all the places to visit in kenya
Kenya is a place of natural wonders. Wildlife rich savannas and arid plains define the land scape of Kenya. And safari its history. Some of these places are famous internationally, like the Masai Mara, but others have not reached that level of fame. Many others await discovery. It may not be a big country in the scale of the nations of Africa, but there are many uncharted corners in Kenya. Way up north, you’ll discover the world’s largest alkaline lake, where nothing should live, hugely productive with marine life. Natural beauty in a harsh jerkwater outback.
Kenya’s most amazing destinations – beach and safari – are genuinely worth your experience, any time of year. A wander into nature and relaxation at its loveliest. A small ocean strip packed with immense life, parks and reserves. Yet there are more surprises many could not have anticipated. Untravelled gems to observe nature’s spectacles, wildlife in extreme habitats, deserts, enduring cultures, wild adventure, art, cottage industries, colonial legacies, and ruins.
Abiri Kenya is a complete guide to Kenya. The A to Z, really! Possible place that could interest you in Kenya, worth your discovery. 2,000+ destinations, many inextricably linked with the element of surprise. It is arranged and imagined systematically, as you would travel region to region to the 47 counties with the aid of strip maps, distances involved, road conditions, hotels, and best time to go. A nudge to do it more by uncovering places that rarely get under the limelight but make for interesting new trips.
coast
01. MOmbasa
Beach I Culture I History
DESTINATIONS I 80
Size: 230 km2
Altitude: 0-160 ft.asl
Coastal Hills I Plains I Ocean
02. kwale
Beach I Safari I Outdoor
DESTINATIONS I 85
Size: 8,270 km2
Altitude: 0-2762 ft.asl
Coast I Coastal Plain I Range
03. kilifi
Culture I History I Safari
DESTINATIONS I 95
Size: 12,245 km2
Altitude: 0-2450 ft.asl
Coastal Plain I Hills I Nyika
04. TANA RIVER
Culture I History I Safari
DESTINATIONS I 28
Size: 38,862 km2
Altitude: 0-2120 ft.asl
Plains I Low Hills I Riverine
05. LAMU
History I Heritage I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 70
Size: 6,273 km2
Altitude: 0-1010 ft.asl
Archipelago I Grassland I Forest
06. TAITA TAVETA
Safari I History I Scenery
DESTINATIONS I 85
Size: 17,084 km2
Altitude: 1640-7313 ft.asl
Shrubland I Hills I Ranchland
07. garissa
Outdoor I Safari I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 18
Size: 44,174 km2
Altitude: 1630-3734 ft.asl
Flat Plains I Low Hills I Laghas
08. wajir
Outdoor I History I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 20
Size: 56,686 km2
Altitude: 984-1980 ft.asl
Flat Plains I Low Hills I Laghas
09. mandera
History I Outdoor I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 08
Size: 25,991
Altitude: 1312-3182 ft.asl
Plains I Rocky Hills I Laghas
NORTH EASTERN
10. marsabit
Scenery I Outdoor I Unusual
DESTINATIONS I 35
Size: 70,961 km2
Altitude: 715-9206 ft.asl
Plains I Mountains I Desert
11. isiolo
Scenery I Outdoor I Safari
DESTINATIONS I 42
Size: 25,700 km2
Altitude: 1719-3600 ft.asl
Plains I Shrubland I Hills
EASTERN
12. meru
Scenery I Safari I Heritage
DESTINATIONS I 65
Size: 5,127 km2
Altitude: 1212-17053 ft.asl
Mountain I Highland I Slopes
13. tharaka nithi
Scenery I Outdoor I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 35
Size: 2,662 km2
Altitude: 1212-17053 ft.asl
Mountain I Highland I Low Plains
14. embu
Outdoor I Nature I Scenery
DESTINATIONS I 32
Size: 2,818 km2
Altitude: 1188-17053 ft.asl
Mountain I Highland I Low Plains
15. kitui
Outdoor I History I Unusual
DESTINATIONS I 33
Size: 30,496 km2
Altitude: 1312-5906 ft.asl
Low Plains I Upland I Yatta Plateau
16. machakos
Scenery I Outdoor I Living In
DESTINATIONS I 45
Size: 5,953 km2
Altitude: 2335-7014 ft.asl
Isolated Hills I Plateaus I Plains
17. makueni
Outdoor I Heritage I Safari
DESTINATIONS I 50
Size: 8,034 km2
Altitude: 1257-5906 ft.asl
Plateau I Volcanic Hills I Plains
18. nyandarua
Heritage I Outdoor I Living In
DESTINATIONS I 45
Size: 3,245 km2
Altitude: 4616-13041 ft.asl
Mountain Range I Valleys I Plain
19. nyeri
Outdoor I Heritage I History
DESTINATIONS I 56
Size: 3,356 km2
