What to See in Kenya

last edited Dec 11, 2019

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Location Map of Kenya

Kenya Open the interactive map

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Kenya has 6 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

Inland

Kenya Lakes System in the Great Rift Valley (2011)
This very long volcanic geological fault runs through all of Kenya, forming the basis of several lakes (around ten UNESCO-listed, including Bogoria and Nakuru) and various peaks such as Mount Kenya.

Mount Kenya (1997)
This is Kenya's highest peak (5,199 m) located in the center of the country. Classified as a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers beautiful landscapes and great opportunities for trekking or mountaineering. Around it, several villages of different communities with traditions still very much alive (Maasai, Kikuyu).

Lake Turkana National Parks (1997)
North of the Great Rift Valley, on the Ethiopian border, the site includes both Lake Turkana and its islands, plus the small Sibiloi Park. The whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can hike here and see numerous birds, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, lions, and more.

On the Coast

Fort Jesus, Mombasa (2011)
Built in the late 16th century by the Portuguese on Mombasa Island, the structure is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (2008)
This UNESCO-listed site features fortified villages located within eleven sacred forests along Kenya's coast.

Old Town of Lamu (2001)
Dating mainly from the 14th century, the historic part of Lamu (town) is a stunning example of Swahili architecture, which has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Inland

Eldoret
At over 2,000 metres above sea level, it is the largest urban area in western Kenya, with nearly 300,000 inhabitants.

Garissa
This town on the road to Somalia is strongly influenced by Somali culture.

Mfangano Island
This is the main Kenyan island on Lake Victoria, home to around twenty small sacred archaeological sites.

Kisumu
It is the third-largest city in Kenya and a major port on Lake Victoria, from which boats depart for Uganda and Tanzania. Kisumu has a museum, a large lively market, and a very small zoo-reserve.

Moyale
A border town and an almost essential crossing for those traveling between Ethiopia and Kenya or vice versa by land. The town straddles these two countries.

Meru
It's a large town typically used as a base for exploring Mount Kenya and various parks in the region (Samburu, Buffalo Springs, Meru). It lies almost on the equator (8 km to the north).

Nairobi
Beyond a few museums, Kenya’s capital is primarily a hub for services and a transit point for tourists. However, it has several parks and nature reserves on its outskirts.

Nakuru
This large city is primarily a good base for exploring the lake of the same name on whose shores it was built, as well as the other lakes in the region or the Menengai Crater that overlooks the city and can be climbed.

Nyeri
This large town can serve as a starting point for exploring Mount Kenya or Aberdare National Park.

Natural Heritage

Cherangani Hills
A small mountain range in western Kenya perfect for hiking.

Lake Baringo
This lake near Bogoria is home to hippos, crocodiles, and flamingos. You can explore it by boat.

Lake Bogoria
In the heart of the country, this lake, like all those in the region, is a habitat for flamingos. Of volcanic origin, it also offers geysers and hot springs to explore.

Lake Magadi
It is the southernmost of the Rift Valley lakes, not far from Tanzania. Many birds nest here in quite pretty landscapes.

Lake Naivasha
About a hundred kilometres northwest of Nairobi, this high-altitude lake, which is also a national park, is known for its birds and hippos. Nearby, the small Hell's Gate National Park offers a wider variety of wildlife and opportunities for hiking and camping.

Lake Nakuru
This lake in the Rift Valley is home to over a million pink flamingos, as well as various other animals such as lions, rhinos, hippos, zebras, and more, which live along the shores of this lake, designated a national park.

Lake Victoria
Straddling Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, it is the largest lake in Africa and a major communication route.

Mount Elgon
This ancient volcano on the Kenya-Uganda border, designated a national park in both countries, offers some beautiful landscapes of cliffs, caves, and rivers, perfect for hiking. You may encounter elephants, buffaloes, or antelopes.

Mount Kenya
This is Kenya's highest peak (5,199 m) located in the center of the country. Classified as a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers beautiful landscapes and great opportunities for trekking or mountaineering. Around it, several villages of different communities with traditions still very much alive (Maasai, Kikuyu).

Aberdare National Park
This vast high-altitude park in the Rift Valley, with its beautiful waterfalls, is located north of Nairobi. It is home to many African species, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, and birds. Local hiking is possible.

Amboseli National Park
This site on the Tanzanian border with views of Kilimanjaro is one of the places where you can see Africa's famous "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo). It's the second most visited park in the country after the Maasai Mara. Several Maasai villages are located within its boundaries.

Marsabit National Park
A small park located on the road to Ethiopia, near the town of the same name. It is known for its zebras and birds, though you can observe the full range of local wildlife here.

Meru National Park
This marshy area in central Kenya is rarely visited. However, you can see the "Big Five" of African wildlife here.

Nairobi National Park
The site, on the capital’s doorstep, is home to a very wide variety of animals (lions, rhinos, hippos, zebras, giraffes, birds). Worth a visit if you won’t have the chance to see other parks in the country.

Parcs nationaux de Tsavo East et West, Kenya

Tsavo East and West National Parks
These two contiguous parks form one of Kenya's largest reserves. Visitors can discover most African species amid beautiful landscapes. It's typically the park visited by those staying only in Mombasa on the coast.

Lake Turkana National Parks
North of the Great Rift Valley, on the Ethiopian border, the site includes both Lake Turkana and its islands, plus the small Sibiloi Park. The whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can hike here and see numerous birds, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, lions, and more.

Masai Mara National Reserve
Shared with Tanzania where it is called the Serengeti, this world-famous park is Kenya's most visited. It is home to all of Africa's wildlife, especially during migration season, set against a savannah landscape where Maasai communities also live.

Samburu National Reserve
In the heart of the country, the reserve is contiguous with Buffalo Springs and Shaba parks, with which it is "associated," forming a vast territory for the diverse wildlife found there.

Great Rift Valley
This very long volcanic geological fault runs through all of Kenya, forming the basis of several lakes (around ten UNESCO-listed, including Bogoria and Nakuru) and various peaks such as Mount Kenya.

Warning: The entire northern and eastern part of the country is currently either completely or strongly advised against for security reasons by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Coast

Diani Beach
A beach resort village a few kilometres south of Mombasa, known for scuba diving.

Lamu
This name refers to the archipelago, the island, and the town of Lamu, located a few kilometers south of Somalia. Beyond the UNESCO-listed old town of Lamu, the archipelago offers other attractions, including beaches, diving, dhow trips, and various historical sites (Tawka, Manda, Shanga).

Malindi
Between Mombasa and Lamu, this beach resort town is renowned for its beaches, diving, fishing, and also the nearby ruins of Gede and Mnarani. Offshore lies the Malindi Marine National Park.

Mombasa
The country's second-largest city and a major Indian Ocean port, Mombasa is a favorite among tourists for its UNESCO-listed old town fort, its beaches, diving, and marine park.

Natural Heritage

Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
This UNESCO-listed site features fortified villages located within eleven sacred forests along Kenya's coast.

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
A marine park rich in wildlife on the border of Tanzania.

Watamu Marine National Park
This marine park, next to the small beach resort village of Watamu, is considered one of the best diving spots in the region.

Shimba Hills National Reserve
Southwest of Mombasa, not far from the sea, the reserve is home to several hundred elephants.

Warning: Mombasa and the northern coast from Malindi to the Somali border is currently either completely or strongly advised against for security reasons by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.