ABOUT KENYA
Kenya is a country located in the East of Africa. The most popular reason to visit this country is to spot wildlife, mostly during a safari. Kenya has more than 50 national parks which offers a big chance to check off the big 5 during your stay. It is not only the national parks that makes this country special. We traveled for two weeks through Kenya, with only two days of safari and we will never forget this trip. The variety of landscapes will continue to amaze you, the hospitality of the locals is admirable, and the Kenyan culture is very unique. Go see for yourself in our East-Africa aftermovie.
TRAVELING THROUGH KENYA
Our route through Kenya
Kilifi - Kasigau - Taita Hills - Amboseli
We visited the places in this order because we started our journey in Kenya and then crossed the border to Tanzania. So the perfect travel route depends very much on your onward journey.
Backpacking in Kenya
Backpacking through Africa is quite the challenge in comparison to Asia or South America. Public transport in these countries is not so organized as you are probably used to. It is chaotic and can be very busy and unclear. Partly because of this we decided to travel organized. This is more expensive, but it is very pleasant if you don't have to worry about your transport.
Why Kenya
Kenya is less expensive than surrounding countries, especially when it comes to entrances to the national parks. Another reason to visit Kenya is to experience the local culture to the fullest. The traditional culture of Kenya is starting to disappear more and more, which is a big big shame. We thought it was very special to meet the Masaai. We talked about their habits and the way they live their life. They were also very curious about ours. If you tell them you live in a terraced house or show them pictures of the flower fields they will go crazy, because they have never seen something like that. Kenya has a beautiful nature, very friendly locals and a unique culture. It is definitely a bucket list country.
Whoever thinks there are no white beaches with clear waters to be found in Kenya is wrong. Kenya offers way more than just safaris. Kilifi is a great example of this. It is just an hour drive from Mombasa Airport to this quiet coastal spot which makes it the perfect start or end destination of your trip.
Things to do in Kilifi
The most beautiful beach in Kilifi is probably Bofa Beach. It has those pearl white sand and white bright blue sea. You can take a walk along the beach or throw down your towel and relax all day long. We went for a walk from the center of Kilifi to the beach, which was a great walk to see how Kenyan town life is. Be prepared for a lot of interactions.
Furthermore, the Dowh tour is a popular activity in Kilifi. A lot of people will offer you this, so make sure you get your intentions clear. With a traditional sailboat you go out to sea during the sunset. Along the way you can go snorkeling or fishing and you can also choose to be served a traditional grilled seafood Swahili meal on the boat. You can also go on various day trips such as a safari to Tsavo East national park, diving or visiting the cliffs.
Our recommendations
Where to stay
The most popular place to stay among backpackers is the Distant Relatives Eco Lodge, and rightly so in our opinion. With a swimming pool, private beach, a delicious menu, super relaxing bar staff who will help you get rid of snakes in your accommodation if you have one, and live music every Friday evening, you hardly have to leave the hostel.
Where to go out
If you are in the vicinity of Kilifi during the New Year, then you are in for something to experience. The Beneath the Baobabs Festival is organized every year and you definitely want to be part of this! Under the stars and among the baobabs you listen to different music styles from African musicians, and you will meet people from different cultures. The festival lasts three days and tickets are available online.
Where to eat
A nice place to have lunch is The Food Movement. It is in the middle of the plantations, which makes the trip by tuk-tuk or on the back of a motorbike worthwhile. The Food Movement is a creative place where you can order delicious food and just linger for a few hours.
The Food Movement
Kilifi beach
Mount Kasigau is part of the Taita Hills and is visited by travelers and researchers for its great biodiversity. You will find different species of birds, plants and bats (not the Covid-19 ones) that cannot be found anywhere else. There is little to no electricity around the mountain, so you go really back to basic here.
Things to do in Kasigau
If you make a stop in Kasigau you must climb Mount Kasigau. Together with a guide you can discuss whether you want to do this during the day, at night or during the sunrise. This depends a bit on which animals you would like to see. Don't do night, unless you want to be attacked by a predator. The hike starts in the dry orange colored sand but slowly the mountain becomes greener and eventually you end up in a rainforest.
Our recommendations
Where to stay
If you are looking for a special accommodation, Kasigau Base Camp is the best choice in Kasigau in our opinion. The camp consists of several huts with thatched roofs and a kitchen that you can use. You must be adventurous for this because the (non corona) bats and other animals can just enter the hut because there are no windows and doors. There is little to be found in the surrounding area, so it is useful to do some groceries in town in advance. This is going to be an experience you won't forget soon.
Where to have drinks
Ask your guide to take you to a local pub for a cold beer after the hike, as these pubs are not easy to find themselves!
Culture
Take a look at the Kasigau Basket Weavers. This is a group of women who come together in the village to weave baskets. They are proud to show you how they do this, and you can buy a basket from them to support their group.
Most travelers travel to this mountain range to visit the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a relatively small reserve where you can spot plenty of wildlife. You can even stay in one of the two (beautiful) lodges in the middle of the park where you can see the elephants from your bedroom window. Because we had already planned our safari at a different place, we did not go to this reserve. Instead, we stayed in a village in the middle of the mountain where there is little tourism. The surprising green nature of Taita Hills and the contact with the local population made this area a special destination for us.
What to do in Taita Hills
It should come as no surprise that hiking is the main activity of this mountainous area. What makes hiking so beautiful here is the green nature, in contrast to the dry lowlands around the mountain. Along the way you can pick the avocados, macadamias, and different types of fruit straight from the trees. To see as much of the area as possible, we jumped on the back of a motorbike. 3 people on one motorbike. Only in Africa.
Our recommendations
Culture
The population of Kenya consists of super sweet, polite, and hospitable people. It feels special to be invited by everyone into their house for a cup of tea or to be chased by enthusiastic children as you walk by. Especially in this place, where there is little tourism, the local people really enjoy talking to a tourist. We therefore recommend that you get in touch with the locals for the most special conversations and experiences!
With about 50 national parks in Kenya, it is difficult to choose which one to visit for a safari. Fortunately, each park has its own characteristics, and this is easy to find on the internet or when talking with the locals. Amboseli is known for the flat, open landscape that makes it easy to spot the animals. The largest elephants in Kenya are also walking around here, which you will certainly encounter. We also saw zebras, giraffes, hippos and lions here. If you're lucky you can even see Mount Kilimanjaro from the jeep on a clear day!
Things to do in Amboseli
We can be brief about this; go on safari of course! It is possible to enter the park with your own car, but we do not recommend this. A guide knows the way, has contact with other rangers about the locations of the animals and can of course tell you all the facts about the wildlife you encounter.
If you really want to do something special in Amboseli, we recommend a motor safari, because this was one of the best experiences we’ve had. You get closer to the animals than ever whilst you are on the back of a motorcycle. This makes this activity super exciting. We could almost touch the animals.
Our recommendations
Where to stay
The accommodations directly in or around the park can be quite pricey. This is of course due to the location, but also because they are all quite luxurious. We stayed in the small-scale Kili Springs eco-camp the first nights. This is a half hour drive from the entrance of the park in a quiet area. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are delicious and included!
To enjoy the beautiful view and the luxury, we spent a night in Kibo Safari lodge. There is a cozy restaurant, a bar, and a swimming pool. The staff will pamper you completely so that you can relax as never before here.
Amboseli national park
Our next destination on this beautiful journey was Tanzania, click here to visit this page!
Hi, we are Bren and Tess! We travel to the most beautiful places in the world, and with our video's, we hope you feel inspired to do the same.
