bagaria
February 6, 2025
Kenya has a wild side that goes far beyond sitting in a safari vehicle.
You can cycle through a national park in the morning, hike through mountain country, ride across the wilderness on horseback, raft a river or trade the savannah for the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
For travellers who like their holidays with a little more movement, here are some of our favourite ways to experience Kenya.
Getting out of the vehicle completely changes the safari.
Suddenly you’re looking for tracks in the soil, listening for alarm calls and learning about plants you might otherwise drive straight past.
Guided walking safaris are available in selected conservancies and wilderness areas across Kenya. They’re particularly good for travellers who want to understand the bush rather than simply photograph it.
Yes, it means waking up ridiculously early.
It’s worth it.
A balloon safari gives you a completely different view of the Masai Mara as the sun rises over the plains below. Depending on the morning, you might see elephants, giraffes, antelope and herds moving through the grasslands.
During the Great Migration season, the scale of the landscape becomes even more impressive.
Explore our Masai Mara safaris
There aren’t many national parks where getting on a bicycle is part of the experience.
Hell’s Gate National Park is one of them.
Cycle beneath towering cliffs and through dramatic volcanic landscapes while spotting zebras, giraffes, buffalo and antelope along the way.
Pair it with a boat ride on nearby Lake Naivasha and you have one of the easiest adventure escapes from Nairobi.
There is something extraordinary about watching wildlife without an engine running beside you.
Horseback safaris are offered in selected conservancies, particularly around Laikipia and central Kenya.
Depending on your riding ability and location, you can explore open landscapes alongside wildlife such as giraffes, zebras and antelope.
If your idea of a holiday involves reaching somewhere genuinely difficult to get to, Mount Kenya deserves consideration.
Africa’s second-highest mountain offers routes ranging from beautiful high-altitude treks to technical climbs.
You don’t necessarily have to reach the summit either. Multi-day trekking routes through forests, moorlands and alpine landscapes offer plenty of adventure on their own.
Kenya’s rivers add another dimension to adventure travel.
Seasonal white-water rafting experiences, including those along sections of the Tana River, can combine rapids with stretches of calmer water surrounded by beautiful countryside.
It’s an excellent addition for groups, friends and travellers who want something considerably more energetic than another day in the Land Cruiser.
Northern Kenya feels properly wild.
The landscapes become drier, settlements become fewer, and you’ll encounter wildlife that’s difficult to find elsewhere, including Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk and reticulated giraffe.
For travellers looking beyond the classic Masai Mara itinerary, Samburu and the surrounding northern regions are worth exploring.
Discover more hidden gems in Kenya
Eventually, all that dust makes the Indian Ocean look very inviting.
Head towards Diani, Mombasa or the south coast and you can swap game drives for:
Explore the best water sports and ocean adventures in Kenya
For a softer adventure, spend a day exploring the waters around Wasini Island and Kisite-Mpunguti.
A typical excursion can combine dhow sailing, snorkeling, swimming and dolphin spotting before lunch on the coast.
It’s especially easy to add to a few relaxing days around Diani.
Read our Wasini Island Dolphin Tour guide
That’s the advantage of travelling in Kenya.
A single holiday could start with a Masai Mara safari, continue with cycling or hiking around the Rift Valley, and finish with snorkeling and jet skiing on the Indian Ocean.
And if you still haven’t had enough adventure, Tanzania and Zanzibar are right next door.
At Bagaria Tours and Safaris, we can build these experiences into a personalised itinerary and arrange suitable activities with experienced guides, conservancies and specialist adventure providers.
Your holiday doesn’t have to fit neatly into the word “safari.”
It can be as wild as you want it to be.
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