7 of the best road trips in Kenya: top tips for a memorable journey
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Loading... - Gikuyu Omollo
- 27 Apr 2023
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With its roadside stalls selling everything from fresh fruit to roasted corn and numerous small towns that offer a glimpse into local life and culture, taking a road trip in Kenya is a rewarding way to get to know the country.
The joy also lies in being able to stop off where you like. When you’re driving in and around the Great Rift Valley and Western Highlands, those stops could end up being every few minutes to take in the views or snap a photo.
Driving – whether self-drive or with a driver – also provides freedom to visit places off the main route, from lesser visited viewpoints to a restaurant just off the trail (as well as the classic tourist stops and shops).
1. From Nairobi to Lake Naivasha and back
Best day-trip drive from Nairobi
Nairobi–Naivasha; 95km (60 miles); allow 1 day
If you want to take a short road trip out of the capital, this day drive takes in sweeping views over the Great Rift Valley from spots such as Mathore Viewpoint. From here, you can get an eyeful of this vast system of ridges or escarpments that forms one of Kenya’s most spectacular sights, the valley floor broken up by a series of lakes and volcanoes, active and dormant.
Around 50km (30 miles) along the road from Nairobi, stop off at the Traveler’s Chapel known locally as the Mai Mahiu Church. This small stone Catholic church built by Italian prisoners of war in 1942 is one of the world’s tiniest churches. Look out for the colorful “Welcome to Nakuru County” sign soon after the church: with its map of Africa and distance markers, it’s a popular photo op. Read More…