Altitude: 9970-17053 ft.asl
Mountains I Plateaus I Valleys
central
20. kirinyaga
Outdoor I Nature I Living In
DESTINATIONS I 35
Size: 1,470 km2
Altitude: 3800-17053 ft.asl
Mountain I Valleys I Low Plains
21. muranga
Heritage I Outdoor I History
DESTINATIONS I 40
Size: 2,558 km2
Altitude: 2998-11000 ft.asl
Mountains I Valleys I Streams
22. kiambu
Nature I Outdoor I Heritage
DESTINATIONS I 60
Size: 2,543 km3
Altitude: 3468-12562 ft.asl
Slopes I Valleys I Plateaus
rift valley
23. turkana
Heritage I Outdoor I Unusual
DESTINATIONS I 48
Size: 77,000 km2
Altitude: 906-13980 ft.asl
Plains I Hill Ranges I Dry Rivers
24. west pokot
Scenery I Outdoor I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 32
Size: 9,169 km2
Altitude: 1815-10944 ft.asl
Mountains I Valleys I Plains
25. samburu
Safari I Culture I Scenery
DESTINATIONS I 50
Size: 21,000 km2
Altitude: 902-9226 ft.asl
Mountains I Valleys I Low Plains
26. trans Nzoia
Scenery I Outdoor I Living In
DESTINATIONS I 30
Size: 2,496 km2
Altitude: 4593-14150 ft.asl
Mountain I Highland I Midland
27. uasin gishu
Sports I Heritage I Outdoor
DESTINATIONS I 40
Size: 3,345 km2
Altitude: 4900-8900 ft.asl
Plateau I Highland I Midlands
28. elgeyo marakwet
Scenery I Sports I Unusual
DESTINATIONS I 44
Size: 3,029 km2
Altitude: 3000-11,500 ft.asl
Highland I Escarpment I Valley
29. nandi
Nature I Outdoor I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 40
Size: 2,884 km2
Altitude: 3470-9039 ft.asl
Rocky Hills I Plateaus I Rivers
30. baringo
Unusual I Outdoor I Safari
DESTINATIONS I 52
Size: 11,015 km2
Altitude: 2297-9843 ft.asl
Mountain Ranges I Valley I Lakes
31. laikipia
Safari I Heritage I Scenery
DESTINATIONS I 50
Size: 9,462 km2
Altitude: 3150-8565 ft.asl
Mountains I Valleys I Plains
32. nakuru
Scenery I Outdoor I Nature
DESTINATIONS I 63
Size: 7,497 km2
Altitude: 3235-13028 ft.asl
Upland I Rift Valley I Lakes
33. narok
Safari I Scenery I Living In
DESTINATIONS I 37
Size: 17,921 km2
Altitude: 1970-10100 ft.asl
Highlands I Rift Valley I Plains
34. kajiado
Scenery I Heritage I Safari
DESTINATIONS I 48
Size: 29,101 km2
Altitude: 1640-8200 ft.asl
Volcanic Hills I Valleys I Plains
35. kericho
Nature I Outdoor I Unusual
DESTINATIONS I 35
Size: 2,111 km2
Altitude: 3,724-9478 ft.asl
Mountain I Hilly Shelf I Lowland
36. bomet
Culture I Nature I Outdoor
DESTINATIONS I 20
Size: 2,037 km2
Altitude: 4711-8494 ft.asl
Plateau I Hills I Gentle Slopes
western
37. kakamega
Nature I Outdoor I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 30
Size: 3,034 km2
Altitude: 4068-6562 ft.asl
Rocky Hills I Plateaus I Rivers
38. vihiga
Scenery I Culture I Unusual
DESTINATIONS I 26
Size: 531 km2
Altitude: 4265-5905 ft.asl
Rocky Hills I Valleys I Streams
39. bungoma
Unusual I Outdoor I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 26
Size: 3,032 km2
Altitude: 3937-14177 ft.asl
Mountain I Rocky Hills I Slopes
40. busia
Culture I Unusual I Scenery
DESTINATIONS I 22
Size: 1,694 km2
Altitude: 3491-6362 ft.asl
Low Hills I Flat Plains I Lake
41. siaya
Culture I Outdoor I Unusual
DESTINATIONS I 38
Size: 2,530 km2
Altitude: 3707-5643 ft.asl
Uplands I Low Plains I Swamp
42. kisumu
History I Outdoor I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 40
Size: 2,086 km2
Altitude: 3711-6332 ft.asl
Rocky Scarp I Low Plains I Lake
nyanza
43. homa bay
Scenery I Heritage I Living In
DESTINATIONS I 48
Size: 3,183 km2
Altitude: 3701-7287 ft.asl
Uplands I Low Plains I Lake
44. migori
Heritage I Beach I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 22
Size: 2,586 km2
Altitude: 3707-7205 ft.asl
Low Hills I Flat Plains I Lake
45. kisii
Scenery I Outdoor I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 16
Size: 1,317 km2
Altitude: 3865-7169 ft.asl
Hills I Rolling Slopes I Valleys
46. nyamira
Nature I Outdoor I Culture
DESTINATIONS I 18
Size: 899 km2
Altitude: 4100-6890 ft.asl
Steep Ridges I Valleys I Hills
nairobi
47. nairobi
Arts I Heritage I Outdoor
DESTINATIONS I 78
Size: 686 km2
Altitude: 5250-6070 ft.asl
Rolling Plains I Valleys I Rivers
Discover a world of possibilities
Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to make your mark on the canvas of existence. The only limit is the extent of your imagination.
