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| Guida Viaggi | ||
| Itinerari |
| Africa | ||
| Kenya |
| Nyeri | Masai | Lamu | Nairobi |
| Tsavo | Mombasa |
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| Kenya Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Masai feet Masai feet Lian Mah There are many different landscape and cultures, all quite different and beautiful. There is the desert of the north, and The Rift Valley where evidence of protohumans was first found. There are many brilliant Lakes , including Lake Victoria in western Kenya, Lake Naivasha and many more. Kenya has the second highest peak in Africa, the great Mt. Kenya . It has twenty National Parks and Reserves packed full of the exlusive “Big Five” (Elephant, Leopard, Lion, Cape Buffalo, and Rhinoceros). |
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| Of course, there is also The Coast , very picturesque, with white sands,
emerald water, and the Swahili culture, a unique mix of Arabic and Bantu
influences. Compound the incredible scenery and limitless travel options
with friendly and welcoming people, and visiting Kenya becomes a great
vacation. while in coast visit the garden of eden :maweni beach cottages in
tiwi. Lovely naturalland scapes with self catering cottages. Fresh sea food
to your doorstep every morning by the local fishermen. Cottages with a
lovely seaview. No tv, radios are allowed just the noise of the waves
breaking and early morning birds. Real paradise. No wonder advance bookings
required. maweni beach cottages. The northwestern region of this country, the Turkana District, is a vast, desolate, hot, arid landscape where goatherders and bandits coexist. Lodwar, comparable to the "Dodge City" of the early American West, has the basic necessities of life, including Internet kiosks and semi-reliable electricity. Lokichoggio, the outpost in the northeasternmost sector of this county, is home to UN refugee camps with 30,000+ people. Roads are extremely rough, the terrain unforgiving, and people always inquisitive about what brings you to their country. |
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| The best places to start your travels in Kenya are probably Nairobi N.P. the
capital and South of Mombasa the second largest city, located on the coast.
Both are served by international flights and have a very good tourist
infrastructure. Maasai Mara National Game Reserve is connected with Serengeti N.P. in Tanzania. The park is very accomodating to tourists, and offers many opportunities to see true African wildlife. The Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge is a true romantic complex overlooking the savannah and offering world class accomodations for the weary traveler. __________History Edit This i Trevor Mikelas Although Kenya may have provided the setting for the earliest development of the human species, the ancestors of the modern nation's African population began making their appearance in the region less than 1,000 years ago, and the in-migration of some ethnic aggregations continued into the twentieth century. Culturally and linguistically heterogeneous groups of agriculturists and nomadic pastoralists settled in the physically varied environment of the country's interior, where as many as 40 distinct ethnic categories have been recognized. Among these the Bantu-speaking Kikuyu emerged as the dominant group in Kenya's fertile heartland. The coastal region experienced a different history, coming under Islamic influence as early as the tenth century. Arab and Persian merchants founded towns there whose ports became part of a commercial network linked to the Middle East. Intimate contacts between the Arab and indigenous Bantu cultures on the coast produced over a long period of time the Swahili culture, in which the characteristics of both were assimilated. The history of Kenya as a political entity began with the region's inclusion in the British sphere of influence in the late nineteenth century and the subsequent establishment of a British protectorate and colony there. The British brought together the country's diverse elements under a unified administration and bestowed on it the name Kenya after the 5,200-meter peak in the central highlands that the Kikuyu called kere nyaga, the "mountain of whiteness." The aim of British colonialism in Kenya was to integrate the country into an imperial system and to develop its economic potential, while providing for the security of the indigenous population and improving their general well-being, as defined according to the prevailing mentality of colonial authorities. The political, economic, and social changes brought about by the British were not effected smoothly, however, nor from an African perspective were they uniformly advantageous. An early realization that the climate and fertility of the Kenya Highlands made the region ideal for European settlement encouraged the reservation there of large tracts of the country's best land for the white minority and corresponding restrictions on African and Asian land use. Social pressures engendered by these restrictions and the inability of limited African reserves to meet the land needs of an expanding population-together with growing African resentment of the inferior status accorded them-provoked unrest that contributed to the formation of political action groups, organized on the basis of ethnic affiliation, in the 1920s. Improvement in the lot of the average African was limited until after World War II when political movements, like that among the Kikuyu led by Jomo Kenyatta, demanded a role for the black majority in Kenya's government. The determination of the European community to retain exclusive control in a "White Man's Country" and the continued denial of African rights set off a violent reaction during the Mau Mau emergency in the 1950s. The Kikuyu-led insurrection was suppressed, and the lengthy imprisonment of Kenyatta and other African leaders suspected of complicity in it caused a hiatus in organized African political activity until 1960, when the campaign for majority rule within the framework of the colonial regime succeeded in submerging ethnic differences among Africans and in winning the recognition of British authorities. In 1961 the British government set Kenya on a course that led to majority rule and, at the end of 1963, to full independence within the Commonwealth of Nations. The next year Kenya became a republic under a unitary form of government headed by Kenyatta as its first president, and the principal political parties voluntarily merged under his leadership in the Kenya African National Union (KANU). Radical dissidents and ethnic interest groups fearful of Kikuyu domination followed Oginga Odinga out of KANU during an interlude in the late 1960s, but the rival political movement that they formed was banned in 1969, and Kenya reverted in practice to being a one-party state. Ethnic antagonisms remained the principal stumbling block to national unity, but Kenyatta's firm, paternalistic rule nonetheless provided the country with a substantial degree of stability during the first decade and a half of Kenya's independent existence. Although the Mzee-the "Old Man," as Kenyatta was familiarly known-held tightly to the reins of power, Kenya maintained basically democratic institutions. Parliamentary debate was sharp and frequently questioned government policies, elections were vigorously contested by rival candidates, and the press was relatively free in its reporting and commentary. A program of "Kenyanization" of government and the economy was instituted, however, gradually forcing the departure of most of the country's European and Asian populations. Operated by an African entrepreneurial elite with close ties to the political elite, the Kenyan economy developed along capitalist lines, emphasizing rapid growth and modern production methods. The favorable orientation of the economy and stable political conditions inspired a confidence in the country's future that encouraged investment. Political opposition, however, focused on substantial inequities in distribution, particularly of farmland, as well as on official corruption. As an aging Kenyatta became more withdrawn from the everyday conduct of government, decisionmaking was deferred more and more to members of the inner circle of advisers and officials who surrounded him. Rival personalities and factions within KANU maneuvered for position in anticipation of the end of the Kenyatta era. When the Mzee died in office in August 1978, he was succeeded by his vice president and heir apparent, Daniel arap Moi, in an orderly transition of power. . . . . The Peopling of the Interior People of three distinct language groups-Bantu, Cushitic, and Nilotic-are found in present-day Kenya. The interior of the country, extending from the nyika (Swahili for wilderness-applied to the climatically hostile area forming a barrier behind the coast) to Lake Victoria, is populated by intermingled groups of Bantu-speaking and Nilotic peoples, whose ancestors migrated to Kenya after the beginning of the second millennium A.D. The early Cushitic people who inhabited western Kenya and parts of the highlands area were absorbed or driven out during these movements. Elements of the present Cushitic-speaking population, which occupies the northern and northeastern parts of the country, began arriving sometime before the sixteenth century. Somali clans eventually ranged over most of northeastern Kenya. A particularly large influx of Oromo (Galla) people, moving out of Ethiopia, started toward the end of the nineteenth century and continued through the early decades of the twentieth (see fig. 2). In their oral histories, the Kikuyu, the nation's largest ethnic group, claim that their ancestors came originally from northeast of Mount Kenya in a migration that was probably under way in the fifteenth century. Archaeological discoveries in central Kenya, related to the presumed Bantu-speaking people who entered southern Kenya during the first millennium, indicate that these people preceded the Kikuyu in the region. Linguistic studies further suggest that they may have been the ancestors of several later Bantu groups in the area, including the Kikuyu. During the three to four centuries after their migration began, the proto-Kikuyu moved slowly southwestward, splitting into new groups that by the late nineteenth century occupied a broad area in the central part of the highlands. In the course of their movement they absorbed other groups already in place. Such ethnic elements included the short-statured Gumba and the Athi (also Okiek or Nderobo), both hunting and gathering peoples. The Gumba, believed to have been Cushitic speakers, were primarily hunters in the open grasslands. Oral traditions state that they were skilled at iron working and pottery making, a knowledge of which they imparted to the Kikuyu. The two ethnic groups seem to have lived in a symbiotic relationship, exchanging meat and skins for agricultural products, and considerable assimilation of the Gumba by Kikuyu groups occurred. The expansion of the Kikuyu, however, resulted in friction and eventually war, as land used for hunting was cleared for cultivation. Little is known about the fate of the Gumba after hostilities with the Kikuyu in the mid-nineteenth century. The Athi were forest dwellers who seem to have had a relationship with the Kikuyu similar to that of the Gumba. They were only partly assimilated by the Kikuyu, however, and groups of them still survive, mainly in Rift Valley Province. The Athi are important in Kikuyu history; it was they who, according to tradition, sold the heartland region of Kabete to the Kikuyu in exchange for cattle. The Bantu communities that eventually merged to form the Kamba appear to have been in the area of Mount Kilimanjaro about the fifteenth century, and they probably reached the Mbooni Hills, their ethnic heartland in present-day Machakos District, in the latter half of the seventeenth century. Initially hunters and gatherers, they turned to agriculture because of the fertility of the new territory. Population growth led to their expansion to areas less suitable for cultivation, including Kitui to the east, where they returned to hunting and readopted their earlier pastoralism. Kamba hunting groups discovered the value of ivory as a trade item, beginning the systematic exploitation of elephants and eventually forming two-way trade caravans to the coast. From the late eighteenth century their trade increased greatly, and activities were eventually extended over a wide area stretching north to the Tana River, south into present-day Tanzania, and west to the forests of Mount Kenya and Kikuyu country. At its peak in the mid-nineteenth century, Kamba trade was the mainstay of the prosperity of the coastal port of Mombasa, but other groups were by then beginning to contest their monopoly. Feuds among the Kamba clans also began to affect trading operations, as did efforts by peoples in the Kenya Highlands to exclude the Kamba from their territory-in part because the Kamba had turned to raiding for slaves. Depletion of elephants by the late nineteenth century had created a new problem, forcing Kamba hunters to go hundreds of miles for ivory. Moreover, a general state of unrest, which endangered caravan traffic, existed in the nyika, and caravans traveling safer routes farther south secured much of the interior trade. Kamba trade continued at a much reduced rate until competition from the Uganda railroad, which ran through their territory carrying goods between Mombasa and Kisumu, finally brought an end to well over a century of aggressive Kamba commercial activities. Bantu-speaking peoples had begun arriving in the Lake Victoria region of western Kenya by about the eleventh century. Sometime during the next few centuries, separate agricultural groups that later came to constitute the Luhya occupied the lakeshore. During the sixteenth century the pastoral Nilotic Luo pushed into the area north of Winam Bay from present-day Uganda, displacing the Luhya eastward. Settled agricultural practices appear to have been adopted by at least some Luo, but by the middle of the next century others were on the move southward along the shore of the lake, conquering new territory as they went. There they came against the Bantu Kisii (Gusii), who were also expanding into this part of Kenya. Territorial adjustments between these three peoples, as well as with Nilotic groups on their eastern fringes, often involved warfare and continued until the imposition of British control early in the twentieth century effectively brought an end to the forcible occupation of land by rival ethnic groups. The time of entry and dispersion of the ancestors of various other Nilotic peoples in modern Kenya is uncertain. The first groups must have begun their in-migration-from the general area of southwestern Ethiopia-in the early centuries of the second millennium, for the ancestors of the Kalenjin peoples, among them the Nandi, appear to have reached the Mount Elgon region before 1500. By the early seventeenth century Maasai pastoralists were pushing southward through the Rift Valley and are known from oral records to have been at the southern end of the Kenya section of the rift in the eighteenth century, becoming the dominant force in southwestern Kenya. Although weakened by internal warfare, the Maasai were so feared by neighboring groups that few dared challenge their control of the southern valley, plains areas, and surrounding plateaus. Among the latest major Nilotic arrivals were the Turkana pastoralists, who entered northwestern Kenya in the eighteenth century. The Kenya Coast The coast of East Africa was mentioned in Greek accounts written in the first and second centuries A.D., listing items of trade from the region that included ivory, tortoiseshell, and spices. Although archaeological evidence of sites dating from before the thirteenth century is lacking, references in medieval Arab documents indicate that Muslim traders had set up an outpost on Pate Island in the Lamu Archipelago some 500 years earlier and that other settlements founded along the coast by Arab and Persian (Shirazi) merchants probably date from the tenth and eleventh centuries. These towns, stretching from the Benadir Coast in Somalia to Sofala in Mozambique, became links in an extensive commercial network connecting East Africa with Southwest Asia and the Indies. Gold brought to the coast from the fields around Great Zimbabwe was shipped from Kilwa in present-day Tanzania, the most important of the Arab colonies. Those farther up the coast at Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, and Pate in present-day Kenya exported slaves and ivory that had been exchanged by Africans from the interior for salt, cloth, beads, and metal goods. A trading expedition from China is recorded as having reached Malindi about 1417. Although the sultan of Kilwa exercised a loose hegemony over them, the larger Arab towns gradually developed as autonomous sultanates, competing fiercely for a larger share of the region's commerce. The fortunes of the sultanates rose and fell but, by the end of the fifteenth century, Malindi had established itself as the most prosperous trading center on the Kenyan coast, surpassing its rival, Mombasa. Migration of Arab families to East Africa continued, particularly from the Hadramaut in southern Arabia. Over time a distinctive Islamic culture resulted in the coastal region from intermarriage between indigenous Bantu-speaking Africans and Arab settlers. Physical and cultural integration were accompanied by the development of the Swahili (from the Arabic for "coastal") language, which came to serve as the lingua franca of the East African littoral as well as the mother tongue of the mixed population. The Portuguese Presence The navigator Vasco da Gama called at Mombasa and Malindi on his voyage to India in 1498, initiating 200 years of Portuguese influence along the East African coast. The sultanate of Malindi quickly established friendly relations with the newcomers and opened its port to their trade. Its rival, Mombasa, reacted with hostility to the Portuguese intrusion, however, and in 1505 the town was sacked by Francisco de Almeida, who commanded an expeditionary force that had occupied Kilwa and Sofala earlier that same year. When Mombasa became the center of Arab resistance in East Africa, the Portuguese carried out a second destructive attack on the town in 1529 with the assistance of Malindi, compelling its sultan to recognize the overlordship of the Portuguese crown and pay an annual tribute. Portuguese control in the region, exercised at a distance by the governor of Goa through allies such as the sultan of Malindi, remained tenuous during most of the sixteenth century. Resentment against foreign influence continued to fester, until in 1589 Mombasa renounced Portuguese suzerainty and accepted the protection of the Turkish corsair Mirale Bey and his fleet. A strong Portuguese flotilla, dispatched from Goa, captured the Turkish vessels and left Mombasa to be looted by the Zimba, a marauding band of African warriors who two years before had destroyed Kilwa. When the Zimba next turned against Malindi, however, they were defeated by the intervention of warriors from the neighboring Segeju tribe. The sultan of Malindi then employed the Segeju in taking Mombasa, moving his court there in 1592 and inviting his Portuguese friends to install a garrison. In order to strengthen their hold on that stretch of the East African coast, the Portuguese began construction of a massive defense works, Fort Jesus, at the entrance to Mombasa harbor in 1593. For close to four decades thereafter Portuguese dominance was unchallenged until, in 1631, they temporarily lost both the town and the fort to a disaffected Arab sultan. Although these were recaptured eight years later, the Portuguese were soon challenged by the growing power of the imam of Oman (southeastern Arabia) for control of the northern coast. (The imam derived his political authority from his office as religious leader.) In 1660 Mombasa was seized by Omani forces, although the Portuguese held Fort Jesus until 1699 when it fell after an epic three-year siege. An attempt by the Portuguese to regain the fort in 1728 failed. Not until the start of British antislaving activities in East Africa early in the next century was European influence reasserted in the region. Throughout their 200 years on the Kenyan coast, the Portuguese showed no interest in colonization. The chief concern of the handful of Portuguese in the coastal towns was trade, and the two centuries of their presence left no permanent marks other than a few words bequeathed to the Swahili language and such monuments as Fort Jesus. Indirectly, however, as elsewhere in East Africa, Portuguese influence had a far-reaching impact through the introduction of major food crops from the New World, in particular, maize, cassava, and potatoes. These became staples in much of the region and contributed to the growth of its population. The Omani Hegemony After the capture of Fort Jesus and the subsequent expulsion of the Portuguese from Zanzibar, the imam of Oman was able to claim suzerainty over the entire coast of East Africa. His authority there was largely nominal, however, and actual control lay in the hands of the Arab families who ruled the coastal towns. The strongest of these families was the Mazrui, who in 1727 had come to power in Mombasa. In 1741 the incumbent imam was overthrown in Oman and replaced by Said al Busaidi, who also took the secular title of sayyid (lord) and established a dynasty. The Mazrui took advantage of the change of rulers in Oman and renounced their allegiance to the imam, establishing at Mombasa an independent shaykhdom that eventually dominated much of the coast from Pate in the north to Pemba Island. In 1806 a strong figure of the Busaidi line, Said bin Sultan, became sayyid in Oman and set about to reassert Omani authority in East Africa. His rise to power coincided, however, with British efforts to curb the slave trade and combat piracy in the Persian Gulf, which caused Britain to exercise a dominating influence over the actions of Said and his successors throughout the rest of the nineteenth century. In 1823, for example, British representatives persuaded Said to consent to an agreement restricting his involvement in the slave trade to his own possessions. The treaty had little impact on the existing slave trade inasmuch as the main movement of slaves in the region ran through territory claimed by Oman or in its coastal waters, but it was intended rather to prevent the expansion of the trade to new