Kenya : What to do Beyond Safaris
KENYA : WHAT TO DO BEYOND SAFARIS
Kenya : What to do Beyond Safaris : Though Kenya is famously known for hosting a range of wildlife species including lions, cheetahs, elephants, leopards and the Great Migration where millions of wildebeests accompanied by gazelles and zebras move in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. Kenya has more to offer beyond wildlife safaris, below are the activities to do in Kenya beyond safaris
HIKE MOUNT KENYA
Mount Kenya is one of the world’s best mountains to hike, Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa at 5,199 meters coming second to Mount Kilimanjaro and is the highest mount in Kenya. Mount Kenya offers a thrilling Kenya mountain climbing safaris providing you with a rare sight of equatorial snow, conquering a mountain is a dream for many travelers and that dream can come true in Kenya.
Mount Kenya is found east of the Great Rift Valley in the central Highlands and is located in the former Eastern and Central provinces of Kenya currently known as Meru, Embu, Laikipia, Kirinyaga, Nyeri and Tharaka Nithi countries. Mount Kenya is also situated about 90 kilometers north of the equator and about 150 kilometers north-northeast of Nairobi the capital of Kenya.
Mountain Kenya comprises of 3 glacier covered peaks that are Batian the highest peak, Nelion as the second highest peak and Lenana as the lowest peak of the three. These three peaks are considered to be one of the easiest peaks in the world by climbers, most especially Lenana peak. Reaching Batian peak and Nelion peak requires some technical expertise and experience in Mountain climbing. Hiking Mount Kenya offers an encounter with magnificent mountain scenery comprising of glaciers, lakes, mineral springs and alpine forests. The lower slopes of the mountain are covered by dense thickets of bamboo and Africa which you will encounter at the beginning of the mount Kenya hiking experience.
While climbing/hiking Mount Kenya, you will spend the nights on various camps found in the slopes of the mountain.
VISIT HELL’S GATE NATIONAL PARK
Hells gate national park is one of the physically incredible national park built around two extinct volcanoes, a gorge, several caves and an ancient volcanic plug rock with a pointed column. Hell’s gate national park is located in the Rift Valley Province near Nakuru, the park lies south of Lake Naivasha and North West of Nairobi the capital of Kenya
Hells gate national park is a perfect destination for camping, nature walks, bicycle riding and hiking experiences. The park is a haven for hikers and climbers, since the park hosts no animals, it offer a great opportunity to explore the park on bike or by foot. Hiking in Hells gate national park offers an exhilarating experience of climbing the Fischer’s Tower, hiking experience offers a different rock climbing challenges to each climber.
Hells gate national park also consists of several geothermal features such as hot springs and natural geysers hissing out steam through vents in the earth’s crust, you will visit these features which will add on to your experience in Hells gate national park.
VIST TO DIANI BEACH
Diani Beach is one of the best beach destinations in Africa and a major beach on the Indian Ocean Coast of Kenya, the beach is located in Kwale County about 30 kilometers south of Mombasa. Diani Beach is about 17 kilometers long stretching from the Kongo River to the north and Galu beach to the South.
Diani beach is one of the most beautiful and popular beach in Africa and Kenya as well offering the best beach holidays and water activities in East Africa, the beach is a sliver of paradise marking the border where the African continent meets the vast Indian Ocean. Diani beach is a beautiful tropical beach retreat featuring silky white sands, warm turquoise waters and palm lined streets.
Diani Beach is a haven for turtles on the south Kenyan Coast, the turtles use the beach as a nesting ground. The beach comprises of several beach hotels and resorts offering a wide variety of water activities such as diving, water-skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling and diving.
EXPLORE THE GEDI RUINS
The Gendi Ruins are a popular historical and archaeological site in Kenya for tourism located on the Kenyan North Coast near the Ocean Coast of Eastern Kenya, the ruins are also adjacent to the town of Gendi in the Kilifi District and is situated within the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.
The Gedi Ruins are one of many medieval Swahili Coastal settlements dating back to 15th century and representing a typical Swahili town along the East African Coast, the Swahili town was initially built in the 12 century. However in the 15th century, it was rebuilt and it is in this same time when it reached its peak. Later in the first half of the 17 century, it was abandoned leaving the ruins to nature, indigenous forests grew around the whole ruins. In 1948, the ruins were put under the care of the National Museums of Kenya.
While on your Kenya tour, you will have a guided walk around the ruins seeing fantastic structures such as mosques, a palace and the wood which is considered to be scarce by the surrounding community for their traditional rituals.
