Welcome to Kenya
Kenya offers excellent opportunities for climbing, hiking, diving, and snorkeling while fishing, golf, horseriding, kite-surfing, rafting, running, and walking are also popular activities. Cycling is starting to gain popularity, too.
Walking and Running
Take a couple of walks so that you can meet the locals and save time waiting for a ride in more remote areas. Walking is also necessary on Mount Kenya and Elgon as well as on the ranges of Aberdare, May, and Cherangani. Don’t worry about encountering animals like buffalo and elephants as they usually move away from people unless they have their young with them or are isolated from their herds. However, it’s always good to stay alert to the potential dangers of animals. For parks in which you can hike without the fear of running across a rogue lion in the bush, head to Hell’s Gate and Lake Bogoria. If you fancy a chance encounter with a lion, Aberdare and Mount Kenya are the destinations to head to.
Be thoroughly organized by carrying several liters of water with you at all times. Walking safaris are also a good option and can be arranged through many Nairobi-based companies as well as through smaller camps and private lodges.
Marathon runners will be delighted in Kenya, which is famous for many long-distance runners. As a result, half-marathons and fun runs are common with the best-known Safaricom Marathon. In August, you can participate in the Mombasa Marathon.
There are a number of climbing options, with different gradings, in the following areas: the Aberdare, Cherangani, and Mathews ranges, Hell’s Gate National Park, and the Rift Valley volcanoes, which includes Longonot and Suswa. The Mountain Club of Kenya is a good source of information for climbing in Kenya while Nairobi has a number of safari companies that offer trips from straightforward to hikes to expeditions up Mount Kenya.
Cycling
Cycling is surprisingly popular in Kenya yet the roads remain relatively free of cyclists even in Nairobi. However, mountain biking on the tranquil roads of the coast, Laikipia, or the Rift Valley is the best experience in the country, cycling amidst wildlife is popular in Hell’s Gate National Park. Some people choose to bring their own bikes, but it’s possible to rent them in many coastal areas – particularly Diani Beach, Malindi, and Watamu. Guided tours through companies cost $300–500 per day.
Cavers are usually attracted to the lava tube caves of Kenya, which are the result of molten lava that solidified as it flowed downhill. Surface holes provided space for air to flow behind the lava, which is how the caves were formed. The Leviathan Cave in the Chyulu Hills has underground trails that spread for 11km, and it’s one of the large lava tube systems in the world. The area lodges can provide more details. The Suswa caves near Narok are also a good choice.
Nairobi has an established equestrian community while the Central Highlands and Laikipia are also good choices. There are smaller centers to be found throughout Kenya. Three companies – Bush & Beyond, Safaris Unlimited and Safari & Conservation Company – conduct safaris in the Amboseli area, in the Chyulu Hills and in the Mara.
If you’re planning to fish in local lakes, there are boats and gear that can be rented at Lakes Baringo, Naivasha, and Turkana (Loiyangalani). Five-star fishing lodges can be found on Rusinga, Mfangano and Takawiri islands on Lake Victoria.
The coral reefs off Kenya’s coasts are spectacular and the current is reliable. With the deep-sea drop-offs, it’s the perfect place for angling near-shore while ocean fishing is mostly the domain of Watamu and Malindi.
Year-round diving is possible in the perennially warm waters that surround Kenya and no wetsuit is required for diving. However, October, November, and March is the best time to dive. North of Diani Beach and Mombasa, or Malindi and Watamu, you’ll find a number of dive bases where it’s possible to do courses for novices to PADI leader levels. The coral reef is particularly attractive for underwater photographers while the rest of the seascape offers diverse shallow coral gardens and deep drop-offs of up to 200m. Although some of the rivers push sediment into the ocean, this does not impact on the overall visibility. For snorkeling, it’s better to bring your own gear, but it’s also possible to rent it.
A popular sport in Kenya since the 1970s, windsurfing has a large following – particularly on Diani Beach and in Che Shale north of Malindi. From December to February, you’ll find the best conditions for the sport with afternoon winds from the northeast monsoon averaging 16-22 knots, which is a good speed for all levels of riders. In contrast, the southeast monsoon (June to September) is less reliable although the conditions are sometimes incredible for windsurfers.
Whitewater Rafting
The best seasons for rafting on the Tana and Athi Rivers are early November to mid-March and mid-April to end-August.
Most of Kenya’s approximately 40 golf clubs are situated around the former colonial regions of Nairobi, Naivasha, Nanyuki, Nyeri, and Thika in the country’s central highlands and, in the western regions, Kisumu and Kitale. In addition, a number of courses are available on the Kenyan coast as well as one, unexpectedly, on Lake Magadi’s moonscape shore. Fees differ significantly from course to course with an estimated average of $30 per person per day.