markets. Of larger significance at the time was the treaty's recognition of Omani sovereignty from the Benadir Coast southward to Portuguese Mozambique. By 1824 Said's forces had ousted the Mazrui from the Lamu Archipelago and were poised to attack their stronghold at Mombasa. When the townspeople petitioned the captain of a British naval vessel to guarantee their security, the officer proclaimed a protectorate over Mombasa, considering it an opportunity to stop slaving through the port, although he lacked authorization for such an action. The British government repudiated the arrangement made in its name, as did the Mazrui, who claimed the town. Mombasa fell to the Omani in 1828, although Mazrui held out against them in Fort Jesus for another nine years. In 1840 Said moved his court from Oman to Zanzibar, where he assumed the title of sultan, but British influence followed him there. Zanzibar was the main entrepot for the slave trade along the East African coast, prompting the British to impose another treaty on Said in 1845 that limited the trading to the coastal area from Kilwa to Lamu. The trade in the unrestricted area continued to flourish, however. Reports of the horrors of the slave trade made by British naval officers and by European travelers shocked the British public and brought support for the permanent stationing of an antislaving patrol in the western Indian Ocean. British pressure was also increased on the sultan to agree to a further restriction of the trade. Gradually, concessions were made, and in 1873 the reigning sultan, Barghash, agreed to stop the sale of slaves and all slave shipments between ports in his domain. Movement of slaves continued overland behind the coast, but in 1877 the sultan ordered this halted as well. The entry of slave caravans from the interior to the coastal area was also prohibited. To enforce these decrees an armed force led by a British officer was recruited. The measures were far from popular, and in Kenya in 1880 Swahili slave traders at Mombasa attacked a British missionary-operated center for freed slaves, which the traders associated with the sultan's ban on slaving. Discontent over slaving restrictions continued on the Kenyan coast until the end of the century. Zanzibar became a center of legitimate trade as Said developed the clove industry on the island and actively encouraged trade from the interior. Kenya was largely bypassed-the main interior trade routes ran south of it-but Mombasa was reported to have been prosperous at mid-century, largely because of the ivory and other items collected in quantity by Kamba traders in the interior and directed to the port town. In the following decades elephants in the Kamba and other areas were hunted out, and caravan operations were also disrupted by tribal warfare. The decline in trade that resulted (and the rise of Zanzibar as a commercial center) brought an exodus of merchants and artisans from Mombasa that, together with British antislaving operations, reduced the town to comparatively minor importance. Mombasa did not recover from the decline until the early 1900s, after it had become the starting point for the construction of the railroad to Uganda. European activities on the mainland were confined largely to missionary work and exploration from the 1840s to near the end of the century, although a few trading concessions conducted limited operations at a number of coastal points. In Kenya the first Christian mission was established in 1846 near Mombasa by Johann Krapf and Johann Rebmann, Swiss serving with the Anglican Church Missionary Society (CMS). In 1862 Krapf, then associated with the Methodist Missionary Society, founded another mission also in the vicinity of Mombasa. Both missions conducted schools that were the first such Western institutions in Kenya. Efforts to extend mission activities to the interior were frustrated by the local hostilities that kept large areas unsettled. On the coast, after the banning of the slave trade in 1873, the CMS established a settlement for freed slaves at Frere Town outside Mombasa. But little else could be done because the indigenous Muslim population was strongly opposed to the teaching of Christianity and otherwise resentful of the missionaries, whom they considered leaders of the antislavery movement. In the years that followed, however, mission stations for freed slaves were also established by Roman Catholic and Scottish Presbyterian missionaries. Most of the Europeans-estimated to number 300 in the region by 1885-were involved in missionary work. [Add New] History of Kenya Edit This in 1963 kenya became independent. Imperial War Museum sound archive #30268. Key words: Kenya/Mau Mau/terrorism/freedom fighters/colonial rule/Mt Kenya White Highlands/Mt Kenya Crown Forest . The Imperial War Museum recently recorded my recollections of 18 months in the Mt Kenya forest back in 1955/56 as a 17-year-old fighting the Mau Mau gangs above Nanyuki, Meru and Embu. I had been farming at around 8,900 feet on the edge of that forest when the request came from the Kenya authorities to report more.. World66 rating: [rate it] email: tim.symonds@shevolution.com ___________Practical Information Edit This Trekkers Restaurant , is the best family entertainment concept in Mombasa consisting of an la carte menu restaurant specializing in sea foods and African dishes ; the best and only open air disco complete with a stunning showbiz performers stage and dance floor ; a Sports Bar complete with a 20x30 ft DSTV screen .( www.trekkersmsa.com) The setting is a surrounding natural jungle deco of a rehabilitated municipal dumpsite quarry with its natural relaxing ambiance, attractive cool lighting and the best music in Mombasa , resulting in a very romantic hideout for people looking for a get away. C atering standards are good. Tasty food too. Children enjoy the many outdoor game fixtures, an ice-cream/pop corn parlor and a large open air play area. Angela’s Salon offers international Cuisine in a cool quiet setting interrupted only by the clutter of cutlery and quiet music. For the young at heart there is Trekkers grill offering tasty Kenyan Dishes (Nyama choma!). Trekkers grill fronts the stunning show biz performers stage and dance floor; a Sports Bar complete with a 20 x 30 ft DSTV screen, attractive cool lighting and probably the best music in Mombasa. The theme not surprisingly is ,Good Food. Good Music. Great Place. Day or night a good place to eat and enjoy. tel no?. 020 2068504 0725 830171 ________Getting Around Edit This photo Richard Bascom By Air: Kenya has about 4 airports (of vastly varying quality) and plenty of airlines connecting Nairobi with Mombasa, Kisumu, Nanyuki, Malindi, Lamu, and the national parks/reserves of Amboseli Masai Mara and Samburu. While many flights are heavily booked flying around Kenya during the high season, it is a relatively safe and relatively cheap way to cover a lot of ground. Always buy your tickets in advance. If you are going on a “safari” with an organized tour, the company will usually book your tickets to the national parks for you, and the price will be included in the total amount. By Rail: Kenyan Railways is a parastatal corporation, presently being privatized, which runs the trains, ferries and railway restaurants in Kenya. The train is a convienient, sometimes luxurious way to move, with comfortable beds and good meals, and is by far the safest - though slowest - way to travel on the ground. A passenger line runs inland from Mombasa to Nairobi and on to Kisumu. The Uganda passenger connection has been discontinued years ago. There are further passenger branch lines to Taveta, Nanyuki and Butere (Nyahururu was to be re-opened in 2005, but has been postponed). All trains are diesel powered, but special tourist steam excursions (Nairobi-Naivasha, and occasional other directions) take place every second Saturday of the month. Prior reservation is necessary, since the steam train will only be fired if there are enough bookings. There are three classes: First Class, which is the most expensive. You get your own bed and get good service, with free drinking water. Second Class is mostly the same, without all the pampering and free water, but still with a bed and meals. Third Class is very cheap, but passengers have only seats, if they are lucky enough to get one. The train is a good way to get to and from Mombasa from Nairobi, although it is slow and long waits and delays are expected. By Road (Public Transportation): Public Transportation is very extensive in Kenya, perhaps more so than many other African Countries. Some form or public transportation leaves every hour to major cities, and even several times daily to rural areas. There are several types of public transportation. These include buses, the train, and matatus. Matatu is the general name for smaller forms of public transportation, i.e., mini-buses, vans (called "Nissans"), or box matatus, which are simply a 2-wheel drive pick-up with a shell on the back. People are then crammed inside and you're off to your destination. Buses: Buses are comfortable, some what reliable, and fairly cheap. They are quite slow, however. Buses usually leave every morning from major cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret. Night buses are also available to some cities. Good bus companies will not overload their buses will not allow passengers to stand. The best, safest and most reliable bus companies are EasyBus (only Kakamega or Kisumu to Nairobi), Eldoret Express (the most, newest and quickest buses to western Kenya), Coast Bus (Mombasa to and from Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu and Kakamega, only nicght buses), Stallion Bus (Nairobi-Mombasa), Akamba (almost anywhere in east Africa, but it got so old and slow now), Kenya Bus Service (the public bus servis is very o.k., but oftly late) and Stagecoach (not everywhere). Buy your tickets in advance at the ticket office near the bus stage. Matatus: Matatus are by far the most common means of transportation in Kenya. Matatus leave from designated spots called stages. Passengers get seated, then the matatu leaves when it is full. Matatus can also be caught from the road. If one is passing, stick out your arm with your palm down. This is the sign you want to be picked up. If the vehicle is not full, the driver will pull over to let you in. There are at least two people that run every matatu: a driver and a tout, who is usually a young man dressed in the current fad. A driver's job is self explanatory, but the work of a tout needs a bit of explanation. First, his job is to get customers to enter his particular matatu. Some times there are several matatus to the same destination, so touts will "fight" over you. Some may even grab you luggage and force you to follow him to his matatu. Touts can be very aggressive and rude. Don't let a tout take your bag, and make your own decision about what vehicle to take. Touts are actually good guys if you get to know them. Try joking around and speaking a bit of Kiswahili with them. Once you befriend a tout, they are a valuable ally. In major stages, you pay for a ticket before you get on a matatu. It is common, however, to be asked for your money after the matatu is on its way. It's a good idea to ask the fair before entering the matatu. Ask other customers what they're paying. Some touts may try to cheat you! Of all the types of matatus, "Nissans", or mini-vans are the most comfortable and the fastest. Of course they are a bit more expensive than mini-buses or box-matatus, but worth the price for comfort. Since February 2004 there are strict rules forpublic traffic: seat belts for every seat, not more that 14 seats in a minibus and not more than 80 km/h. And police check! Goats and chickens are crammed into a matatu, the driver will always stop for more people and the tout will shove them in. This makes for unsafe conditions and slow progress, so check out for one with long distance travellers! Some other tips for traveling by public transportation: 1. Always try to have your luggage in view. 2. Keep your wallet in your front pocket, and remove all valuables. Pick pockets love to work in matatus, especially mini-buses. 3. Although it is tempting to sit it the front seat next to the driver because it is comfortable, try to resist. This is called the "death seat," since if there is an accident, it is the passengers in front that are usually killed. If you really want the flavor of Kenya, to experience it as only locals do, take at least one trip on a matatu. It can be very stressful, uncomfortable, and a security risk if you don’t be careful, therefore I do not suggest it for the mild-at-heart. For the adventurous tourist, however, it can be quite an experience and a lot of fun. By Car: If you're bringing your own vehicle to Kenya you should get a free three-month permit at the border on entry as long as you have a valid carnet de passage for it. Keep in mind there are certain routes in north-east Kenya where you must obtain police permission before setting out. Hiring a vehicle in Kenya (or at least the national parks) is a relatively expensive way to see the country but it does give you freedom of movement and is sometimes the only way of getting to the more remote reaches. Generally Kenyan roads are in good condition. Renting a vehicle is quite easy, but fairly expensive. Estimate just USD 80 a day for a corolla, 50 for an starlet, and up to $150 per day for a 4-wheel drive vehicle. There are many agencies in the major cities where you can rent vehicles. Best deal is to rent from internet. Only Budget has an permanent office at Nairobi Airport, so maybe you check out their rates. Hitch Hiking: Hitching, or “getting a lift” as it Kenyans call it, is relatively easy in Kenya, depending on your company and your location. Hitching has many advantages: It is safer to travel in a private vehicle, it is fast once you get a lift, and it can be fun to talk to locals that pick you up. If you are willing to try, here’s some pointers. Hitch hiking is safe, but always try to hitch in pairs! I have heard of many women hitching alone and together for over two years, and have not heard anything bad happen even once. I do, however, caution against a woman hitching alone. A pair of one man and one woman is your best bet to get picked up quickly. A pair of two women is just as good, if you’re comfortable. Two or more men together will have a difficult time getting a lift, due to Kenyans worried about security. To hitch hike, find a nice place on a major highway. Start as early as possible, say around 7:00 or 8:00 am, depending on how far you are from a major city where vehicles are leaving, heading your direction. Stand a few yards before a turn-out, so the vehicle has room to pull over after seeing you. Make sure you are clear of any matatu stopping point, or every one will stop for you. When a private vehicle approaches, stick out your arm, just like getting a matatu, but face your palm up instead of down. This means that you want a free lift. Most lifts are free, although sometimes a driver will ask for money. It’s up to you to decide how much you are willing to pay. More times than not, however, your driver will take you for free and buy you lunch. Good luck! By Sea: For the more maritimely minded sailing on a dhow along the East African coast is one of Kenya's most worthwhile and memorable travel experiences. Some of the most popular and most expensive dhow cruises leave from Nyali on the mainland opposite Mombasa Island. ________Getting There Edit This mombasa airport mombasa airport a. habeck International flights to Kenya from within Africa: Kenya Airways have flights within Africa from Nairobi to Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Bamako, Blantyre, Bujumbura, Cairo, Contonou, Comoros Island, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Douala, Entebbe, Freetown, Harare, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Kigali, Kilimanjaro, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lilongwe, Lubumbashi, Lusaka, Maputo, Mombasa, Lamu, Seychelles, Yaounde and Zanzibar. Europe: London, Amsterdam, Istanbul & Paris. Middles East & Asia: Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong & Guangzhou Kenya Airways co-operates with KLM & Air France and in Sep 2007 was made a Sky Team Associate whose members include Alitalia, Air france, KLM, Delta, NWA among others. Other flights to Nairobi: LAM Mozambique Airline from Maputo, Nampula & Pemba (-Mozambique). Air Kenya Aviation from Kilimanjaro Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa and Entebbe Precisionair from Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and Zanzibar. (Co-operation with Kenya Airways) Uganda airways from Entebbe Daallo Airlines from Hargeisa and Mogadishu South African Airways/Delta Airlines from Johannesburg Air Madagascar from Antananarivo Air Mauritius from Mauritius Egyptair from Cairo Air Malawi from Blantyre and Lilongwe (co-operation with Kenya Airways) Air Zimbabwe from Harare Rwandair Express from Kigali (co-operation with Kenya Airways) Bristish Airways from Asmara, Djibouti, Harare, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Lilongwe and Lusaka To Mombasa: Precisionair from Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar (co-operation with Kenya Airways) Flights from outside Africa to Nairobi: Kenya Airways from Amsterdam, Bangkok, Dubai, Hongkong, London Mumbai and Paris. Emirates from Dubai Air India from Bombay British Airways from London Brussels Airlines from Brussels Corsair from Paris KLM from Amsterdam Swiss from Zürich To Mombasa: Corsair from Paris L.T.U. International from München Condor Flugdienst from Frankfurt Overland travel: Tanzania: There are buses to Nairobi from Dar es Salaam and Arusha, to Mombasa from Dar es Salaam and to Voi from Moshi. Uganda: Buses from Kampala. Ethiopia: Connection is possible at Moyale but security is poor on the Kenyan side. Overland travel from Sudan or Somalia should not be attempted. ___________Economy Edit This Economy—overview: Since 1993 the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls removal of foreign exchange controls fiscal and monetary restraint and reduction of the public sector through privatizing publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank IMF and other donors these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996 and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed in 1997. Political violence damaged the tourist industry and the IMF allowed Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program to lapse due to the government's failure to enact reform conditions and to adequately address public sector corruption. Moreover El Nino rains destroyed crops and damaged an already crumbling infrastructure in 1997 and on into 1998. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors endemic corruption and the country's high population growth rate. GDP: purchasing power parity—$150,590(2004 est.) GDP—real growth rate: 34.2% (2004 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$5400 (2004 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 20% services: 46% (2004) Inflation rate—consumer price index: 8.8% (2004) Labor force: total: 8.78 million (2004 est.) by occupation: agriculture 75%-80% non-agriculture 20%-25% Unemployment rate: 54% urban (2004 est.) Budget: revenues: $1billion expenditures: $3 billion including capital expenditures of $638 million (FY96/97 est.) Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic furniture batteries textiles soap cigarettes flour) processing agricultural products; oil refining cement; tourism Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (2004) Electricity—capacity: 808 000 kW (2004) Electricity—production: 2.47 billion kWh (2004) Electricity—consumption per capita: 134 kWh (2004) Agriculture—products: coffee tea corn wheat sugarcane fruit vegetables; dairy products beef pork poultry eggs rice beans cocoa Exports: total value: $2.1 billion (f.o.b. 2004) commodities: tea 18% coffee 15% petroleum products (2004) partners: Uganda 22.8% UK 20.1% Tanzania 19.1% Germany 14.0% Netherlands 7.6% US 6.1% Imports: total value: $2.9 billion (f.o.b. 1996) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 31% consumer goods 13% petroleum products 12% (1995) partners: UK 21.3% UAE 18% Japan 14% Germany US Debt—external: $7 billion (1994 est.) Economic aid: South Africa Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 1 dollar Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1—61.164 (January 1998) 58.732 (1997) 57.115 (1996) 51.430 (1995) 56.051 (1994) 58.001 (1993) Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June __________Language Edit This The base of the mountain lies at some 5,250 feet (1,600 metres). At the 8,000-foot (2,440-metre) contour, the circumference is approximately 95 miles (153 km). Sheng is another language you may hear in Kenya. Sheng (the word coming from a combination of the words SwaHili and ENGlish) is a language that has grown out of Nairobi that is used almost exclusively by the younger crowd. It is a mix of Kiswahili, English, and the Bantu tribal tongues. Sheng is regarded almost as a secret language of the youth, and when spoken by a tourist, it is sure to impress any young adult in any big city. It is hard to differentiate from Kiswahili without knowing the language, but it can still be fun to substitute a Sheng greeting for a Kiswahili greeting if you run into a young adult. Common Sheng greetings are: “Sasa?” which is answered by “fit” or “fiti,” and “Mambo?” (or “Mambo vipi?” or just “Vipi?”), which is answered by “poa.” What follows is a list of Kiswahili vocabulary that will allow you to have a working knowledge of the language. This could be useful to get you out of a fix, order food, or just impress a local. Pronunciation: One of the reasons Kiswahili is not a difficult language is that it is very grammatical and pronunciation never changes from word to word. A as the ‘a’ in ‘father’ E as the ‘e’ in ‘best’ or the ‘a’ in ‘hay’ I as the ‘ee’ in ‘bee’ O as the ‘o’ in ‘cold’ U as the ‘ou” in “you” Dh as the ‘th’ in ‘this’ Ng’ as the ‘ng’ in ‘sing’ All other consonants require no explanation. Greetings and Civilties: Greeting is extremely important in Kenyan culture. Before talking to anyone, it is polite to greet them first. After a greeting, some Kenyans may even carry on with small talk for ten good minutes before getting to the topic at hand. Welcome Karibu How are you (greeting a singular person)? Habari yako? or Habari gani? How are you (greeting many people)? Habari zenu? or Habari gani? I’m fine Nzuri, Salama, or Njema What is your name? Unaitwa nani? My name is ____ Ninaitwa ______ Where are you from? Unatoka wapi? I’m from _____ Ninatoka shiut______ Where do you live? Unakaa wapi? I live in _____ Ninakaa ______ Thank you very much Asante sana Yes Jukso No nanana Goodbye fucareally hello jambo No problem Hakuno Matato White person (foreigner) Mzungu White people (foreigners) Wazungu Finding your way around: I want to go to _____ Nataka kwenda mpaka ______ Is this the way to ______? Hii ni njia mpaka _____? Is this the car to _____? Hii ni gari ya kwenda _____? How much is it to go to _____? Ni pesa ngapi kwenda _____? bus basi train gari la moshi vehicle gari boat meli taxi teksi ticket tikiti Wait a little! Ngoja kidogo! Stop here! Simama hapa! Where is _____? Wapi _____? hotel hoteli ya kulala bank benki restaurant hoteli ya chakula post office posta toilet choo hospital hospitali police station stesheni ya polisi Accommodation: Where is a hotel? Wapi hoteli ya kulala? Do you have a room for one person? Kuna chumba kwa mtu moja? Do you have a room for two people? Kuna chumba kwa watu wawili? Is there hot water? Kuna maji ya moto? How much is the room? Chumba ni pesa ngapi? I want to see the room please. Nataka kuona chumba tafadhali. For one day siku moja For one week wiki mzima /moja key ufunguo Animals: bird - ndege crocodile - mamba elephant - ndovu/tembo giraffe - twiga hippopotamus - kiboko hyena - fisi insects/bugs - wadudu lion - simba monkey - tumbili mosquito - mbu rhinoceros - kifaru snake - nyoka water buffalo - nyati numbers: 1 moja 2 mbili 3 tatu 4 nne 5 tano 6 sita 7 saba 8 nane 9 tisa 10 kumi 11 kumi na moja 12 kumi na mbili 20 ishirini 30 thelathini 40 arobaini 50 hamsini 60 sitini 70 sabini 80 themanini 90 tisini 100 mia moja 200 mia mbili 1000 elfu moja 4567 elfu nne mia tano sitini na saba Emergencies: I’m sick mimi mgonjwa I need a doctor ninahitaji daktari I’m pregnant nina mimba hospital hospitali pharmacy duka la dawa medicine dawa Security: Help! Saidia! I’m lost nimepotea I’ve been robbed nimeibwa Don’t bother me. usinisumbue Go away kwenda kabisa I have no money sina pesa At the restaurant: Vegetables and Grains: beans (pinto, kidney) maharagwe cabbage kabichi carrots karoti cassava muhogo kale sukuma wiki lettuce salad onions vitunguu potatoes viazi rice wali tomatoes nyanya vegetables (greens) mboga Meat: beef - nyama ya ng’ombe goat - nyama ya mbuzi kebabs - mushkaki meat - nyama mutton - nyama ya kondoo pork - nyama ya ng’uruwe crab - kaa fish - samaki lobster - kamba chicken - kuku Fruit: bananas - ndizi coconut - nazi dates - tende fruit - matunda guava - pera limes - ndimu mangoes - maembe oranges - machungwa papayas - paipai passion fruit - pashoni pineapples - mananasi sugar cane - miwa Other useful words and phrases: boiled - chemsha bread - mkate butter - siagi cold - baridi cup - kikombe Do you have____? - Kuna _____? eggs - mayai food - chakula fork - uma fried - kaanga glass - glasi hot - moto hot(spicy) - kali knife - kisu napkin - kitambaa pepper - pilipili plate - sahani raw - mbichi ripe - mbivu roast - choma table - meza salt - chumvi spoon - kijiko soup - supu sweet - tamu without meat - bila nyama ____________Safety and Security Edit This Safety and Security: As in any country, there are a few safety and security issues in Kenya. Kenya is a poor country, and there are many people who are forced to make a living by illegal means. Normal Kenyan citizens are definitely targets, but rich, naive tourists are an even bigger temptation for thieves, pick pockets, and con artists. Crime is not so common in rural areas, but in big cities, especially Nairobi. By taking necessary precautions, however, the risks of a security incident can be reduced drastically. By decreasing the temptation for thieves, staying away from bad areas, and being aware and using common sense, you can have a safe trip. Luckily, violent crime is rare in Kenya, even in Nairobi. Violence exists, but thieves care only of a victim’s goods, and will not inflict harm unless necessary. An important part in eliminating the risk of being hurt is remembering this: Always try to never fight with a thief, or chase a mugger, although it may go against your instincts. There are many forms of prevention that can A prospective threat can sometimes be noticed before the incident. If you think you’re been followed or eyed by a suspicious person or people, duck into a shop and wait it out. If you make them aware that you are on to them, they will usually give up. Incidents can also be prevented by the way you act. Always act confident and look like you know where you’re going, even if you don’t. Stop in a shop to look at a map or ask directions. Another obvious form of prevention is never to show large amounts of money. Someone who pulls out a stack of 1000 shilling notes to pay for one item is asking to loose it all. Here are some other tips for having a safe trip. Theft: Your bags and valuables are at the most risk when you are on the move. Hotel rooms are usually safe, except for the cheaper brothels. If the hotel has a safe deposit box, use it for your most valuable possessions. When moving in between places, such as from the airport to the hotel, or from the hotel to the bus stage, using a taxi is your best bet. When in rough areas of Nairobi, remember to keep the doors locked and don’t open the windows. If you’re taking public transportation, try to keep your bags in view. Your bags are usually always safe in the boot of a bus, but I’ve heard of touts taking items from a bag on top of a bus. There are several measures you can take to eliminate the risk of loosing items while traveling. First, put small locks on your baggage. If you have a backpack, lock the main compartments. Losing the entire piece of luggage is very rare, so this deters thieves from rooting through your luggage. Also, never keep you valuables in your bags, but on your person, preferably next to your skin. Money belts or pouches around your neck or waist is your best bet, although not fool-proof by any means. As a general rule, never walk anywhere at night. Taxis are sometimes expensive, but the price is worth it. If you are forced to walk, stay in groups and pay a night guard on the street to escort you. Mugging: Of all of the security incidents I heard of in two and a half years in Kenya, most cases were mugging. In the vast majority of cases, the person lost only a small amount of money. Anyone can get mugged, but if you carry only essential items, and hide those items well, you won’t have much to fear from muggers. Preventing getting mugged or pick pocketed is simple: don’t carry anything you can’t bear to lose. Of course, it’s necessary to carry some items, such as money and a passport, but if those are well placed on your body, you should have no fear of loosing anything to muggers. Don’t go out with more money that you need, and keep the money you that do need split up in many places on your body. For example, keep a little money in your pocket for spending, some between your foot and sock, and the rest in your money belt. Never wear items of value, such as watches or other jewelry. Desperate thieves have been known to rip off earrings, so they definitely won’t hesitate to snatch a bracelet or necklace. Nice sports caps are hot items, and it is common for thieves to snatch a cap and run. It bad areas, sunglasses can even be grabbed. If you must carry a camera out when walking around a big city, put it in your small bag or purse, and only take it out when you take a picture. Being mugged or having items stolen is still possible after taking all these preventions. If are a victim of crime, I again encourage you to cut your losses and let the thief go. Some gangs will send one member to take an item, them after being chased by the victim, lead him or her into an alley where the rest of his friends await to take everything. Being chased also gives them reason to use violence. Be careful about yelling “thief” after being mugged. Mob justice is common in Kenya, and one assumed thief is killed by citizens in Nairobi every day. If thieves are caught, you’ll end up seeing him beaten, perhaps even killed. Think about if your $9.99 watch is worth it. Unfortunately, thieves are hardly ever caught by police, and it usually isn’t worth you time to report the incident unless it is required for theft insurance. Harassment: Harassment is the most common form of security risk. I include harassment because it can make travelers feel very uncomfortable and unsafe. Harassment ranges from being taunted to being touched inappropriately. When you’re laughed at, taunted or called names, the easiest thing to do is ignore it. Taking action is necessary, however, when being sexually harassed. Is is quite common for Kenyan men to make rude comments to women tourists. Even men are subjected to sexual harassment by prostitutes. There is no excuse for someone, either woman or man, making a sexual comment or touching someone inappropriately. All Kenyans know better, so let the harasser know his or her actions are not wanted, and don’t be polite. Others around you may come to your aid if you tell them. If the harasser is not embarrassed enough to stop at this point, leave the scene. If the person follows, ask the help of a guard or store owner. Con Artists: It’s quite common to run into someone in Nairobi who has a plan to separate some gullible tourist from his or her money. They take on the role of a political refugee and request money for their family. They’ll pretend like students collecting contribution for their schools. Men dress up as beggars, then, after you give them a coin or two, “plain clothed police” will tell you it’s illegal and ask for a “fine.” They come up with stories that they know you from somewhere are just need a little something for some petrol, then they’ll pay you back. They may even drop money, then after you return it, claim that you have taken some and threaten to tell the police. Con artists think of new stories every day, and it can be quite entertaining to listen to them. Use of common sense is your main weapon against confidence tricks. If you’re not sure whether to believe it, your surely right. Never give money to any stranger. Street Kids: Homeless are very common in Kenyan cities, especially young boys, some that can be very big boys. These boys band together in large groups and can make one feel unsafe even if they’re only begging for change. The best way to get rid of a single street kid, or a small group, is to ignore them and walk on. If they follow, it may help to tell them you have no money, or that you’ll give them something later. Giving money is hardly ever dangerous, but remember that giving money encourages more kids to work the streets and the money may be used to buy glue, which is sniffed by the boys to escape their harsh reality. If you must give something, buying homeless a meal is always a good way to lend a hand. Violent crime: Violent crime can be prevented by not resisting, chasing, or fighting thieves. Walking around at night, especially alone, increases your chances or violent crime. Fortunately, if you take these precautions and use common sense, you can almost completely eliminate all chance of being a victim of violent crime. ____________Day Trips Edit This they are really really fun!!! you get to see lions and tigers and bears oh my. love me [Add Day Trip] Nairobi's Milimani Backpackers Edit This Qwerty World66 rating: [rate it] ___________People Edit This Population: 33.6 million (2004 estimate of Central Bureau of Statistics) Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 6 248 260; female 6 109 443) 15-64 years: 54% (male 7 609 631; female 7 607 810) 65 years and over: 2% (male 333 881; female 428 046) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 1.71% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 31.68 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 14.19 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 77 deaths/1 000 live births (2004 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.57 years male: 47.02 years female: 48.13 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.07 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22% Luhya 14% Luo 13% Kalenjin 12% Kamba 11% Kisii 6% Meru 6% other African 15% non-African (Asian European and Arab) 1% Religions: Protestant (including Anglican) 38% Roman Catholic 28% indigenous beliefs 26% Muslim 6% other 2% Languages: English (official) Swahili (official) numerous indigenous languages Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.1% male: 86.3% female: 70% (1995 est.) __________Things to do Edit This Tour with Bike the Coast, Mombasa Tour with Bike the Coast, Mombasa Rolf [Add Activity] Bike The Coast Edit This Tour with Bike the Coast, Mombasa Tour with Bike the Coast, Mombasa photo by: Rolf Discover Africa off the beaten track with Bike the Coast: local people in their settlements and traditional African villages, palm- and mango-tree forests, different climate zones, fantastic views on Creeks and the Mombasa North Coast Area, bush along the Indian Ocean... Bike the Coast, Mombasa offers guided half day Bush-Tours on safe unpaved roads with no traffic. With the mountain-bike you come closer to the local life than with any other more.. type: Cycling World66 rating: [rate it] accessibility: by taxi or public transport tel: +254 722 87 37 38 url: BikeTheCoast.com address: near Mombasa Go-Kart email: info ät BikeTheCoast.com Wanjiru Edit This The Maralal Camel Derby held every August in Kenya. It is a race on the desert ship, the camel held in Maralal. type: Other World66 rating: [rate it] email: quandycane@yahoo.co.uk :::::::::Central Highlands Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_1 Kenya’s Central Provence is home to the country’s largest tribe, the Kikuyu. The highlands, composed of Mt Kenya and the Aberdare Range, are among the most fertile lands in the country. The first white settlers saw the agricultural potential of the area and grabbed much of the land, dubbing it “the White Hightlands.” This, of course, was once of the reasons the Mau Mau Rebelion broke out, and most of the fighting took place in the Central Highlands. __________ Embu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_1 Embu is located on the southeastern slopes of Mt Kenya. It is a commercial hub and serves as the provincial headquarters of Eastern Province. It’s home to the Embu people, related very closely to the Mbeere and Chuka, and a bit less closely to the Kikuyu and Meru. The language (Kiembu) has similar grammar to Kikuyu. Tourists can either travel to Mt Kenya forest through Irangi route or visit the Seven Folks Hydro-Power project about 50 Kms away in neighbouring Mbeere district. There are good local sceneries as well. If you’re looking for a good meal while you’re in town, the Arkland Cafe near the roundabout exists no longer, alas. The Rehana café has good and fresh Indian food, excellent samosas. The refurbished and enlarged Tavern restaurant (club & disco) immediately adjacent to the Izaak Walton is considered the best eatery in Embu (250/300 for a good lunch). There are also some good supermarkets in the town such as Magunando, which sell a wide range of food stuff. There are also bicycle shops, such as B.L. Gami, which sell a wide range of bicycles ranging from racing to mountain bikes if you want to nick out to have a ride into the town. ::::::::::::Isiolo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Isiolo is a small, cosmopolitan town north of Meru. You may stay in Isiolo on you way up to Samburu/Buffalo Springs National Reserves or the desert east of Lake Turkana. You can reach Isiolo most easily from Meru and Nanyuki. Transportation going north from Isiolo will depend on demand, which is usually low. its a town of scenic beauty and cant fail to notice the mixture of race and culture that amplifies the beauty of the town. the town is the central livestock transit point thus a haven for meaty delicacies. The town has a range of hotels, restaurants and clubs and a reliable 24hour cab(taxi) service network. while in Isiolo visit: 1. The Rangeland Hotel & Camp Site its located in a serene environment in the outskirts of Isiolo. its 8kms(5miles) from Isiolo town and offers an exclusive touch in service.the food, rooms and camp site are wonderful. the services are fairly priced and will leave you with lasting memories of the hotel. 2. Transit Hotel its located in the heart of the town. it has fairly clean and quiet rooms. 3. Bomen Hotel its in down town isiolo and have a fairly modern pool bar. the hotel has clean and quiet rooms. 4. The Roots Restaurant its also called the 'steak place'. its a must stop for everyone on transit to northern Kenya. get a taste of Nyama Choma (roasted meat) done by real proffesionals. the restaurant has has a fully stocked sports bar and wonderful service. 5. Frontier Club this is the hottest night spot in town. they play latest music and have a full bar. only 18yrs and above are allowed in the club. 6. Gaddisa Hotel and Safaris :::::::::Meru Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Meru is a fairly big town northeast of Mt Kenya. It’s home to the Meru people, close relatives of the Kikuyu and Embu. There’s little reason travelers would stay in Meru, but if you do, it can be a fun place. Meru’s famous for its miraa, twigs of a plant that has stimulant properties. It is grown legally in large amounts here, so you won’t get fresher miraa anywhere. After chewing the bark of the twigs for an hour or so, you’ll feel like you’ve drank two or three strong cups of coffee. Stay at the Milimani Hotel on the junction north of town. It has nice singles/doubles for KSh 600/800 including breakfast and the bar turns into a disco on the weekends. There’s a museum in town if you have any free time. ::::::::::Nanyuki Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Cottages at theLions' court lodge Cottages at theLions' court lodge Ian Waweru Nanyuki is a medium sized town northwest of Mt Kenya. The town has one of the most beautiful views of the mountain, and is a hub for trekkers climbing the Sirimon and Burguret routes. There are many hotels in and around Nanyuki. For a bottom-end hotel, try the Joskaki Hotel (# (0176) 2181) which has singles/doubles with attached bathrooms and hot water for KSh 400/600 including breakfast. Cheaper but not as nice is the Jambo House Hotel (# (0176) 22751) which offers singles/doubles for KSh 140/250 and KSh 380 for a triple. If you have a bit more to spend, try the Nanyuki River Lodge (# (0176) 32523) in the middle of town. Singles/Doubles including breakfast cost KSh 550/850. One step up is the Sportsman’s Arms Hotel (# (0176) 22598) across the river in the eastern end of town. It has several kinds of cottages costing between KSh 1100/1500 to KSh 2500/4500 for a single/twin. There is also a swimming pool, three bars, a fitness club and a nightly disco. There are also several nice lodges outside of Nanyuki town. Mt Kenya Safari Club, the Ol Pejeta Ranch and the Sweetwaters Tented Camp. They all have nice facilities and offer different kinds of safaris. Singles/Doubles cost fro US$ 64/120 in the low season up to US$ 239/310 in the high season. The only more affordable place is the El Karama Ranch (# (02) 340331). It’s a campsite with bandas with all necessary supplies either provided or available to rent. Beds cost KSh 500 per night. Bring your own food, as meals are not available. Plenty of bird watching trips and excursions can be arranged. Call +(254) 722 640 379. Some of the African species that can be seen include Hadada Ibis, Red-eyed Dove, African Green-pigeon, Speckled Mousebird, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-headed and Spot-flanked Barbets, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Mountain Wagtail, Grey-olive Greenbul, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Grey-capped Warbler, Variable, Collared and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Holub's Golden-weaver, Baglafecht Weaver and African Citril ________ ___________Sights Edit This Location : The Lions' court lodge is located on the outskirts of Nanyuki town, on the equator. Description : An home away from home getaway that serves both local and foreign visitors. The lodge, a mixture of traditional and modern architecture, offers packages that fit individuals,families and groups. Accommodation/Facilities : Accommodation consists of 12 modern, well furnished – self contained deluxe rooms with satellite TV, and a choice of cottages that are very appropriate for families . The lodge also has several single and self contained rooms. There is a restaurant that plays both live music and a discotheque that plays the latest music.Pool tables come in for those who love the game There is a non-smoking Lounge that is very conducive for families. The Hotel has a pool and an upcoming health club, gym and sauna . ____________Practical Information Edit This Transport: You can get the most reliable and safe transport in and around Nanyuki with a person who have the best knowledge of the area. Contact Mr Daniel on +254 722 464 464 of Godfrey on +254 720 315 136 for more information. Car Hire is also available at the very best rates. Enjoy a better drive around mount Kenya ::::::::Naro Moru Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Mt Kenya Youth Hostel Mt Kenya Youth Hostel Sammy Naro Moru is a small town west of Mt. Kenya and is the most common starting point for trekers attempting to climb the mountain. Otherwise, Naro Moru is but a village and there’s no reason to stop here. There are a few cheap places in Naro Moru town to camp or get a bed. The four hotels charge KSh 150-300 for a bed. The Mt. Kenya Hostel & Campsite is in a good location if your attempting the climb without a safari company. It’s a 12 km walk up the Naro Moru trail, giving you a good head start on the climb, and a day to adjust to the elevation. Camping here is KSh 150 and dorm beds are KSh 200. They have all kinds of facilities, and you can hire guides, porters, and cooks here. If you want a little luxury before or after the climb, most travelers opt for the Naro Moru River Lodge (# (0176) 62622). The lodge owns all the mountain huts along the rout up the peak, so you need to book ahead here if you’re planning on staying in the huts (which is a very good idea—the ground gets VERY cold towards the top). A night at the Met Station will cost you US$ 8 and a roof over your head at Makinder’s Camp is US$ 11. Accommodations at the River Lodge include campsites, dorm beds, standard rooms and superior rooms. A camp spot with access to bathrooms and showers run US$ 4 and dorm beds are US$ 6. In the low season (11 April to 30 June and 16 September to 15 December) standard rooms are US$ 30/55 for a single/double, and superior