SCUBA DIVING
Scuba diving is one of the entertaining and memorable water activities to enjoy while on a Kenya Tour, Kenya is gifted with the Kenyan coast which consists of extensive reefs that have remained unaltered since past times. These coral reefs support a fantastic array of thousands of marine life species living in the Indian Ocean, there are also sunk shipwrecks in the north and south coast and they can be views by divers.
Scuba diving offers an opportunity to explore the Indian Ocean, at the ocean there are several location offering shore diving. In these locations divers, can dive in the mangroves and explore the ocean life from there.
It is also possible to come across manta rays and ocean whale sharks in the Kenyan waters at the specific times of the year. You will also encounter oceanic giants and several species of fish which will add on your thrilling adventure.
The Kenyan Coast has clear waters allowing visibility of about 20 meters thus being a perfect spot for diving and underwater photography offering you an opportunity to get great shorts of the marine life.
Visit The Bomas Of Kenya
The Bomas of Kenya are a hot melting point for Kenya culture and traditional entertainment, the Bomas of Kenya is named from the local word Boma meaning Homestead. This site showcases the traditional residences, societies and the lifestyle of various tribes in Kenya, visit the Bomas of Kenya gives a chance to experience the rich diversity of Kenyan culture and be entertained by classical music and dance.
At the Bomas of Kenya cultural performance with live percussion, wind and string instruments complimented by energetic dances are what to lookout for, the performances displays array of various musical and various styles of dance traditions.
The Bomas of the Kenya also displays and preserves collections of cultural artifacts from the diverse communities in the Kenya such as stools and various objects reserved for special occasions and ceremonies such as traditional circumcision knives. Visiting the Bomas of Kenya is a perfect activity to do in Kenya most especially for individuals interested in learning and understanding more about Kenya’s culture and traditions.
VISIT FORT JESUS
Fort Jesus is one of the man-made wonders in East Africa and a heritage site found in Mombasa, the Fort was built during the end of the 16th century purposely to protect the Mombasa coastal town – a then transit location for trade from invaders. Fort Jesus was built in a shape of a man when viewed from above, the fort was designed by Joao Batista Cairato who drew his inspiration of Pietro Cateneo an Italian architect.
Fort Jesus is one of the major tourists attractions in Mombasa and Kenya at large, the location of Fort Jesus enabled the Portuguese to see any ship approaching the coast, with the help of Fort Jesus the Portuguese where able to rule the Indian Ocean trade routes. Visiting Fort Jesus gives you an insight on how the Portuguese were able to rule over the coastal town of Mombasa, the fort also tells the story of the East African slave trade times when Africans were being transported to Arabia and the Persian Gulf as slaves through the port of Mombasa.
Fort Jesus was constructed between 1593 and 1596 on the orders of King Philip 1 of Portugal with the intention of guarding the Old Port of Mombasa, in 1858 the fort become a national park and later in 2011 it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fort Jesus was also identified as one of the most exceptional structures from the 16th century.
If you are a history enthusiast, visiting Fort Jesus will be the great experience of your life offering you an opportunity to view all the preserved features and artifacts that were used by both the Swahili people on the post, the Portuguese, Arabs among others.
VISIT THE NAIROBI NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Nairobi national Museum an heritage site found in Nairobi the capital of Kenya at the Museum Hill, the museum showcases and interprets the rich heritage of Kenya. The Nairobi National Museum was opened in 1930, in 2005 it was renovated and reopened in 2008.
The Nairobi National Museum tells the story of Kenya’s rich cultural and traditional heritage through various collections, studies, documents, displays of Kenya’s past and present heritage and archeological origins of man. The museum features an actual museum, an art gallery, botanical garden, a snake park and shopping facilities.
Nairobi national museum is a perfect site to visit in Kenya if you are interested in learning about the rich cultural heritage of Kenya.
VISIT LAMU ISLAND
Lamu Island is a charming island in Kenya not to miss during your Kenya tour, Lamu Island is an old world charming island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in the North East of Mombasa. Lamu Island is rich with trading history with origins dating back to the 12th century and since then it has been inhabited.
Lamu Island features old buildings of varying styles from Arabic, to Europeans and Indians and taking a stroll in the city of the island you will get to take a walk in the past time. When you visit the harbor, you will observe the building of dhows the major means of transport at the island and have an opportunity to sail in one of them.
Some of the attraction you will visit in Lamu Island includes
- the Lamu Museum displaying Lamu culture and history
- Lamu Fort
- Donkey Sanctuary and
- White sand beaches on the waterfront
Conclusion
Going to Kenya for an African Safari is a very adventurous experience as you are to encounter more than wildlife, in Kenya you will have an opportunity in engage amazing and memorable experiences mentioned above.
Book your Kenya Tour now at info@maasaimarakenyapark.com
