Southern Rift Valley
Travelling between Lake Magadi and Nairobi, take the turn-off for the Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site. Several important archaeological finds were made by…
Must-see attractions in Kenya
Nairobi
Designed by Alan Donovan, an African-heritage expert and gallery owner, this stunning exhibition house overlooking Nairobi National Park can be visited by…
Lamu Archipelago
Located just outside Paté Town, these ruins are slowly vanishing under a riot of tropical vegetation and banana plantations. There is nothing to stop you…
Nairobi
This is one the most important landmarks in the annals of conservation: it was here that Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi made a dramatic statement to…
Southern Rift Valley
Dry, dusty and dramatic but infinitely peaceful, Hell's Gate is that rare Kenyan park made for bicycles and exploring on foot. Large carnivores are very…
Kenya
Begun in 1998, the 80,000-acre Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary, at the heart of the Kasigau ecosystem, is reliable elephant country – Kasigau lies along a…
Wasini Island
Mkwiro is a small village on the unvisited eastern end of Wasini Island. The gorgeous hour-long walk from Wasini village, through woodlands, past tiny…
Kisumu
Gazetted as a national park in 1986, this 4.2-sq-km island has never seen tourism take off. It is forested and very beautiful, housing a variety of bird…
Kenya
On the north side of the road just before the turn-off to Voi Gate on the eastern outskirts of town, this well-tended cemetery contains 137 graves,…
Kenya
Although it's taking some time to take off, the area between Tsavo West National Park and the Taita Hills is one to watch when it comes to the fusion of…
Western Kenya
This private museum is the personal collection of Mr Wilson, a former colonial officer in Uganda and quite a character. Based mainly on his experiences…
Malindi
The oldest marine park in Kenya covers 213 sq km of powder-blue fish, organ-pipe coral, green sea turtles and beds of Thalassia seagrass. If you’re…
Laikipia Plateau
Home to 39 profoundly damaged chimpanzees rescued from captivity across Africa and further afield, Ol Pejeta's Chimp Sanctuary encompasses two large…
Lamu Island
A man without a donkey is a donkey, claims one Swahili proverb. Or, as the staff of this sanctuary might tell you, a man who doesn’t look after his donkey…
Kenya
At 12km in total length, the aptly named Leviathan is one of the longest lava tubes in the world, and the longest in Africa. This type of cave is created…
Kenya
Occupying a corner of the lobby in the Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge, this engaging little open-sided museum tells the story of WWI as it played out in…
Laikipia Plateau
This family run, private 71-sq-km reserve, 22km north of Nyeri, is Kenya's oldest rhino sanctuary and an important breeding centre for black rhinos. The…
Lake Victoria
These rock paintings, often featuring sun motifs, are both revered and feared by locals (which has hindered vandalism) and are thought to be the handiwork…
Mbita & Rusinga Island
Also known as Bird Island, Mbasa is home to a wide variety of wetland birds, including long-tailed cormorants (which have a breeding colony here), fish…
Tsavo West National Park
Close to (and geologically part of) the Shetani Lava Flows, Shetani Caves are a result of volcanic activity. You’ll need a torch (flashlight) if you want…
Southern Rift Valley
What began as a hobby for three ladies knitting under a tree now employs more than 1200 local people and exports all over the world. The knitters use…
Lamu Archipelago
It’s hard to believe today that Siyu was once the major city of the Lamu archipelago, with 30,000 inhabitants and several major universities. The only…
Kenya
Just before Shipton's Camp, along the Sirimon Route, you will find Shipton's Caves. You'll likely spend a night here to acclimatise, so ask your guide if…
Lamu Archipelago
Paté vllage, on the west side of the island, is a maze of streets carved out of orange and brown coral ragstone. The modern village itself is almost…
Kenya
Some 30km east of Voi gate is the Aruba Dam, which spans the Voi River. It also attracts heavy concentrations of diverse wildlife; one of the park’s…
Nairobi
Just outside the main entrance to Nairobi National Park, off Langata Rd, this safari walk is a sort of zoo-meets-nature-boardwalk, with lots of birds as…
Northern Kenya
This small park, nestled on Mt Marsabit’s upper slopes, is coated in thick forest and contains a wide variety of wildlife, including leopards, elephants …
Kenya
The Chania Falls tumble over a rocky, tree-lined cliff, just in front of the restaurant of the Blue Post Hotel. The scene is delightfully appreciated from…
Kenya
Visit this butterfly centre on a Friday morning, and you might spot exotic pupae being packed for export to the UK and USA. The farm pays locals to…
Northern Kenya
Shaba, with its great rocky kopjes (isolated hills), natural springs and doum palms, is more physically beautiful than the nearby national reserves of…
Malindi
More impressive for what it represents (the genesis of the Age of Exploration) than the edifice itself. Erected by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama…
Kenya
A signposted hard right not long after entering Murera Gate takes you to Meru’s 48-sq-km Rhino Sanctuary, one of the best places in Kenya to see wild…
Kenya
If you're in the Amboseli area on a Tuesday, consider stopping in the town of Kimana (along the paved road between Emali and Oloitokitok) for its weekly…
Nairobi
Brave the suspension bridge and enjoy a stroll around the quirky, colourful grounds of Kitengela Hot Glass. There are regular glass blowing demonstrations…
Western Kenya
Eight kilometres east of town, this tropical park is popular with weekend picnickers and colobus, vervet and red-tailed monkeys (best seen in the early…
Lake Nakuru National Park
To get the best view that takes in much of the park, head up to the rocky Out of Africa Lookout. Less frequented by tour groups than the lower Baboon…
Kenya
This uninhabited island on the far side of Mida Creek makes an interesting excursion. It is very green (at least during the rainy season) and there are…
Nairobi
The Red Hill Art Gallery is tucked away in the lush green hills of Limuru, just outside Nairobi. The space is devoted to African Art with a focus on…
Nairobi
One of Nairobi's better exhibition spaces for contemporary art, Circle Art Gallery is, unlike some other Nairobi galleries, more a gallery aimed at…
Mombasa
This market, which stretches along Nehru and Langoni Rds west of the Old Town, is an evocative, sensory overload – expect lots of jostling, yelling,…
