Kenya is one of those places where it’s easy to stick to the well-trodden safari route, but doing so means missing out on so much of what makes the country special. Once you’ve had your fill of game drives, there are beaches, old Swahili towns, mountain landscapes and wonderfully remote corners of the country waiting to be seen.
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So, once you’ve ticked off the Big Five and your safari vehicle has headed back to camp, consider adding a few days somewhere completely different. These 10 destinations offer a chance to see another side of Kenya.
1. Lamu
If you want to swap the sounds of the bush for the gentle creak of a dhow and the call to prayer drifting through narrow streets, Lamu is a good place to start.
Lamu Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa. The town has been continuously inhabited for more than 700 years and is characterised by coral-stone buildings, carved wooden doors, courtyards and narrow winding streets.
Spend your days wandering through the Old Town, taking a dhow trip, eating freshly caught seafood or heading to the beaches around Shela. It is a slower, more atmospheric side of Kenya and a lovely contrast to a busy safari itinerary.
2. Diani Beach
After several early mornings on safari, there is something particularly appealing about having nowhere to be except the beach.
South of Mombasa, Diani is known for its long stretch of white sand and warm Indian Ocean waters. Rather than simply parking yourself beneath a palm tree, you can spend your time swimming, diving, snorkelling, kitesurfing or heading out onto the water.
It is one of the easiest ways to combine a traditional Kenya safari with a few days of tropical beach time.
3. Watamu
For a quieter coastal escape, consider Watamu. The town sits beside a protected marine environment, with Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve offering opportunities for snorkelling, diving and boat trips. The coastline is also known for its coral reefs and marine life, making it a particularly good choice for travellers who would rather spend their post-safari days in the water than on another game drive.
Kenya Wildlife Service lists Watamu among the country’s marine protected areas, alongside destinations including Mombasa, Malindi and Diani Chale.
4. Mount Kenya
Kenya’s highest mountain is a rather dramatic change from the flat plains of the Maasai Mara. Mount Kenya rises to 5,199m at its highest summit and is Africa’s second-highest peak. Its national park encompasses everything from forested lower slopes to alpine landscapes and glacial peaks. The area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You don’t have to be an experienced mountaineer to visit. Multi-day treks, shorter hikes and scenic excursions around the mountain offer plenty of ways to enjoy the landscape without attempting one of its highest summits.
5. Kakamega Forest
Kenya’s landscape changes dramatically again in Kakamega. This is the country’s only tropical rainforest and the last remaining fragment of the ancient Guineo-Congolian rainforest that once stretched across Central and West Africa. Today, the forest is a biodiversity hotspot, with hundreds of bird species, butterflies, primates, indigenous trees and forest trails.
Walk beneath the dense canopy, look out for colourful birds and butterflies or follow trails through the forest to waterfalls and viewpoints. After days spent looking across open savannah, being surrounded by thick green forest makes for a refreshing change.
6. Lake Turkana
For something that feels worlds away from the classic Kenya itinerary, head north to Lake Turkana.
Often called the Jade Sea because of the striking colour of its waters, the enormous lake sits within one of Kenya’s most remote and arid regions. Its volcanic landscapes and desert surroundings make it particularly photogenic, while the wider Lake Turkana National Parks form part of Kenya’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The journey here is part of the adventure. This is not the destination to choose for a quick weekend add-on, but for travellers who want to see a much less familiar side of the country, it is hard to beat.
7. The Chalbi Desert
Kenya isn’t necessarily the first place that comes to mind when you think of desert landscapes, which is precisely what makes the Chalbi Desert so interesting.
Located in northern Kenya, the Chalbi is the country’s only true desert, according to Kenya’s National Tourism Service. Vast open plains, dry landscapes and enormous skies replace the green hills and savannah associated with more conventional Kenyan itineraries.
The surrounding region can also be experienced through cultural and adventure-focused trips, including camel excursions. It is remote, rugged and very different from the Kenya most visitors picture.
8. Lake Naivasha and Hell’s Gate
For an active break between destinations, head into the Great Rift Valley. Lake Naivasha is surrounded by dramatic escarpments and offers a chance to get out onto the water, while nearby Hell’s Gate National Park is known for its towering cliffs, gorges and geothermal scenery.
The park is particularly unusual because visitors can explore parts of it on foot or by bicycle, rather than experiencing everything from the back of a safari vehicle. Kenya Wildlife Service includes Hell’s Gate among its destinations for adventure and wellness activities.
9. Kericho’s tea country
Kenya’s tea-growing highlands offer another unexpected change of scenery. Around Kericho, lush green tea plantations roll across the hills, creating a landscape that feels a world away from the dry plains of a safari destination. Kenya’s National Tourism Service highlights the region as part of the country’s growing agro-tourism offering, where visitors can see tea production and learn more about how the crop makes its way from the fields to the cup.
A visit here is particularly appealing for travellers interested in food, farming and landscapes – and, naturally, there are few better places to sit down with a cup of Kenyan tea.
10. Mombasa
Finish your trip in Mombasa for a dose of history and Swahili culture before heading home. The coastal city has been shaped by centuries of trade across the Indian Ocean, and its Old Town is filled with narrow streets, historic buildings and distinctive Swahili architecture. Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese in the late 16th century, is one of Kenya’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Pair a visit to the Old Town and Fort Jesus with Swahili dishes, fresh seafood and some time along the coast. Mombasa works particularly well as the final stop on a longer Kenya itinerary, especially if you are flying home from the coast.
Planning your Kenya itinerary
One of the best things about travelling in Kenya is that you don’t have to choose between a safari and everything else. The country’s landscapes change dramatically from one region to the next, making it possible to build a trip that feels much more varied than a traditional game-drive itinerary.
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