rooms are US$ 40/65. In the high season, a standard single/double room costs US$ 72/94 and a superior is US$ 82/114. All rooms come with half board. :::::::::Nyahururu (Thomson's Falls) Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Thomson's Falls Thomson's Falls M Webster Nyahururu is one of Kenya’s highest cities, at 2360 m above sea level. Just outside of town lies Thomson’s Falls on the Ewaso Narok River. It falls 72 m, the mist feeding the dense forest below. You can check out the falls from above, or there’s a trail down to the bottom of the ravine. The most common way to reach Nyahururu is from Nakuru, but you can also get here from Nyeri, Nanyuki, or Naivasha. Likewise, all these places can be reached from Nyahururu, including Maralal. If you’re camping, Thomson’s Falls Lodge charges KSh 300 per person with access to their facitiltes, hot showers, and firewood. If you need a cheap bed, try the Stadium Lodging (# (0365) 22002), which offers singles/doubles with bathrooms for KSh 200/300. There’s also the Nyaki Hotel (# (0365) 2213) which has singles/doubles costing KSh 400/750. The nicest place in town is the Thomson’s Falls Lodge (# (0365) 22006) over looking the falls. For KSh 1600/2000 you can get a single/double with breakfast, or a triple for KSh 2800. ::::::::::Nyeri Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Gakere Road Gakere Road Sammy Nyeri is the Provincial Headquarters and biggest city of Central Province. It is nessled in between Mt Kenya and the Aberdares, lying just east of the Aberdare Mountains. The Nyeri area is very fertile and is the center of Kenya’s coffee industry. Tourists are most likely to see Nyeri on their way to Aberdare National Park. The city has many accommodations and places to eat. You can get public transportation directly to Nyeri from Nyahururu, Nakuru, Thika and Nairobi. In Nairobi, the stage to Nyeri and most towns in Central Province (Nanyuki, Nyahururu, Meru, Embu) is called the “Tea Room.” It’s located on Accra Road just off of Tom Mboya. :::::::::::Runyanjes Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Runyenjes is the second largest town in Embu District (Eastern province, Kenya) and serves as the divisional headquarters of Runyenjes division. The significance of this town is more in its history. It derived its name from an awesomely popular Chief Runyenje of the colonial era who ruled fron Thuci River to Sagana (in Central Province). It's a small town but which is rapidly growing. hotels include the Cock Robin Inn, Commando, Runyenjes Club and the Thuchi River Lodge. Those who may require more comfort should stay in Embu Town where there are a variety of tourist class restaurants and lodges. Runyenjes is surrounded by small but rapidly growing towns that include: Kianjokoma, Karurumo, Kigumo, Kathageri, Kanja, Mukuuri, Ena and Gichiche among others. Visitors to Runyenjes should not miss to visit the popular Mwene Ndega grove, the ancestral home of the Embu people. It is about three kilometres from the town. ::::::::::Lakes Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sunrise over Lake Baringo Sunrise over Lake Baringo N/A There are numerous lakes throughout Kenya, mostly lying in the great Rift Valley. Most of these are shallow soda lakes, but there are also a few freshwater lakes, including Lake Victoria, Africa's largest. Several lakes have been designated National Parks or Reserves, which hold a great variety of birds and other wildlife. For more specific information on Kenya's beautiful lakes, click on one of the links below. :::::::::::Nairobi Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see nairobi city in the sun nairobi city in the sun ahmed Nairobi, Kenya ’s mile-high capital is only 90 mi/138 km south of the equator. Founded by the British little more than a 100 years ago, the city now has a population of more than 2 000 000. It’s a modern commercial center with some interesting high-rises and lots of bustle. Visitors can find things not so common in other parts of Africa, such as nice theatres showing the latest films, expensive restaurants serving every type of food, as well as E-mail facilities, faxes and any other sort of modern technology you may want to use. The city is constantly alive, especially at night. Unfortunately, Nairobi has acquired a reputation of being a dangerous city and petty crime is rampant. Besides being a convenient place to take care of administrative matters and contact people back home, Nairobi has much to offer to travellers. If you want to hang out, there is a wide array of restaurants, clubs, pubs and discos to choose from. While in Nairobi, be sure to visit the City Market, the National Museum, the Arboretum (excellent collection of East African flora) and the superb Kenya Railway Museum. Exhibits about the period leading to independence can be seen at the Kenya National Archives. There are casinos at the Safari Park Hotel and the Inter-Continental Hotel and there’s also Sunday-afternoon horse racing. For those who can’t wait to see animals (or who are only visiting Nairobi), the nearby Nairobi National Park has lions, giraffes, impalas and more wild animals in addition to an animal orphanage. Or you can take a rather pricey taxi ride to the Giraffe Center in the suburb of Langatta where the Rothschild giraffe was saved from extinction. At the facility, you can feed the giraffes and the gift shop has some of the best prices we found in Nairobi. However, the Giraffe Manor (the manor house turned into a hotel) elsewhere on the grounds has some of the steepest daily rates in the city—but then it’s the only place where giraffes may join you for meals. This excursion to Langata is often combined with a visit to the former home of Karen Blixen (who wrote under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen), author of Out of Africa. Blixen’s farmhouse, which was presented to the Kenyan government by Denmark, is now a museum —it’s located nextdoor to the Karen College. Langatta also has The Bomas of Kenya which is a terrific cultural center that regularly hosts traditional song and dance performances. A day trip (a two-hour drive each way) can be made to Lake Magadi to visit Olorgesailie in The Rift Valley for its prehistoric campsite. The scenic region inhabited by Masai farmers has a wide variety of birds. http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-51356.0.html :::::::National Parks and Reserves Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Elephant in Amboseli against Kilimanjaro backdrop Elephant in Amboseli against Kilimanjaro backdrop Daniel If Kenya is famous for anything, it’s surely its many national parks and reserves. These beautiful spots offer a wide array of landscapes, plants, and animals. You can trek the slopes of the Aberdares, Mt. Kenya, or Mt. Longonot, or go on a game drive on the plains of the Masai Mara or below Mt. Kilimanjaro at Amboseli National Park. You need to be in a vehicle to enter most national parks and all national reserves, except Saiwa Swamp and South Turkana, so you either need your own car, or you need to book your safari through one of the many companies in Kenya. The good news is that there are so many of these safari companies that competition drives the prices down. Most any tourist that can afford an airline ticket to Kenya can afford to see at least one or two parks. Two affordable companies in Nairobi that offer quality safaris are Gametrackers (# 338927) on the first floor of the Kenya Cinema Plaza, and Let’s Go Travel (# 340331) on Standard Street near Koinange St. Entrance fees may or may not be included in your company’s total price. The major parks, such as Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, and the Aberdares will cost nonresident adults US$ 27 per day. The other parks ask between US$ 23 and $15 per day. One day is considered to be a 24-hour period, so if you enter the park at 5 pm, you are expected to leave by 5 pm the next day. There also may be a camping fee if you are not spending the night in a lodge. ::::::::::Masai Mara N.R. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Cheetah, Masai Mara NR Cheetah, Masai Mara NR Andrew Lamb The Masai Mara is definitely Kenya’s most popular tourist attraction. The Mara had become the country’s most visited park or reserve because of the amount of game within a fairly small area. Here you have the best chance of seeing a leopard or cheetah, and you’re sure to see lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffe, hyena, and many types of ungulates, such as impala, Thomson’s gazelle, topi, and hartebeest. The annual migration of wildebeest is an extraordinary sight, where millions of the animals move in from the Serengeti in July and August. The only draw-back of the Masai Mara is that it is too crowded with tourists. You literally cannot look anywhere without seeing a white Nissan filled with other travelers. Game is located by finding the groups of tourist vehicles, some times up to 20 or more surrounding one cheetah or lion. It detracts from the experience making you feel like you’re in a zoo without cages. Still, there’s nowhere in Kenya where you can see this many animals with so little effort. Most visitors that visit the Mara have booked trips with a travel company. There are many companies that offer different deals. Most are 2 or 3 nights, with two or more game drives in the park a day. Prices for a tented camp safari average about US$ 200 per person for the trip, including meals and lodging in tents. Gametrackers and Let’s Go Travel are two companies which can give you a good safari for a decent price. Their contacts are at the beginning of the National Parks section. There are many upper-end deals as well, where you’ll stay at very expensive resort hotels or tented camps. There are more than a dozen such resorts, some inside the park boundaries. If you’ve booked your safari with a tourist company, you’ll have no choice where you stay. If you have your own vehicle and a lot of money, you have several options. Mara Intrepids Club (# (02) 338084) offers tents for US$ 223/304 for singles/doubles with full board and game drives. Low season rates are an excellent value at US$ 100/160. Nearby also on the Talek River is the Fig Tree Camp (# (02) 221439), which is also a tented camp. For US$ 125/170 you can get a single/double with full board, or US$ 50/100 in the low season. The Mara Serena Lodge (# (02) 711077) lies on the Mara river in the center of the park. They have singles/doubles with full board for US$ 120/160, or US$ 50/100 in the low season. If you want to stay outside of the park and save money on expensive park fees, try the Mara Safari Club (# (02) 216940), or the more affordable Mara River Camp (# (02) 331191). The high season is usually considered to be from December through January, then June until mid August. ::::::: Northern Kenya Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The northern half of Kenya is a vast, sparsely populated desert. The dry shrub lands and rocky wasteland is home to some of Kenya’s most interesting people, such as the Turkana, Samburu, Marakwet, Pokot, and El Molo tribes. These tribes have been influenced very little by the west, and unlike the Maasai, have had very little contact with tourists as well. They live as they did years ago by herding livestock and fishing. The people as well as the awesome scenery make Northern Kenya a nice place to visit. The current atmosphere between the tribes of Northern Kenya is very touchy, and tribal violence has become quite common. Livestock raids between Marakwet, Pokot, and Turkana have turned violent due to use of automatic weapons, and a vicious cycle of revenge killings has emerged. This is mainly a problem with tribes west of Lake Turkana, but violence is also common east of lake, where bandits roam. The danger of bandits is so real that no one goes north of Samburu National Reserve without an armed escort. Don’t let this prevent you from seeing some of the most spectacular parts of Kenya, however. Dispite the isolated tribal violence, the area west of the lake is still quite safe for tourists, although you may pass a few goat herders with AK-47s. From this side you can visit the town of Lodwar and camp on the shores of Lake Turkana. The road north from Marich Pass (which continues into Sudan) is in deplorable state. Once it was tarred but now it is pitted and potholed so the experience is slow and bumpy but the scenery is wild and rugged and devoid of buildings. You will see a few Turkana herders with their flocks of goats and camels but not much else. There are buses from Kitale which go to Lodwar, several times a day, journey time about 6-8 hours due to the present state of the road. From Lodwar, it is about an hour's drive to the shores of the Lake at Kalakol where the Kenya Wildlife Service is based (here you pay your fee/arrange your boat trip to Central Island). There are no facilities here but KWS will usually let people camp in their compound - you need to be totally self-sufficient in terms of food and water. Also from Lodwar, on a different road, it is about an hour's drive to Eliye Springs. This is a far more attractive part of the lake and much nicer for camping. Again you will need to be self-sufficient but it is possible to use water from the spring or to order things such as chapatis from the locals if you are prepared to take the risk! Here there are lovely shady doum palm groves, sandy beach, safe bathing in the lake, security guards (it used to be a luxury lodge), toilets and a shower. Trips to local villages can be arranged and there is a small curio market. Central Island is HOT! There is absolutely no shade on the island and, as you will also be out on the lake for several hours getting there and back, make sure you are well protected - take an umbrella or good sunhat and cover up! Take plenty of water - it is not unknown for boats to break down or for the sailing conditions on the lake to suddenly change and delay your return journey. However, the island is beautiful with crater lakes full of crocodiles and, at certain times of the year, hundreds of waterfowl including flamingoes. It is possible to camp on the island - you need to bring everything with you as there are no facilities (except one pit latrine). The only way to get east of the lake used to be with a tourist company, which travelled with an armed escort. The companies offer safe 8-day trips, which include visits to several national parks and some of the most extraordinary desert scenery in the country. It is also possible to do this trip in your own vehicle or by getting transport to Loyangelani. :::::::::Runyenjes Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Runyenjes is the second largest town in Embu District (Eastern province, Kenya) and serves as the divisional headquarters of Runyenjes division. The significance of this town is more in its history. It derived its name from an awesomely popular Chief Runyenje of the colonial era who ruled from Thuci River to Sagana (in Central Province). It's a small town but which is rapidly growing. hotels include the Cock Robin Inn, Commando, Runyenjes Club and the Thuchi River Lodge. Those who may require more comfort should stay in Embu Town where there are a variety of tourist class restaurants and lodges. Runyenjes is surrounded by small but rapidly growing towns that include: Kianjokoma, Manyatta, Karurumo, Kigumo, Kathageri, Kanja, Mukuuri, Ena and Gichiche among others. Visitors to Runyenjes should not miss to visit the popular Mwene Ndega grove (the ancestral home of the Embu people) and the two water falls. All about three kilometres from the Runyenjes town. :::::::::::The Aberdares Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Section of Karuru Fall in Abedare National Park Section of Karuru Fall in Abedare National Park Sammy Tea Farming Region, bordering the Central Province and the Rift Valley. Highland climate with lots of rain. Most of the people living in this region have a moderate income :::::::The Coast Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see malindi malindi mopimp It sometimes seams as if the Swahili Coast is not part of Kenya at all. The culture of the Coast is a unique mix of African Bantu and Arab Muslim influences, a combination created by Arab traders who arrived on the Kenyan Coast before the 7th Century. By the 12th Century, permanent settlements were formed, and the Arabs took root. Arab men took African women as wives, and the Swahili people were born. Of course communication was necessary, so Kiswahili arose from the mixing of Africans’ tribal tongues and the traders’ Arabic. The Coast is a main attraction for travelers. The white sand beaches are a beautiful place to dive, snorkel, or just relax. There are beaches just north and south of Mombasa, the “capital” of the Kenyan Coast. The best beaches, however, are farther north, near Malindi and Watamu National Marine Parks, and farther north still to the island of Lamu. The cities and towns themselves are attractions, ancient towns that emanate history and culture. ::::::::::The Rift Valley Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Bomet (Chebunyo) Bomet (Chebunyo) Ngetundo The Rift Valley is the dominant geological feature of Kenya. The Valley is huge, running from Ethiopia, through Lake Turkana, the Cherangani Hills, and down past the plains of the Masai Mara, into Tanzania. The Rift Valley is famous for its soda lakes, such as Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria. The first encounter with the Rift Valley experienced by most travelers is the incredible view from the highway running from Nairobi to Nakuru. Nakuru and Eldoret are the biggest towns in the valley and they are the best bases from which to explore it. ::::::::::Western Kenya Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Busy "Boda Boda" Cyclists in Bungoma Busy "Boda Boda" Cyclists in Bungoma Eddie Kegode The area of western Kenya is composed of Nyanza Province surrounding Lake Victoria, and Western Province, along the Ugandan border. Nyanza is the home to the Luo tribe, along the lake, and the Kisii people, who live in the highlands. The Luhya tribe and their relatives dominate Western Province. Kisumu is the hub of western Kenya. It is Kenya’s third largest city, but like Mombasa across the country, it has a mellow feel to it, as opposed to the chaotic Nairobi. Besides going to western Kenya to experience its different culture, there is enough to keep travelers busy for a while. You can check out the largest lake in Africa, visit Kakamega Forest Reserve, or hike around on the slopes of Mt Elgon. __________ Bungoma Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Modern accommodation in Bungoma is now available. Details at www.canacourt.net Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: www.canacourt.net ____________ Cherangani Hills Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i Trevor Mikelas North of Kitale, the Cherangani Hills rise up to a height of 3,581m and form a barrier between the fertile highlands surrounding the town, and a barren stretch of desert to the north. The hills are home to the Pokot people in the south and, predominately, the Marakwet people, who migrated here from the north, and are dotted with small towns, although none of them offer accommodation with the exception of Kapsowar which has very basic guesthouses. Kapsowar has a post office with internet connection. It is always possible to negotiate a bed in a private home or to camp in someone's garden! Offering geographic diversity, a myriad of dirt roads and some dramatic peaks, the highest and most remote to the north, the Cheranganis are great for hikers who are happy to rough it. To the north west of the Cheranganis is the Marich Pass where accommodation is available at the Field Studies Centre. Guides and hikes can be arranged here. Also guides and treks in the Cheranganis can be arranged through Sirikwa Safaris or Karibuni Lodge in Kitale (see Kitale section). At the foot of the Cheranganis, accommodation and camping is available at Lomut which has a great colourful Pokot market on Saturdays. Accessible by road is the Wei Wei Valley, with beautiful scenery and basic restaurants/accommodation is available in Tamkal. _________Kakamega Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Huge Rock Boulders in Bunyore That are Characteristic of Vihiga District Huge Rock Boulders in Bunyore That are Characteristic of Vihiga District Eddie Kegode Kakamega is a small town in Western Province, about 65 km north of Kisumu. This is the base for trips into the Kakamega Forest Reserve. There are vehicles running south to Kisumu and north to Kitale every few minutes, but be wary of the touts, they could be the rudest in Kenya. If you stay in Kakamega, try the affordable Franca Hotel or the upper-end Golf Hotel (# (0331) 20125).or Vikes Hotel. The Golf Hotel has beautiful grounds, a bar and restaurant, and singles/doubles for 1750/2250. For more information on the Kakamega Forest Reserve, check the National Parks and Reserves section. However, it is infinitely preferable to stay in the Forest Reserve rather than town. Good camping and bandas are available in the Forest Reserve (see that section) or at Rondo Retreat, a private guesthouse in a lovely setting. _________Kisii Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Kisii town, located in south-western Kenya, is the main urban and commercial centre in Gusii Highlands. The Kisii municipality has a population of nearly 70,000, according to 2002 estimates. Kisii town is the capital of the Kisii District. The town was formerly the headquarters of the larger Kisii district before it was split to create Nyamira and Gucha districts. However, the town continues to serve these districts and the larger South Nyanza and Transmara region in terms of commerce. __________Kisumu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see PABARI APARTMENTS PABARI APARTMENTS Kisumu is Kenya's third largest city and is the center of western Kenya. It feels more like Mombasa than Nairobi, being hot and humid, where locals move about their business at a leisurely pace. Like any big city, there’s a wide range of accommodations suitable for any budget. There are several attractions in town, such as the huge market near the bus stage were you can get cheap soapstone carvings, and Hippo Point where you can watch the sun set on Lake Victoria. For more information on the lake and its sights, see the Lakes section. There are so many internet cafes in Kisumu, Kisumu is popular for Fish (Tilpia) eating along the lake. The people are friendly, the impala park also offers a good attraction site. Kisumu is famouse for its benga