Kenya has been voted the world's leading safari destination by the World Travel Awards seven times in a row. The latest award was in 2021 when the East African country beat Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe to the premier wildlife tourism stop. 

Kenya, named after Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest peak, translates to "God's Resting Place." The country, with more than 50 million population, boasts incredible wildlife, including the Big Five, like elephants, lions, Buffalo, rhinos, and leopards. It is also home to the savannah, great Lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands. Kenya's climate is also fantastic, with temperatures in the highlands significantly lower than in the coastal and lowland regions. The annual average rainfall in the nation is 680 mm, with the northern ASALs experiencing rainfall as low as 250 mm and as high as 2,000 mm in the western region.

Additionally, Kenya is home to 47 tribes, each holding on to its beliefs and tardyons. Kenya should top your list of destinations if you are a culture enthusiast. The friendly nature of Kenyans will also make your stay memorable. The majority of Kenyans you meet will be eager to answer any questions you have about their nation and will be happy to show you around tourist attractions and shopping areas. They also give you a huge, friendly smile as a welcome. Do those positive characteristics explain why Kenya has become a holiday destination for many?

Below are extraordinary things about Kenya and why you should consider the East African nation your top holiday destination.

Amazing Beaches.

Kenya offers a long, stunning coastline with virgin beaches that slowly slope into blue waters. The beaches provide a friendly atmosphere and are always uncrowded. Some of Kenya's beautiful beaches are Watamu, Diani, Lamu, Bamburi, Nyali, Tiwi, Kikambala and Gazi. The beaches have beautiful resorts that are pocket friendly. Beaches can be the best resting place after a long day of travel or work.

Animal Migrations.

You cannot imagine the sight! Over a million herds of wildebeest, zebra and other grazing animals cross the Tanzanian border into Kenya's Masai Mara from July to October. They must bridge the Mara River as part of their journey, and tourists from all over the world come to experience the rare sight of the animals trying to swim across before climbing up the riverbanks. The annual bird migration between the lakes in the Great Rift Valley is a hidden treasure, as is the yearly land movement between the Serengeti and the Mara, which results in enormous herds of almost every species. Between January and March of every year, there is a second migration. Instead of wildebeest migrating north from the Serengeti, this site is an east-to-west migration from the Loita plains to the Mara, passing through the conservancies of Ol Kinyei, Naboisho, and Olare Motorogi.

Ancient artefacts.

Thousands of people come to Kenya every year to discover the earliest artefacts of humanity. When you are in the country, you can visit Lake Turkana, considered a World Heritage Site for its tremendous archaeological contributions. There is also Kobi For a Section which has relics dating back to 3,000 000 years. Another famous archaeological site is Mawanga Cave on Lake Victoria. The cave has rock art paintings that date back thousands of years. Old Town of Lamu, Fort Jesus, the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests in Mombasa, the stone ruins of Thimlich Ohinga near Lake Victoria, which are thought to be older than 500 years, and the Great Rift Valley's Kenya Lake System is one of the other cultural landmarks.

Gorgeous wildlife.

Kenya is one of the most beautiful wildlife places on earth. Some of the largest and most diversified populations of species on the planet live in its parks, reserves, and private conservancies. Buffalo,

zebra, wildebeest, eland, giraffes, gazelles, impala, and waterbuck are some of Kenya's more prevalent grazing species. There are also predators like Lions, cheetahs and Leopards. Although everyone wants to see The Big Five, there are a lot of other less well-known creatures and incredible bird life to be discovered in the various parks that might be enjoyable to see.

Private Conservancies.

In Kenya, private conservancies collaborate with residents and landowners to sustainably manage and protect wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of the populace. There are numerous private

conservancies, notably the giant black rhino refuge in East Africa, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, located in Laikipia County of Central Kenya; Tsavo Conservancy, home to the elephant population; Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, home to a wide variety of wildlife, including some rare and endangered species like black rhinos and sitatungas and Borana conservancy, provides a sustainable ecosystem for endangered species on the brink of extinction. Others are Mara North, Olare Motorogi, Mara Naboisho, Ol Kinyei, and Lemek conservancies, among others.

National Parks and Reserves.

Kenya has some of the best national parks in East Africa, including Samburu National Park, the spectacular environment for the film Born Free; Amboseli National Park, which offers legendary expeditions and historical encounters with local Masaai in a region filled to the brim with elephants, zebra, giraffe, pelicans, flamingoes, and ostrich; and Meru National Park, which provides a birdlife haven and extinct volcanoes. The Malindi Marine National Park & Reserve, with its lagoons, reefs, and coral gardens tempting you to go on aquatic excursions in search of turtles and dolphins, is another option.

Bird watching at Kenya's Great Rift Valley Lakes.

Some of the most beautiful and varied waterbirds can be found in the marshes and lakes of the Great Rift Valley. Millions of flamingos congregate along the shores of the renowned Lake Nakuru to consume over 250,000 kg of the algae that gives them their distinctive pink colour. Long-crested eagles, cormorants, goliath herons, African fish eagles, pink-backed pelicans, and other speckled birds are among the more than 450 species recorded in the lake. Lake Bogoria, another lake in the Great Rift Valley, is home to 373 bird species.

Culinary Experience.

If you are a food lover, Kenya is an ideal destination. You have enough mouth-watering and irresistible cuisines ranging from Nyama Choma, Githeri, Irio, Nyama, Matoke, Ugali, Mutura, and Sukama wiki. Many restaurants offer international dishes, and big cities like Nairobi are home to international restaurants offering Japanese, Chinese, Ecuadoran, Dutch, German, American and Lebanese cuisines, amongst others. 

Exotic Fruits

Passion fruits, mangoes, tangerines, pineapples, oranges, bananas, pears, papaws, and Kiwi Fruits, are some of the tropical fruits in Kenya. Although the fruits are seasonal, you can be sure there are always several types available at any one time in the country. So any time you visit Kenya, those delicious exotic fruits await you. 

Affordable hotels and guest houses.

Many cities in Kenya offer decent and affordable hotels and guest houses, depending on one's budget. There are also many clean, cheap and well-managed apartments in town, giving tourists a good choice and affordability. Most of the apartments offer airport pick-ups and even sightseeing services.

Safety.

Kenya is generally a safe country with many security cameras on the road. Although, like any other country, you may experience incidences of criminality, taking adequate precautions will help you avoid being a victim of crime. Avoid excessive displays of wealth that may attract unnecessary attention, and avert certain areas at night. Carry only necessary items and leave the rest secured in your hotel or apartment. 

Polite and friendly

Kenyans are courteous and respectful, but they expect the same from you. Kenyans often do not take kindly being looked down upon; it is, however, understandable because every human deserves some respect. A typical Kenyan is polite and friendly, especially to tourists. They go out of their way to make your visit memorable, especially when one does not abuse friendliness. 

Huge and efficient international airport.

Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi welcomed about 1.46 million tourists in 2022 despite the devastating impact of COVID-19. The ultra-modern airport has an excellent connection for all major international airlines, making it an affordable route for many tourists. It is a primary connection point for other East African countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the DRC.

Apart from the above, Kenya, with its vibrant social life, possesses that charm and beauty that every tourist is dying for in a country. It is a country that one must discover to appreciate. Did you hear the East African country whispering: "Come to Kenya, let's spoil you a little?"