Kenya is often recognized as one of the best and most beautiful travel destinations for African safari in the world.
Kenya’s 19 game reserves and vast Indian Ocean coastline drew more than 1.4 million tourists to the country last year, many of whom were visiting from other parts of Africa.
But some of the wealthiest tourists aren’t just one-time visitors; they’re actually buying property there, according to a new report from Knight Frank, a London-based real estate consultant.
Kenya is among the top-five most popular second home locations for the wealthiest people in Africa. While the market for beachfront vacation homes is, at present, dominated by rich families from Nairobi, about 4% of the global high-net-worth population has interest in owning a home in Kenya, according to Knight Frank research.
Brits represent the largest group of potential buyers interested in Kenyan property, followed by 16% of wealthy South Africans, and 11% of Spanish, Mauritian, and Americans.
Below, take a look at what is drawing the world’s wealthiest people to Kenya.
Nairobi is a melting pot and a regional hub for the technology and hotel industries, but many visitors are eager to spend time outside the bustling city.
Coastal areas and countryside regions in Kenya are popular spots for vacationers.
Kenya’s tourist season last about 40 weeks out of the year, one of the longest of any beach locale. Plus, there’s no typhoon season or extreme weather conditions.
Known for its white-sand beaches, the Malindi region is home to luxury beachfront resorts and a growing community of Italian ex-pats.
Watamu is another idyllic beach town just south of the Malindi region. There’s plenty to explore at the nearby Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve and Arabuko Sokoke National Park.
While the beaches are beautiful and serene, visitors need to travel inland for Kenya’s greatest treasure: safari parks. Nanyuki is the gateway to Mount Kenya National Park and also offers easy access to smaller parks and reserves in the area.
Maasai Mara National Reserve shares a border with Tanzania, and is one of the top destinations in Kenya. It’s home to cheetahs, leopards, lions, elephants, and zebras. There are also private game conservancies within the park and surrounding it, which are popular among wealthy travelers.
Source: businessimsider.com
