Travel: 6 Amazing Places/ Magical Attractions in Kenya You Must Experience in 2022

When you travel, you discover new places, try out new things and get to explore different things which in turn leaves a lasting memory on your mind. It is one of the most beautiful and fulling experiences of life (travelling). In the famous words of Anais Nin, “We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.”

Just as 2021 was coming to a close, Kenya, for the seventh time in a row, was recognized as the premier wildlife tourism stop at the prestigious World Travel Awards. The win comes at a time when the country’s tourism sector continues to make recovery strides in the wake of the Covid pandemic which almost brought the industry to its knees. Needless to say, Kenya has always been one of the leading travel destinations over the years not only known for its wildlife viewings but also its sun, sand and sea vacations spots. We are Magical Kenya.

Kenya’s tourist arrivals increased by 40.8 per cent to 663,036 in the first ten months to October compared to 470,971 arrivals in the same period in 2020 (Kenya Tourism Board report). Now that normalcy has returned, there’s no better time than this to manifest your next (or first!) great adventure in Kenya in 2022.

Here’s 6 top attractions you should see/experience in 2022 in Kenya.

Views of the watering hole at Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Salt Lick is a place of great quiet and with magnificent views of the Tsavo plains, including the famous watering holes, which is an absolute attraction for the wildlife surrounding the Taita Hills.  Every morning and evening, hundreds of animals – including elephants’ stream in to drink water. During your stay, the trumpet of elephants, grunts of buffalos and braying of zebras will become the melody of your trip.

The waterholes below provide a wonderful opportunity to view animals at close proximity in their natural habitat. You can see the animals feeding below as you enjoy your dinner or unwind with a refreshing beverage. The lobby and terrace bar offers excellent views and photographic opportunities, while an underground tunnel and bunker with ground-level windows provide unbelievably close yet safe access to a variety of animals as they drink.

The sunsets in Lamu while sailing on a dhow

There’s something majestic about the sun setting on an island. From the orange glow to the shades of pink and purple in the horizon, it’s simply a breathtaking view and moment, an instagram worthy experience.  Lamu island offers some of the most beautiful sunsets you will ever come across.

While on board a dhow, that slowly sashays over the Indian ocean, this experience will soothe you and also excite you as you’ll get a good glimpse of wonderful scenes of the Ocean. While you sail away, you will take in the sounds from the ripple of water on the sides of the dhow as it glides swiftly through the clear turquoise water. It is one of the most unforgettable moments in Lamu.

The big hunt in Maasai Mara

Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s most popular safari destination. Every day, you are sure of witnessing a spectacular hunt. On a recent visit to the Mara, in what was to be one of the most exciting action-packed scenes straight out of a movie, a cheetah quietly snuck up on this antelope as we watched in awe, burst out using its tail as a rudder, tripping the animal with its paw, and eventually suffocating the prey with a bite to the neck for a few minutes and finally dragging it to a nearby hiding spot so no hyenas steal its hunt. 

Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to Kenya’s highest variety and concentration of the Big 5. Morning and Evening game drives, which are primarily the highlight of your visit, are a sure bet to see the coveted sightings of the Big 5 (rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard) and the big cats (cheetah, leopard and lion), which we are so blessed to have in Kenya, in their natural habitats.

Desert safari in Chalbi Desert

Known for its towering sand dunes and volcanic mountains, Chalbi Desert is Kenya’s only terrain that is classified as a true desert. It is located east of Lake Turkana, the world’s largest alkaline and permanent desert lake, near Marsabit town and includes North Horr.

Chalbi desert provides the most thrilling dune bashing ride in a 4X4 car, for an adrenaline-fueled adventure. It is an unforgettable tour: racing across the blistering hot sand in these cars through the the desert as you enjoy several photo stops during an exciting dune drive. You get to witness a beautiful desert sunset, one of the highlights of a trip to any desert. It is also nothing less than an exciting, adventurous and fantastic way to indulge and experience the local culture too.

Dolphins watching in Watamu

One of the most exhilarating, moving and even life-changing experiences in Watamu is watching dolphins in their natural habitat. It is simply a must add on your to do list. You are left with a huge grin on your face, and in awe because honestly this is the gift that these beautiful sea animals give us. Did you know Dolphins are known to be great divers? Being creatures of the sea, they can dive up to 1,000 feet underwater.

This tour as exciting as it is, also plays a huge role in inspiring people to love and cherish these mammals, and in turn be inspired to help protect them. Watamu is a natural sanctuary for families of dolphins including mothers and calves. This is according the Watamu Marine Association, who together with the Kenya Wildlife Service have been studying dolphins since 2010.

Breakfast with giraffes

The unique and thrilling opportunity to have breakfast with giraffes is one of the most exhilarating experiences the city of Nairobi offers. These animals are sensitive, gentle, social, and friendly.

According to the Giraffe Manor, “Loping across the manor lawns and peering in through the large windows with their elegant necks, encountering our endangered Rothschild’s giraffes at such close quarters gives a real appreciation of just how beautiful and soulful these creatures are. Watch out for their inquisitive tongues, which can grow up to twenty inches long, as they investigate what’s on offer; luckily, it’s nutritious dried grass pellets that they’re after, not your pancakes!”

According to the AWF, girraffes feed 16 to 20 hours a day, but may only consume about 30 kilograms (about 30 pounds) of foliage during that time.

(Images by Capital Lifestyle- your number one source for all things cool. Chalbi Desert photos by photographer Gibson Miller and Giraffe Manor photos by Lifestyle content creator Pearls and Loaf)

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