Someone who is truly passionate about the African tourism industry and promotes popular tourist destinations in Kenya, is Hellen Akumu, who owns Stunning Destinations in Nairobi, Kenya.
I recently had a chance to sit with Hellen and discuss some of the best tourist destinations in Kenya. It was very evident from chatting with Hellen, that she is exceedingly excited when discussing what she thinks are some of the best destinations in Kenya
RJZ: Helen, why do you think overseas visitors should come to popular tourist destinations in Kenya.
HA: So basically, talking about Kenya, Kenya is a land of contrast and diversity that offers a number scenic landscapes. Another thing we have, is the wide savannas and beautiful vegetation that people can view.
We have a lot of wildlife in Kenya that you can see as well as meandering rivers and of course the birdlife in Kenya. We have so many destinations in Kenya combined, plus the cultural diversity.
Kenya is blessed with pristine beaches that visitors can relax and unwind. Lamu is another popular destination on the coast. Laikipia is another area of immense beauty and bountiful wildlife, from rhinos to chimpanzees. There are many conservation ranches in Laikipia too.
Another great destination that you can visit in Kenya is Samburu where there are great herds of elephants, giraffe, and the big cats too!
Savo is another area which is renowned for the “man-eating” lions, as well as huge populations of other wildlife, as well as the Big 5. Hiking is also quite popular in this area as the landscape and hills allow for this pastime.
Another very good destination is, Amboseli National Park, which provides you with a clear view of the Kilimanjaro Mountain. So, you do not need to visit Tanzania if you want to see Kilimanjaro. Amboseli National Park is also blessed with abundant wildlife. White and Black Rhinos as well as the wild dog.
Of course, it would be amiss of me not to include the spectacular wildebeest migration in Kenya. This happens between July and October and visitors can witness this once in a lifetime event as it is truly survival of the fittest, especially the beautiful part of the crossing.
This can be seen several ways, the most popular being by vehicle or hot air balloons. This of course is when they are crossing from northern Tanzania’s Serengeti into the Masai Mara. It is a truly magnificent site and should be on everyone’s bucket list
The Masai Mara is not just about the wildebeest migration, visitors can also experience the Cultural heritage where you visit authentic villages of the tribe and you can learn a lot about Masai Mara traditions. The Masai Mara women will teach traditional cooking as well as our conservation activities amongst the locals.
Another opportunity when visiting Kenya are the crystal-clear beaches at Diani and Watamu, which have some great 5* hotels to accommodate guests.
RJZ: Tell me, where do you think are the best destinations in Kenya?
HA: For me, Masai Mara must be my favourite. The conservation in this area is what I love the most.
RJZ: Can you give me a fun fact of a personal experience that you have had while you have been involved in the tourism industry?
HA: I think the best thing that ever happened, was while I was visiting the Masai Mara, we were on a game drive in a land cruiser. There was a cheetah that just wanted to get into the vehicle, and although the guide tried to chase it away, it just jumped right into the vehicle.
Luckily enough it was not trying to attack. I just leapt right out of my seat as I was so scared, thinking it was going to bite me, but then the cheetah just jumped out the vehicle again and strolled off.
RJZ: Can you just tell me a little bit about yourself for and why you promote some of the best tourist destinations in Kenya? Who you are, where you’ve come from and how you have come to be, the founder and owner of stunning destinations.
HA: Before starting my company, I used to work in Lamu County.
From finishing high school, I travelled to most of the cities in Kenya. I was fascinated by why tourists were visiting Kenya. After chatting with people and friends in the industry and questioning how the industry works, I thought that if I can put something personal together with my knowledge and know how that I have, then I can give people the very best experience! So, I started this company in 2023.
So, my company’s modus operandi is:
We want for our travellers to have the best experience.
Sell high-end hotels to people, so they can have the best experience of their life.
Prioritize in taking care of every bit of our client’s requirements.
Helping them throughout their journey
Interested in finding out more about great deals to Kenya, please feel free to email me: rael@wildsunsets.travel or check out some of our specials at www.wildsunsets.travel