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Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Marsabit, Kenya, Africa

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Marsabit, Kenya, Africa

Marsabit is a Kenyan town situated in the Eastern Province in the northern part of the country at 2°20′ N 37°59′ E. It is the administrative centre of Marsabit District, located within the Marsabit National Park and Reserve, around 530 km north-northeast of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Marsabit is in the forest area, featuring many volcanoes and crater lakes that attract a large number of adventure and nature enthusiasts year round. Lake Paradise and Bongole Crater are the prime local tourist attractions of Marsabit. The town of Marsabit houses a bank, petrol stations, many shops and restaurants as well as many lodges.

How to reach Marsabit?

Marsabit hosts an airport but flights are not regular, so it is not a recommended option to get Marsabit. The nearest major closest airport to Marsabit is Samburu Airport, which is located around 250 km south of Marsabit, operating flights from Masai Mara and Nairobi, served by Airkenya Express and Safarlink.

Marsabit is situated between the routes of Nairobi–Moyale and there are two buses plying between these routes daily. Marsabit can also be reached by bus from Isiolo, which is situated around 30 km away from Samburu Airport.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Marsabit:

Marsabit is a town with people belonging to different religions, dominated by Christians, who covers 40% of the town’s population and the rest of population is shared between Muslims and other traditional religions.

Marsabit is home to many shops, lodges, a bank, a dry cleaner and restaurants with both traditional and international cuisine.

Things to do in Marsabit:

Village tours
Hiking
Camping

Places of interest in Marsabit:

Marsabit National Park:

Established in 1994, the Marsabit National Park is spread over an area of 1,554 sq. km, located in the vicinity of town of Marsabit. The park is famous among visitors for its zebra population and bird sanctuary.

Lake Paradise:

Lake Paradise is situated to the south of the town of Marsabit and the lake itself is spectacular and also receives loads of elephants and buffalo occasionally.

Losai National Reserve:

The Losai National Reserve is a dense scenic national reserve featuring open plains, riverine woodlands and rocky hills. The reserve covers a total area of 1,806 sq. km, home to a wide range of reptile species including pythons.

Lake Turkana:

The Lake Turkana is not only a natural attraction but also holds many dignities, including the largest permanent desert lake and the largest alkaline lake in the world. It is also home to three national parks, which are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. It is located towards the west of Marsabit.

List of other places of interest in Marsabit includes:

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

Best time to visit Marsabit:

The best time to visit Marsabit is the months of January and February and between June and August.

Accommodation options in Marsabit:

The town Marsabit itself houses many well facilitated accommodation that caters visitors with lot of love and care with a wide range of traditional as well as modern facilities, including food on request, hot water for bath and 24-hour on-call medical services. Some nice tourist favor hotels in Marsabati are as follows:

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

Malindi Tourist Places to Visit in Malindi, Kenya, Africa

Malindi Tourist Places to Visit in Malindi, Kenya, Africa

Malindi is a beach town situated on the Indian Ocean coast line of the Eastern African country, Kenya, at 3°13′25″ S 40°7′48″ E. Lying at the gateway of Galana River, Malindi is situated about 120 km northeast of the city of Mombasa and 590 km northwest of the national capital, Nairobi. Malindi is the largest town of Kilifi County, holding tourism based economy, receiving thousands of overseas tourists for its excellent beaches, mainly Italians. Malindi has also gained prominence for its nearness with the two national parks, Watamu and Malindi Marine.

History of Malindi:

Malindi is noted as one of the major settlements of Swahili people, who has been inhabited the area since the 14th century. Malindi has a great link with the Portuguese as it was visited by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama on his way to the voyage to India, who constructed a coral pillar at that time that is still good in condition, gaining attention of both local and international tourists.

How to reach Malindi?

Malindi Airport is situated around 2 km away from the heart of the city and operates flights from and to Lamu, Nairobi and Mombasa. The Moi International Airport is situated around 70 miles away from Malindi with international flights from many African and European destinations.

By bus, Malindi is connected to all around the country, including the national capital, Nairobi and Mombasa.

Buses are the primary options to get around Malindi town.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Malindi:

As like many southern Kenyan cities and towns, Muslim covers the higher percentage of Malindi’s population and the Swahili architecture is also one of the highlights of Malindi.

Malindi is packed with full of upgraded food corners with large European and Kenyan menus. Shops are also densely sprawled.

Some popular restaurants in Malindi include:

Old Man and the Sea
La Rosada
KB Karen Blixen
White Elephant

Things to do in Malindi:

Agenzia turistica Angels Safaris & Tours
Exploring beaches
Visiting museums

Tourist Attractions in Malindi:

Vasco da Gama Pillar:

The Vasco da Gama Pillar is an iconic structure, constructed by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama on his way to the voyage of India at the end of the 15^th century. Without visiting this landmark pillar, the tour of Malindi never be completed.

