A tourist circuit is a structured travel route linking at least three major tourist destinations located in different towns or regions but close enough for travelers to visit sequentially without long, tiring distances. Each circuit has a defined entry and exit point, encouraging tourists to explore every attraction along the route.
The goal of a tourist circuit is to:
- Increase the number of visits to destinations along the route
- Improve accessibility and travel flow
- Provide a complete, diverse tourism experience
- Promote regional tourism growth
A tourist circuit = tourist resources + tourist facilities
- Tourist Resources: natural or cultural attractions (beaches, wildlife parks, mountains)
- Tourist Facilities: hotels, lodges, restaurants, and service amenities supporting tourism
Kenya’s tourism circuits are designed to diversify experiences, spread economic benefits, and connect attractions within the same broader region.
Main Tourism Circuits in Kenya
1. Central Kenya Circuit
Counties: Kiambu, Embu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Meru, Nyandarua, Laikipia
Highlights include:
- Mount Kenya National Park
- Aberdare Ranges
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Thompson Falls
- Coffee and tea farm tours
Activities: Hiking, wildlife safaris, cultural tours, agro-tourism and scenic highlands
2. Nairobi Circuit
County: Nairobi
Key Attractions:
- Nairobi National Park – wildlife within the city
- Giraffe Centre
- David Sheldrick Elephant Sanctuary
- Karen Blixen Museum
- Nairobi Museum and Bomas of Kenya
Activities: Urban safaris, museum visits, conservation tours. Perfect for short city tours, business travelers, and cultural experiences.
3. Coastal Circuit
Counties: Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Taita Taveta, Lamu
Key Attractions:
- Beaches: Diani, Watamu, Malindi, Nyali
- Lamu Old Town (UNESCO Heritage Site)
- Gedi Ruins
- Marine Parks: Malindi, Watamu, Mombasa, Kisite-Mpunguti
- Shimba Hills National Reserve
- Mombasa Old Town & Fort Jesus
Activities: Beach holidays, snorkeling, scuba diving, dhow cruises, cultural heritage tours and marine adventures
4. South Rift Circuit
Counties: Kajiado, Narok, Nakuru
Key Attractions:
- Maasai Mara National Reserve – Great Migration
- Lake Nakuru National Park – flamingos & rhinos
- Maasai cultural homesteads
- Mount Longonot
- Hell’s Gate National Park
Activities: Game drives, hot air balloons, birdwatching, cultural experiences and geothermal wonders
5. North Rift Circuit
Counties: Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, Trans Nzoia, Nandi
Key Attractions:
- Kerio Valley escarpments
- Turkwel Gorge
- Kapenguria Museum – Mau Mau history
- Scenic highlands
- Lake Baringo & Lake Bogoria
- Kerio Valley
- Saiwa Swamp
- Tea estates in Kericho and Nandi
Activities: Adventure tourism, hiking, cultural exploration
6. Northern Kenya Circuit
Counties: Marsabit, Samburu, Turkana, Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa
Key Attractions:
- Lake Turkana – largest desert lake in the world
- Central Island National Park
- Samburu National Reserve
- Chalbi Desert
- Pastoralist cultures (Rendille, Samburu, Turkana)
- Mount Ololokwe
- Marsabit National Park
Activities: Desert safaris, cultural tourism, archaeology (Koobi Fora), camel derbies
7. Southern Circuit
Counties: Taita Taveta, Kajiado
Popular sites:
- Amboseli National Park
- Tsavo East & West
- Chyulu Hills
- Lake Chala
Perfect for classic wildlife safaris and scenic landscapes.
8. Western Kenya Circuit
Counties: Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Kisii, Nyamira
Key Attractions:
- Kakamega Forest – Kenya’s only tropical rainforest
- Mount Elgon National Park
- Lake Victoria attractions
- Kit Mikayi – sacred cultural site
- Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
- Thimlich Ohinga (UNESCO)
Activities: Birdwatching, hiking, cultural tours, boat rides, heritage visits
9. Eastern Kenya Circuit
Counties: Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Tharaka Nithi
Key Attractions:
- Mwingi National Reserve
- Nzambani Rock
- Kitui South Game Reserve
- Makueni Hills
- Ol Donyo Sabuk
- Wote cultural heritage sites
Activities: Hiking, cultural tourism, nature walks
Importance of Tourism Circuits in Kenya
Tourism circuits play a vital role in shaping Kenya’s tourism economy. They:
- Promote regional economic growth
- Diversify tourist experiences
- Reduce pressure on overcrowded parks
- Enhance infrastructure development
- Encourage longer stays and multi-destination trips
- Improve marketing efficiency for tour operators
