Kenya, a country with the most beautiful natural wonders, fascinating tribes and immense contrasts. Travel to remote Lake Turkana in the north, relax at the white sand beaches around Tiwi and Diani, visit Lamu island and enjoy the best safari experience in the world in Masai Mara. After a 3-months stay, I compiled a list of Things Not To Miss In Kenya. This is a subjective list, but we hope it gives you inspiration for your future Kenya trip! Will you let us know, if we miss anything? 

28 things not to miss in Kenya!

Experience the natural beauty of Lake Turkana

Central Island in Lake Turkana
One of the Crater Lakes with flamingoes and crocodiles on Central Island in Lake Turkana. The area is seldomly visited and can be unstable, so check the latest security situation prior to your visit. Kenya. Copyright Bunch of Backpackers.

Go on a game drive in Masai Mara

Game drive Masai Mara. Masai Mara is one of the best reserves in Africa. Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Visit the old town of Lamu

Old men in Lamu. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Cycle with zebras in the rough Hell’s Gate NP

Cycling with zebra’s and other animals in Hell’s Gate National Park. A fun day!! Kenya ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Behold (or hike) the Kilimanjaro!

Mt. Kilimanjaro. ©Annajo.
Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background. ©Annajo.

Explore Kenyas countryside

Kenyan farmers in the Rift Valley. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Kenyan farmers in the Rift Valley. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Go birdwatching in Kenya

Birdlife Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Kenya is a birdwatching’s paradise. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Board a matatu

Board a matatu in Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers
Board a matatu in Kenya. Matatu’s are local buses. Often they are ‘pimped’ with art and load music boxes. ©Bunch of Backpackers

Dive into Nairobi’s urban life!

Nairobi downtown. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Nairobi is a fun city for a few days. You can go clubbing or shopping (or in our case, go to the cinema) ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Meet a hippo at the shore of Lake Baringo

Hippos in front of our porch. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Come up close with hippos at one of the bungalows at Lake Baringo. This was taken in front of our porch. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Come close to a giraffe in Karen Blixen

Karen blixen by Bunch of Backpackers
Karen Blixen Giraffe center is worth a visit to learn more about these fascinating animals. Did you know they got longer necks over time, simply because they giraffe’s with shorter necks couldn’t reach the trees. A great example of natural selection ©Bunch of Backpackers

Go on an adventure in Kenya’s northern deserts!

Northern desert in Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Adventures in the remote Northern desert in Kenya. Not many people venture here ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Have a tusker!

Have a tusker with your meal. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Have a tusker with your meal. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

See thousands of flamingo’s at Lake Bogoria

Bogoria flamingo in Kenya by Bunch of backpackers
A gorgeous sight: thousands of flamingo’s in Lake Bogoria in Kenya by Bunch of backpackers

Spot black rhino’s around Lake Nakuru

A black rhino at Lake Nakuru. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Spot a black rhino at Lake Nakuru. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Drink tea at one of the tea plantages of Kisumu

Kisumu tea fields. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Have a cup of tea at the Kisumu tea fields. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Spot Sitatunga deers at the smallest national Park of Kenya: Saiwa Swamp

Saiwa swamp kenya by Bunch of Backpackers
Go to this little visited, but beautiful national park called Saiwa Swamp, home to the Sitatunga deer. By Bunch of Backpackers

Behold a beautiful forest at the ancient Kakamega Rain Forest

Kakamega forest
Kenya has a variety in landscape. Visit the Kakamega forest Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers

Try game meat at the Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi

Carnivore restaurant Nairobi in Kenya by Bunch of Backpackers
Not suitable for vegetarians ;) You can try game meat in the famous Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi in Kenya by Bunch of Backpackers

Learn about local customs at a Masai village

Masai village
Learn about Masai customs in their village near Masai Mara. ©Bunch of Backpackers

Behold colorful reptiles who may even drop your jaw more than the big five

Reptile Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers
Reptile Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers

Collect portraits of Obama

Obama portraits in Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers
There are many Obama portraits in Kenya!©Bunch of Backpackers

Visit Kenya’s great museums!

Museums of Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers
Kenya has some good museums to offer. Such as the Western Kenya musuem, the museum in Kitale and the excellent, but small Kapenguria museum. ©Bunch of Backpackers

Enjoy the white sand beaches of the south coast (Mombasa, Tiwi and Diani)

White sand beach Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Time to relax at one the white sand beaches in Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Dance the night away in Nairobi

Disco Nairobi. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Let’s dance in one of the clubs of Nairobi. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Be amazed!

Inventive transportation Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers
Inventive transportation Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers

Get yourself some fresh fish at Kenya’s coastal region

Fresh fish. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Fresh fish. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

Enjoy Kenya’s beautiful sunrises

Sunrise Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers.
Sunrise Kenya. ©Bunch of Backpackers.

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Things not to miss in Kenya tips–> Like this article :)? Book your next accommodation through Hostelworld.com or Booking.com! Booking through these links won’t cost you anything extra, but it will get me a small commission to keep this website up and running (and ad free)! ~ Thanks! Manouk

Kenya travel guide

How to travel Kenya on a budget
Five best things to do in Lamu
Get in the mood for Kenya with these five popular songs
How to arrange a budget Kenyan safari? 
An interview with the Dutch ambassador in Kenya
How to travel by bus to Lodwar
A guide to Eliye Springs

Have you been to Kenya? Let us know if we miss something in our ‘Things not to miss in Kenya’ list!

21 COMMENTS

  1. Wow! Fantastic pics!!!! Never been to Kenya, and although I’m sure wildlife there is fantastic, it is Nairobi and Mombasa that would probably attract me the most!

  2. Kenya is one my wish list of places to go and my top country to visit in Africa. It looks incredibly rich with culture and I’d love to visit the national parks there. Great photos and it just made me more excited for when I go (someday) !

  3. Wow Manouk, those are really quite a lot of great things to do in Kenya. Unfortunately I haven’t been there yet, but seeing some wild game, exploring the villages and countryside like the deserts and rain forests, would definitely interest me. On the other hand, equally as fascinating seem the Masai customs and the inventive transportation options, leading me to think that I surely need to visit Kenya at some point… :)

  4. Great pics! Lamu is very high on my wishlist, but the camels-on-the-beach (I mean, camels!!), sunrises, museums and small towns also make me curious…

  5. Great pictures and information – I’m heading out to Kenya in July for 8 weeks volunteering but will have weekends free :) Definately plan to do more than a few of these. Thanks for sharing

    Happy travels x

  6. I traveled to Kenya in 2013 and my heart has never been the same. I miss it every day! My husband spends a lot of time over there on business and considers it his second home. It is a beautiful country and you will never meet kinder people. We will be taking our sons in 2016, and I hope that this amazing place will touch their hearts as well. Our hopes are to retire there someday……..

  7. we went in 2012 and are headed back in a few weeks!

    I’d add Mt. Elgon to your list for sure. And the David Sheldrake Wildlife Trust – the elephant orphanage, in Nairobi.

  8. im leaving tomorrow to travel to Kenya for the first time…. i spent 18 months in South Africa about 35 years ago… really excited to go back to Africa and experience another part of this wonderful country….

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