Although I’m born and bred in the United Kingdom, my parents are both born in Kenya (and even my grandparents!). So I thought it would be great to take both my parents down memory lane and ask them about some of their favourite places in Kenya. If you are planning a trip to Kenya and looking to see places other than Nairobi (the capital), I hope this list inspires you to travel to some of the best places to see and visit from the perspective of my parents!
1. Masai Mara National Park
Masai Mara is by far one of the best places to see in Kenya and a great place to see the Big Five. Filled with grasslands, acacia trees and renowned for their wonderful wildlife, Masai Mara is the perfect place for safari lovers.
Masai Mara is also the best place to view ‘The World’s Greatest Show’ also known as the Great Migration. This is where thousands of wildlife cross the Mara River from Masai Mara into Serengeti in Tanzania. The wildlife mainly consists of wildebeest but you’ll also find zebras, crocodiles and sometimes even lions trailing behind to catch prey.
The best time to visit Masai Mara for the migration varies between July and October, however it isn’t uncommon to see it off peak in February/March!
2. Tsavo East National Park
Tsavo National Park is also one of the best places to see in Kenya for many reasons. For one, it is MUCH quieter than Masai Mara because of it being the largest National Park in Kenya.
So if you’re after exploring wildlife but want to avoid the crowds, this may be the place for you as at times it’ll feel like you have the whole park to yourself.
Tsavo National Park has an East and West side, but my parents personal favourite is the East side as you’re able to see more of the wildlife (minus the Rhinos which are apparently a little rarer to see on the East side and found on the West side).
3. Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park is again another one of the best places to see in Kenya. This Tropical Park is much smaller than the other National Parks, but it is still not one to miss.
Not only does the park have plenty of scenic spots (a photographer’s dream!) but it is also home to the Big Five.
The Park is also home to much rarer animals such as the black leopard, that’s pretty awesome if you get to see one! The climate is also much more bearable, especially for those who can’t stand the heat, (like me).
4. Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is one of the BEST places to see in Kenya and yet another great place to see the Big Five. This place looks like a dream, it is deffo on my bucket list for the scenic views and the Big Five.
This park is also the perfect paradise for elephant lovers as it is home to large herds of elephants. Amboseli National Park is extremely close to the Tanzania border, meaning the park gives you spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
You can opt for a more luxurious stay and have the view of Mount Kilimanjaro from your very own room – the only downside will be that you’ll never want to leave!
5. Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha is located near Kenya’s Rift Valley. It is a beautiful lake home to lots of wildlife, especially birds and hippos!
One of the best things to do is to take a boat ride to explore the wildlife along the lake. Another great option for all you adventure seekers out there is to explore Hell’s Gate. This is a great place which showcases spectacular rock formations.
Lake Naivasha is usually a great day trip to visit from Nairobi!
6. Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is my mum’s personal favourite place to see in Kenya. This lake is a soda lake, and although it is much smaller to that of Naivasha, it is equally as beautiful.
Perhaps what’s more fascinating about Lake Nakuru is the flock of flamingos that come to the river, making the whole place turn into a stunning pink sunset. To give you an idea of just how many flamingos flock to the lake, it is known as the greatest bird spectacular in the world!
Lake Nakuru is also a protected lake, so many of the wildlife roaming around are protected species, including the rhinos!
7. Mombasa
For all my beach lovers out there, Mombasa is the place to be. If you are planning a trip to Kenya, I would highly recommend leaving this place as your last spot so that you’re able to wind down and relax after exploring the rest of Kenya.
There is so much to do here, including relaxing on the white sandy beaches of Diani beach, exploring the Old Town or checking out Shimba Hills National Reserve.
Mombasa has fantastic luxurious hotels and resorts, giving you the ultimate escape away from reality.
There you have it, 7 of the best places to see in Kenya other than Nairobi, from two locals! Have you visited Kenya before? What is your favourite place? I’d love to know!
Omg I almost purchased an impulse ticket to Kenya after seeing prices dropped for august and now after reading this, I’m regretting not going for it!
No way! Still keep an eye out just in case the prices do drop again, you’ll have such a great time!
I hope one day I will be able to travel to some of these great places.
Hopefully things will get back to normal soon so we can explore more!
This is so helpful – Africa is at the top of my bucket list. When I get there, I want to experience as much as possible but it’s hard to know where to start. This post helps a lot!!
Thank you so much Michelle! I agree, there are soo many places to see in Africa but hopefully you get to experience most of it soon!! So glad you found this post helpful.