What to know as a Solo traveller in Kenya : Welcome to the most popular safari destination in East Africa, a nation spanning 580,000 square kilometres (223,939 square miles) with breathtaking scenery. In its around forty Kenya Wildlife Service national parks and Kenya Wildlife Service reserves, you can see practically every animal from A to Z, alive and well. The Indian Ocean is space-blue, and the Kenyan coast is dotted with white sand beaches. Take up various Kenya safari activities such as sailing, snorkelling, diving, surfing, or just lounging on the beach. For a little fun, try learning a handful of the 68 languages spoken by the 54 million people of Kenya.
Kenya hospitality
Particularly outside of the major cities, Kenyans are extraordinarily hospitable and kind. Children’s fascination with safaris in Kenyan visitors from Europe, Asia and the Americas is endearing. Many locations welcome single travellers, and as with any foreign journey, using common sense makes you even safer. Most of them enjoy their time exploring different parts of the nation.
Whether you spend a week or three in Kenya, it’s easy to get carried away. For safaris and the Big Five wildlife encounters, it ranks number one. The Great Rift Valley volcanoes, Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak, the Serengeti-Maasai Mara environment, floating on a century-old dhow, and the brilliantly starry skies will all excite you. Learn kenya cultural tours, Maasai culture, cuisine, housing, and way of life by visiting a Maasai hamlet. They are constantly on the move, seeking better pastures.
Discover Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater tropical lake in the world and the source of the River Nile. Birdwatchers and avian enthusiasts will find nirvana on its nineteen serene islands, which include stunning white sand beaches, swaying palms, and breathtaking sunsets.
Accommodations for Solo travellers
Accommodations for single visitors can be found at Kenya’s hostels, hotels, tented camps, luxurious lodges, charming Airbnbs, and campsites. If you travel in the off-season, you can bargain or ask the hotel to waive the single supplement, even though some hotels may charge extra for single guests. Seek out more tranquil moments, such as during the Maasai Mara migration period or during the school term along the shore. In Kenya, Airbnbs can be of very high quality, and hosts are frequently amenable to haggling. A calm solitary person who would look after their house is preferred by many over a noisy gathering. Furthermore, a lot of these houses, especially those near the shore, are vacant during the off-seasons and school breaks. If you book for a month in advance, you may receive a 50% discount on your stay.
Other Solo safari travellers
Kenya does not have the “gringo” trails found in some of the world’s most famous travel locations, but it does have a well-travelled tourist route that typically passes via Nairobi, Maasai Mara, and Dani, with some variations. Like many other nations, Kenya has tourism and sports zones that are the centre of traveller activity. Consider lodging in a hotel or hostel near the coast for kenya tour activities like kite surfing, scuba diving, or ocean conservation, or enrolling in a course. This is a terrific area to meet and socialise with other single travellers. Seek out options for eco-volunteering if you’re keen on exploring the interior and its animals, or stay at camps and resorts that offer solitary travellers a designated dining area and game drive places.
If you are hesitant to go to a safari site by yourself, you might choose to arrange a trip and inquire about the availability of room for a lone traveller. In this manner, you can be sure to have company right away.
Best places to visit as Solo traveller
Watamu
There’s windsurfing, scuba diving, kitesurfing, and deep-sea fishing anyone could ever want in Watamu, which is my favourite beach in Kenya. Solo travellers will naturally flock towards its laid-back ambiance and couple of excellent backpacker hostels. Numerous beaches offer solitary sunsets, and there are plenty of eateries to enjoy seafood and Dawas even if you don’t meet your future trip companion while surfing the waves.
Diani Beach
The most well-liked tourist spot on Kenya’s coast, Diani Beach, is arguably the best for solo travellers. Travellers from all over the world flock to this destination for honeymoons because of its miles of white sand beach and turquoise waters, but singles may also find some hip tiny pubs and hostels. Kenyaways Kitesurfing Village is my first choice because it features the fantastic Salty Squid restaurant just on the beach. Residents can lay on the beach throughout the day and mingle with the boisterous patrons at the bar even if they don’t kitesurf.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
The Maasai Mara have a reputation that precedes them. A popular holiday destination for most Kenyan safari tour travellers, the rolling savannah is home to the great migration and is teeming with large cats and elephants. It’s also a terrific spot to meet people and join group tours. In the off-season, a lot of lodges and campgrounds forgo their single supplement, which attracts more solo tourists. Although the Maasai Mara is undoubtedly one of the best animal experiences in the world, it is definitely worth the expenditure. However, it will never be a cheap trip.
Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha is without a doubt a stunning safari in kenya destination. It is only 90 minutes from Nairobi and may be done as an overnight stay, though it is always preferable to do a day trip with a tour group or if you rent a car. With views of the hippo-filled lake, towering fever trees concealing colobus monkeys, and occasionally a passing giraffe or zebra, Camp Carnellys and Sanctuary Farm provide camping and bandas. Carnellys is a big eatery with a fantastic atmosphere that draws both young and old patrons. There are few better spots in Kenya to meet up with lone travellers than the bar where all of Camp Carnellys’ residents unwind on long, leisurely days.
Nairobi
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, has a plethora of activities, and it’s likely that you’ll have to stop there before continuing on to another location. Spend some time in Karen visiting the Giraffe Centre, the Elephant Orphanage, and Kazuri Beads—all of which are simple and safe to accomplish on your own. Enrol on a trip and visit Nairobi National Park, the only wildlife park in the world located inside a city. Alternatively, go north and spend some time at Karura Forest, satisfy your need for shopping at The Village Market, Nairobi’s best malls. The Maasai Markets are well-known kenya safari market with assortment of various African safari products.
Mount Kenya
The highest peak in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa is Mount Kenya. Above the parks and conservancies of Laikipia is its snow-capped peak. Even a beginner can climb the mountain, and a variety of tour operators offer trips up the mountain and into the surrounding game reserves, gorges, and rivers. Because Laikipia and its main town, Nanyuki, are located in Kenya’s hills, it can become a little chilly there during the winter. There are several activities available in Laikipia, including fly fishing, mountain climbing, and exploring the stunning but less frequented game parks such Ol Pejeta and Meru.
Amboseli National Park
The most beautiful park in Kenya, Amboseli National Park is situated at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and is home to large families of elephants, ponds that mirror the sky, and inexpensive tented camps and hostels. If you are eager to travel, be sure to review the accommodations guide for Amboseli.
