5 adventurous things to do in Kenya

There's more to Kenya than safaris. Harriet Constable suggest five activities for travellers with energy to burn

7 mins

Quad bike silhouette (Shutterstock.com)Quad bike silhouette (Shutterstock)

1. Quad bike safari in Lewa

Head to Lewa conservancy in northern Kenya for a quad bike safari along the game trails. Day trips include breakfast and refreshments along the way, and if cash isn’t an issue you can even be helicoptered to an even more remote and beautiful setting. When the heat gets too much just stop off at one of the clear blue ice pools – the water comes fresh from the slopes of Mt Kenya – for a dip.

White water rafting in Africa (Shutterstock.com)Kayaking in Africa (Shutterstock)

2. White water rafting

Kenya has plenty of options for white water rafting and kayaking. Check out the Mathioya, Tana or Athi River routes, with the latter classified as one of the ‘top ten river trips in the world’, for its combination of exhilarating white water and stunning wildlife views.

Canyon, Hell's Gate National Park (Shutterstock.com)Canyon in Hell's Gate National Park, Kenya (Shutterstock)

3. Scale the rocks at Hell’s Gate National Park

Hells Gate National Park in Naivasha (2-hour drive from Nairobi) is a well established area for outdoor rock climbing over its hard slate rocks. The setting is particularly cool because it’s a National Park, so expect herds of zebra and giraffe to saunter past as you ascend. To book, head to Hells Gate and ask to climb.

Longonot Crater, Kenya (Shutterstock.com)Longonot Crater (Shutterstock)

4. Climb a volcano

Longonot is a dormant volcano in Naivasha with a forest growing in the crater. Described by a friend of mine as a ‘cheeky’ hike, it’s a fun day trip with a small amount of rock-scaling involved. More ambitious hikers can head to Mount Kenya (hailed for its incredible views and lesser-known status when compared to Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro). Hikes to the summit can be completed in 3, 5 or 7 days depending on fitness levels.

Lake Magadi (Shutterstock.com)Lake Magadi (Shutterstock)

5. Camp on Lake Magadi  

In the southernmost section of Kenya’s Rift Valley Lake Magadi lies in a catchment of faulted volcanic rocks. Camping on the edge of the lake is an out-of-this-world experience – it’s more like staying on Mars. At the crack of dawn, leave your tent and dip into the hot springs to have them all to yourself as the sun rises.

Harriet Constable is a freelance writer based in Nairobi. You can follow her adventures on her blog, Harri Travels.

Main image: Samburru dancers, Kenya (Shutterstock)

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