Baringo Lake

Baringo Lake isn't on most tourist routes through Kenya, but it's a place of enormous beauty and the banks are covered with crocodiles and hippos. When I went, the rains had caused the lake to rise several feet and flooded the surrounding forests, making animal-watching somewhat more difficult.

In any case, it's a fantastic spot to see birds, the main draw of the lake. If you combine the spectacular birds with the chance to take in the sunrise from a boat in the middle of the lake you have what is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have in Kenya.

You can rent boats for a few hours from the skippers in the nearby villages or hop a ride with a local boating to the island in the lake.