Widely regarded as one of East Africa’s most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities, Nairobi sits along the Nairobi River and serves as Kenya’s capital and largest urban centre, acting as a major gateway for safari travel across the country. The city features a growing café culture, active nightlife, and cultural landmarks such as the National Museum of Kenya and the Karen Blixen Museum. Just outside the city centre lies Nairobi National Park, where wildlife, including lions, giraffes, and buffalo, roam against a backdrop of skyscrapers — one of the rare cases in the world where a major national park borders a capital city. Visitors also often stop at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage for close encounters with rescued calves.
Fringing the northwestern edge of Kenya’s Laikipia plateau, the Mugie Conservancy features over 200 square kilometres of scenic landscape. Almost half the conservancy falls within the Mugie Sanctuary which is home to an abundance of elephants, Grevy’s zebras, big cats, and endangered Jackson’s hartebeests. Other commonly spotted species include zebra, buffalo, ostriches, giraffes, warthogs, an abundance of birdlife, and a variety of different antelope. Visitors can look forward to thrilling game safaris, guided walking tours, and educational talks on the conservation efforts of the area.
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One of Kenya’s most iconic natural wonders, the Masai Mara National Reserve stretches across more than 1500 square kilometres in the country’s southwest. The park shelters a remarkable array of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo that roam its savannahs, while crocodile and hippopotamus inhabit the Mara River. Birdwatchers will delight in the presence of more than 450 resident species. Yet the true spectacle is the Great Migration, named one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Each July to September, roughly 1.7 million wildebeest trek from the parched plains of Tanzania’s Serengeti to the greener grasslands of the Masai Mara, followed by zebra, antelope, and predators such as lion, hyena, and cheetah. The sight, sound, and raw energy of these vast herds are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any traveller.
With its gorgeous palm trees, powder-white sand, and glistening azure waters, Diani Beach is a popular resort area on Kenya’s magnificent Indian Ocean shoreline, about 30 kilometres south of Mombasa. Warm seas and exquisite coral reefs are the ideal environments for water-based activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, and boat safaris. Divers are likely to see turtles, mantas, barracuda and, if lucky, possibly even the elusive whale shark, the planet’s largest animal. Don’t miss the Colobus Conservation, a wonderful sanctuary for these fascinating endangered primates; the Shimba Hills National Reserve which offers an exceptional safari experience; and the nearby Kisite Marine National Park, known for its dolphin and turtle sightings. An array of excellent shops and alluring sea-facing restaurants completes the package of this destination.
