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Nakuru Tourist Places to Visit in Nakuru, Kenya, Africa

Nakuru Tourist Places to Visit in Nakuru, Kenya, Africa

Nakuru is one of the important cities of Kenya, situated in the western part of the country, functioning as the capital of Rift Valley Province. It is the 4^th largest urban centre of Kenya with a population of 307,990 people. Lying around 1850 meters above sea level, Nakuru is located about 160 km northwest of Nairobi, the capital and largest city of Kenya. The geographical coordinates of Nakuru are 0°18′ S 36°4′ E.

Nakuru holds a wide range of winsome attractions to show tourists visiting the city year round, of which the most recognized attractions include the Lake Nakuru National Park, Rift Valley Sports Club and Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site. The economy of Nakuru is equally concentrated on the three different sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and tourism.

History of Nakuru:

According to the local belief, Nakuru got its name from the Maasai speaking people, who are major natives to Kenya. Nakuru came to limelight during the British colonial period and it gained town status in the year 1904. Nakuru was the hometown of many eminent politicians like Kihika Kimani, Mirugi Kariuki and Kariuki Chotara.

How to reach Nakuru?

Nakuru is served by the Nakuru Airport, which is situated around 10 km away from the midpoint of the city of Nakuru. The airport receives scheduled flights from Nairobi, served by Airkenya Express.

Nakuru can also be reached directly from Nairobi through road by regular bus services.

The local transportation of Nakuru is catered by buses, rental cars and bikes.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Nakuru:

Nakuru is home to the Egerton University, Kabarak University and many other larger and reputed educational institutions of the country.

Shops are abundant including both traditional and modern in Nakuru and some famous restaurants in Nakuru are listed below:

Guava Restaurant
Oyster Shell Restaurant
Merica Hotel Restaurant

Things to do in Nakuru:

Bird watching
Game viewing
Shopping

Tourist Attractions in Nakuru:

Lake Nakuru National Park:

The Lake Nakuru National Park is mainly noted for millions of flamingos nesting along the Lake Nakuru’s shores. Established in 1961, the park is also famous for white rhinos and black rhinoceros population. The park covers a total area of 188 km².

Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site:

The Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site is a well known neolithic excavation site, situated in the vicinity of Nakuru. The museum named, Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site and Museum, was founded in 1945, which provides the complete information on archaeological excavations took place here.

Rift Valley Sports Club:

The Rift Valley Sports Club is located in the heart of Nakuru, hosting different sporting activities throughout the year, including cricket. Cricket is mainly played and organized by the local Indian community here.

Lake Bogoria:

The Lake Bogoria is the part of Lake Bogoria National Reserve, measuring a length of 34 km and width of 3.5 km. Watching Lesser Flamingos nesting on the shoreline of Lake Bogoria will be a big treat for visitors’ eyes.

Lake Baringo:

The Lake Baringo is home to around 470 bird species, including migrating flamingos. The lake measures a surface area of 130 sq. km and elevation of 1,000 meters. There are also many smaller islands including the largest of which Ol Kokwe Island.

Other attractive places in Nakuru include:

Makalia Falls
Baboon Cliff
Lion Ridge
Masai Mara National Reserve
Shaba National Reserve
Lake Oloidien
Ol Kinyei Conservancy
Baboons & Vervits
Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site
Mara Naboisho Conservancy
Amboseli National Park
Selenkay Conservancy

Ideal time to visit Nakuru:

As like the rest of Kenya, the months of January, February and from June to August is the best time to visit Nakuru.

Where to stay in Nakuru?

Nakuru is a city with all sorts of well facilitated accommodation centres spread up all around the city and its surroundings. It is advised visitors to book hotels well in advance as the city gets fuller with tourists during high season. Here are some nice hotels in Nakuru:

Hotel Cathay Nakuru
Midland Hotel Nakuru
Hillcourt Resort & Spa
Bontana Hotel
Graceland Hotel
Carnation Hotel
Hotel Genevieve
Blue Bay Hotel
Kivu Resort
Nakuru Milimani Guest House
Avenue Suites Hotel
Lanet Matfam Resort
Capital Hill Lodge
Jumuia Guest House
Langa Langa Guesthouse

Mumias Tourist Places to Visit in Mumias, Kakamega, Kenya, Africa

Mumias Tourist Places to Visit in Mumias, Kakamega, Kenya, Africa

Mumias is a town belonging to the Kakamega County in the western part of Kenya, lying between 0°20′ N latitude and 34°29′ E longitude. It is the administrative centre of Mumias District, located around 400 km northwest of the national capital, Nairobi. Mumias also hosts some commercial establishments, mainly the Mumias Sugar Company, the prominent employer of the area. A hospital running by the Catholic Church, the St. Mary’s Hospital is situated five minutes drive from Mumias town centre and also there is a museum called the Nabongo Cultural Centre displaying the features of the Wanga Kingdom, is located in the outskirts of Mumias.

