Best Tourist Places to Visit in Nanyuki, Laikipia, Kenya, Africa
Nanyuki is a town situated in the Laikipia County of Kenya, between 0°01′ N latitude and 37°04′ E longitude, around 190 km north of the national capital, Nairobi. Although being a market town, Nanyuki houses many natural as well as manmade tourist attractions that bring tourists in large number during dry season. It position in the vicinity of Mount Kenya has brought a substantial prominence to Nanyuki as it is a good place for accommodation for tourists those who visit nearby Mount Kenya National Park and many other national parks surrounding the city.
History of Nanyuki:
The history of Nanyuki begins with its foundation, made by British settlers in 1907 during their colonial period in Kenya. The town still houses many descendants of the British settlers, who live peacefully with the local Kenyans.
How to reach Nanyuki?
The Nanyuki Airport is catered by Airkenya Express, Tropic Air Kenya and Safarlink, with scheduled flights from Nairobi, Laikipia, Samburu, Meru and Masai Mara. The airport is situated around 6 km away from the heart of the town of Nanyuki.
By bus, Nanyuki is connected to all the major cities of Kenya, including the national capital, Kenya.
To move within the city, visitors can hire car at local travel agency for both short and long period.
Culture, Shopping and Food in Nanyuki:
Lily Pond Arts Centre is a well known cultural centre in Nanyuki among both locals and tourists coming to the town year round.
Being a market town, Nanyuki houses all sorts of shopping options such as traditional markets, branded products showrooms and handicraft items shops.
List of some nice restaurants in Nanyuki include:
- Morani’s Restaurant
- The Old House
- Trout Tree
- Kongoni Camp Restaurant
Things to do in Nanyuki:
- Kinking
- Mountain climbing
- vale tours
What to see in Nanyuki?
Mount Kenya National Park:
The Mount Kenya National Park is the most popular tourist attraction in Nanyuki. It is enclosed by the forest reserve and together with the forest reserve, the national park was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in the year 1997. The park was established in 1949.
Lily Pond Arts Centre:
The Lily Pond Arts Centre is a distinct cultural centre, featuring restaurant and bar and site for creative work. It is concentrated on showcasing the Kenya’s arts features and encourages local art talents.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy:
Situated around 60 km away from Nanyuki, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a wildlife sanctuary, home to around 12% of black rhino population of Kenya and around 350 Grevy’s zebras. The sanctuary occupies a total area of 62,000 acres.
Samburu National Reserve:
The Samburu National Reserve comes under Samburu County, around 135 km northeast of Nanyuki. Covering a total area of 165 km², the park is home around 350 species of bird and animal species like big cats, lion, cheetah and leopard.
Other tourist attractions in and around Nanyuki are as follows:
- Mount Kenya
- Trout fishing in Aberdare National Park
- Lake Naivasha
- Thomson’s Falls
- Mount Kenya
- Mount Kenya Safari Club
- Subukia Shrine
- Fourteen Falls
- Evergreen Park
- Rapids Camp
- Waterfalls in Aberdare National Park
- Kiambethu Farm
When to visit Nanyuki?
Nanyuki generally experiences pleasant weather throughout the year and the best time to visit Nanyuki is from December to January.
Accommodation options in Nanyuki:
Hotels are limited in Nanyuki, but visitors can find a wide selection of camping options in Nanyuki that provide both traditional and modern facilities at reasonable budget. The major tourist favor hotels in Nanyuki are as follows:
- The Sportsman’s Arms Hotel
- Ibis Hotel
- Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
- Falcon Heights Hotel
- Moof Africa Organic Hostel
- Sere Enkang House
- Kirimara Springs Hotel
- Beisa Hotel
- Porini Rhino Camp
- Mukima House
- Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
- Segera Retreat
- Laikipia Wilderness Camp
- Il Ngwesi Lodge
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp