A favorite East African safari destination, Kenya boasts a strong and growing tourism sector, ranked the second largest foreign exchange earner after agriculture. Kenya tourism is a package of adventure, exploration, creating new experiences and learning about people and places.

Kenya is among the few African countries with a diverse tourism sector that now attracts over a million tourists each year (and counting). Indeed, with increased investment in ecotourism and aggressive marketing of Kenya as a tourist destination, tourism in the country is set to generate revenue that will lead the country to achieve its Vision 2030.

Types of tourism in Kenya

Of course, depending on what you want to see and experience, Kenya’s geography has it all and Kenya’s climate is ideal for seeing it all: wild habitats like open savannah, dense forests and alpine grasslands, coral reefs, tropical sandy beaches. white, freshwater lakes and caves not to mention wildlife that includes almost all varieties of birds, reptiles and mammals.

marine tourism

Marine tourism thrives in Kenya which consists of different types of fish, turtles, coral reefs, coral islands and mangroves. There are four main marine parks:

• Malindi Marine Park

• Kiunga Marine Park

• Mombasa Marine Park

• Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park

Wildlife, National Parks and Reserves

Hosting the great wildebeest migration across the Mara River, considered a Wonder of the World.

Kenya is home to the Big Five:

• Lion
• buffalo
• Rhinoceros (the endangered black rhino is found in Kenya’s Aberdare National Park)
• Elephant
• Leopard

There are 48 national parks and reserves including most notably:

• Aberdare National Park

• Amboseli National Park

• Buffalo Spring National Reserve

• Tsavo National Parks

cultural tourism

The diverse culture in Kenya is perhaps the key that enhances the experiences of tourists visiting the country. Known for a warm and hospitable spirit, Kenyans have unique and interesting traditional cultures embedded in their 42 tribes. Diversity in Kenyan culture contributes to diversity in music and dance, arts and customs, and food, among other elements of diversity.

sports tourism

Kenyans are internationally known as champions in sports, from short and long races like marathons to high-energy sports like rugby. It is common for Kenyans to get gold, silver and bronze medals in one fell swoop. Enjoy different sporting events such as:

• Lewa Safari Marathon

• Safari Sevens Rugby Tournament

• camel derby

• horse racing

• Kenya Open Golf Tournament

• Kenya Safari Rally etc.

domestic tourism

Tour packages are designed to accommodate domestic tourists. Most domestic tourists are offered discounted services.

Tourism Statistics

In 2010, Kenya registered 1,095,945 tourists without counting cross-border tourists, who accounted for more than half a million.

Most tourist arrivals come from:

• United Kingdom: 16%

• United States: 10%

• Italy: 7.8%

• Germany: 5.3%

• France: 4.8%

Asia, India, China, and the United Arab Emirates are also prominent international tourists, while cross-border tourists come mainly from Uganda, South Africa, and Tanzania.

Cruise ship tourism has been in decline due to piracy in the Indian Ocean and regular travel advisories from Western nations, which has been a thorn in Kenya’s tourism industry.

Tourist seasons

Kenya has two annual high and low tourism seasons.

Peak seasons are often during dry weather months:

• July September

• December February

Low seasons occur in the cold weather months:

• March, June

• October December

The seasons are determined less by weather patterns and more by the travel patterns of tourists. Be that as it may, the cool off-seasons see tolerable daytime temperatures, often in excess of 160C.