendly, smiley, and kind, but they will welcome you in their country with open arms.
They say hello to you when they meet you on the street, they like to engage in conversation and are willing to help when you need it. The children will run calling you Muzungu, which means white person.
You see that many people don’t have much from the materialistic world, but they have big smiles and hearts.
Is Kenya Worth Visiting: FAQs
Here you have it. The proof that Kenya is worth visiting and should be on every traveler’s bucket list. For more questions, check these FAQs below.
Is Kenya safe to visit?
This is a question that many people ask. Even I had concerns before I went there. Well, it is safe but you have to take some precautions and behave differently than in Europe for example.
First of all, you should have the necessary vaccinations which are tetanus, hepatitis A and B, and yellow fever. Bring with you strong mosquito repellent and if you wish tablets against malaria. These are mostly needed in rural areas and on safaris. Also, it is important to sleep under mosquito nets.
When you are on safari, listen to all instructions from your guide and don’t get out of the car.
While staying in your hotel, don’t go out at night. It is not safe for tourists. If you have local friends, then you can go with them, otherwise stay in your hotel or resort area. Other than that, I believe Kenya is safe to visit. Of course, always check the travel advisory before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Kenya?
If you want to see the Big Migration, then you should come from July through October. Other than that, the best months to visit are January and February during the dry season as the game viewing is amazing.
Are Kenya safaris worth it?
Kenya safaris are more than worth it. It is an exceptional experience that will bring lifetime memories. The nature, wildlife, and amazing lodges where you stay will create heartwarming moments and you will want to come back again.
Conclusion: Is Kenya A Good Place To Visit?
Kenya’s safari adventure, different cultures and tribes, breathtaking landscape, unique wildlife, historical sites, beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine, and kind and friendly people are all the reasons why Kenya is worth visiting.
There is a saying: “When you go to Africa for the first time, you will either love it or hate it.” I believe that if you go to Kenya, you will love it.
