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The holidays are here with us again and for last-minute decision makers, most hotels at the Coast are already fully booked for Xmas and New Year fetes. There are openings in North Coast hotels— Malindi and Lamu— but doors are closing there too. 

This will force you to look for options far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The good thing is that Kenya offers a wide variety of activities that both family and solo travellers can enjoy away from the beaches.

 These range from game drives and bush camping to moonlight dinners, hiking, mountain climbing and forest destination tours. All these offer perfect destinations depending on the personality of the tourist — and the weather for mountain climbers.

One of the places where one can have a different experience  is Turkana county. Whether accessed on a road trip or by air, Turkana offers beach, cultural and desert experiences for the adventurous, be it family or friends. Most camps and hotels here don’t charge high season rates. 

Take Stegra Hotel on the Kitale-Lodwar road, for instance. It offers a swimming pool, a live band and comfortable rooms where one can spend a night or week while traversing the North Rift region. Their rates range from Sh5,000 to Sh7,000 a night.

  “There’s always a memorable experience in Turkana in so many ways and visitors enjoy a variety of activities such as fishing or boat riding on Lake Turkana, touring Central Island, Kalopol as well as Nariokotome. Unlike many hotels, we don’t hike our rates over holidays and we give everyone a chance to celebrate,” says Esther Mwangi,  Events and Communications Manager at Stegra. 

Baringo county is also another area where one can spend Christmas. Here, guests can enjoy a wide range of activities such as magnificent views of Lake Baringo, which has been awarded the Ramsar Site status for its abundant bird life. While some lodges such as Island Camp will be closed during the period (due to low bookings), others such as Robert Camp and Samatian Island are open for the festive season. Samatian Island is a beautiful, private, self-catering home that can accommodate 12 guests all at Sh25,000 a night and a 20-minute  boat ride from the jetty at Kampi ya Samaki.     

About 240km from Nairobi lies another gem, Lake Bogoria, where one can view the magnificent flamingoes. Popular hotels such as Lake Bogoria Spa and Resort charge about Sh25,000 per night. However, one can always book a more affordable room in Nakuru or in Kabarnet and wake up early for a day’s excursion around the lake. 

Sagana hotels  

Don’t ignore Nakuru county this Christmas, where one can enjoy a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, though its likely to be crowded by Christmas-New Year week.  You can also tour Lord Egerton Castle, visit the Hyrax Museum, Menengai caldera or watch a play at Nakuru Players Theatre.  “Nakuru has vast activities to explore and Kenyans should book early to take advantage of offers this Christmas,” says Pius Maratani, marketing manager Kivu Resort, Nakuru. 

The resort has a 10 per cent discount for all customers who book early.  A family room here costs Sh4,500 on full board while a standard one goes for Sh4,400. 

A quick Google search yields alternative accommodation, but it is prudent to enquire from friends, family and tour operators. For instance, Christian and Muslim faith-based hotels such as Imani Guest House (Anglican church) and Milele (PCEA church) are popular with the faithful.   

Sagana, Nyeri county, is another option when it comes to spending quality time this Christmas. The key attraction in this area is Sagana River  (better known as Tana River), said to be the best white-water rafting destination in Kenya. Accommodations such as Rapid Camp Sagana and Savage Wilderness have special activities this Christmas, which include river swims, kayaking, hiking, waterfall tours and Christmas brunches.  

Other hotels include Nokras, Maya Resort and Sagana Gateway, a resort and conference centre situated near Tana River in Makuyu, just off the main Nairobi-Nyeri highway. The resort has beautifully designed cottages costing up to Sh20,000 for double full board, with a family cottage that accommodates up to four adults on vacation.  

And if you still desire to be at the Coast, then laid back towns such as Malindi, Kilifi and Lamu could be the better choice. Reports from South Coast and Mombasa county indicate full bookings already, but in the North Coast, there is plenty of space.   According to Purity Mungai, marketing executive at Kilili Baharini Resort in Malindi, there’s a lot of activities in Kilifi county including pristine beaches where a family or a group of friends can enjoy the festive season. 

“Instead of Mombasa or Kwale, Malindi is one of the coastal destinations where one can not only enjoy our beach but also tour the Vasco da Gama pillar, Malindi Marine National Park, Malindi Museum as well as a vibrant night life for the Nairobi people who love wild partying,” she says.