Beaches in Malindi:

Beaches are one of the most important tourist attractions of Malindi, of which the most famous beaches are located at Watamu, around 20 km away from the heart of Malindi. There is also a marine park.

Malindi Museum Society:

The Malindi Museum Society is a cultural centre, open for visitors from 9.00am to 4.00pm. The museum houses some fine collection of booklets that are gettable at low prices. It is currently housed in the historic building ‘The House of Columns’.

Watamu Marine National Park:

The Watamu Marine National Park is situated around 25 km southwest of Malindi town centre. Established in 1968, the park is home to around 600 fish species and a total of 100 stony coral species. It is worth a visit.

Malindi Marine National Park:

The Malindi Marine National Park is considered as the Africa’s oldest marine park, known for the population of tropical fish, barracuda, dolphins and turtles. It is protected by the Malindi Marine National Reserve.

Other attractive places in Malindi include:

Watamu Beach
Marafa-Hells Kitchen
Mamasavana
Falconry of Kenya
Portuguese Church
Body and Spirit Fitness Centre

Ideal time to visit Malindi:

Since the beaches are the primary tourist attractions, the dry months January and February are the ideal months to travel Malindi.

Where to stay in Malindi?

There are dozens of hotels, exceeding hundred, with world class amenities like spa, sauna, lounge, bar, restaurant, fitness centre, tennis court, doctor on call service and arrangement of day tours and vehicles for local travel. The prominent tourist favor hotels in Malindi are given below:

Scorpio Villas
Ocean Beach Resort & Spa
Driftwood Beach Club
Kilili Baharini Resort & Spa
Diamonds Dream of Africa
Hotel Melinde
Kivulini Luxury Resort
Tamani Jua
Sandies Tropical Village
Diamonds Malindi Beach
Lion in the Sun Resort
Lawford’s Hotel
Sandies Coconut Village
Dorado Cottage
Double Heart Resort

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Lamu, Kenya, Africa

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Lamu, Kenya, Africa

Lamu is a town situated on the Lamu Island, between 2°16′10″ S latitude and 40°54′8″ E longitude. It holds the title of the oldest persistently inhabited town of Kenya and also gained place on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Lamu is one of the top tourist destinations of Kenya, housing many manmade and natural tourist attractions that draw loads of visitors throughout the year. Lamu is situated around 300 km northeast of the country’s 2^nd largest city, Mombasa and around 500 km southeast of Nairobi, the capital and largest city of Kenya.

History of Lamu:

According to archeological evidence, Lamu was first founded in 1370. The Portuguese were the first European power to take control of Lamu, who invaded Lamu in 1505. Lamu came under German rule in 1885 and was occupied by the British along with the mainland Kenya in 1890 and remained under the British rule until the independence in 1963. The Lamu Fort is the historical identity of Lamu.

How to reach Lamu?

Lamu is served by Manda Airport or Lamu Airport with scheduled flights from Malindi, Nairobi, Kiwayu and Mombasa, served by Airkenya Express, Safarilink, Fly540 and Mombasa Air Safari.

Lamu is connected to mainland Kenya by boat services. Those who come from Mombasa can take bus to Mokowe on the mainland, which takes 5-7 hours.

Since Lamu is small in size, it can be explored easily by foot or one can use rental vehicle.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Lamu:

The Maulidi Festival is one of the famous festivals taking place in Lamu, celebrated January or February annually. Muslim dominates the population of Lamu.

Handmade clothes and handicraft items are the purchasable products in Lamu and the major food corners in Lamu are as follows:

Peponi Hotel Restaurant
Lamu House Beach Club
Majlis Restaurant Lamu
Olympic Resturant

Things to do in Lamu:

Beach exploration
Boat tours
Walking

Places of interest in Lamu:

Lamu Museum:

The Lamu Museum is housed in a colonial residence constructed for British Governors. The museum is concentrated on exhibiting the culture of local Swahili people with their traditional clothes, artifacts and photographs.

Shela beach:

Situated on the northern edge of the Lamu Island, the Shela beach is a striking white sandy beach, which can be easily reached from main Lamu town by foot. Beach is superb and also homemade samosas selling by local boys worth a taste.

Lamu Fort:

Lamu Fort is a symbolic structure, constructed between 1813 and 1821 and was used as a prison during the British rule and even after the Kenya’s independence also. Currently it s home to an environmental museum and a library and is also used for local events.

Riyadha Mosque:

The Riyadha Mosque was the effort of a famous religious trencher, Habib Salih, who constructed this mosque in 1900 with the aid of his students. Presently it is a top tourist attraction and venue for the Maulidi Festival.