music. _________Kitale Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i Kitale is a good-sized town north of Kakamega in the western highlands, and is a very productive agricultural area. It’s important to tourists because it serves as a base for traveling to Mt Elgon to the west and Lodwar to the north. There are two museums in town, the National Museum which has a nice nature trail out back, and an agroforestry project next door and a private museum, Treasures of Africa, which has a fantastic collection of Ugandan and Turkana artifacts set in a beautiful desert garden. The curator is a botanist with a keen interest in anthropology and linguistics and knows a lot about the area. There is also an interesting museum in Kapenguria to the north, with a lot of exhibits relating to the Mau Mau (Jomo Kenyatta was imprisoned here). Matatus run to and from Kitale from Eldoret, Kisumu, Lodwar, the Ugandan border, Kakamega Forest and many other spots. If you’re coming from a town further east than Eldoret, take a vehicle to Eldoret first, as all matatus will stop here for a while anyway. You might as well be free to choose a nissan that is almost full and ready to go instead of waiting for your nissan to fill up. As to the railway station: Passenger rail traffic has stopped for many years, though freight trains run again. However, an easy way to get from Nairobi to Western Kenya is to take a passenger train to Kisumu (on Lake Victoria). From there, visit the Lake and surrounds and then take a matatu to Kakamega and enjoy the forest. From Kakamega, take a matatu to Kitale. Bottom end places to stay include the New Kitale House and the Executive Lodge which is a bit more expensive but has private bathrooms although not always hot water - ask for a room far away from the bar/tv. For a nicer place, try the Bongo Hotel (# (0325) 20593) on Moi Ave. It has singles/doubles with shared bathrooms for KSh 600/700 or with attached bathrooms for KSh 700/800, including breakfast but if you have a room at the front you will be disturbed by the all night bar adjacent and some of the rooms are very shabby - ask to see several. The Alakara Hotel (# (0325) 20395) on Kenyatta St have rooms at about Kshs1500. The Vision Gate on Kenyatta St has rooms at about Kshs1200 but they rent the downstairs floor to a very noisy charismatic church who get going with their speaker system at 6am! The nicest place in the town for budget travellers is the new Karibuni Lodge (#0735 573798 email: theresainafrica@yahoo.co.uk website: www.karibunikitale.com ), 2km from the town centre - they will pick you up from the bus stand. Probably the only place in town you can get a peaceful night's sleep unless you can sleep through bar noise, tv, disco and preachers. Walk-in garden tents, dorms or rooms with private bathroom from Kshs300-1500. Camping available or self-catering. Log fire, garden, great food, real Kenyan coffee, good excursions. Book exchange, lounge, hammocks. Also a great place to stay but much more pricey, is Sirikwa Safaris 23 km north of Kitale. You can camp here with access to all the facilities (Kshs375), sleep in a furnished tent for KShs2000+, or stay in a room for KShs3000+. The grounds are beautiful, and the owners are very welcoming and helpful. There are self-catering facilities or you can order meals (about Kshs1000 for dinner). There are not many decent restaurants in town, the best being Karibuni Lodge for good European style food, coffeee and cakes (dinner booking required for non-residents), Pinewood near the Agro-Forestry centre (for Indian food) and Iroko Twigs on Kenyatta Street for traditional style food. Good internet cafe, Kitale Communications Centre, in the Lantern Restaurant building opposite Standard Chartered Bank. Visa/ATM at Standard Chartered and Barclays. Surprisingly, one of the best and largest Shoping Malls in Kenya is in Kitale, known as Khetia's Gigamart. This is a WallMart Style Hypermart with everything you need from fresh groceries to latest in electronics. It even has a bookshop, DIY Centre, Mobile Electronics, ATM, Ice Cream Shop - you name it. It is one place worth visiting in Kitale. Excursions from Kitale include Saiwa Swamp National Park, Kakamega Forest, Mt Elgon National Park, trekking in the Cheranganis, homestays with Pokot families, good birdwatching, trekking Kongolai Escarpment, horseriding at Delta Crescent Game Sanctuary. Good guides are available from Karibuni Lodge or Sirikwa Safaris. _________Mang'ana Village Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see A beatiful visual econologic penorama captures your site upon entry to Mang'ana village a village of its own. Its where the famous Wandabwa family resides in the first place. Secondly, its full of intellectuals. Youths and even old people in the village believe in reigning supreme always. Likes of people who are working it out are the Kiiya's family. members include Dan Kiiya at Maseno University and jairus Kiiya at JKUAT. many more not mentioned. When it comes to cocurriculor activities its the spirit of brotherhood. Khuyetana namwe. I cannot forget the prominent SDA choir and church that have done the village proud. Thanks _____________Maseno Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i_1 This location is a major educational center in kenya, two of the best educational institutions are located here; Maseno University Founded in 1991 as part of Moi University. separate in 200 http://www.maseno.ac.ke/ and Maseno School Founded in 1906, the second oldest "African" school in Kenya http://masenoschool.ac.ke . The place is also few minutes drive from kisumu, the shores of lake victoria. Major agricultural research institute, and the Vetinery is based here. Maseno lies on the foot hills of Kavirondo hills, the rocky hills offer a beautiful scenic view of the sunrise and sunset. The tropical weather weather brings in the afternoon rains almost everyday, weather focus is only done once a year in this part of the country. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: abcarlisle22@hotmail.com |
| Lakes Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sunrise over Lake Baringo Sunrise over Lake Baringo N/A There are numerous lakes throughout Kenya, mostly lying in the great Rift Valley. Most of these are shallow soda lakes, but there are also a few freshwater lakes, including Lake Victoria, Africa's largest. Several lakes have been designated National Parks or Reserves, which hold a great variety of birds and other wildlife. For more specific information on Kenya's beautiful lakes, click on one of the links below. ________Lake Baringo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sunrise over Lake Baringo Sunrise over Lake Baringo N/A Lake Baringo is a big shallow freshwater lake north of Marigat. Once a productive lake for fish, it has been severely over-fished in recent years. There are still plenty of birds, however, and of course hippos and crocodiles in abundance and the many islands make it a nice place to visit. You can arrange boat trips to the islands through Robert’s Camp or Lake Baringo Club. To get to Lake Baringo, take B4 north outside of Nakuru. Continue 15 km past Marigat and you’ll see a signpost for the village of Kampi ya Samaki and Lake Baringo Club. There is direct public transportation to the lake from Nakuru. However, it should be faster for you to first take a matatu to Marigat, the from there take another to the lake. There are several places to stay on Lake Baringo. The most comfortable and pleasant place is Robert’s Camp. You can camp there for Ksh 350 per person, with access to clean showers and toilets. There are also a few double bandas (thatched huts) for KSh 1000 per person per night, and for groups of 4 or more, three luxury self contained cottages, which rent for 5000 per night. There’s a restaurant The Thirsty Goat with an excellent menu, and a fully stocked bar. If Robert’s is full, try the Bahari Lodge where you can get abed for KSh 100. If you’re looking for an upper-end hotel, there’s Block Hotel’s Lake Baringo Club, which has singles/doubles for US$ 39/78 in the low season and US$ 83/128 in the high season. The club has a badminton court, dart boards, a swimming pool, a library, and an excellent restaurant. Island Camp Baringo (# (071) 374069) is a nice tented lodge on Ol Kokwa Island. There are singles/doubles with full board for US$ 69/138 in the low season and US$ 141/187in the high season. __________Lake Bogoria National Reserve Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Geysers Geysers M Webster Lake Bogoria is a shallow soda lake north of Nakuru. If you’re lucky and the conditions of Lake Nakuru are not quite right, Lake Bogoria could be covered with flamingos. If not, there’s still other attractions, like hot springs and geysers. The surrounding habitat is drab scrub, so there’s not much chance of seeing wildlife. I suggest visiting the lake only if you’re in the area, or seeing it together with Lake Baringo. This is a National Reserve, so you will be charged a modest fee to enter. To get to Lake Bogoria National Reserve, take B4 north, just outside of Nakuru, towards Marigat. The road to the gate is signposted about 2 km before Marigat. It’s about 20 km from the turn off to Loboi Gate. You need your own vehicle to reach the lake, as there are no matatus that run there. If you want to stay at the lake, there are several accommodations near by. There are two campsites south of the lake, but make sure to bring your own food and water. If you don’t want to camp, try the Papyrus Inn just outside of the Loboi Gate. They have singles/doubles with breakfast from KSh 400/600. Two km before the same gate is the Lake Bogoria Hotel (# (037) 42696). The hotel is very nice, with rooms costing US$ 105/130 for singles/doubles with half board, or US$ 120/160 with full board. _________Lake Elmenteita Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Lake Elmenteita is a shallow soda lake near Lake Nakuru (about 25 to 28 road kms away from the town), extremely peaceful and serene. The lake is frequented by flamingos and especially pelicans, but you won’t see as many here as Lake Nakuru or Lake Bogoria. This is not a National Park, so you can walk around much of the lake (the Delamere property is strictly off limits however), although there is a whole lot of wildlife. If you would like to stay, note that the famous - and expensive - former Delamere Lodge has been closed since 2003, and the only hotel is Lake Elmenteita Lodge (# (0367) 5040), which has singles/doubles for US$ 40/80 in the low season, and US$ 110/140 in the high season. The Lake Elmenteita Lodge is not situated on the lakeside itself, but a bit away. An alternative is the very cheap and very romantic Flamingo Camp where a double-room cottage (suitable for four persons, with hot showers) costs only 3000 KSh for two. The "Sandra Bos cottage" is the nicest of the three. You can get there via matatu (cheap) or via taxi (about KSh 2000 from Nakuru, must be negotiated). Walking to Flamingo Camp from the main road where you alighted from the matatu, takes about 15-20 minutes, and it is recommended that you enlist the services of a local youngster (often found at the red roadside kiosk) to guide you there and to carry your luggage (usual fee is 50 KSh, and give them some 20-30 Ksh tip, and/or invite them for a soda down at Flamingo Camp). _____________Lake Elmenteita Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Lake Elmenteita is a shallow soda lake near Lake Nakuru (about 25 to 28 road kms away from the town), extremely peaceful and serene. The lake is frequented by flamingos and especially pelicans, but you won’t see as many here as Lake Nakuru or Lake Bogoria. This is not a National Park, so you can walk around much of the lake (the Delamere property is strictly off limits however), although there is a whole lot of wildlife. If you would like to stay, note that the famous - and expensive - former Delamere Lodge has been closed since 2003, and the only hotel is Lake Elmenteita Lodge (# (0367) 5040), which has singles/doubles for US$ 40/80 in the low season, and US$ 110/140 in the high season. The Lake Elmenteita Lodge is not situated on the lakeside itself, but a bit away. An alternative is the very cheap and very romantic Flamingo Camp where a double-room cottage (suitable for four persons, with hot showers) costs only 3000 KSh for two. The "Sandra Bos cottage" is the nicest of the three. You can get there via matatu (cheap) or via taxi (about KSh 2000 from Nakuru, must be negotiated). Walking to Flamingo Camp from the main road where you alighted from the matatu, takes about 15-20 minutes, and it is recommended that you enlist the services of a local youngster (often found at the red roadside kiosk) to guide you there and to carry your luggage (usual fee is 50 KSh, and give them some 20-30 Ksh tip, and/or invite them for a soda down at Flamingo Camp). _________ Lake Naivasha Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Lake Naivasha with water hyacinth and papyrus Lake Naivasha with water hyacinth and papyrus Nikée Lake Naivasha is one of the few freshwater lakes in Kenya. Many species of fish, birds, and plants, not forgetting hippos, call Lake Naivasha home. There is at least a day's worth of fun exploring the region around the lake. ::::::Sights Edit This If you have your own transportation, check out Crater Lake on the western side of the lake. It is part of the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary and it will cost you KSh 100 to enter. Another popular attraction is Crescent Island, a bird sanctuary that you can reach by boat. Lastly, visit Elsamere, the former house of Joy Adamson, about two km past Fisherman’s Camp on the Lake Road. It has been turned into a conservation center that is open to the public from 3 to 6 pm daily. The entrance fee is KSh 250, which includes afternoon tea. You can also stay here with full board for KSh 3200 per person per night. Bookings can be made by calling (# (0311) 21055). ::::::::Getting There & Getting Around Edit This Getting there: All locations on the lake can be accessed by matatu. They run to the Lake Road junction, then continue all the way past the lake. The stage in Naivasha town is on the corner of Kenyatta Ave and Kariuki Chotara Rd. Just tell the tout where you want to go and he will let you off there. Every second Saturday, a steam train runs from Nairobi to Naivasha and back (meals and lake boat excursion included in the package); it's a day trip. Inquire with Kenya Railways. Getting around: You can hire boats from the Safariland Club, the Lake Naivasha Country Club, or Fisherman’s Camp. ___________Lake Turkana Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see See the section entitiled Northern Kenya for information on Lake Turkana and its surroundings. _________Lake Victoria Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Hamerkop nest Hamerkop nest M Webster Lake Victoria is largest lake in Africa, measuring almost 70,000 square km. The lake is a very integral part of the lives of the Kenyans around the lake, namely the Luo tribe, famous fisherman. Lately the fishing and transport on the lake has suffered greatly from the invasion of water hyacinth, an aquatic weed that robs fish of oxygen and blocks waterways. Remember that bilharzia is prevalent in the lake, so don’t swim in it, or walk on its banks without shoes. The lake itself is not that spectacular, although there are several island you can visit. Rusinga Island is connected to the mainland by a causeway. From Kisumu, take a matatu to Homa Bay, where you’ll be able to get transportation to the island. There’s a mausoleum for the famous statesman Tom Mboya on the island, and not much else. If you really want to get off the beaten track, go to Mfangano Island. You can take a ferry from Homa Bay. There’s nothing on the island except for a local community and one very expensive resort. Arrange to stay with some locals, or go to Mfangano Island Camp where a bed with full board costs US$ 125. You can arrange fishing trips from here through Mutiara Ltd. in Nairobi (# (02) 331871). The lake is so large that it is bordered by other countries such as Tanzania and Uganda. In Tanzania, Speke Bay Lodge has a variety of accommodation including permanant tents and four -person bungalows. The owners will arrange boat trips, visits to a nearby Sukuma village and bird walks. It is very close to the Ndabaka Gate into the Serengeti. (028-262 1236) |
| National Parks and Reserves Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Elephant in Amboseli against Kilimanjaro backdrop Elephant in Amboseli against Kilimanjaro backdrop Daniel If Kenya is famous for anything, it’s surely its many national parks and reserves. These beautiful spots offer a wide array of landscapes, plants, and animals. You can trek the slopes of the Aberdares, Mt. Kenya, or Mt. Longonot, or go on a game drive on the plains of the Masai Mara or below Mt. Kilimanjaro at Amboseli National Park. You need to be in a vehicle to enter most national parks and all national reserves, except Saiwa Swamp and South Turkana, so you either need your own car, or you need to book your safari through one of the many companies in Kenya. The good news is that there are so many of these safari companies that competition drives the prices down. Most any tourist that can afford an airline ticket to Kenya can afford to see at least one or two parks. Two affordable companies in Nairobi that offer quality safaris are Gametrackers (# 338927) on the first floor of the Kenya Cinema Plaza, and Let’s Go Travel (# 340331) on Standard Street near Koinange St. Entrance fees may or may not be included in your company’s total price. The major parks, such as Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, and the Aberdares will cost nonresident adults US$ 27 per day. The other parks ask between US$ 23 and $15 per day. One day is considered to be a 24-hour period, so if you enter the park at 5 pm, you are expected to leave by 5 pm the next day. There also may be a camping fee if you are not spending the night in a lodge. :::::::::::::Aberdare N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x The Aberdare Park covers most of the Aberdare mountain range in central Kenya. The range has Kenya’s 2nd and 3rd highest peaks, extraordinary waterfalls, and some of the most scenic flora in the country. In fact, although I’m biased because I lived a half hour from the Aberdares, I think the Aberdare Forest is the most beautiful forest in all of Kenya. The park is not so commonly visited by tourists for several reasons. First, it gets huge amounts of rain and the roads turn to mud slides during the rainy season. This also means that you need your own 4WD vehicle, and if you’re planning to camp, you need good equipment. If you don’t want to camp, you only have two options for lodges, Treetops and The Ark, and both are expensive. You cannot drive into these lodges yourself, but have to make reservations and be driven into them by the lodges’ transport. The Treetops Lodge isn’t all that special, with small rooms and shared bathrooms. I the high season (Dec 16 to Jan 3), singles/doubles run US$ 124/248 with full board. In the low season (April 9 to June 30, also the rainy season), prices drop to US$ 62/124. Any other time during the year, expect to pay somewhere in-between these prices. You have to book in advance through Block Hotels in Nairobi (# (02) 540780). You then have to meet at the Outspan Hotel in Nyeri the day you arranged. The other lodge is The Ark, which is nicer but more expensive. Singles/Doubles with full board and transportation are US$ 270/321 in the high season and US$ 147/173 in the low season. Again, you must book in advance through Lonrho Hotels Kenya in Nairobi (# (02) 216940). Turn up at the Aberdare Country Club in Mweiga, a town 12 km north of Nyeri, the day you arranged for transport to the lodge. You can arrange game drives from the Aberdare Country Club if you want to see the park but don’t want to stay inside it. Even if you choose to camp, you need to make reservations at Park Headquarters at Mweiga (# 24 in Mweiga). If you’re a backpacker looking to explore the Aberdares without the hassle, there is another way. If you’re interested, email me at: nikobesti@yahoo.com and I’ll tell you how. __________-Sights Edit This The Ark inside Aberdare National Park is an absolute wonder. It is set beside a water hole which is frequented by elephants, rhinos, herbivores, hyenas and even lion. It is expensive but definately worth the money and an experience you can hardly ever get again! ::::::::::Amobseli N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Elephant in Amboseli against Kilimanjaro backdrop Elephant in Amboseli against Kilimanjaro backdrop Daniel Amboseli National Park is probably Kenya’s second most visited park behind Masai Mara. The main attraction is its backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro. If conditions are right you can get amazing shots of elephants or lions with the tallest mountain in Africa in the background. The park probably has more elephants per square km than any other, so you're sure to have close encounters with the huge animals. To get to the park, most visitors cut south just outside of Nairobi and go through the town of Namanga. It’s also possible to approach from Tsavo to the east, but you should have a 4WD vehicle. There’s only one campsite in the area on the southern boundary of the park. As lodges go, there are several options inside the park, or if you want to save on park fees, there are also several places outside of the park. Inside the park try Tortilis Camp (# (0154) 22551), situated in one of the most beautiful spots in the park. During the high season expect to pay US$ 170/264 for singles/doubles and US$ 100/200 in the low season. There’s also the Amboseli Lodge (# (02) 227136 which has singles/doubles for US$ 160/210. The Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge (# (02) 227136) is located about 30 km east of the park. It offers singles/doubles for US$ 160/200 in the high season, and US$ 70/140 in the low season. ____________Sights Edit This Elephant in Amboseli against Kilimanjaro backdrop Elephant in Amboseli against Kilimanjaro backdrop Daniel African Sermon Safaris offers exciting African Safari holidays, Kenya Safaris, African wildlife tours and travel, Tanzania Safaris, Gorilla Safaris, Uganda Safaris, Gorilla Trekking, Beach Holidays, adventure camping safaris and tours, Kenya and Tanzania safari holidays, incentive tours, Beach safaris, walking safaris See more: http://www.africansermonsafaris.com or www.africansermonsafaris.com [Add Sight] Stephen Edit This Detailed Kenya Tanzania safari African Holidays,Kenya Tanzania Wildlife