History of Mumias:

Mumias is especially noted as a town with strong historical background, which served as the capital of the Luhya kingdom of Wanga and the kingdom still also has some influence on local administration. Mumias was earlier called Lureko.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Mumias:

Muslims are greater in population in Kisumu and also Mumias is home to the Nabongo Cultural Centre, which describes the Wanga Kingdom, a ruler of the area since the historic period.

Kisumu houses many modernized shopping centres and food corners and for more specialized options, visitors can head towards nearby Kisumu city.

Things to do in Mumias:

Visiting museum Nabongo Cultural Centre
Day tours
Walking

Places of interest in Mumias:

Nabongo Cultural Centre:

The Nabongo Cultural Centre is situated in Matungu, at the outskirts of Mumias. This cultural centre was founded to exhibit the importance of the royal the Wanga Kingdom. It was inaugurated in 2008.

Mumias Sugar:

Being the main employer of Mumias, the Mumias Sugar is one of the identities of Mumias. Its sugar farms can be visited through a guided tour, where visitors can know the traditional methods used for sugarcane cultivation.

Lake Victoria:

The Lake Victoria is the largest lake by area in Africa with a surface area of 68,800 sq. km. It also holds the titles of the world’s largest tropical lake and the 2nd largest freshwater lake. The lake is shared between Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. In Kenya, Kisumu is the nearest city to the lake, located around 75 km away from Lake Victoria.

Kisumu Impala Sanctuary:

The Kisumu Impala Sanctuary situated in Kisumu is around 75 km away from Mumias. It is the smallest wildlife reserve in Kenya covering an area of 0.4 square miles and home to impala, reptiles and about 115 different bird species.

List of other places of interest near Mumias includes:

Town Clock in Kisumu
Kisumu Museum
Hippo Point
Imperial Hotel
Kit Mikayi
Lake Kanyaboli National Reserve
Kisumu Harbour
Musiara Swamp
Crescent Island Game Park
Crater Lake Game Sanctuary
Thimlich Ohinga Pre-Historic site
Lake Victoria
Ndere Island National Park
Ol Kinyei Conservancy
Amboseli National Park
Shaba National Reserve

Best time to visit Mumias:

Throughout the year is best, especially the months of January and February are ideal to visit Mumias.

Accommodation options in Mumias:

Mumias houses few standard accommodation centres, so it is advised for visitors to reach nearby Kakamega town or much larger Kisumu city to find star rated hotels. Buses are coming between these cities. Here are some prominent hotels in and around Mumias:

Golf Hotel Kakamega
KEEP Bandas at Kakamega Forest
Sheywe Guest House
Isecheno Blue Shouldered Guest House
Rondo Retreat Centre
Siaya Guest House
Savona Isle Resort
Scottish Tartan Hotel
New Victoria Hotel
Lake View Hotel
Alcazar Hotel Kisumu
Imperial Hotel Kisumu
Royal City Hotel
Salazar Hotel
Great Lakes Hotel

Moyale Tourist Places to Visit in Moyale, Kenya, Africa

Moyale Tourist Places to Visit in Moyale, Kenya, Africa

Moyale is a border town lying on the Ethiopian borderline with Kenya and its larger part is in Ethiopian side while Kenya covers its smaller part. In Kenya, the town of Moyale is the administrative centre of Moyale District, situated around 750 km northeast of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Located to the north of the Dide Galgalu Desert, Moyale coordinates with 3.527° N latitude and 39.056° E longitude. Moyale is famous for its traditional architecture.

History of Moyale:

Moyale was settled by the Greek person Zaphiro, who had constructed a station with name Fort Harrington that is still in use. Moyale once came under the Italian rule in 1940 during the World War II and in the very next year, Moyale became a part of the British.

Connectivity to Moyale:

Moyale has an airport but currently there are no flights serving the airport. The closest airport to Moyale is Samburu Airport, which is situated around 490 km away from Moyale and receives flights from Masai Mara and Nairobi, served by Airkenya Express and Safarlink.

There are no scheduled buses plying between Moyale and other parts of the Kenya, but it can be reached by private vehicles what tourists choose to travel.

Shopping and Food in Moyale:

Moyale has some modernized shops and restaurants but less compared to the Ethiopian side of Moyale. Visitors can also bring their necessities prior to reaching Moyale from any big city they leave.

Things to do in Moyale:

Hiking
Shopping
Day tours

Tourist Attractions in Moyale:

Turbi Forest:

The Turbi Forest is situated to the west of Moyale, lying on the Kenya and Ethiopia border line and the larger proprtion of forest lies in Kenya side. Its rich vegetation and hiking opportunities are famous among tourists. It can be explored best through a guided tour.

Moyale Airport:

The Moyale Airport is a modern and well constructed airport, lying around 850 metres above sea level. Currently the airport receives no flights but it draws visitors for its nice construction and surrounding environment.

Marsabit National Park:

Located around 230 km southwest of Moyale, the Marsabit National Park is a large nature reserve, nearly covering an area of 1,554 sq. km. Founded in the year 1994, the Marsabit National Park is popular for its bird sanctuary and zebra population.

