Kenya is a safari destination that offers incredible natural beauty, soul-soothing cultural encounters, sensational game viewing, and thrilling wildebeest migration. No wonder it is considered an iconic African tourist destination.
If you are planning to travel to Kenya from the USA, then you can rest assured of a fun-filled vacation with real experiences of what you have always watched in documentaries. The wildebeest migration is the most fascinating experience.
The country offers most, if not all tourist attractions that you may think of. From seeing the mega-herd of wildebeest in Masai mara and herd of elephants in Amboseli against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro to rich cultural encounters in Samburu, a Kenya African safari is one that will never disappoint.
If you’ve never been to Kenya, organizing a perfect tour could be tricky. Therefore, it is always advised that you pick a reputable agency such as AjKenyaSafaris.com ltd to take care of your travel needs. However, the preliminaries lie with you and this is what it entails:
Choice of Safari Destination
This answers the question where, and why? There are many tourist destinations all over the world, but why choose Kenya?
Kenya ranks top in the list of countries with the most magnificent tourist attractions in the world. They include vast wildlife savannahs, beautiful beaches, rich cultural heritage, and great hospitality from its people among others.
The first step when planning for a tour is to decide where you want to spend your holiday. As mentioned earlier, Kenya is a country full of sightseeing tourist destinations. Therefore, it is not possible to cover everything in a single visit.
This calls for an informed decision so that you can maximize the time spent in the destinations that interest you most. If you are not familiar with the country, you can look for a reputable travel agency to take care of all your travel needs.
For the wildlife enthusiast, game parks and game reserves are places to visit. Those whose interest is in aquatic life can visit lake Nakuru, Naivasha, Lamu, and Malindi among others. For those who want to go hiking, Mt. Kenya, Mt. Longonot and Aberdare ranges are the perfect places for you.
Here is a highlight of the five most visited Tourist Destinations in Kenya. Read to understand what each has to offer!
Masai Mara National Reserve
Mara, as most people call it, is one of the most spectacular game reserves in Africa. It borders Tanzania and forms a wildlife corridor between Kenya and Tanzania.
The most spectacular experience is witnessing the annual wildebeest migration which takes place between the months of July and August. Basically, more than two thousand wildebeest, zebras, and other animals migrate into Mara from Serengeti through a crocodile-infested river.
Other thrilling experiences in mara include; Hot Air balloons, a Visit to Masai Village, Nature walks, Bush Meals, and Sundowners.
Amboseli National Reserve
The park is known for two particular tourist attractions; the large herds of big-tusked elephants and the glorious view of Mt. Kilimanjaro in neighboring Tanzania.
Other wildlife spotted in the Amboseli National Park include; big cats such as lion and cheetah, giraffe, impala, gazelle, and more than 600 species of birds.
Wasini Island
Most visitors refer to this island as “paradise on earth” It is located at the southern end of Kenya’s coast.
The island is known for its ultramarine waters and extensive coral reefs. A visit to this place will give you an opportunity to indulge in thrilling activities such as watching dolphins, snorkeling, diving, and sailing on a traditional dhow.
A visit to Wasini is not complete without an escapade to Kisite Marine National Park, Shimoni Slave Caves, and Paradise Beach.
Hell’s Gate
Hell’s Gate is a small park, located near Naivasha Town in Nakuru County. It is a remarkable part of the great rift valley.
Here you get to enjoy spectacular scenery such as; towering cliffs, water-gorged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub-clad volcanoes, and geothermal spring.
Activities carried out include; cycling around the park, visiting the gorges, hiking, climbing, or walking the canyons, visiting the hot spring, and camping.
Nairobi National Park
The park is located a few km from the country’s capital city Nairobi. This is your first destination when your plane touches Kenyan soil before you are transferred to your chosen destination.
It is a wildlife-rich park and you get to see; buffalo, cheetah, elephants, hippos, leopards, zebras, wildebeest, and rhinos.
A trip to this park isn’t complete without a visit to David Shadrack Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery, Giraffe center, near Giraffe manor where you get to feed the giraffe from your hands
Having discussed some of the most visited tourist destinations in Kenya, let us now look at the logistics of getting there.
Requirements to Travel from the USA to Kenya
Kenya entry requirements from the USA include but not limited to;
VISA – Every overseas visitor is expected to hold a valid physical or electronic tourist visa, approved by the Kenya Department of immigration.
PASSPORT – The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry, and must have at least two blank pages upon arrival in Kenya.
Once you have the above requirements to travel from the USA to Kenya, you can now book your flight comfortably.
How To Get To Kenya from the US
The most common point of entry to Kenya is Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. There is an alternative route through Moi International Airport in Mombasa, for those traveling to the coastal region.
From Nairobi or Mombasa, you can either use the road or air to the park or game reserve for your safari. If you are using an agency, lucky you! Their tour guide will pick you up from the airport to your safari destination.