Safaris,Mount Kenya climbing,tours kenya Lodge safari,African Holiday,Uganda Gorilla Treks,Masai mara Lodge Safaris,Kenya budget Camping safaris,Tanzania safaris,Uganda wildlife safaris,beach Safaris kenya,Amboseli safaris,Samburu Safaris,Mombasa safaris type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] accessibility: Travel tel: 254722971226 url: www.africanholidaysafaris.com address: 20413 email: africanholidaysafaris@yahoo.com ::::::::::Hell's Gate N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see A view of the Park A view of the Park Alex Bonato Hells’ Gate is a mellow little park with incredible geology near Lake Naivasha. A great thing about the park is that you can hike around on foot. There are few to no major predators here, which is actually good, because it’s one of the few parks where you have the feeling of being very close to the wildlife, unprotected by a vehicle. It gives you a genuine experience and you can have several days of fun in this park. From Naivasha town, take a matatu to the lake. Just tell the tout to let you off at the turn-of to Hell’s Gate. It’s before Fisherman’s Camp. From the sign posted turn-off it’s 2 km to Elsa Gate. The entry fee is relatively cheap, and so is the camping fee. Attractions include Fischer’s Tower, Central Tower, Obsidian Caves, Ol Karia Geothermal Station, and the Hell’s Gate Gorge. It’s a long walk from Elsa Gate to Central Tower at the end of the park and back, so you may want to stay the night and explore the following morning. There are 3 major camp sites not far from Elsa Gate. If you enjoy technical mountain climbing, you can do it here. Also, if you want to explore the park by mountain bike, ask the people at Fisherman’s Camp where you can rent them. ::::::::::: Kakamega Forest Reserve Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x The Kakamega Rain Forest is a little patch of virgin forest in Western Kenya, remants of the Congo rainforest. The dense vegetation and gigantic indigenous trees are spectacular, and unique in Kenya. In addition, the reserve is home to many different bird species including the rare Casquet Hornbill and monkey species such as the Endangered De-Brazza Monkey, Black & White Colobus monkey, Sykes monkey and red monkey, and there are hundreds of butterflies. There are many trails you can walk, as well as some beautiful places to stay. Guides are very reasonable and can point out the many fascinating smaller mammals and reptiles in addition to being very well informed on the medicinal values of the various plants and trees. One such place is the Forest Rest House. It has four double rooms which cost a few hundred shillings, or you can comp. It’s possible to eat beans and rice at a nearby shop, but you should brink your own food and means to cook it. A bit further down the road is the top-end Rondo Retreat (# (0331) 20425). It costs KSh 4400 per person per night with full board, or KSh 2500 if you want to fend for yourself. The last place to stay inside the forest is the Udo’s Bandas & Campsite in the northern part of the reserve near Isiukhu Falls. There’s seven bandas with two beds and a communal kitchen. Beds run KSh 250 per night. Bring your own food. In the south of the park, you can camp or hire a banda at the KWS campsite. The Keep bandas also come recommended. ::::::::Lake Bogoria N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x Lake Bogoria is a shallow soda lake north of Nakuru. If you’re lucky and the conditions of Lake Nakuru are not quite right, Lake Bogoria could be covered with flamingos. If not, there’s still other attractions, like hot springs and geysers. The surrounding habitat is drab scrub, so there’s not much chance of seeing wildlife. I suggest visiting the lake only if you’re in the area, or seeing it together with Lake Baringo. This is a National Reserve, so you will be charged a modest fee to enter. To get to Lake Bogoria National Reserve, take B4 north, just outside of Nakuru, towards Marigat. The road to the gate is signposted about 2 km before Marigat. It’s about 20 km from the turn off to Loboi Gate. You need your own vehicle to reach the lake, as there are no matatus that run there. If you want to stay at the lake, there are several accommodations near by. There are two campsites south of the lake, but make sure to bring your own food and water. If you don’t want to camp, try the Papyrus Inn just outside of the Loboi Gate. They have singles/doubles with breakfast from KSh 400/600. Two km before the same gate is the Lake Bogoria Hotel (# (037) 42696). The hotel is very nice, with rooms costing US$ 105/130 for singles/doubles with half board, or US$ 120/160 with full board. ::::::::::Lake Nakuru N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x Lake Nakuru is a soda lake south of Nakuru in the Rift Valley. It’s the most visited Lake in Kenya because of the variety of quantity of wildlife. The lake is famous for its flamingos, but you’ll see a lot of mammals too, and your chances of seeing a rhinoceros are better than any other park. You don’t necessarily need your own vehicle to see Lake Nakuru. You can always hire a taxi from Nakuru town to take you to the park and then drive you around for a few hours. Bargain with many drives for a long time, but expect to pay KSh 2000 to the driver, plus all the park fees. There is also a WWF bus that tours the lake every Saturday, taking anyone for a few hundred shillings. I’m not sure where the bus leaves from, so ask around town, maybe at the Midland Hotel. If you want to stay in the park instead of in Nakuru, there are some camp sites as well as nice lodges. The Backpacker’s Camp Site and the Njoro Camp Site are not far from the Main Gate. They have fresh water and toilets and run about US$15 for a night. The Sarova Lion Hill Lodge (# (02) 333248) has the usual facilities like a swimming pool, bar and restaurant. Singles/Doubles with full board are US$ 135/165 in the high season and US$ 55/110 in the low season. The Lake Nakuru Lodge (# (02) 224998) has the some facilities for almost the exact same prices. ::::::::: Longonot N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo Mt. Longonot (2886 m) is a dormant volcano near Naivasha. You can climb to the rim in less than an hour, then walk around the rim in about 2.5 hours. The view down on Rift Valley is magnificent, as is the view down into the crater of the volcano. If you bring technical equipment, you can descend down into the crater with a guide. If you have a vehicle, take the newly re-built road to Nairobi. By following signs and maybe asking for directions, you can get to the park gate/trailhead. If you don’t have a car, you can take a matatu to Longonot town, then walk about 7 km to the trailhead. It may be possible to camp near the gate if you ask the authorities, but the trip is pretty easily done in a day. :::::::Masai Mara N.R. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Cheetah, Masai Mara NR Cheetah, Masai Mara NR Andrew Lamb The Masai Mara is definitely Kenya’s most popular tourist attraction. The Mara had become the country’s most visited park or reserve because of the amount of game within a fairly small area. Here you have the best chance of seeing a leopard or cheetah, and you’re sure to see lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffe, hyena, and many types of ungulates, such as impala, Thomson’s gazelle, topi, and hartebeest. The annual migration of wildebeest is an extraordinary sight, where millions of the animals move in from the Serengeti in July and August. The only draw-back of the Masai Mara is that it is too crowded with tourists. You literally cannot look anywhere without seeing a white Nissan filled with other travelers. Game is located by finding the groups of tourist vehicles, some times up to 20 or more surrounding one cheetah or lion. It detracts from the experience making you feel like you’re in a zoo without cages. Still, there’s nowhere in Kenya where you can see this many animals with so little effort. Most visitors that visit the Mara have booked trips with a travel company. There are many companies that offer different deals. Most are 2 or 3 nights, with two or more game drives in the park a day. Prices for a tented camp safari average about US$ 200 per person for the trip, including meals and lodging in tents. Gametrackers and Let’s Go Travel are two companies which can give you a good safari for a decent price. Their contacts are at the beginning of the National Parks section. There are many upper-end deals as well, where you’ll stay at very expensive resort hotels or tented camps. There are more than a dozen such resorts, some inside the park boundaries. If you’ve booked your safari with a tourist company, you’ll have no choice where you stay. If you have your own vehicle and a lot of money, you have several options. Mara Intrepids Club (# (02) 338084) offers tents for US$ 223/304 for singles/doubles with full board and game drives. Low season rates are an excellent value at US$ 100/160. Nearby also on the Talek River is the Fig Tree Camp (# (02) 221439), which is also a tented camp. For US$ 125/170 you can get a single/double with full board, or US$ 50/100 in the low season. The Mara Serena Lodge (# (02) 711077) lies on the Mara river in the center of the park. They have singles/doubles with full board for US$ 120/160, or US$ 50/100 in the low season. If you want to stay outside of the park and save money on expensive park fees, try the Mara Safari Club (# (02) 216940), or the more affordable Mara River Camp (# (02) 331191). The high season is usually considered to be from December through January, then June until mid August. ::::::::::Mount Kenya N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x Mt. Kenya at 5199 m is Africa’s second highest peak, next only to Mt. Kilimanjaro in nearby Tanzania. The mountain lies within the Mt. Kenya National Park, which is surrounded by the Mt. Kenya Forest. Trekkers from all over to world come to hike Mt. Kenya, which is famous for being one of the more challenging, yet beautiful mountains on the continent. The two highest peaks, Batian (5199 m) and Nelion (5188 m) can only be reached by climbers with technical skills. However, the third highest peak, Lenana (4985 m), can be reached by foot. The Mt. Kenya area is home to the Kikuyu people and their close relatives, the Embu and Meru. The Kikuyu believed that their god and creator, Ngai, lived at the top of the mountain. Most Kikuyu today have adopted a more westernized Christian view, but the mountain is still an extremely important part of the Kikuyu culture. ________When to climb Edit This The time of year you plan to hike Mt. Kenya is important. Obviously, if you choose to make the trip in the rainy season, your trip will at least be miserable, maybe a disaster. Of course weather is hard to predict, and you run the risk of being rained on anytime, but if you are serious about coming to Kenya to climb its highest mountain, plan on coming at a time of the year when you’ll have nice weather. The best months to attempt the climb are late December through mid February, or mid July trough mid September. The long rains start in March and can run until July. The short rains start in October and run into November. ________Who to climb with Edit This Trekkers have many options in who to go with. Experienced climbers may want to go by themselves, or with only one guide. Others may want to book at package deal with a travel company, which would entitle you to a whole group of guides, cooks and porters. You are not required to be accompanied by a guide like you are on Mt. Kilimanjaro, but obviously it is a good reason for inexperienced climbers. If you are a bit unsure of your physical limits or trekking knowledge and you have the extra money to use, book your climb through a tour company. Mt. Kenya is not an easy hike, so don’t take anything for granted. Any tour agency in Nairobi (as well as in Naro Moru) can set up an organized climb for as many people as needed. This will include a guide and enough porters to carry all of your needed food and gear. Porters double as cooks and all your meals will be taken care of. Hot drinks will await you at your next camp, as the loaded-down porters go ahead of the group to set up in advance. I Nairobi, arrange trip with Lets Go Travel (# (02) 340331) or The Mountain Rock Tours & Adventure Safaris (# (02) 210051). Of course it’s possible to do the mountain without help. Never climb alone, but if you are in a group of experienced trekkers, you may not need any help. The trail is fairly clearly marked, so if you’re proficient in using maps, you may not need a guide. If you feel like taking one just in case, or hiring a few porters to ease your load a bit, you can hire them independently, without going through a travel company. The best way to do this is to hire them at the town at which you start. There are many qualified candidates who approach tourists in Naro Moru, Nanyuki, and Chogoria that are willing to accompany you for a small fee. Your best bet, however, would be to go to any tourist lodge and hire guides or porters from there. If you’re starting from Naro Moru, check at the Naro Moru River Lodge. Expect to pay guides about KSh 500 per day and porters KSh 300 per day. Remember that if you descend the mountain using a different route, you will have to pay for their transportation back to where you started. Make sure you make all you plans clear to your guides and porters before you agree on a price. ___________What to bring Edit This Clothing: Temperatures on top of the Mountain may fall to -10 degrees C, so bring plenty of clothing. Remember headgear and gloves, as well as decent pair of boots an some sandals or light shoes to wear at night. Wearing several layers of clothes is advisable, with waterproof clothing on the outside if the weather is wet. Sun glasses are important to protect your eyes from the bright sun. Equipment: If you can’t bring your equipment over to Kenya, everything you need can be hired in Nairobi or around Mt. Kenya. In the capital, try Atul’s (# (02) 225935) on Biashara St or the National Action Mountain Center (# (02) 740214). In Naro Moru go to the Naro Moru River Lodge. They rent out everything from sleeping bags, tents and stoves to wool socks and rain pants. Don’t go without a foam mat. Food: Remember that you will eat more food than normal because of the physical strain on your body, so don’t skimp on the food. You will need a small camp stove, as it’s not recommended to pack only dried foods. Bring foods high in carbohydrates, such as pasta, bread, and grains you can boil, such as couscous. Be warned that at high elevations rice and lentils will not cook because water boils at less than 100 degrees. Dry foods can be useful, such as soup mix or dried mashed potatoes. Take some chocolate and fruits also, to keep your sugar levels up. Most important, make sure to drink a lot of water. Water helps your body adjust to high altitudes, so drink even more that you would trekking at low elevations. I suggest at least four liters a day. Hot drinks such as coffee, tea, or chocolate can be great in the morning or evening, but remember that caffeine dehydrates you. Maps/books: Never climb Mt. Kenya without a guide or map. Maps can be purchased at any bookstore. _________The Routes Edit This There are several routes up to Point Lenana. The three routes are Naro Moru, Sirimon and Chogoria. Of course you can ascend on one trail, then descend on another. The length of time required depends upon how fast you walk and how many kilometers you trek per day. Also, if you have access to a vehicle, you can drive from the forest boundary to the National Park boundary, eliminating a lot of time. This can be expensive, makes it harder for your body to adjust to the elevation, and you can miss the beautiful Mt. Kenya forest where you have a good chance of encountering wildlife. The Naro Moru route is the most popular route, especially with tour companies. It’s also the shortest route, taking only 3 to 4 days to make the climb and descend, but the least scenic. Just outside the town of Naro Moru on the way to Nanyuki lies the trailhead. If you have your own vehicle, you can drive to the meteorological station, cutting one day off of your trip. From there, most trekkers spend the next night at Mackinder’s Camp. Some people split the hike from there to Lenana in half by sleeping in Austrian Hut, then ascending to the peak in the early morning. The Sirimon route starts north of the Mountain. From Nanyuki, head towards Timau and Isiolo and tell the tout you want to be dropped off at the start of the Sirimon trail. You can also stay the night at the Mountain Rock Hotel and they can take you to the trailhead in the morning. The first day you walk from the main road to the park entrance gate, or farther to Old Moses Camp. The next day, hike to Shipton’s Camp. From Shipton’s Camp, you can get to Point Lenana via the North Face, American Camp, or Austrian Hut. Allow 4 to 5 days to climb and return on the Sirimon route. The Chogoria route is the longest but most scenic of the three routes. Start from Chogoria town, then start at the Forest Gate. From there you can either drive the 20 km to the Park Gate, or drive it. After camping there, walk to Minto’s Hut or camp half way. From Minto’s Hut you cam pace it to Austrian Hut, then accent to Point Lenana the next day. The trip will take 4 to 5 days. :::::::::Mt Elgon National Park Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x Mt. Elgon National Park is located on the Kenyan-Ugandan border. Mt Elgon is an extinct volcano. Its highest peak is Wagagai (4321 m), but it’s on the Ugandan side. The highest peak on the Kenyan side is Koitoboss. The main attraction of Mt Elgon is its spectacular caves in its slopes. These saline caverns are beautiful by themselves, and there’s a chance you could even see elephants inside them, getting their daily allowance of salt. The three caves open to tourists are called Kitum, Chepnyali, and Mackingeny. You need a vehicle to enter the park. A ranger must accompany you on all hikes. Make sure to bring warm clothes, as it is quite cold at higher elevations, and it rains a lot on the mountain. The driest time to visit is from December through February, or August and September. Park entry is US$ 10 per day, and there’s a camping fee as well. There’s one lodge near the park, Mt Elgon Lodge, which is one km before the Chorlim Gate. Singles/Doubles here with full board run KSh 2750/4250. Mt Elgon’s flora is incredible, and there are a few ways to experience Elgon’s beauty on foot. Most trekkers start from a town called Kimilili, 36 km south of Kitale on the road to Kisumu. From here get a matatu to Kapsakwany, then hike five km to Kaberua Forest Station. From here it’s another 20 km to Chepkitale Forest Station, which is abandoned. Seven km past this station is an ugly mountain hut. From this hut, it’s about a four hour walk to Lower Elgon Tarn, a small lake. From here you are close to Lower Elgon Peak, and around the crater rim lies Koitoboss peak and the Suam hot springs. Make sure to get a map, and follow the safety guidelines I have outlined in the Mt Kenya section. :::::::::::Nairobi N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Nairobi in the distance... Nairobi in the distance... Mike Norris The Nairobi National Park was the first Kenyan national park. It was opened in 1946. It is now the headquarter of the Kenya Wildlife Service. The National Park is close to the city center and daily tours are organised by tour operators. The best times to visit the park in the morning or later in the afternoon when game viewing is the best. A tour should take about three hours at least. Due to the encroaching civilazation the park may disappear in the near future. So do not be surprised to hear the planes from Jomo Kenyatta Airport :::::::::::Nairobi N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Nairobi in the distance... Nairobi in the distance... Mike Norris The Nairobi National Park was the first Kenyan national park. It was opened in 1946. It is now the headquarter of the Kenya Wildlife Service. The National Park is close to the city center and daily tours are organised by tour operators. The best times to visit the park in the morning or later in the afternoon when game viewing is the best. A tour should take about three hours at least. Due to the encroaching civilazation the park may disappear in the near future. So do not be surprised to hear the planes from Jomo Kenyatta Airport ::::::::::::Samburu & Buffalo Springs N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Samburu and Buffalo Springs are small parks, measuring 300 square km together. They hold a large variety of landscapes, however, ranging from savanna and hills to the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River. It also has some of the most unique wildlife in Kenya, like the reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra, as well as plenty of lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Some say Samburu/Buffalo Springs is the best park in Kenya because of the sites and the fact that it isn’t crowded with tourists. I say it’s definitely one of the best 3 in the country. One unfortunate thing is that these reserves are separate ad require separate park fees, although they are much the same. If you want to visit both, do it in two separate days. You either need your own vehicle or you need to book a safari with a tourist company to visit the reserves. To get there, go through Embu and Meru to Isiolo, or go around the northern side of Mt. Kenya, through Nanyuki to Isiolo. The reserves are just a few km north of Isiolo. If you choose to stay in Buffalo Springs, there are 4 public camp sites near the Gare Mara gate. They’re not completely safe, however, so pack up you belongings and take them with you on game drives. The only lodge is Buffalo Springs Tented Lodge (# (0165) 2234) in the north eastern part of the reserve. In the high season tents and cottages cost US$ 120/160 for singles/doubles with full board. In the low season prices drop to US$ 50/90. In Samburu, there are public camp sites near the Samburu Lodge, and two special camp sites further west. There are four expensive lodges in the reserved. Samburu Lodge (# (02) 540780) has singles/doubles with half board for US$ 100/153. In low season rates are US$ 39/78. Also try the Samburu Intrepids Club (# (02) 335208) which runs US$ 121/183 for singles/doubles with full board. ::::::::::Tsavo N.P. Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Watering hole at Voi Lodge Watering hole at Voi Lodge Charan Tsavo is the largest of Kenya's national parks, covering over 20.000 square km. It is split into two sections for administrative purposes, Tsavo East and Tsavo West. Because the park is so big, you can spend a lot of time driving around in the bush without seeing much wildlife. There are some beautiful, uncongested attractions within the parks, however, ad there's enough to see the keep you busy for several days. If you're planning to safari in Tsavo on you own (without a Safari Company), you will need a 4WD vehicle if you plan to get off the main roads. The main entrance gates to Tsavo West and East are sign posted on the Mombasa highway. Be advised that Tsavo West and East are seperate parks and you'll need to pay separate entrance fees. |
