Here is a list of World Heritage Sites in Kenya. A world heritage site is an area or landmark that is legally protected by an international convention through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). 1154 World Heritage Sites currently exist in the world.
Kenya is known for its spectacular beauty and a visit offers the experience of a lifetime. Besides the chance to see the big five game animals, the country holds 7 cultural and natural sites that are designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites because of their importance in cultural, historical, natural, and archaeological value. The Kenya UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the following;
UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Kenya
1. Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site
Thimlich Ohinga archaeological site, also known as “frightening dense forest” in the Dholuo language, is a local Nilotic group that occupies the region. The enclosure built of loose stones and blocks without any dressing or mortar was probably built in the 16th century. The archaeological record of materials found within the site goes beyond 500 years. Thimlich Ohinga is indeed the largest and best preserved of these types of traditional enclosures. It is an exceptional example of the tradition of massive dry-stone walled enclosures, typical of the first pastoral communities in the Lake Victoria Basin, which occupied the location from the 16th to the mid-20th century. Thimlich Ohinga is the latest designated world heritage in Kenya, which was done in 2018.
2. Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
The Mijikenda Kaya Forests consist of 11 separate forest sites spread over 200 km along the coast containing the remains of numerous fortified villages, known as kayas, of the Mijikenda people. The kayas, created in the 16th century but abandoned by the 1940s, are now regarded as the abodes of ancestors. They are also revered as sacred sites and, as such, are maintained by councils of elders. The sites are inscribed as bearing unique testimony to a cultural tradition and for its direct link to a living tradition. The sites were designated as UNESCO World Heritage in the year 2008.
3. Kenya Lake System In The Great Rift Valley
The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley is the first natural site on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kenya. It is a natural landscape consisting of three lake basins that are located on a valley floor. This site is noted for its rich population of migratory birds, great white pelicans, and lesser flamingos. The three lakes that are encompassed in this lake system are as follows: Lake Elementaita, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Bogoria. These lakes are hydro-geologically connected via subsurface seepage of water. The alkalinity from these lakes supports the algae formation that serves as food for the flamingos.
4. Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest
This national park and forest were founded in 1949 and added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kenya in 1997. The aim for the establishment of this national park was to protect Mount Kenya, along with its wildlife and environment. This natural environment is crucial as a natural habitat for the animal species that live in the area. Furthermore, it acts as a water catchment area that provides water supply to all of Kenya. It is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This site was primarily a forest reserve before it was elevated into the status of a national park.
5. Lake Turkana National Parks
Since 1997, Lake Turkana and the three national parks (Sibiloi National Park, South Island National Park, and Central Island National Park) that surround it have been part of the UNESCO Natural Heritage. The lake is the most saline of the Great Lakes in Africa and the second-largest inland body of water in Kenya. The national parks are home to great biodiversity for plants and animals and important breeding grounds for mammals such as the hippo. The lake is threatened by a dam project in the neighbouring country of Ethiopia and has therefore been included on the Red List of World Heritage in Danger.
6. Lamu Old Town
In 2001, the old town of Lamu was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is the best preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. To this day, the old town houses structures and other elements of Swahili culture. The island used to be the most important trading centre in East Africa. Thus, the city was culturally influenced not only by Africa but also by India and Arabia.
7. Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus, built in the 16th century, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. It is a fortress on the island of Mombasa, the largest port city in the African country. It was built by the Portuguese to protect the city. In the meantime, it belonged to the Ottoman Empire before being conquered by the British in 1895. Since 1963, Kenya’s independence has been used as a national museum and is a major tourist attraction.
