Kenya’s abundant wildlife and national parks have always given it significance and many travellers visit the country to explore and experience its natural world. My first visit to Kenya was in 2013.
I had heard about the country from numerous well-travelled friends who babbled about its plentiful wildlife, stunning national parks, breathtaking Mount Kenya, and, of course, the luxury camps in the wilderness. No one ever stated that they did not love Kenya; everyone returned expressing their desire to remain there indefinitely.
Kenya first ignited my love for adventure when I embarked on a safari and explored several national parks. My favourite experience was when I went into the depths of Karura Forest in Nairobi, where I saw some beautiful wildlife, especially the Colobus Monkeys.
My wildlife and safari holiday was amazing—an unforgettable experience—very life-changing. Kenya’s borders offer endless opportunities for adventure and exploration. I promised myself I was going to go back for more. Little did I know that Kenya offered much more than wildlife, wilderness, or majestic mountains.
Two years later, I returned to Kenya with the intention of hiking Mount Kenya, exploring Masai Mara, and visiting the elephants in Amboseli National Park. Unfortunately, my tour partner fell ill and I had to delay my trip to the wilderness.
During this time, I decided to enjoy my holiday by exploring the city of Nairobi. I checked into a luxury hotel with impeccable services—The Heron Portico Hotel before I started my exploration of the city.
After spending 3 days in Nairobi, I decided to visit Mombasa and Naivasha, where I discovered that there is actually more to Kenya than going on Safari. Kenya’s global allocations have given much of its cities a western and Indian coating; there is also a strong and traditional Asian and African identity.
Some of the most obvious charms of the cities serve as excellent gateways for discovering their hidden gems and the rich cultural and ethnic values they embody; this reflects the infectious, thoughtfully impetuous, and well-recognized pleasure of living in those places.
Nairobi
Nairobi is a crisscross city, designed to take you from here to there. The city’s appeals are fascinating—and everywhere. I soon forgot about my safari holiday and enjoyed an urban holiday in the city. Just like New York, Nairobi is a world-class city; its multicultural nature adds to the copious rudiments of diversity, from technology, fashion, and beliefs to, of course, food.
Nairobi has a calm vibe, a lively cultural scene, great shopping, amazing restaurants and luxury hotels with laid-back locals. There are so many things to do and see in the city. I took my time to explore the city and fell in love with it. I took a stroll round the city’s most popular areas—Westlands and Parklands—and hopped on a Matatu—minibuses used for public transportation.
Matatus are creatively designed and painted; it’s like a transportation culture. I went to the city center and visited the KICC – the tallest building in Kenya, and climbed up to its helipad, where the veil was lifted and I could see the city landscape and how stunning Nairobi is—this is an ideal way to see the city’s architectural diversity.
I visited the Masai Market, which is located close to KICC and took some minutes’ walk to Uhuru Park, passing by The Parliament Building on my way. It was well worth walking around the park, chatting with some locals and taking some pictures.
Nairobi is a cosmopolitan city where you find virtually every cuisine in the world, but for a taste of the Kenyan signature barbecued meat—Nyama Choma, which is a must—you should probably visit The Carnivore.
With lively bars and restaurants lining the city, this is a wonderful people scene for dinner or evening fun. I enjoyed a delicious Italian meal at Mambo Italia Restaurant. Cake City has the best cake dessert in town—so delicious. You should visit Artcaffe or Java House; they’ve got the best coffee in town. Another intriguing place to visit is Brew Bistro at Ngong Road; there you will find the premium brewed craft beer. Restaurants like Talisman, Le Palanka, The Brasserie at Hemingsways, Mediterraneo, and Tamarind offer creative dishes in the Kenyan gastronomic scene.
One of the famous shopping malls in Nairobi is Village Market; this is where most tourists and visitors spend most days shopping, eating, and exploring arts and crafts. It’s a beautiful place, filled with great restaurants, the biggest supermarket in Kenya—Nakumatt—and fashion and phone stores.
For fun activities, I went GP karting on Lang’ata Road for high-octane fun and ice skating at Panary Sky Centre—even though that was my first ice skating experience, and probably the last. If you love art, culture and history, there are so many places to discover and experience arts and culture in Nairobi.
I’m not really a lover of art, but I was mesmerized. Visit the Nairobi National Museum, the Kenya National Theatre and the National Archives, and you will get your fill of the country’s history and culture. I heard there is a 7D Cinema at TRM – Thika Road Mall; unfortunately, I couldn’t visit the mall to experience or watch a movie on a 7D Screen. But you shouldn’t miss it! Nairobi’s most evident charms also embody its utmost ambiguities and that is never ever boring.
Mombasa
Mombasa, almost a ‘Hawai-lookalike,’ is the second largest city in Kenya and it is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in Africa—Diani Beach. After spending 3 days exploring the city of Nairobi, I decided to visit Mombasa.
The city is the opposite of Nairobi—steeped in rich culture, endless leisure, and world-class luxury resorts, cloaked with sparkling white sandy beaches in the Indian Ocean, and surrounded by palm trees.
To me, Mombasa is a place where modern sparkles and outlandish traditional cultures congregate. Mombasa is a beach destination; I spent my few nights in a stunning beach resort—Southern Palms Beach Resort—and spent my days sipping cocktails by the pool, lazing around the beach, or exploring the city. Everywhere I went in the city, there was always a beach close to me.
There are some wonderful historical attractions, such as Fort Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. I visited Mama Ngina Drive for an evening stroll, enjoyed some Kachiri and Madafu—cassava chips and coconut juice—bought from the hawkers, walked close to the Indian Ocean and watched the sunset as the mesmerizing waves of the coast crashed on the coral. I’m not a lover of water sports, but if you love swimming, sailing, scuba diving, snorkelling and surfing, you can have a fun-filled vacation in Mombasa.
The best part of my holiday in Mombasa was dining on the Dhow Dinner Cruise at Tamarind. It was an amazing experience—sailing away in the sunset while I enjoyed delicious seafood and the most exquisite wine. To be honest, you shouldn’t go on a vacation to Mombasa alone; you should probably go with your lover or spouse, and you will definitely have a romantic holiday.
Nightlife in Mombasa is amazing; I visited a couple of exciting spots such as Tapas Cielo, Bella Vista and Pa Pweza, where you will find locals drinking and dancing the night away till mama calls, and that is if she ever calls.
It’s difficult to compress my amazing experiences in Kenya here because it demands a lot to passably describe everything the country has to offer. However, visiting them is the best way to truly understand them. Visit places like Lamu, Malindi, and Naivasha and explore their hidden gems. Just beware—if you are someone like me, you may fall so in love with them that you will find it so difficult to leave.
If you want to get a bit beyond the obvious, there are many more things you might want to see. Kenya is a place where you can find an exciting holiday complete with culture, luxury, and adventure.
Apart from safari adventures, many visitors come to Kenya for its urban attractions and activities. The compelling fusion of wildlife and city adventures makes Kenya one of my favourite travel destinations in Africa.
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