Lake Turkana:

The Lake Turkana is one of the identities of Kenya, owning titles of the largest permanent desert lake and the largest alkaline lake in the globe. In addition to this, its three national parks combing together (the Sibiloi National Park, Central Island National Park and South Island National Park) gained place on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Other attractive places near Moyale include:

Meru National Park
Chyulu Hills National Park
Shaba National Reserve
Crescent Island Game Park
Selenkay Conservancy
Lake Oloidien
Musiara Swamp
Losai National Reserve
Lake Paradise
Buffalo Springs Game Reserve
Central Island
Sibiloi National Park
Desert Museum
Observation Hill

Ideal time to visit Moyale:

Moyale can be visited throughout the year, although the most popular time to visit Moyale is from December to February while the weather in condition.

Where to stay in Moyale?

There are a limited number of hotels in Moyale, so it is advised for visitors to consider hotels at Marsabit for accommodation purpose. Marsabit is located around 230 km away from Moyale, can be reached by private vehicle. Here are some nice hotels in and around Moyale:

Hotel Abreham
Ngulia Safari Camp
Treetops Lodge
Alba Hotel Meru
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
Chicho
Nomads Trail Hotel
Malabo Resort
Meru County Hotel
Rhino River Camp
Lewa House
Amazing Kenya Retreat
Garden Hotel Machakos
Countryview Hotel
Offbeat Meru Camp
Elsa’s Kopje

Tourist Places to Visit in Mombasa, Kenya, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Mombasa, Kenya, Africa

Mombasa is the second largest city of Kenya, situated on the Indian Ocean coastline, holding population nearly 1.2 million people. Mombasa is one of the prominent tourist destinations of Kenya, located around 480 km southwest of the country’s capital and largest city, Nairobi. The tourism industry of Mombasa is highlighted by its pristine white sandy beaches, which are well supported by entertainment centres like water parks, cinemas, and bowling centres. Mombasa is also famous for mountain biking and gokarting activities.

Mombasa experiences a tropical wet and dry climate with maximum rainfall in April and May while less precipitation in January to February.

History of Mombasa:

The foundation theory of Mombasa is uncertain, although one theory claims that Mombasa was founded by the Muslim ruler Shehe Mvita. The recorded history of Mombasa begins with the arrival of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who visited Mombasa in 1498 and captured in 1502. Mombasa also witnessed the rule of the British in the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

Getting Mombasa:

Mombasa hosts an international airport (Moi International Airport) with connection to many prime European destinations like London, Istanbul, Bologna, Milan and Frankfurt. The airport is situated around 20 km west of the heart of the Mombasa city.

Mombasa is connected to the national capital, Nairobi, by both bus and train service.

Matatus (mini-buses), Tuk-Tuk, bicycle taxi and auto rickshaw are the convenient options to get around Mombasa.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Mombasa:

Mombasa is the hometown of many eminent musicians like Safari Sounds, Them Mushrooms and Mombasa Roots. Mombasa is also famous for Taarab music.

Some nice shopping options in Mombasa include:

Nakumatt Nyali
Akamba Handicraft
Bombollulo Workshops

Here some major tourists favor restaurants in Mombasa:

La Marina
Tamarind Dhow
Singh Restaurant
Lido Sea Food Grill

Things to do in Mombasa:

Snorkeling
Scuba diving
Mountain biking

Places of interest in Mombasa:

Fort Jesus:

The Fort Jesus is a historic fort constructed to protect the Old Port of Mombasa by the decree of King Philip I of Portugal. This historic masterpiece gained place on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 2011. Worth a visit.

Tiwi Beach:

The Tiwi Beach is an attractive beach situated on the south coast of Mombasa. The highlight of the beach is tidal pool where tropical fish are abundant in number that draws all types of tourists including nature lovers.

Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve:

Covering a total length of 8 km, the Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve is famous among visitors as a point for scuba diving and snorkeling. Established in 1986, the park holds the title of the most visited national park of Mombasa.

Diani Beach:

The Diani Beach is situated around 35 km south of the centre of Mombasa city. It is the most important beach on the Kenya’s coastline, famous among both local and international tourists. There is also an airport with direct flights from Nairobi.

Mtwapa Creek:

The Mtwapa Creek is an Indian Ocean inlet featuring spectacular tropical vegetation and small marinas. Its clubs, active nightlife, bird watching and mountain bike tours are also highly admired by visitors.

List of other places of interest in Mombasa includes:

Shimba Hills National Reserve
Hindu Temples in Mombasa
Haller Park
Nyali Theatre
Haller Park
Tana River Primate Reserve
Jumba la Mtwana
Golden Key Casino
Nguuni Nature Sanctuary
Leven House
Jain Temple
Bamburi Beach
Rabai Museum
Fort Jesus Museum
Nyali Beach

Best time to visit Mombasa:

Those who want to explore Mombasa beaches and to enjoy other outdoor activities can choose the seasons either from December to March and from June to August.

Accommodation options in Mombasa:

Being one of the top tourist destinations of Kenya, Mombasa owns upgraded hospitality industry with around 150 modernized hotels with latest facilities like Free WiFi, gift shop and business centre, satellite TV, swimming pool and sundeck. The prominent hotels in Mombasa are as follows: