With its expansive views, huge nationwide parks and small cities that provide a glimpse into native life and tradition, Kenya is the right place to take a highway journey.

Driving – whether or not you are behind the wheel or touring with a driver – gives the liberty to go to Kenya’s greatest attracts, plus lesser-visited viewpoints and eating places that lie off the everyday trails. If you’re driving in and across the Nice Rift Valley and Western Highlands, you possibly can find yourself making stops like these each jiffy to soak up the sights or snap a photograph.

1. From Nairobi to Lake Naivasha and again

Finest day-trip drive from Nairobi

Nairobi–Naivasha; 95km (60 miles); enable 1 day

If you wish to take a brief highway journey out of the capital, this day-long drive takes in sweeping views of the Nice Rift Valley from spots equivalent to Mathore Viewpoint. From right here, you will get an eyeful of this huge system of ridges or escarpments that kinds one in every of Kenya’s most spectacular sights: the valley ground damaged up by a sequence of lakes and volcanoes, lively and dormant.

Round 50km (30 miles) alongside the highway from Nairobi, cease off on the Traveler’s Chapel (recognized domestically because the Mai Mahiu Church). This small stone Catholic church constructed by Italian prisoners of struggle in 1942 is without doubt one of the world’s tiniest church buildings. Look out for the colourful “Welcome to Nakuru County” signal quickly after the church, too; with its map of Africa and distance markers, it’s a well-liked picture op.

Planning tip: Should you resolve to in a single day close to Naivasha, the extinct volcano Mt Longonot and the thick forest inside its crater make for an excellent cease. Get pleasure from views of the Nice Rift Valley from the crater rim earlier than heading to Lake Naivasha, the place wildlife and birdlife collect across the freshwater lake.

2. Head into the Western Highlands to Kisumu

Finest highway journey for Nice Rift Valley views

Nairobi–Kisumu; 360km (225 miles); enable 7–10 days

Drive northwest from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru after which onward to the lake metropolis of Kisumu for a good looking journey by means of western Kenya, with views of the northern Nice Rift Valley en route.

The Nairobi–Naivasha Freeway passes by means of the city of Kericho, the place you’ll be able to top off on snacks and drinks and expertise on a regular basis life outdoors of the capital. Right here you will additionally discover seashores and safari lodges.

Round Kericho are a number of tea farms and the Mau Forest, prime road-trip territory with simply the correct amount of winding routes for driving pleasure. When you attain Kisumu on the northeastern shore of Lake Victoria, keep some time to take in the vibes of this relaxed port city, wander its market, discover its impala sanctuary, and luxuriate in sundown views.

3. From Nairobi to Lake Magadi

Finest weekend-long highway journey from Nairobi

Nairobi–Lake Magadi; 112km (70 miles); enable 2 days

Should you don’t need to journey too removed from Nairobi however would really like a rewarding journey with a good looking lakeside finale, head south to Kenya’s “pink lake,” Lake Magadi.

The Nyama Choma restaurant at Olepolos Country Club, about an hour alongside the highway from Nairobi is an effective guess for lunch. Nyama choma means “barbecue meat” in Swahili, and whilst you’ll discover loads of roadside stalls serving grilled goat meat, barbecued hen and crunchy corn snacks, Olepolos is a calming spot with nice views and mountain climbing trails. 

Proceed the drive previous acacia bushes and conventional villages towards the soda lake of Lake Magadi, house to flamingoes and different wading birds. Convey a picnic or head to the Lake Magadi Sports Club and Tented Camp for lunch. It’s a beautiful lakeside spot – particularly at sundown – that serves good meals. If you wish to keep in a single day, you’ll be able to select between comfy rooms and safari tents.

Planning tip: It’s value making time for an in a single day keep across the Ngong Hills, the place you’ll be able to stretch your legs with a cliff stroll or hike on the valley ground.

4. Get into the nice outdoor at Mt Kenya

Finest drive-and-hike highway journey

Nairobi–Mt Kenya Nationwide Park; 213km (133 miles); enable 3 days

Watch the surroundings rework from city sprawl to lush inexperienced countryside as you drive north out of the capital towards Mt Kenya National Park for mountain climbing, climbing and wild tenting. You’ll move the city of Thika – make sure you choose up native pineapples from one of many roadside stalls. From there, get pleasure from an lively cease at Sagana Camp, about 95km (60 miles) from Nairobi, the place you’ll be able to camp, raft and zipline.

A preferred stop-off earlier than Mt Kenya is the equator signal simply earlier than you enter Nanyuki city – it’s laborious to withstand snapping a selfie. Browse the products on the craft market, which additionally has a wonderful espresso kiosk and a comfort retailer promoting ice lotions, drinks and snacks. Nanyuki is the gateway city to Mt Kenya and a full of life place, excellent for selecting up nyama choma (grilled goat meat), grilled corn and different snacks.

Planning tip: If in case you have time, proceed the drive to the plush, swampy and wildlife-packed Meru National Park, west of Mt Kenya. Lesser-visited Meru has an adventurous off-the-beaten-track vibe and fantastic views of Mt Kenya. 

