Why you should visit Kenya

We are sure that the first thing you think of when we mention Kenya is SAFARI. But did you know that there is so much more to this beautiful country that often goes unnoticed? In this blog, we put together what to look out for and some of our best tips for your next trip.

Food

The food scene in Kenya is just wow! Nairobi is amazing, but Kenyans also love Mombasa a lot. In Nairobi, we found the barbecue options mouthwatering to say the least. Mike's Cafe is the best for breakfast if you love kebabs, samosas, a Kenya mix (yes a mix of chickpeas, potatoes, samosa pastry and so much) and other Indo-African options. Barbecue places are also popular - Nargis, Hashmi Barbecue, and ChopIt were all places we got to try and loved. If you want Pizza, then the Pizza Corner is a seriously great contender! While we didn’t get to visit Mombasa, many Kenyans we spoke to said that they also have fantastic culinary choices, especially during Ramadhan when restaurants stay open way into the night. One of our favourite snacks is Cassava chips, and you can get them aplenty in Kenya. Trust us, cassava chips, or miyogo as it's locally called, feed the soul.

Beaches and Water Activities

Mombasa is a vibrant coastal city in Kenya known for its rich Swahili culture, historic Old Town, and stunning Indian Ocean beaches. From the iconic Fort Jesus to the spice-filled alleyways and bustling street markets, Mombasa blends African, Arab, and European influences into a truly unique travel experience. Whether you're soaking up the sun on Diani Beach, sailing on a traditional dhow, or exploring local cuisine, Mombasa offers the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure on the Kenyan coast. Plus, you can go snorkeling, for a textile and market tour, explore old town, jet skii, go on a sunset canoe, or even a glass boat ride.

History and Museums

Kenya's history is full of moments that show the strong activism of her people. From fighting for democracy to moving from the painful past of colonialism, Kenya has a history that is interesting to any African. In Nairobi, you will find the national museum shares the stories of the fight for democracy to the shift in politics and the present day. It also pays homage to its diverse communities and rich zoology. For a more fun experience, there is the museum of illusions that uses illustrations and perspective-changing rooms to show how 3D movements around us can change your viewpoint entirely. Other museums include the Karen Blixen, the Nairobi Gallery and the Kenya Railway Museum.

Visit Kenya for Safaris too

Of course, no mention of Kenya can go without talking about its plethora of game adventures. Nairobi National Park is the only wildlife national park that exists inside a major city. It has popular animals such as buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, baboon, zebra, wildebeest and cheetah, including 100 mammals and various bird species. We booked our trip with Get Your Guide for EUR 87 or ZAR 1810 for 2 people. This excluded the entrance fee that cost EUR 69 pp or ZAR 1440. The trip also comes with a visit to the Elephant Orphanage, where you can see the beautiful, majestic beasts and how they are cared for. The guide answers your questions but also shares some fantastic tidbits about the shelter. We enjoyed our safari a lot and loved being in beautiful nature despite not seeing a lot of animals. The tour operators, unfortunately, don't behave appropriately, from our experience. We saw tour drivers, including ours, chase an old lion, which was not a good sight to behold.

But there are many more! In fact, Kenya has 25 National Parks!! 25!! Goodness, lord. The popular ones are Hell's Gate, Amboseli, Masai Mara and Tsavo. Amboseli and Hell's Gate are a mere 5 hours apart, so this can be done in one day. In fact, Amboseli boasts amazing views of Mt Kilimanjaro as its so close to the Tanzanian border.

Saleha looking out at the beautiful animals

A plethora of things to do!

While one blog won't do justice to Kenya, we won't be doing it a service if we didn't tell you about the other things you can do in this beautiful country. There is a Giraffe house that is a must-visit to see our beautiful, tall friends. You can make them eat food and learn about their history. However, if you want something indoors, there are so many popular malls that are worth visiting. Kazuri Beads is another place worth visiting, where they tour their process of making beads and employing women. You can also buy jewellery that will make a statement wherever you go. No matter what kind of traveller you are, Kenya has activities that will make you happy for days.

Our tips and suggestions

A car is a must if you want to visit every nook and cranny. Despite traffic being the worst no matter what time of the day you are visiting, a car makes the commute much easier. Many spots have card machines, but the most popular option is M-Pesa, which is a mobile money version of banking. It's easy to get too. You can get a SIM card right outside the airport and get M-Pesa loaded on it. We suggested carrying cash for depositing, or you can convert cash locally before depositing. We also have a secret tip if you want to transfer money internationally to your M-Pesa account. Reach out to us below.

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