1. THE COAST

Mombasa
The second-largest city in Kenya, 500km (300 miles) from Nairobi, Mombasa town actually sits on an island. There are, however, several places of interest: the Old Town that retains the Arab flavor characterized with narrow, crowded streets with vendors selling local craftwork; Fort Jesus is a museum and worth visiting (open 0830-1830 every day of the year or for a stint on the waters, take dhow trips at the old harbor.

Visit The Kenya Marineland and Snake Park, Bamburi Quarry Nature Trail, which also has a butterfly farm, the Mamba Crocodile Village in Freretown, and the Ngomongo Villages cultural park.

The best beaches, such as Likoni and Tiwi are reached only by ferry from the city center. The most famous of them all is the 10km long, dazzlingly white Diani Beach lined by a string of large resort and hotels.

Malindi
Malindi is 125km (80 miles) north of Mombasa city. Today it is a small resort town with the Malindi and Watamu Marine National Parks close to it. Here the coral reef is close enough to the white sand beach to walk out at low tide and you can snorkel, dive or watch fish through a glass-bottomed boat.

This is also where you find the Vasco da Gama pillar. Close to Watamu, the Gedi National Park protects the ruins of a Swahili city which was destroyed by Somali raiders in the 17th century.

A visit to the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, south of Watamu, and the little village of Mambrui, north of Malindi is a good adventure.

Lamu Island
Lamu Island, 200km (125 miles) north of Malindi, is a beautiful place with fine white sandy beaches, sailing dhows and a fascinating town. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the island as the streets are so narrow. Donkeys and hand-carts are the only vehicles that operate. Places of interest to visit: the Lamu Museum and the Swahili House Museum.

The best time to visit the island is outside the main tourist season (April to November).


2. THE SOUTHEAST

Southeastern Kenya is low, dry, flat savannah country. Some of the parks here include Tsavo National Park, a collection of game ranches in the Taita Hills and Amboseli National Park on the Tanzanian border.


3. THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

Nairobi
This is the capital city fondly referred to as ‘the city in the sun’ characterized by wide tree-lined streets and also famed as the only city with a national park. It is an important center for international business and conference activities.

Near Nairobi is the Bomas of Kenya which displays traditional dancing and meals, The Kenya National Museum exhibits early human remains and the Snake Park with indigenous snakes of East Africa and a few imported. Next to Snake Park is a collection of traditional mud and thatch huts and granaries containing tools characteristic of different tribes.

Aberdare National Park
The Park is located in wooded mountain rising to over 4000m (13,000ft) next to Mount Kenya. Here it is possible to see elephants, rhinos, buffalo, dik-dik, leopards, lions and monkeys as well as rare forest antelopes such as the bongo, from the park’s two lodges, ‘Treetops’ and ‘Ark’, both built on platforms overlooking clearings which are floodlit at night.

Mount Kenya National Park
It is the second-highest mountain in Africa about 4986m (16,358ft) above sea level. The national park covers 600 sq km (230 sq miles) of forest and bare rock straddling the equator. The mountain may be climbed without special equipment, but it is advisable to take time so as to avoid altitude sickness.


4. THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY

It is about 20 million years old and stretches for about 6000km (3600 miles) from the Red Sea to the Drakensberg in South Africa. Its floor consists of small string of volcanoes and brackish soda lakes.

Kenya’s third-largest city, Nakuru is located here about 230km (140 miles) west of Nairobi. A vibrant town, with a huge central market. Lake Nakuru National Park is a home to half the world’s total population of pink flamingos and, even 450 other species of bird.

Near Nakuru are Hyrax Hill, another important prehistoric settlement, and the Menengai Crater-an extinct volcano with a vast caldera. Lake Bogoria National Park, about 70km (42 miles) north of Nakuru has good game-viewing and giant flocks of flamingos. This is one of the best places in Kenya to explore the rich human culture of the country.


5. WESTERN KENYA

Apart from the Maasai Mara, western Kenya is rarely visited by tourists. There are fewer hotels and lodges found here. It is a beautiful, culturally diverse and offers a chance to explore the country away from the crowds.

Maasai Mara National Reserve
It is situated 390km (240 miles) from Nairobi in the southwest corner of the country. It is owned by the local Maasai Council but operated as a national park by Kenya Wildlife Services.

This is the spectacular setting for the great migration of an estimated two million wildebeests and zebra from Kenya to Tanzania and Tanzania to Kenya from late June onwards, heading south again in September.


Lake Victoria
To the west of the Mara, on the Ugandan border is Lake Victoria - the largest lake in Africa. This is the source of the fabled River Nile. Kisumu, Kenya’s fourth city came up as a result of an inland end of the Lunatic Line railway and a trading center with Tanzania and Uganda.

There are three islands namely: Rusinga Island, Mfangano Island and Takawiri Island. Excellent fishing and birdwatching is achieved from the lodges around this place.

The Kakamega Forest Reserve is Kenya’s last surviving patch of primeval rainforest that once connected to the Congo basin, a wonderful cool green cave of soaring trees and tangled vines, with hundreds of species of birds, around 60 of which are found nowhere else in the country.


6. THE NORTHWEST

This part of the country is largely agricultural, its steep hills patch-worked by terraces and villages. The most important attraction in the region is Mount Elgon National Park, the Kenyan half of a giant forested volcano (4321m/14,178ft), famous for its mountain flora and fauna, its wonderful birdlife and for the elephants who scratch salt from the walls of Kitum Cave.

To the north, the Cherengani Hills offer excellent mountain hiking and the tiny Saiwa Swamp National Park. To the east, bordering the Rift Valley, are the Tugen Hills and the dramatic escarpments of the Kerio Valley.


7. NORTHERN KENYA

To the north is a belt of savannah which provides a home to several game-rich, national parks, including Samburu, Meru and Kora, plus a whole host of small game reserves, few of which have any tourist facilities.

The far north of Kenya is largely desert makes it difficult to travel, remote and wild. Unfortunately, much of the area is also troubled by inter-tribal violence and banditry.

Meru and Kora National Parks
It is located 400km (250 miles) from Nairobi. Meru National Park remains one of the unspoilt parks. There are13 Rivers lined with Doum palms and mountain-fed streams watering richly tangled woodlands on the slopes of the Nyambene Mountain Range.

To the east of the park is adjoined by Kora National Reserve bisected by the great Tana River. Both areas have plenty of game but were badly affected by poaching. There are three lodges and several campsites in Meru all operating happily.

Samburu Game Park
It is a semi-desert between Nairobi and Lake Turkana and provides a rare chance to see the oryx, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra. Ostriches and elephants are easily spotted in this open habitat.

There are two lodges, Samburu Lodge and River Lodge, both of which hang out bait to attract leopards for the guests to study while sitting at the bar.

Lake Turkana
There are several parks and reserves around Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolph). This extraordinary lake has recently been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Running for several hundred miles through windswept and largely uninhabited deserts, the lake contains many unique species of fish and marine plants and has recently gained a reputation as a fishing resort. Several lodges have sprung up on the eastern shore to cater for this trade.