KENYA

I do not even know where to start in describing how much I LOVE Kenya. And it is not because it is my namesake…well, not entirely. The country as a whole is so beautiful and offers something for everyone; city life, mountains, hiking and camping with wildlife, safaris, and beaches on the Indian Ocean that offer clear blue water and scuba diving. The people are lively and kind and the weather is inviting pretty much all year long.

While going on safari is my favorite thing to do in Kenya, the landscape creates the backdrop for varied and amazing experiences throughout the country. As someone who is not wedded to any particular ideal vacation, it is possible to have several types of experiences in one trip. The iconic bush in the Mara provides a backdrop to silently watch a variety of animals roam, hunt, and nurture their young in their natural habitat.

The large lakes, such as Lake Naivasha, allow you to get close to hippopotamuses and a wide array of beautiful and colorful birds. From Ol Pejeta Conservancy, you can get a view of Mount Kenya or you can see it up close and personal and climb one of the tallest mountain in Africa. I cannot forget the beautiful Kenyan coastline. While some areas are more touristy than others, you can find clear blue water to snorkel, scuba diving, parasail, or go deep sea fishing.

Throughout the year, millions of wildebeest and zebra make a huge circle migrating through the Maasai Mari Reserve in Kenya to the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania…the Great Migration. That in itself is worth a visit to either country. But, there is so much more to wildlife in Kenya than the migration. It all starts in the capital city, Nairobi! In one of most vibrant, fast moving cities in East Africa, you can one spend a day in Nairobi and get up and close with baby elephants, feed giraffes, and go on safari…yes, safari right in the middle of the city.

Any time is a good time to visit Kenya. The Equator passes through the country, so Kenya it is split between hemispheres–part of the country is in summer while the other half is in winter. Not that it matters much because most of the country is warm or hot, hot, hot all year long. Nairobi has the best climate because it is 5,889 feet above sea level, which means the average high temperature in the 70s. There are two rainy seasons, April-May and October, during which are the only times you may want to consider putting off travel to a different time of the year. While rains do not last all day, soggy ground makes it difficult to go on Safari. Some parks are closed during the April rainy season.