Find out why Kenya is the number one destination in East Africa. Kenya and Tanzania are the two big hitters of East African tourism. Both boast excellent safari spots, stunning coastlines, Africa’s tallest mountains and its most famous wildlife.
However, it is challenging to decide which of the two to tick off your bucket list first. There’s so much going for both that making the choice can seem tricky.
Today we’re going to tell you why Kenya should be your first port of call. Here are just four reasons why getting a visa to Kenya from the UK and travelling to this exciting East African destination is worth your time.
Kenya has the best tourist infrastructure
Kenya’s economy is slightly better than Tanzania’s and as a result, it has a better tourist infrastructure overall. This makes Kenya simpler to get to and much more straightforward to travel around.
It’s much easier to get direct flights to and from Kenya and often cheaper too. Also, once in the country, you have a much better choice when it comes to accommodation and transportation around the different regions.
In fact, in a lot of cases travellers to other parts of East Africa will arrive in the region via Kenya due to the ease of getting flights. Sometimes even if you’re heading to Tanzania you’ll have to make a stop in its neighbour to the northeast first.
It’s cheaper to go on safari in Kenya
Overall Kenya’s impressive tourist base and greater choice of tour operators beat Tanzania’s options in terms of price. It’s true to say that Tanzania is cheaper for tourists overall but if you’re eager to get the best deals for a safari tour, Kenya almost always wins out.
Kenya is also home to the famed Maasai Mara national park. This is home not only to all of the Big Five species but to other popular wildlife such as antelope, cheetah, wildebeest and zebra.
You can also experience the great wildebeest migration here too. From July-October you’ll be able to witness the vast herds arriving from the Serengeti to the south in all its glory.
Furthermore, thanks to its many years of operating as a tourist destination, you’ll often find travel companies offering competitive deals to visit Maasai Masa.
Kenya is filled with natural and historical wonders
It’s fair to say that Kenya and Tanzania are filled with an equal share of wonders. Two of Africa’s tallest mountains can be found in this region as well as 7 UNESCO heritage sites a piece in each country.
In Kenya’s case you can find visit the following 7 UNESCO sites:
- Fort Jesus in Mombasa
- Lamu Old Town
- Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
- Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site
- Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley
- Lake Turkana National Parks
- Mount Kenya National Park
On a trip to the country, you can also visit Mount Kenya Africa’s second tallest mountain as well as its adjoined national park. At one point the extinct volcano was thought to originally be even taller than Kilimanjaro before glaciers eroded its peak.
Not only that but the northeastern banks of Lake Victoria can also be found not too far from the country’s capital of Nairobi. Here you can experience national parks, unique Luo tribal culture as well as the many islands found off its shores.
Don’t overlook Nairobi
Kenya not only offers spectacular natural life and landscapes. It is a fabulous place to go if you want to visit a modern African city destination.
Nairobi may be the big city but it’s a surprisingly green one. There are many parks and spaces dedicated to the local wildlife. This includes Nairobi National park that is just a mere 7 km from the city centre.
More to the point, Nairobi is home to many popular attractions such as Giraffe Manor, where you can share breakfast with the long-necked savannah dwellers. Film fans will also be able to visit the home of Out of Africa author Karen Blixen whilst in the city.
Nairobi is also a great destination to try out the local cuisine in Kenya with some of the best restaurants in the country being located here. There are also many national museums showcasing the history and culture of the nation as a whole.
Whether you visit Kenya or Tanzania there’s no chance that you’ll be disappointed by what you find on a trip. However, there are 3 very good reasons that Kenya just edges ahead of its neighbour to the south when it comes to an all-around tourist experience.