Northern Kenya Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The northern half of Kenya is a vast, sparsely populated desert. The dry shrub lands and rocky wasteland is home to some of Kenya’s most interesting people, such as the Turkana, Samburu, Marakwet, Pokot, and El Molo tribes. These tribes have been influenced very little by the west, and unlike the Maasai, have had very little contact with tourists as well. They live as they did years ago by herding livestock and fishing. The people as well as the awesome scenery make Northern Kenya a nice place to visit. The current atmosphere between the tribes of Northern Kenya is very touchy, and tribal violence has become quite common. Livestock raids between Marakwet, Pokot, and Turkana have turned violent due to use of automatic weapons, and a vicious cycle of revenge killings has emerged. This is mainly a problem with tribes west of Lake Turkana, but violence is also common east of lake, where bandits roam. The danger of bandits is so real that no one goes north of Samburu National Reserve without an armed escort. Don’t let this prevent you from seeing some of the most spectacular parts of Kenya, however. Dispite the isolated tribal violence, the area west of the lake is still quite safe for tourists, although you may pass a few goat herders with AK-47s. From this side you can visit the town of Lodwar and camp on the shores of Lake Turkana. The road north from Marich Pass (which continues into Sudan) is in deplorable state. Once it was tarred but now it is pitted and potholed so the experience is slow and bumpy but the scenery is wild and rugged and devoid of buildings. You will see a few Turkana herders with their flocks of goats and camels but not much else. There are buses from Kitale which go to Lodwar, several times a day, journey time about 6-8 hours due to the present state of the road. From Lodwar, it is about an hour's drive to the shores of the Lake at Kalakol where the Kenya Wildlife Service is based (here you pay your fee/arrange your boat trip to Central Island). There are no facilities here but KWS will usually let people camp in their compound - you need to be totally self-sufficient in terms of food and water. Also from Lodwar, on a different road, it is about an hour's drive to Eliye Springs. This is a far more attractive part of the lake and much nicer for camping. Again you will need to be self-sufficient but it is possible to use water from the spring or to order things such as chapatis from the locals if you are prepared to take the risk! Here there are lovely shady doum palm groves, sandy beach, safe bathing in the lake, security guards (it used to be a luxury lodge), toilets and a shower. Trips to local villages can be arranged and there is a small curio market. Central Island is HOT! There is absolutely no shade on the island and, as you will also be out on the lake for several hours getting there and back, make sure you are well protected - take an umbrella or good sunhat and cover up! Take plenty of water - it is not unknown for boats to break down or for the sailing conditions on the lake to suddenly change and delay your return journey. However, the island is beautiful with crater lakes full of crocodiles and, at certain times of the year, hundreds of waterfowl including flamingoes. It is possible to camp on the island - you need to bring everything with you as there are no facilities (except one pit latrine). The only way to get east of the lake used to be with a tourist company, which travelled with an armed escort. The companies offer safe 8-day trips, which include visits to several national parks and some of the most extraordinary desert scenery in the country. It is also possible to do this trip in your own vehicle or by getting transport to Loyangelani. :::::::::East of Lake Turkana Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see As mentioned in the Northern Kenya section, there is the danger of encountering bandits, or shiftas in the desert anywhere north of Samburu National Reserve. Unless you want to get left in the middle of nowhere by Somali, Ethiopian, or Sudanese shiftas with absolutely nothing by your underwear, you need to travel in a convoy system with an armed escort. Gametrackers in Nairobi (# (02) 338927) offers an excellent 8-day trip that covers much of the desert east of the lake. Starting in Nairobi, you’ll pass Mt. Kenya and head north to Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. From there they connect with an armed convoy and continue north to Marsabit National Reserve. They then cut west towards Lake Turkana, passing the beautiful Chalbi Desert. They camp at Loyangalani on the shore of Lake Turkana, then return to Nairobi hitting a few other sites on the way down. Gametrackers’ rates are negotiable, if you’re willing to bring your own food and beverages. _______Wajir Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Wajir is one of the most historic cities in the North Eastern part of Kenya. It was once a military Garrison and it has retained some of this qualities to this very moment.It is a lost city in the Desert though it is now showing all the signs of modernity with the conversion of the once military Airport to a civilian one.The first plane to land here in 2007 was from the Somalia and with the planned tarmacking of the Garissa -Wajir Road this city has everything to be proud of in the future.One amazing thing about this city is its similarity with the cities in Saudiarabia.It is worth visiting for the former Northern Frontier region is now opening up to the rest of the world. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: Individual Travel :::::::::Maralal Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Maralal is a small town north of Nyahururu and Nanyuki. It’s in a beautiful spot, surrounded by Maralal National Sanctuary. The area is home to the Samburu people, relatives of the Maasai. They are perhaps the smartest dressed tribe in the country. The area is impoverished, so expect to be severely harassed by locals trying to sell trinkets or beg. Maralal is not too frequently visited by tourists except for once a year at its annual International Camel Derby. The Derby is held every July and everyone is invited for a hell of a good time. The race is based at Yare Club and Campground, a few km out of town, where you are free to camp for KSh 200, or get a nice room. There is an amateur competition and a professional race. The amateur class is open to anyone wishing to ride. For a few thousand Kenyan shillings, you can pick your own camel, hire a handler to run behind your camel and hit it with a stick, and take a chance at winning a lot of money. No matter how you do, you can be sure of two things: You’ll leave with a hang-over from celebrating for two days straight, and you’ll be so sore you won’t be able to sit comfortably for days. Get there on Friday or early Saturday to register for the race. If you’re looking for another place to stay besides the Yare Club, try the Buffalo Lodge. It offers rooms for KSh 400 and has two lively bars. Kimaniki Boarding & Lodging and the Silence Hotel are also good values. The only upper-end place is the expensive Maralal Safari Lodge (# (0368) 2060), 3 km outside of town towards Baragoi. It has a golf course, swimming pool, and a watering hole for attracting game. It costs US$ 120/150 for singles/doubles with full board. The restaurant and facilities are open to the public. :::::::::West of Lake Turkana Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo Richard Bascom If you want to really explore the attractions west of Lake Turkana, you need your own 4-wheel drive vehicle. You can get a matatu to Lodwar from Kitale, but you’ll miss everything along the way, and you may not be able to get to the shore of the lake from Lodwar. You can make your way up to Lodwar by going through Kitale, or by making your way through the Cherangani Hills. There are many routes through the hills, most starting from Iten. From Iten, travel north, then veer left across the hills to join up with the main highway to Lodwar around the town of Kapenguria. Bring a good map and ask for directions along the way. There are some spectacular views in the Cherangani Hills, and if you have time you can hike around for a few hours. About 70 km north of Kapenguria lies the Marich Pass Field Studies Center (# (0321) 31541). It’s a beautiful spot on the Weiwei River where you can get some food, or if you’re taking your time on the way up to Lodwar, to stay the night. You can camp here for KSh 200, get a dorm bed for KSh 250, or stay in a double banda for KSh 400. Just north of Marich Pass is Turkwel Gorge, the largest hydroelectric project in Kenya. The gorge and dam are impressive for African standards, but nothing too spectacular if you’ve seen it before. You can also get a room at the station, although it’s expensive. ________-Banks of Lake Turkana Edit This There are two spots on the western bank of Lake Turkana which are accessible. The first and most popular is the fishing village of Kalekol, a few km from the lake shore. Matatus sometimes run from Lodwar to Kalekol, but only if enough people want to go. The place to stay in town is the Safari Hotel. From Kalekol it’s a 1.5 hour walk to Ferguson’s Gulf, the most accessible part of the lake. There are a lot of birds here, as well as crocodiles and hippos. The only lodge here was shut down for renovation and is probably still closed. If you want to stay the night, you’ll have to stay with some locals. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, you’ll have to return to Kalekol for the night. The second access to the lake is Eliye Springs. It’s a beautiful spot, but to get here you need your own 4WD vehicle. The turn-off is sign posted about halfway to Kalekol. There’s no hotel here either, so you’ll need to camp. The locals will help to set you up in a nice spot on the lake shaded by palm trees. They offer to sell you nice hammocks that they set up comfortably between trees. No matter if you want the hammocks or not, expect to pay about KSh 400 per night. Locals try to suck every shilling out of you because they don’t see tourists too often, but it’s worth it. Of the two and a half years I spent in Kenya, I never had a more genuine experience with natives. The Turkana will even perform a dance for you for a small fee. The women and girls will sell traditional Turkana baskets for insanely cheap prices. You’ll need your own food and water, although fish is readily available. |
| The Coast Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see malindi malindi mopimp It sometimes seams as if the Swahili Coast is not part of Kenya at all. The culture of the Coast is a unique mix of African Bantu and Arab Muslim influences, a combination created by Arab traders who arrived on the Kenyan Coast before the 7th Century. By the 12th Century, permanent settlements were formed, and the Arabs took root. Arab men took African women as wives, and the Swahili people were born. Of course communication was necessary, so Kiswahili arose from the mixing of Africans’ tribal tongues and the traders’ Arabic. The Coast is a main attraction for travelers. The white sand beaches are a beautiful place to dive, snorkel, or just relax. There are beaches just north and south of Mombasa, the “capital” of the Kenyan Coast. The best beaches, however, are farther north, near Malindi and Watamu National Marine Parks, and farther north still to the island of Lamu. The cities and towns themselves are attractions, ancient towns that emanate history and culture. ::::::::::Kilifi Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see kilifi bridge kilifi bridge a. habeck Kilifi is the first town north of Mombasa about half-way to Malindi. There is a nice beach in Kilifi, although it’s a bit hard to get to. While you’re there, check out the well preserved Mnarani ruins overlooking Kilifi Creek. SET amidst a backdrop of a most stunning white sandy beach, a startlingly beautiful blue and emerald creek and a magnificent coral reef, Kilifi is an ancient coastal Swahili town, midway between Mombasa and Malindi on the North Side of the creek,about 58 kms from Mombasa International Airport. It is steeped in history and African Culture, famous for the ancient Mnarani ruins dating back to 14th century and the elegant friendly Giriama people. Kilifi District covers an area of over 12,464 sq. km including 109 sq.km of water surface in the Indian Ocean. The area around Kilifi township contains some of the best farming land in the district, where livestock rearing and tropical fruit farming are the dominant activities. Kilifi is also the major centre of clinical and epidemiological research into Malaria, conducted by the Wellcome Trust and KEMRI the Kenya Medical Research Institute. The soft white sandy beach at Kilifi is a haven for sun worshipers and stretches for miles. Known as 'Bofa Beach',it is said to be the finest beach along the Kenya Coast and one of the most idyllic in all the world. It is protected by a magnificient coral reef, unspoilt and practically deserted; being well away from the crowded beaches of the tourist hotels near Mombasa and along the South Coast. Shopping Facilities at Kilifi include a Supermarket, Banks, Post Office, General Stores, Chemist, Local Craft Shops, Rugmaking, a Daily Fruit and Vegetable Market and a few excellent Restaurants in and around the area. A local Farm Shop stocks fresh supplies of milk, meat and day to day produce. World Class Big Game Fishing, Snorkelling and Scuba Diving along the vast coral reef as well as Water-skiing in Kilifi Creek, are some of the major activities that Kilifi is well known for. The Tsavo Safari Game Park, where you can see some beautiful sunsets is the nearest reserve for Big Game Photographic Safaris. One of the most delightful ways to see the beauty of Kilifi Creek is to take a dhow trip. The small Swahili kijahazi dhows criss cross the creek visiting the tiny bays and inlets and provide a wonderful vantage for photographing the mass of birdlife and scenic surroundings. Regular 'sundowner' trips are a great favourite with the local residents and visitors to Kilifi. Overlooking Kilifi Creek from the Southern side, some 200 metres from the Mombasa Road, you will find the old ruins of Mnarani, an ancient coastal settlement dating back to the early 14th Century. The site consists of two mosques and a group of tombs. The first mosque was not built until about 1425 although the area was first settled in the early 14th Century. The smaller second mosque that remains was built in about 1500, however, there was another mosque that was built before it on the same site around 1475. Mnarani was destroyed by the warring Galla people in the early 17th century. Also at the site of the ruins you will see the largest baobab tree on the Kenya coast. A large hole has been made in the side of the tree where local people leave offerings. Many people visit this peaceful site to meditate and to picnic. ::::::::: Lamu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see From a juice bar... From a juice bar... Lamu, the oldest living town in Kenya lies on Lamu Island in the northern corner of Kenya. Lamu truly like a different country. More than 95% of the locals are Muslim, and you’re just as likely to hear Arabic as Kiswahili. Although the beaches near Lamu may be the best in all of Kenya, Lamu has not yet been over-developed, like Zanzibar. It still has the feel of a small town instead of a tourist trap. As with any other town on the coast, or any in Kenya for that matter, remember to be considerate of the local’s beliefs. When sunbathing or in your hotel, it’s not so important, but when you’re in town, remember to dress conservatively, with tops that keep the shoulders covered, and skirts or pants that reach at least to the knees. Also, be aware that most people in Lamu and elsewhere on the coast do not want their picture taken. Always be considerate and ask permission first. There are two towns: Lamu Town, the larger one, is where most of the official business takes place, and it has more shopping and hotels, but no beach. Shela is small, and can be more expensive at high season. It makes sense to hire a local tour guide. These guides can get you prices 15-20 percent below anything you can negotiate on your own, and you are doing something to help the local economy, which is based entirely on tourism. Try to use tour guides who are licensed by the government and have passed a police check. Although the best beach is in Shela, it's worth spending some time in Lamu Town. Some of the island's best food is found at the Seafront Cafe there. For about $5, the garlic crab is the best on the island. If you have time, one of the best experiences you can have is to go camping on the island of Kiwayu. There is also a more expensive, but very nice, eco-lodge option. Again, if you use a local guide, rather than booking through a hotel, you are likely to get a better price and a more fun experience. One company that is both professional and committed to using locals is nature + culture, the only outfit on the island that lays claim to promoting ecotourism. Their website is www.lamutravel.com. Alternately, you can do your own research and wing it, but it will take longer and you will end up pretty much with the same information, and probably pay more. Everyone knows, for instance, that a guy named "Freedom" is the best dhow captain, and he's the one nature + culture (and several other guides) use for their trips. Lamu is 165 mi/265 km north of Mombasa. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: me! ::::::::::Mombasa Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Mombasa Coast Mombasa Coast Gail Hammonds Kenya’s second largest city is not much like Nairobi at all. The hustle-bustle, cell phones, and expensive suits of the capital are replaced by a laid-back attitude, where locals dressed in traditional Islamic garb move as slowly as possible in the blistering heat. The Arabic influence is quite evident in the dress, architecture, and food of Mombasa. Mombasa is just an hour or two from three nice beaches, with glorious white sands. When you’re not in the water or soaking up the sun, take a stroll into Old Town to get a taste of Swahili culture and street food, then visit the historic Fort Jesus, or check out some of the hottest clubs in the country.Such as the Tembo (http://www.tembo.net) nightclub where the party never stops. A 24 hour outdoor bar and disco. Why not travel on safari there with jambosafaris (http://www.jambosafaris.com)and get a feel for the real Africa. There are many excellent beach activities for individuals, couples, and families including reef tours. Guided boat tours take you out to the reef where you can walk along the edge and watch the sharks swim at the lower depths. Make sure to wear water shoes or flippers though, the sea urchins can deliver a nasty sting if you are not careful. A listing of Mombasa's attractions, hotels, restaurants and travel tips can be found at MombasaInfo.com. More info about Mombasa north coast see the Info Portal at www.MombasaNorthCoast.com :::::::::Malindi Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see south coast mwazaro beach south coast mwazaro beach a. habeck Kenya is fortunate to have an abundance of protected coral reefs and beaches (250 mi/420 km of the stuff). Malindi on what’s called the Coral Coast provides a very nice introduction to the area—there are surfing snorkeling deep-sea fishing and other water sports. The Malindi Marine National Park is protected and has fine beaches clear water and very colorful fish. Malindi, the second major city on the coast lies about 100 km north of Mombasa. ____________Getting There Edit This south coast mwazaro beach south coast mwazaro beach a. habeck In Mombasa, the stage to Malindi is located on Abdel Nassy Road, which turns into Digo Road as you move south. Matatus fill and leave to Malindi every 15 minutes or so. [Add Global transport mode] sinon Edit This nairobi to malindi flights type: By Air World66 rating: [rate it] email: snzaba@yahoo.com ::::::::::himoni is a town about 80 km south of Mombasa near the Tanzanian border. Just off the Shimoni Peninsula lies Wasini Island. The Kisite Marine National Park is offshore of Wasini Island. The island itself is unblemished and a great place to relax. The reason people come to the area, however, it to dive. Diving off Pemba channel may be the best in East Africa. :::::::::Watamu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Watamu is 20 km south of Malindi, famous for its Marine National Reserve. The National Reserve boasts a protected coral reef that makes for some the best snorkeling on the coast. To get to Watamu, take a Nissan to Malindi, then tell the tout you want to get off at the Watamu junction. From there, wait for Nissan that takes you the few km into Watamu Village. There’s not much to do in Watamu except to dive or snorkel in the Marine Reserve, or relax. Dhow crews will be glad to take you out to the Reserve for a prearranged price that includes park fees. There’s a nice beach here, but most the space is taken by the big resorts, so access can be a bit difficult. For a nice cheap place to stay, try Hotel Dante in Watamu Village. Doubles have fans, mosquito nets, and bathrooms for KSh 500. More expensive, but also a good value is Peponi Cottages (#32434), where doubles run KSh 1000. The Ascot Residence Hotel is also a good mid-range hotel, offering doubles for KSh 1200 with breakfast. Many of the top-end resorts do not encourage casual bookings, so you may not feel welcome. Try the Barracuda Inn (#617074) or Hemingways (#32256). |
