Kenya A Hidden Gem For Travel Lovers
Traveling is something that I love to do and while I’ve only ventured out of the country once, I have a pretty big bucket list of places I want to visit. But there is one thing that I need to get before I start planning all of my travel adventures and that is a United States passport. Our daughter and son-in-law have them and are planning some pretty big trips for 2019. Why haven’t I gotten a passport already?
I really don’t have a good answer for that question really, other than it never has been a priority. The one time I went to the Bahamas on a cruise ship, I was able to go and come back using the same port of entry. So I didn’t think it was a necessity, but in hindsight that wasn’t a very smart move on my part. So this year we have applied for our passports and are awaiting their arrival, so we can plan our excursions. I strongly encourage you to apply for Kenya visa before your trip (more on that later!)
On our travel bucket list we have several great destinations but today we are going to explore Kenya and why we want to visit there. First and foremost we want to see the coastline on the Indian ocean while enjoying the savannahs Kenya has to offer. But Kenya is also home to lakelands, mountain highlands as well as the dramatic Great Rift Valley that is a picturesque backdrop unlink what we have here in the United States.
Wildlife
Some of the wildlife found in East Africa includes lions, elephants and rhinos to name a few and I’ve always wanted to see them on an African Safari. I’m in hopes to see giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, and native birds as well. One of the places that we will go on a Safari is the Maasai Mara Reserve because it is known for the annual wildebeest migrations. How cool would that be to experience?
Nature
I’m also a sucker for some great nature shots and at the Amboseli National Park I hear there is a great view of Tanzania’s 5,895 m Mt. Kilimanjaro. As well as observing their large elephant herd. But also take in Observation Hill to see the panoramas of the peak and the park’s plains and swamps. Another thing that we want to do is to visit the National Museum, because they have lots of cool exhibits spanning from native art to natural history which is in Nairobi, Kenya.
Beaches
If you have been following me for very long at all you know I am a sucker for a beach. While Brady is a Mountain guy, he does go with me to beaches every few years. So we are also looking into some beach resorts around Malindi, so we can take in the vibrant coral reefs and visit the Wetamu Marine National Park. I’m not sure we will enjoying diving, but you never know what we will decide to do once we get there.
Mountains
We will then travel to Mt. Kenya to see the snowy peaks and the central highlands. I don’t think of snow when I think of Africa, so that will be a cool experience. And if we visit the mountains Brady will be happy to sit with me on the beach, it is a win, win.
When to Visit
Now that we have a rough outline of things that we want to enjoy on our trip to Kenya, we have to decide on when to visit. Since we are waiting for the passports to arrive, we are tentatively planning to travel in 2019. While Kenya has a warm temperate climate year around we have found that peak travel season is July to October because of the dry weather and of course migrations of the wildebeests and Zebras.
The Rainy season in Kenya is April and May so we are marking those dates off, because our research has shown that lots of places close down due to heavy rains. September through April will allow us to see more migratory birds. So as it stands right now, we aren’t nailing down a definite date just yet, we are going to be completing more research to help us decide.
How Long to Stay in Kenya?
Yes, we are also debating on how long we need to stay while we are visiting Kenya, but we have decided that a week to 10 days should be sufficient. That way we can plan our visit accordingly and talk to some locals for their insider tips on visiting their homeland. While I’m not a big city person I think that visiting a bigger city while there might also be fun, so we will see what all ends up on the final itinerary.
Do I Need Special Documents?
I know, it’s the older wiser Heidi talking right now, and we will definitely take our US passports, state id’s and our social security card for just in case. But we will also apply for a Kenya Visa before our trip. Why apply for Kenya visa before your trip? Because I would rather be safe than sorry when I travel out of the country. The visa that is offered is valid for business trips or tourism and depending on the length of the trip is how we will decide which visa to get. If we are staying with our 10 day plan we will select the normal visa. Check out to learn more: e-visums.co.uk.
No matter what you decide to do or see while in Kenya I’m sure you will have a fantastic time. Let me know what you end up doing and if you find a hidden gem, let me know so I can add it to my itinerary. Happy Vacationing.
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