Kenya Off the Beaten Path

Kenya is the epicenter for the quintessential African safari. Its wide expanse of unspoiled land overflows with wild animals and breathtaking scenery. The Maasai Mara Game Reserve is a famous draw for visitors from around the globe. With an abundance of wildlife and luxury tented camps, guests have the opportunity to indulge in an authentic safari experience. However, the Maasai Mara Reserve is but one of the many great parks and sights Kenya has to offer.

Travelers to this magical country can venture off the beaten path and explore unadulterated and remote settings even further. Why not choose to go camping on the fly on what were once Ernest Hemingway’s stomping grounds in Amboseli, while reading Green Hills of Africa in your tent at night? Venture into Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to go lion tracking alongside expert guides and learn about the conservation efforts in place to protect these big cats. Trek the stunning slopes of Mount Kenya and discover a cooler and more rugged facet of Kenya’s diverse landscape. Cave-dine on a meal meticulously prepared by your Maasai guides in the cloud forest of the Chyulu hills. If you’re seeking to discover the majesty of the Kenyan landscape, take a scenic flight over Tsavo with neighboring Mount Kilimanjaro in clear sight.

An avid animal spotter? Employ infra-red night vision goggles on an evening game drive to spot elusive nocturnal species. Kenya overflows with exciting opportunities to see its teeming wildlife and unparalleled culture. Indelible moments include anything from guided walks into the savannah with a Maasai warrior or saddling up for a horseback expedition alongside a family of giraffe. Ride a camel in Samburu National Park and discover endemic species such as the grevvy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe. Fly-fish on Lake Rutundu, where Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton last fall, and savor your catch of the day.
 
If you’re truly seeking to be “blown away,” soar over Kenya’s magnificent landscape in a hot air balloon and see herds of animals from a bird’s eye view. Most balloon experiences leave at dawn and conclude with a fully cooked breakfast replete with champagne – a perfect time to exchange your animal spotting details with your balloon partners. You can also fly over the Mau forest and the famed green tea plantations of Kericho, located in the Great Rift Valley and where the best tea in Kenya is sourced, to the quiet and secluded Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake.

Stay in a luxury tented camp along the water and salute the grunting hippos and hungry crocodiles in Mzima Springs, while sipping on a warm mug of Kenyan coffee or locally grown tea. Kenya being the greatest country in Africa for bird watching, patiently scour the horizon to spot several of the 1,000 recorded feathered species.

Visit your Maasai guide’s village and befriend the locals; learn about their customs and partake in their colorful and upbeat dances. Perhaps you will even pick up on the Maasai women’s excellent beading skills or how to prepare ugali, a staple dish of cornmeal flour and water cooked into a porridge-like consistency.

If you’re looking to relax in between safari expeditions, revel in pampering spa treatments at your lodge. A not-miss tradition is to take part in the safari sundowner where you can watch the golden African sun set over Loita Hills, while sipping on a refreshing local Tusker brew. Kenya offers an array of unforgettable experiences for everyone.

A journey into Kenya is enriching in more ways than one. While the wildlife is spectacular, the cultural visits to any of the forty distinct ethnic communities are truly unforgettable. Only in Kenya can one unearth a rich heart filled with history, warmth, kindness, and splendor.

Start planning an Africa tour today.

World Customs & Cultures – This FREE app includes customs, cultural information and facts on over 165 countries.

Kenya Travel Guide – Official Kenya travel guide (.99 cents)

My South African Cooking App:  Lots of easy to follow recipes.  ($2.99)

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