A complete guide to vacationing in Kenya

Well, this week's Travel Guide by Kenya Airways takes you through some of the must-see beauties in Africa's ultimate vacation zone, Kenya. From the National Reserves to the Lake Nakuru National Park our guide is the one true COMPLETE guide for anyone who want to have a full experience of Africa's magical country.

Visit the Masai Mara National Reserve

Kenya is known for its wildlife and beautiful game reserve. If you ever get to visit Kenya try and visit the Masai Mara National Reserve. The Masai Mara is one of the largest game reserves in the Narok County with an ever-growing wildlife population that is made up of lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeest and Gazelles. Accommodation is also sorted for you since there are a number of lodges and tented camps for tourists inside the Reserve and the Conservation area borders.

Try the most popular food in Kenya - Irio

The native food of the Kiyuku people is the most popular food amongst Kenyans of different ethnic groups. The dish is made up of green peas and mashed potatoes. Usually served with meat stew and corn, the staple is one you will relish even after your trip to Kenya.

Take a vacation on the sandy beaches of Mombasa

The coastal city of Mombasa is one of the largest cities in Kenya. Mombasa is famed as a cultural hub and for its sand beaches, beautiful coasts as well as its great nightlife. It’s what you’ll call a little paradise because of the serendipity that you get in the hotels and other lodges across the city. There’s also Island in Mombasa known as Mombasa Island with a number of Forts and colonial building sprawling along its streets. Going to Kenya without visiting Mombasa will be considered a waste of your time

Go bird watching at the Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru a.k.a The Bird Watchers' Paradise” is situated on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland and it lies in the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park. Visitors can enjoy the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges. This haven is ideal for bird watching, hiking, picnic and game drives.

Shop from local sellers at the Village Market

The Village Market is an open-Air market complex designed to include waterfalls, rivers, plants, and gardens. It’s located in the Gigiri residential area which is about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Nairobi city center. You can shop from than 150 stores in the market local and designer wear, accessories, household products, electronic equipment and furniture among other products. Aside the stores, the market provides essential services like a hospital, banks, forex bureau, a tyre centre and dry cleaners. Interestingly, the village market also has a 5-star hotel in the premises with 142 guestrooms and suites for shoppers and other tourists who frequent the place.

Explore the nook and cranny of Lamu Town

Lamu, an old Swahili city, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site has several mosques and old Arab houses with a long history. The carved wooden doors are also a highlight of the arts and crafts that made this town very popular. The Lamu Museum, the Swahili House Museum, the Fortress and the Island close to the border of Somalia are some of the beautiful features in the town you need to explore.

Go hiking on Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya is the second-highest mountain in Africa after Mt. Kilimanjaro (Bet you weren’t taught this from Geography class) with an altitude of 4,986m (16,358ft) above sea level. The mountain has inactive volcanic which hasn’t erupted in centuries. Experts say it is going extinct so you’re very safe to join the Mountain Club of Kenya on the mountain climbing and hikes to ice-capped peak and wildlife slopes

Take a tour to the museum

If you’re fan of archaeology and ethnography then take a tour to the Nairobi National Museum in the nation’s capital. The museum curators will guide you through the Nation’s rich history and culture that will make you fall in love with Kenya all over again. Pay a visit to Karen Blixen Museum, which occupies the farmhouse made famous by the nominal author's book, Out of Africa. The Nairobi Railway Museum also occupies an important chapter of the city’s history that you’ll love to explore. The Museums are all opened 365 days in a year including holidays so there are no disappointments.

Go fishing in magical Lake Turkana

According to Kenya’s travel guide, Lake Turkana is an Oasis situated in the northern regions of Kenya. Strange yet beautiful, the oasis is known to locals as the Jade Sea because of its green color and size. The lake is great for fishing and canoeing but be careful of the island which has a lot of crocodile and hippo populations. The Semi-nomadic tribe that lives around the lake are interesting people and you won’t regret interacting with them and their interesting culture.

Kenya Airways, The Pride of Africa; flies daily from Accra to 43 destinations in Africa, including Kenya where you find these attractions.

Kenya Airways was recently voted Africa’s Leading Airline and has won the award for Leading Airline Business Class Africa for 4 consecutive years. Its holidays solutions business unit, KQ Holidays, specializes in putting together awesome holiday packages across the world, but especially within Africa.

Kenya Airways takes pride for being in the forefront of connecting Africa to the World and the World to Africa through its hub at the ultra-modern Terminal 1A at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

Visit www.kenya-airways.com for more information on Kenya Airways.