5. Hit the Nairobi to Mombasa Freeway

Finest bush-to-beach highway journey

Nairobi–Mombasa; 490km (305 miles); enable 10 days

You would fly or take the prepare to Mombasa, however for an journey, make your manner by means of the landscapes and wildlife of Amboseli and Tsavo East and West national parks earlier than stress-free on the Indian Ocean beaches. The Nairobi to Mombasa Freeway is an effective, largely double-lane highway and you may take an pleasurable detour to Amboseli, recognized for its beautiful surroundings dominated by Mt Kilimanjaro. Keep right here for a couple of nights to see elephant herds.

From Amboseli, you’ll be able to double again to the primary freeway to achieve Tsavo’s nationwide park. A extra direct highway heads west to Tsavo West, however that is solely an choice if it’s dry and there have been no incidents or opposed climate – ask rangers or workers at Amboseli for the newest highway info. Tsavo (East and West mixed) is one in every of Kenya’s largest parks, famend for its wild landscapes of hills, craters and rocky scrubland. About 100km (62 miles) of freeway runs between Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Park, so you might spot zebras, monkeys and even giraffes and elephants in your drive. A part of the highway additionally runs alongside the railway line, so in case your drive syncs up with a prepare, it makes for an excellent expertise (and picture) as you chug alongside one another.

You’ll discover the terrain altering to a lusher, hillier one with cooler temperatures as you move the city of Mtito Andei, between Tsavo East and West, and thru the plush panorama of Shimba Hills. As you method Mombasa, resolve between the sweeping white-sand seashores of Diani and Galu south of the town, or go north for Kilifi’s bohemian vibe, the superb snorkeling at Watamu or the old-town ambiance of Malindi.

6. On the highway to Lake Turkana

Finest highway journey for severe adventurers

Nairobi–Turkana; 700km (435 miles); enable 6–12 days

Visiting the Lake Turkana Nationwide Parks is an journey in itself, however one which’s definitely worth the effort of intrepid vacationers; the terminus options hanging arid volcanic landscapes surrounding a salty, crocodile-filled crater lake – the vivid “Jade Sea” of Lake Turkana – and conventional fishing villages and communities.

From Nairobi, it takes round six hours to achieve Samburu National Reserve, 300km (185 miles) away, the place an evening in a tented camp affords the possibility to benefit from the riverside setting. A shorter drive (4 to 5 hours) on day two takes you to Marsabit National Park, an sudden patch of inexperienced amid the desert, and residential to an extinct volcano. Spend an evening at Kalacha on the sting of the Chalbi Desert (round 4 hours from Marsabit); Primary Kalacha Camp is a great spot to expertise the solitude and desert landscapes earlier than embarking on the eight-hour drive to Loiyangalani on Lake Turkana’s jap shores.

Strolling and exploring the “Jade Sea” of Lake Turkana is the spotlight, with its crocs, hippos and migratory birds. This area can be house to the El Molo tribe, one in every of Kenya’s smallest communities, who make a residing from fishing and courageous the crocodile-filled waters to take action.

Planning tip: Should you take a group tour, make sure you ask the operator what you will be doing and the place the cash goes. Merely “viewing” the folks and their lives is not beneficial and would not help their native financial system.

7. Desert adventures to Samburu

Finest highway journey for wild landscapes

Nanyuki–Samburu; 130km (80 miles); enable 5 days

Should you’re heading to Kenya’s northern Samburu National Reserve, a highway journey is without doubt one of the finest methods to understand the number of the nation’s landscapes and the way they alter – the plush surroundings offers approach to desert and mountains. Samburu is a outstanding wilderness, and you may go for fairly some time with out seeing one other automotive.

Cease off within the city of Isiolo, a group surrounded by hills and recognized for its massive market. Head to the Catholic Church bell chamber for mesmerizing rooftop views over the city sprawl. Stick with it as much as the Samburu villages round Archers Submit or towards Ngurunit on the base of Mt Poi and northwest of Samburu reserve, earlier than spending a couple of days within the nationwide park, well-known for its wildlife “Particular 5”: gerenuk (long-necked antelope), reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich and customary beisa oryx (antelope).

Ideas for driving in Kenya

Kenya’s major roads are largely in good situation, however you’ll discover a variety of unpaved and generally potholed roads, too. Be sure to hire an acceptable set of wheels for the varieties of terrain you are planning to go to – verify with the automotive rental firm if you happen to aren’t positive. Realizing fundamental automotive upkeep is helpful; breakdown help can take a very long time if you happen to’re someplace distant.

The foundations of the highway could be erratic, and driving in Kenya isn’t for the faint of coronary heart. Truck site visitors can mount up, and there’s a good bit of passing, even on single-lane mountain roads.

From a security perspective, it’s clever to drive throughout daytime due to poor road lighting, variable highway circumstances and crime equivalent to carjacking. Examine your government’s travel advice for the newest on particular areas and ask the automotive rental firm for up-to-date info on arrival.

Lonely Planet contributor Helena Smith supplied extra edits and fact-checking.