Kenya Cities - Each of the Cities in Kenya Boasts A Unique History, Culture and Charm

Each of the 3 Kenya cities lends its distinctive charm and character to a country that is visited as much for its heavenly beaches and countless wildlife as it is for business. These 3 cities are Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

Nairobi

Nairobi isn't just the bustling administrative and commercial capital of Kenya, it is the safari capital of the world. In that sense, it offers the best of both worlds...

Incredibly profitable businesses, a thriving stock exchange, markets, ultramodern shopping malls, schools and hospitals but also a range of tourist attractions to spice up your holiday.

One of these tourist destinations is the Nairobi National Park which is surreally located a stone's throw from the city center. And to compound the surrealism, this wildlife habitat is home to the animal species that are every tourist's dream...

Lions. Leopards. Rhinos. Buffaloes. Giraffes. Cheetahs. Zebras. And, other species and prolific birdlife. Other Nairobi tourist attractions well worth visiting include...

The Giraffe Center, where you stand shoulder to shoulder with the endangered Rothschild giraffe. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which runs a nursery for orphaned baby elephants and, Mamba Village, a crocodile farm in Nairobi.

For those who want to put the cosmopolitan stature of the largest of the Kenya cities into perspective, there are several museums that you can visit. These include the recently refurbished Nairobi National Museum as well as the Nairobi Railway Museum and, Karen Blixen Museum where the author of the critically acclaimed "Out of Africa" novel, once lived.

These attractions are supported by a sophisticated tourism infrastructure that includes some good restaurants, an international airport and a choice of world class hotels. Some of the popular Nairobi hotels are Hilton Nairobi, Holiday Inn Nairobi, Nairobi Serena, Intercontinental, Stanley Hotel Nairobi and Safari Park Hotel Nairobi.

Mombasa

The coastal city of Mombasa is the second largest of the cities in Kenya. And it is a city of many faces...

Between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, it was the site of many fierce battles between the Omani Arabs and Portuguese owing to its strategic location...

The Omani and Portuguese influences on the city are epitomized by Fort Jesus, an architectural masterpiece that is also Mombasa's most visited tourist attraction. Many of the cannons used in the countless "sieges" continue to grace the fortress' courtyard.

And adjacent Fort Jesus is the exotic Mombasa Old Town. Old Town has distinctively narrow alleys and its eighteenth century buildings have intricately carved doors and elaborate balconies. Old Town is also a lesson in cultural tolerance as African, Arab, Asian, British and Portuguese communities have coexisted harmoniously for centuries.

Mombasa is also renowned for endless spectacular beaches. The North Coast of the second largest of the Kenya cities is easier to access while the South Coast is renowned for its secluded powdery beaches. But both "coasts" are lined with a range of outstanding hotels.

The Mombasa beaches lap against the waters of the Indian Ocean which is home to some incredible coral gardens and a kaleidoscope of fish and other sea creatures. There are therefore plenty of opportunities for ocean sports enthusiasts to go surfing, snorkeling, diving and deep sea fishing.

And, in keeping with Kenya's standing as a wildlife nirvana, there are tourist attractions to explore in this arena too. These include the Shimba Hills National Park, the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, Haller Park and the Mamba Village, the largest crocodile farm in this corner of Africa.

The port of Mombasa, the largest, busiest and deepest in East Africa, is the lifeblood of the region. Indeed, it meets the bulk export and import needs of not just Kenya but Uganda, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern DRC.

Kisumu

Kisumu is the third largest of the cities in Kenya. It is located on the shores of the magnificent Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake and the source of the Nile River.

Although is it the least visited of the 3 Kenya cities, it rewards anyone who veers off-the-beaten-track to visit it with a range of inimitable attractions. These include the Kisumu Museum, Impala Sanctuary, Bird Sanctuary, Hippo Point and a cluster of islands.

More recently, Kisumu has been thrust into the international limelight as the city nearest Nyang'oma Kogelo, the ancestral village of US President Barack Obama.

And, as would be expected of a city, it offers a range of first-rate accommodations. Some of these such as Kiboko Bay Resort, Imperial and Sunset Hotels are pretty close to the city center.

And, the Lake Victoria island resorts are great for anyone looking for a quieter setting. They are particularly ideal for launching Nile Perch fishing expeditions and are renowned for some awesome sunsets which drape the lake and its horizons first into a blanket of orange, then unbelievably, gold.

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