Donkey Sanctuary:

The Donkey Sanctuary in Lamu is home to around 3000 donkeys, which was constructed with the concern of Dr. Elisabeth Svendsen from England in 1987. It is frequented by tourists.

List of other places of interest in and around Lamu includes:

Kiunga Marine National Reserve
Dodori National Reserve
Watamu Beach
Haller Park
Roaring Rocks
Fort Jesus Museum
Diani Beach
Watamu National Marine Park
Spiaggia delle Tartarughe
Watamu Turtle Watch
Mzima Springs
Marafa-Hells Kitchen
Mida Creek Reserve
Bio-Ken Snake Farm
Mombasa Marine National Park

Best time to visit Lamu:

Lamu can be visited throughout the year, although the most popular time to travel Lamu is from January to March.

Accommodation options in Lamu:

Lamu houses total of around 100 standard accommodation centres that are spread up all around the island with both traditional and modern amenities and of which most offer advance booking facility for visitors’ convenience. Here are some nice hotels in Lamu:

Baytil Ajaib
Peponi Hotel
The Majlis Hotel
The Red Pepper House
Sunsail Hotel
Jannat House
Bahari Hotel
Lamu Palace Hotel
Fatuma’s Tower
Lamu House Hotel
Mkoko House
Banana House & Wellness Centre
Baitul Noor House
JamboHouse
Shella Royal House

Tourist Places to Visit in Lake Rudolf, Kenya, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Lake Rudolf, Kenya, Africa

Lake Turkana, earlier called as as Lake Rudolf, is a lake in the northern part of Kenya, lying on the Ethiopia border. It holds many titles such as the largest permanent desert lake in the globe, the largest alkaline lake in the globe and the 4^th largest salt lake in the globe by volume. The lake measures a catchment area of 130,860 km², surface area of 6,405 sq. km and surface elevation of 360.4 meters. The lake is home to three national parks such as South Island National Park, Central Island National Park, Sibiloi National Park and gathering these three national parks together gained place on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Lodwar is the major town near to Lake Turkana.

Connectivity to Lake Turkana:

The area surround Lake Turkana are served by Lodwar Airport, which receives schedule flights from Lokichogio and Nairobi, catered by Aircraft Leasing Services and seasonal flights from Eldoret and Kitale, catered by Fly540.

The town of Lodwar (nearest town to Lake Turkana) is well connected to the national capital, Nairobi by scheduled bus services. Dayah Bus is the prominent bus operator charging around 2100ksh from Nairobi to Lodwar. Lodwar also can be reached by rental vehicle from Nairbo but that is relatively expensive.

Shopping and Food in Lake Turkana:

Lodwar is the prominent town near Lake Turkana, housing all sorts of modern and traditional shopping options and food corners. Also, it is advised for visitors to bring some local currency as many shops and restaurants Lodwar don’t accept credit cards.

Things to do in Lake Turkana:

Bird watching
Day tours
Boating
Hiking

Places of interest in Lake Turkana:

Sibiloi National Park:

The Sibiloi National Park is one of three national parks belonging to Lake Turkana, situated on the northeastern shore of the lake. Established in 1973, the park is especially noted for the Australopithecus and early homo fossils. The park sprawls over an area of 1570 sq. km.

Central Island:

The Central Island National Park is located in the heart of Lake Turkana. Along with Sibiloi National Park and South Island National Park, the Central Island National Park was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1997. The Crocodile Island is also called Crocodile Island for its abundant crocodile population.

Bird watching at Lake Turkana:

Bird watching is one of the popular activities among visitors coming to explore Lake Turkana. The region in and around park houses dozens of native Kenyan birds, including Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, African Skimmer and Little Stint.

Desert Museum:

The Desert Museum situated in Turkana District showcases the features of the people native to Lake Turkana region, especially on distinct Lake Turkana Cultural Festival. An ideal site to know local culture and tradition.

List of other places of interest near Lake Turkana includes:

Marsabit National Reserve
Eliye Springs
Ol Kinyei Conservancy
Mara River
Mara Naboisho Conservancy
Olare Orok Conservancy
Amboseli National Park
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Observation Hill
Crescent Island Game Park
Selenkay Conservancy
Shaba National Reserve
Lake Nakuru
Lake Oloidien
Musiara Swamp

Best time to visit Lake Turkana:

Lake Turkana features a hot and very dry climate and the best time to visit Lake Turkana to explore its beauties is from June to August.

Accommodation options in Lake Turkana:

Being a top tourist destination, the Lake Turkana is surrounded by plenty of accommodation centres such as lodges, camp sites, guest houses, vacation rentals and hotels with all basic facilities and services. Some nice hotels around Lake Turkana are listed below: