The majority of visitors come to Kenya for the spectacular wildlife as well as some of the most striking national reserves in the world. However, Kenya is also home to some beautiful beaches on the Indian Ocean coast, particularly in the north, as well as some historical cities and great shopping.
 Coast
Kenya offers hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline where white, sandy beaches and warm waters of the Indian Ocean offer ideal bathing and swimming. Water sports are particularly popular here with many colourful coral reefs offering superb scuba diving and large waves and winds making conditions ideal for surfing and windsurfing. Coastal towns and cities are home to a large percentage of the Kenyan population with towns like Mombasa and Lamu sporting much historical interest.
 Lamu Island
Lamu Island lies just off the northern coast of Kenya and is a very laid-back island retreat with idyllic beaches and a charming town. Lamu itself is a Muslim town dating back to the 9th century and comes complete with many fine old buildings, including mosques and Arab houses. Getting about is largely done on foot or by donkey as no motorised vehicles are allowed on the island and the streets are impossibly narrow for anything larger than a handcart. The main attractions in this Swahili town are: its excellent museums, including the Lamu Museum and the Swahili House Museum; the Fortress; the Hindu Temple and the many great markets. Those interested in beaches should head for Shela just to the south of Lamu town.
 Malindi
Malindi is located in the centre of the Kenyan coast, between Lamu and Mombasa and, although not the best looking of Kenyan towns, it does have some good beaches and lies very close to Malindi National Park and Watamu National Marine Park. The best thing about Malindi is the proximity of the coral reef from the beach; it’s within walking distance at low tide. As a consequence, snorkeling and scuba diving in Malindi are very popular activities. Glass-bottomed boat tours of the reefs and deep-sea fishing trips are also popular.
 Mombassa
Mombassa is Kenya’s second largest city and is situated on a small island on the southern coast of Kenya. This port town has prospered for centuries and features an old town and harbour where numerous Arab dhows (lateen-rigged boats) reside. Mombasa is a big tourist centre but unfortunately does not have the fine beaches of the north and south. The town does boast many interesting attractions, however, including: the old Arabic town with its narrow streets and many vendors; the old harbour which is great for a stroll and Fort Jesus, a late 16th century Portuguese fort which is now a museum. Shoppers will also be happy in Mombasa, with the main Makupa Market, the floating market at Tudor Creek and bustling Biashara Street.
 Nairobi (Central Highlands)
Known as the ‘Green City in the Sun’, Nairobi is a city of tree-lined streets and parks. Major attractions in Nairobi include: the Kenya National Museum, known especially for its ethnographic and archaeological exhibits; the Snake Park, with many fine specimens of the region, and nearby traditional thatch huts of different tribes. Nairobi also offers excellent shopping opportunities, with large, glitzy malls and African markets, and a large number of restaurants and nightclubs.
 Northern Kenya
Although mostly desert, the far north of Kenya is home to many national parks and reserves and is a lot less visited than other regions of the country. Unfortunately, the north also happens to be inhabited by bandits and much of it is lawless; therefore taking local advice before moving through or visiting the area is very important. The main parks of the north are Kora, Meru, and Samburu, while Lake Turkana, lying on the Sudanese border, is Kenya’s largest soda lake.
 Southeast Kenya
Much of southeast Kenya is also dry savannah country apart from the lofty, Taita Hills. The main sights in this region of Kenya are the huge Tsavo National Park and the smaller Amboseli National Park.
 Western Kenya
Masai Mara National Reserve is without doubt Western Kenya’s biggest attraction, which is not a particularly difficult feat as this region of Kenya is pretty barren. With that said the countryside here is outstanding and really off the beaten track, although quality hotels are a little hard to come by.
Top Things to Do
 Dik-Dik Spotting in Aberdare National Park
This quality national park is home to large populations of elephants, rhinos, dik-diks, lions, leopards, huge waterfalls and giant alpine plant species. It is set high up in a wooded mountain range near Mount Kenya. The only drawback of this fabulous setting is that the vegetation is very dense and lingering fog tends to hide the animal herds for much of the time. Ark and Treetops are the park’s main lodges which both boast platforms that are ideal for viewing the animals. Aberdare’s greatest waterfalls are the huge Guru Falls that plunge over 1,000 feet.
 Explore the Lake Victoria Region
Source of the great River Nile, Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake and is a fantastic area for tourists. It is located on the Ugandan border to the west of the Mara and features three islands - Mfangano Island, Rusinga Island, and Takawiri Island – where luxury lodges offer visitors the chance to bird watch and fish. The small Ruma National Park is also in the area and protects rare species, while the Kakamega Forest Reserve features Kenya’s last patch of primeval rainforest.
 Go on Safari at Kenya’s Largest National Park
Tsavo National Park is Kenya’s largest national park and is home to large herds of elephants and other animals. The land consists of open savannah and bush woodland, while the Taita Hills are home to the local game lodges. Visitors can also see buffaloes, rhinos, lions, giraffes, antelopes, zebras, gazelles and many species of birds. There is also the chance to see crocodiles and hippos at the verdant Mzima Springs. The other major attraction in the park is the Shetani Lava Flow; an impressive lava bed that was formed by an ancient eruption in the Chyulu Hills.
 Marvel at the Gedi Ruins
The Gedi Ruins are some of the oldest pre-historic ruins in Mombasa and are located just to the north of the city on the coast. Made of local rocks and stone, Gedi was ruled by a Sultan and inhabited by Swahili people. The National Museum is home to some wonderful ruins which can be seen on a well-informed tour.
 Scale Mount Kenya
Consisting of forest and bare rock, Mount Kenya National Park is located on Kenya’s second highest mountain. The park offers great climbing and animal watching opportunities. Although fairly easy to scale, visitors should hire a guide and take time due to possible altitude sickness. The ascent covers a range of beautiful landscapes, including thick forest, bamboo forest, giant alpine vegetation, open moor land, bare rock, and snowfields at the summit. With this in mind, bringing along warm clothing is essential. Keep a look out for black leopard on the lower slopes
 Take in Mount Kilimanjaro
Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s smallest parks and although it has seen better days, it provides breathtaking views of Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro; the world’s highest solitary mountain. Amboseli National Park lies on the Tanzanian border, but unfortunately much of the animal population has retreated to better vegetated areas.
 Watch the Wildebeest at the Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s most visited reserve and is the one that sees millions of wildebeest and zebra migrating across the land every year. The reserve is situated in the southwest of the country and is part of the huge Oloololo escarpment that also forms the beautiful Serengeti plains in Tanzania. The great migration takes place every July and August and offers breathtaking scenes of thousands of animals crossing the crocodile and hippo infested Mara River. Other animals to be seen in the reserve are lions, elephants, cheetahs, baboons, giraffes, hyenas and many others. Lodges and camps provide accommodation.
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