Navigating life’s intricate fabric, choices unfold paths to the extraordinary, demanding creativity, curiosity, and courage for a truly fulfilling journey.
Discover the Counties of Kenya
Each County of Kenya holds the promise of unique and memorable adventures – in abundance. One is assured that in any direction they take around Kenya, great experience awaits. The original 40 boundaries of Kenya, marking districts and provinces, were first defined in the 1963 Independence Constitution and they were largely based on ethnic boundaries, affirmed by political positions taken at the Lancaster House Conferences. Between 1968 to 1989, seven new districts were created. In 2010, the 47 Districts were replaced by the 47 Counties of Kenya in accordance to the August 05, referendum. Rather uniquely, nearly all counties of Kenya are named after their largest town that also serves as the capital town.
About 80% of Kenya’s land surface area is classifies as arid to semi-arid, swayed by the enigmatic pastoralist communities. Most of the heavily populated counties of Kenya are located away from these arid and semi-arid zones and confined to an area of about 20% of Kenya. Almost 70% of the Kenya’s population live in the constellation of small counties in the Central and Western. In Central Kenya, Kiambu, Nairobi, Nyeri, Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga and Muranga. In Western Kenya, Bomet, Bungoma, Kericho, Kakamega, Trans Nzioa, Uasin Gishu, Migori and Siaya. Other regions with a sizeable population lie along the Great Rift Valley region.
Peneplains scape a huge part of Kenya. Vast wide-open plains of flat country, accounting for almost 50% of the land in Kenya, including the famed Masai Mara National Reserve, Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks, continue unbroken for hundreds of kilometres. All the large counties of Kenya, which happen to be the least populated, lie within this semi-arid landscape. These include Baringo, Garissa, Mandera, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kitui, Laikipia, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Turkana, Wajir and West Pokot. In the extremity, the semi-arid country gives way to treacherous arid wildernesses epitomized by the Chalbi Desert, in Marsabit.
The history of Kenya is rich and diverse, shaped by various peoples, cultures, and external influences over millennia. Portuguese explorers arrived in the late 15th century, followed by Omani Arabs in the 17th century. Kenya’s coast became a nexus of trade and cultural exchange. In the late 19th century, the British took over control of Kenya. In 1963, Kenya gained independence and self-governance.
Index of Fascinating Histories - Kenya & Africa
Brief Overview of Kenya's History: Kenya Before 1900s, The British Colonial Era, Kapenguria 6 Trial, Capture of Dedan Kimathi, The Struggle for Independence, The Massacres; Hola, Wagalla, Garissa
Brief History of the Counties of Kenya: Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kakamega, Kajiado, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Muranga, Nairobi, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Tana River, Taita Taveta, Tharaka Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot
The Conquest of Swahili Coast: The Portuguese Voyages, The Arrival of Vasco da Gama, The Downfall of the Portuguese Empire, The Rise of the Omani-Arabs, The Takeover, Rise and Assimilation of Islam, Arrival of the Imperial British East African Company, Seyyid Said and the Colony and Protectorate Debate
Brief Overview of Africa's History: Trans-Saharan Trade, Trans-Atlantic Trade, Cultural Diversity of Africa