| The Rift Valley Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Bomet (Chebunyo) Bomet (Chebunyo) Ngetundo The Rift Valley is the dominant geological feature of Kenya. The Valley is huge, running from Ethiopia, through Lake Turkana, the Cherangani Hills, and down past the plains of the Masai Mara, into Tanzania. The Rift Valley is famous for its soda lakes, such as Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria. The first encounter with the Rift Valley experienced by most travelers is the incredible view from the highway running from Nairobi to Nakuru. Nakuru and Eldoret are the biggest towns in the valley and they are the best bases from which to explore it. :::::::Eldoret Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Eldoret has been growing rapidly and may like be bigger than Nakuru becoming Kenya’s fourth largest city. This region is the bread basket of kenya and predominately a farming region where maize, wheat farming and ranching take place on a large scale. Its location and proximity to Ugands, Sudan and other central African countries is an added advantage in addition the modern Eldoret International airport and medical facilities such as Moi University in the region and The Moi Teaching and Refferal Hospital are a testimony to this. Eldoret is the traditional lands of the Kalenjin community. If you have to spend the night here, the Klique Hotel offers singles/doubles for KSh 3000/4000 all rooms self contained with TV sets. The and Sirikwa Hotel KSh 3500/4300 for its singles/doubles. for the budget traveller there are many places to spend in town.miyako hotel 600 single and 1200 double self contained.whitecastle motel also in town 1200 single 2000 double they have good rooms. For a night out, Eldoret at its size has numerous nightclubs. the Spree, considered the top notch night club, the cave, Cyclone and Places are a few of the well frequented clubs by people. For a cultural night out, Club Sesia caters for people willing to learn Kalenjin culture. near eldoret(11km) is iten town.home to some of the best hotels in this region.sample kerio view hotel with world class room ambience, with views of the kerio valley, excursions,bird watching, camping etc check out their website www.kerioview.com for more information Eldoret is a home of the great atletes including kipchoge Keino. It has also the best climate suited to Europeans and Americans. Other key attractions are the Kerio Valley, Kruger farm in Sergoit, and the high Altitude training camps. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: kenyayetu ::::::::Kericho Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Tea Zone KERICHO Tea Zone KERICHO Eddie Kegode Kericho is a clean, beautiful town in the wet highlands of western Rift Valley. Kericho’s landscape and economy is dominated by tea farming. Prolific tea farms surround Kericho for many kilometers, making the town the center of Kenya’s huge tea market. There are many cheap places to stay in Kericho town. Try the Garden Lodge (# (0361) 20878) on Moi Highway, which offers singles/doubles for KSh 300/450. The Mwalimu Hotel (# (0361) 30039) on Moi Road is also a good deal, with singles/doubles for KSh 400/520. Also a nice place is the Fish Resort, about 20 minute walk outside of town. The turn is signposted on the main road. It has nice rooms, fishing by the river, good food, and very few customers. The best upper-end hotels are the Tea Hotel and mwalimu hotels (# (0361) 30004) on Moi Highway on the way to Nakuru. Singles/Doubles including breakfast are available for KSh 1725/2100, and triples for KSh 2,700. If you want to go out into the tea fields, the people at the Tea Hotel can arrange a tour for you. There’s also the Mid-West Hotel (# (0361) 20611) on John Kericho Rd, but it is overpriced and the service can be bad. Singles/Doubles run 875/1100 with breakfast. On Friday and Saturday nights, there’s a disco at the Mid-West hotel (say hi to the DJs, Matush and Amadi). Behind Mid-West is the Urwa Inn, with a pool table and nyama choma. Start here before going to Mid-West since the beers are cheap, the entry is free, and the atmosphere is nice. The Mwalimu Bar, at the Mwalimu Hotel is also a fun time, with a pool table and a lot of drunks that are good for a laugh or two. There are many other bars/discos in Kericho, but some, like the Snow Day and Night Club, are not safe after dark. ________Sights Edit This Merely driving towards Kericho from any direction will give one breath-taking views of the vast tea plantations that are the economic backbone of the local economy. Scattered among the tea plantations are neatly arranged housing complexes for the tea "pluckers" who every 2-4 weeks need to pick the tea from every square meter of the expansive plantations you see. For some peace and quiet, consider spending a little time at the arboretum at Chagaik, about 10km from Kericho on the Nakuru Road. There is a small dam at the bottom of the valley. _________Getting There Edit This Kericho is about 4hours west of Nairobi. The turn-off Southwards to Kericho off the main Nakuru - Eldoret Road is at Mau Summit. Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria is approximately one hour west of Kericho. ::::::::::Naivasha Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Water Water Ralf Scharwaechter Naivasha is a moderately sized town about 100 km northwest of Nairobi, halfway between the capital and Nakuru. There are a variety of things to do around Naivasha, like visit Hell's Gate or Mt. Longonot National Parks, or spend time relaxing on the banks of the beautiful Lake Naivasha. A Tourist style restaurant "La Belle Inn" has a selection of dishes to suit a variety of tastes. The town has a variety of accomodation facilities from the moderate to the lavish. Naivasha Tourist Hotel has accomodation that is middle class in cost. On the Nakuru Nairobi highway there are the "Malu cottages" and The Great Rift Valley lodge with a golf course approx 10 km on the Naivasha Nakuru highway. ___________Sights Edit This Hell's Gate National Park: Don't miss one of the few parks in Kenya where you're allowed to enter by foot. See the National Parks and Reserves section for information on Hell's Gate. Mt. Longonot National Park: See the National Parks and Reserves section for information on Mt. Longonot. Lake Naivasha: See the Lakes section for information on Lake Naivasha. :::::::::::Nakuru Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i_3 Nakuru is Kenya's 4th largest city, only slightly smaller than Kisumu. It is an important agricultural city, trade center, and transportation hub, and the capital of Rift Valley Province. Unlike most population centers in Kenya, Nakuru isn't dominated by a single tribe and Swahili, rather than a particular tribal language, is widely used. The area around Nakuru was in the headlines in the 90s due to tribal strife. In the elections of 1992 and 1997, the Nakuru region had erupted in violence. Traditionally, the entire Rift Valley Province had supported the then President, Daniel Moi’s ruling party of KANU. However, when many Kikuyu people migrated to the rich farmlands in the area, they brought their opposition views with them. The election of 2002, however, passed without violence and Moi was defeated. Many travelers pass through Nakuru on their way west, and some stay a few days in town to see Menengai Crater or Lake Nakuru National Park, where your chances of seeing a rhino are better than any other park in Kenya. Lake Nakuru National Park is small, but tightly filled with a large variety of animals. It is located just 10km from city centre. The town continues to grow and has good hotel facilities. The relatively new Hotels like The Merica and Cathay are situated close or off the High Street. Nakuru was in the news recently (March 2006) when it was announced that the town will be upgraded to City status along side Kisumu and Mombasa. ____________Sights Edit This Menengai Crater Menengai Crater Edoardo Totolo Lake Nakuru National Park See the section entitled National Parks and Reserves. Menengai Crater Menengai is a dormant volcano 2490 m high, lying about 7 km north of Nakuru town. You can drive right to the edge if you have a vehicle, but if you don’t, it isn’t a bad walk. Take Menengai Drive at the eastern end of town, off of Showground Rd. The forested crater is not so spectacular, but the view is beautiful and it’s a nice hike to make if you want to buy some time in Nakuru. ___________Getting There Edit This There are several matatu stages to Nakuru in Nairobi. They are all located back near River Road. Ask someone for directions. If you’re traveling from Nairobi west past Nakuru, you may need to break the trip up by first going to Nakuru, then getting another vehicle to your final destination. There’s only one major bus and matatu stage in Nakuru. It’s in the Eastern end of town, off of Mburu Gichua Rd. The stage is a nest of chaos, but you will attract several touts that will gladly drag you to the vehicle you want. From the Nakuru stage you can get vehicles to Nairobi, Naivasha, Nyahururu, Nyeri, Eldoret, Kericho Kisii, Kisumu, and many other towns and cities. The newly introduced "Prestige Shuttle" on the Nakuru-Nairobi Molo line is an excellent choice. For only 50 KSh more, this matutu shuttle offers more (and comfortable) seating space, good shock absorbers, and curtains to shield from the sun. If you travel in matatu, this definitely is the way to go (besides, Mololine have a good reputation in terms of road safety). Railway connections to Nairobi and to Kisumu exist several times a week. They are not very practical, because the stops in Nakuru are at deep night / very early morning. But it is a theoretical alternative. _____________Day Trips Edit This Lillies Country park is the latest in the towns recreation facilities. Located 16 Kms from the town along Nakuru-Eldoret Highway around Sobea center, this is the place to take family out, corporate team building, outdoor fun and the works. This is situated in a Eucalyptus forest, lush with greenery and 5 acre space for all types of relaxation and games, fun and serenity. Facilities include Children play area [slides, swings, see saws, animal rides, bouncing castles, face painting], Self cooking facilities or on order, Camping area, Adult challenge games, Two counters for drinks, and farm produce kiosk for milk, vegetables etc. visit our website on www.lilliescountrypark.com and experience 'Country-made fun for all' ____________Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This Merica Hotel, Nakuru CBD Merica Hotel, Nakuru CBD Ulf Bo Stefan Carlstrom There are many places to go to have fun at night in Nakuru. There are more than 4 discos in town, and literally hundreds of bars. Dimples Disco is small but always lively on the weekends. It’s located at the west end of Kenyatta Rd, near the roundabout. It’s upstairs, and directly across the hall is a great bar calledMahogany where you can listen to the latest tunes, shoot pool and eat nyama choma (barbecue). The best place to get nyama choma, and the most biggest hang-out in town is the Millennium Hotel on Government Ave or Kipchoge Ave. At night they make room for a dance floor and place music. The place is mostly outdoors, with 3 separate bars, 4 pool tables, and seats about 100 people. On weekend nights the place is packed with twice that number. Perhaps the most famous and fancy club is Coco Savana Disco on Club Road. It has a nice sound system and plays a variety of music. The clientele is mostly young Kenyan men and prostitutes. There’s a bar/restaurant upstairs that is full of people every night. Taidy's restaurant is an upcoming eating and party joint located along Ebrahim road. it includes a nightclub that is a popular hangout for the youth on weekends. it is also a beautiful place to be in with the welcoming dishes that are served. If you still want more fun, try the bar called Tickles on Kenyatta Ave upstairs of the Piranha Restaurant. The last disco, the XTC is above the Oyster Shell Restaurant, also on Kenyatta. The newly opened Summit in the Southeast (immediately adjacent to the fence of Lake Nakuru National Park) is both affordable and popular, and has drawn many clients from the other joints. Decent down-to-earth cooking, bad sound system, even worse DJ (at least in February 2005), but altogether an OK place. |
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| Kenya Itinerario 1 Volevo solo vedere i leoni Testo di Francesca Lana Punto di partenza e arrivo: Nairobi Durata: 16 gg. Mezzo di trasporto: truck Difficoltà: nessuna Primo giorno: Italia - Nairobi (aereo) Si parte per 2 settimana in Kenya. Un sogno che si realizza: viaggiare, osservare, fotografare, capire se il tour ti dà veramente tanto o se si potrebbe fare ancora di più… Atterriamo a Nairobi che è già buio. Anche perché qui, alle 17,30 il sole comincia a tramontare, con una rapidità inaspettata, e dopo poco tempo è già notte fonda. Da subito familiarizzo con quella che diventerà praticamente la mia casa…il truck! Vogliamo chiamarlo autocarro? Di fatto è un mezzo che ti permette di viaggiare a 2 metri da terra, con i lati chiusi da tendoni di plastica che generalmente vengono arrotolati lasciando tutto aperto. Il modo migliore per viaggiare non perdendosi nemmeno un istante del paesaggio circostante, e che allo stesso tempo ti fa cogliere colori, odori, sapori e suoni come se stessi passeggiando in mezzo alla gente! e poi arriva dappertutto, grazie anche all’abilità del nostro autista keniota che certo non si fa mai spaventare da un ostacolo o da una strada dissestata e, bumping bumping, ci porta ovunque! Arriviamo al campeggio Indaba, base dell’omonima agenzia locale. Siamo nel quartiere di Karen, periferia verdissima di Nairobi, manifesto della colonizzazione inglese: i centri commerciali, le ville gigantesche e i giardini curati in maniera maniacale creano un contrasto fortissimo con l’essenzialità di tutto il resto.Ma, torniamo all’arrivo in campeggio, con servizi e cucina sorprendentemente accoglienti e tanto di connessione a internet! Ceniamo con un’ottima zuppa e poi la guida del nostro tour, nel suo inglese così musicale, inizia a darci le prime dritte. Giusto qualche chiacchiera per cominciare a fare gruppo e poi tutti a dormire. Secondo giorno: Nairobi La prima giornata passa molto tranquilla, in questo quartiere cosi ricco di Nairobi dove andiamo dapprima a cambiare del denaro (anche se euro e dollari sono accettati, sempre meglio avere degli scellini kenioti, soprattutto nelle lunghe quanto affascinanti contrattazioni con i venditori), poi a visitare una fabbrica di perle e ceramiche dove restiamo affascinate dai colori e dall’abilità delle donne che ci lavorano. Poi é il turno della casa di Karen Blixen, autrice de “La mia Africa” da cui prende nome il quartiere, fino ad arrivare al momento clou della giornata dopo pranzo: al centro Manor è possibile salire su una balconata in legno e dare cibo alle giraffe guardandole negli occhi. Ma attenzione, perché se si avvicinano e non trovano niente nella tua mano si rischia di ricevere una testata, come mi fa subito notare la guida. Ruvidine queste creature cosi alte ma che sembrano di una fragilità impressionante. Non manca qualche pumba che si affretta, coda all’aria, a recuperare il cibo caduto. Ovviamente, dopo la visita, nei negozietti intorno al centro inizia la prima tappa dello shopping selvaggio: tra animali in legno o pietra, braccialetti e sculture, è meglio iniziare a pensare a come organizzare lo zaino per il ritorno. Dopo un’apprezzatissima cena al campeggio, più sostanziosa di quella della sera precedente, accompagnata come sempre da quello che diventa ufficialmente il malarone time, ci si scalda un po’ intorno al fuoco e poi si va a dormire, pronta alla levataccia del giorno dopo. Terzo giorno: Nairobi - Nakuru Si parte per un lungo viaggio verso Nakuru dopo avere caricato sul truck tende, materassini e i nostri bagagli. Nel gruppo, a turno, si aiuta il cuoco a sistemare tutte le stoviglie e poi tutti a bordo. E’ solo un giorno che viaggiamo insieme, ma viene già spontaneo aiutarsi ad avvolgere le tende delle nostre…finestre sul mondo! E così attraversiamo la periferia di Nairobi che, ad un certo punto, assume i tratti di una baraccopoli dove però spiccano comunque i colori che i kenioti sprecano veramente in ogni situazione. E la fantasia proprio non manca: ci sono locali di mattoni e lamiera di qualche metro quadrato con insegne sgargianti, rigorosamente dipinte a mano, che pubblicizzano di tutto, compagnie di telefoni, macellerie, bazar, fruttivendoli e addirittura hotel...con un concetto un po’ diverso da quello a cui noi europei siamo abituati. Musica e sorrisi dappertutto nonché i gruppi di bambini che ci salutano con esplosioni di gioia indescrivibili rendono in ogni caso l’atmosfera sempre serena. Una delle cose che più mi stupisce, abituata come sono alle nostre città, è vedere tanta gente che cammina a piedi, a volte in posti che sembrano abbandonati da Dio, e mi chiedo come facciano sempre a sapere la direzione e a ritrovare la strada; soprattutto quando vedo i bambini che fanno chilometri per andare a scuola, e veramente sembrano sempre sbucare dal nulla. La strada è in costruzione, quindi nessuno si stupisce dei movimenti ballerini del truck. Il clima è più freddo di quello che mi sarei aspettata ad ottobre: felpa pesante, sciarpa e a volte cappuccio sono indispensabili, soprattutto quando si viaggia un po’ più veloci. A tratti incontriamo la pioggia e allora le finestre si chiudono. Si sale di quota finché arriviamo a un punto panoramico sulla Rift Valley che lascia veramente senza fiato! Ci si ferma per una sosta ai servizi, che in verità pochi hanno il coraggio di affrontare, e per i soliti acquisti di souvenir. La contrattazione inizia a diventare un’arte veramente affascinante! A metà pomeriggio arriviamo a Nakuru e non facciamo in tempo a fermarci che veniamo assaliti da non so quanti venditori. Posso dire che questo è uno dei posti migliori dove si può effettuare shopping, sia per i prezzi che per la varietà di prodotti che si possono acquistare. Dopo un giro veloce a piedi della cittadina che, fondamentalmente, si riduce a una camminata nella strada principale senza nulla degno di nota, decidiamo di buttarci nella mischia e inizia la contrattazione. Mi scopro più portata di quanto pensassi nell’arte del mercanteggiare e, alla fine, scambio il mio cappello per tre braccialetti di un ragazzo che mi dice che saremo per sempre amici, e scambio delle penne con un altro venditore che, pur di vendermi un bracciale, fa i salti mortali per farmelo su misura. In Kenya si accontentano anche i turisti più esigenti! Meravigliosi davvero!!! Riusciamo finalmente a ripartire e arriviamo al Kembu camping dove montiamo la tenda, visitiamo nei dintorni una fattoria popolata da mucche, vitellini e cavalli purosangue con i loro puledrini e, dopocena, nonostante il buio, percorriamo il sentiero dei camaleonti. Ancora non mi spiego la guida del luogo riesca a vedere questi piccoli esserini nel buio della notte africana. Ritorniamo al campeggio per sorseggiare una birra Tusker di fronte al camino acceso che ci fa un po’ dimenticare il freddo e l’umidità, e poi tutti in tenda non prima di aver dato un’occhiata al cielo che mostra uno spettacolo di stelle da lasciare senza respiro. Mi sembra impossibile che sia lo stesso cielo che vediamo dalle nostre città… Quarto giorno: Nakuru Si parte per il nostro primo safari: destinazione lago Nakuru. Il primo incontro con gli animali avviene già al parcheggio, dove alcune scimmie si divertono a visitare il nostro truck in cerca di cibo. Entriamo poi nel parco sempre a bordo del nostro mezzo pronti ad avvistare ogni animale in circolazione. Sullo sfondo appare subito la macchia rosa formata dai fenicotteri che dimorano sul lago. Dopo averla vista in centinaia di foto mi sembra addirittura incredibile averla davanti agli occhi. Incontriamo babbuini, gazzelle di vario tipo, impala, bufali, rinoceronti, tantissime zebre, pumba, pellicani, iene, quasi tutti accompagnati dai loro piccoli. I leoni si fanno un po’ desiderare e riusciamo ad avvistarne solo due in lontananza mente si riposano pigramente riparandosi all’ombra. La vista che si gode dall’area dove ci fermiamo per pranzo è qualcosa di veramente unico. Sembra ancora incredibile che quella macchia rosa sia davvero viva. Mangiamo i panini che ci siamo preparati e ripartiamo per gli ultimi avvistamenti per tornare poi alla base ripassando da Nakuru. Al campeggio becchiamo il nostro primo vero acquazzone che ci costringe, per la prima volta, a cenare al coperto. E’ però l’occasione per cantare e imparare le parole della canzone forse più popolare che ci accompagnerà per tutto il viaggio: Jambo, jambo buana…Hakuna matata, che riassume la filosofia di vita keniota: senza pensieri! Quinto giorno: Nakuru - lago Naivasha Si riparte nuovamente, dopo aver come sempre fatto colazione e caricato il truck. La destinazione è il lago Naivasha. Arriviamo al Fisherman’s camping a metà giornata: il campeggio è molto carino, posto direttamente sul lago, con tanto di piscina e ristorante. La leggenda vuole che nella notte gli ippopotami si spingano a mangiare l’erba in mezzo alle tende ma, dopo avere dato un’occhiata alla recinzione, ci sentiamo rassicurati. Perché, anche se l’ippopotamo è un erbivoro, pare che con le sue fauci spezzi in due tutto quello che si trova sulla sua strada. E comunque è sempre l’incontro con una creatura che puo’ pesare fino a 4 tonnellate. Nel pomeriggio ci imbarchiamo su due lance che ci portano dall’altra parte del lago dove inizieremo il nostro primo safari a piedi. Mentre siamo sul lago le nostre guide buttano dei pesci in acqua per farci vedere l’aquila pescatrice in azione. Arrivati sull’altra sponda di questa enorme distesa d’acqua dolce possiamo camminare in mezzo a zebre, gazzelle, giraffe. La tentazione di avvicinarsi è sempre fortissima, ma anche se gli animali sono abituati alla presenza umana preferiscono sempre tenere le distanze. Un’altra caratteristica di questa zona dell’Africa che mi ha impressionato è la presenza degli alberi di acacia. I più maestosi sono di una bellezza spettacolare e la guida ci spiega che quando sono giovani presentano delle spine che sembrano quasi armi per evitare che gli animali devastino i rami. Una volta superata l’altezza critica le spine spariscono e l’albero cresce in tutta la sua magnificenza. Ripartiamo sulle lance per avvistare finalmente gli ippopotami che abbiamo solo intravisto all’andata, ma il tramonto ci coglie mentre siamo ancora in mezzo al lago e il freddo e il buio ci spingono a tornare al campeggio dove arriviamo verso le 19,30, ben un’ora dopo l’orario in cui tutte le imbarcazioni devono rientrare dalle acque del lago. E’ strano trovarsi in mezzo a questa distesa d’acqua quasi totalmente al buio, con pochissimi riferimenti sulle sponde, ma siamo rassicurati dalla presenza della nostra guida locale che sembra conoscere a memoria ogni angolo del lago. Rientro e cena e poi solito briefing: c’è da discutere come affrontare la giornata di domani a Hell’s Gate dove faremo un altro safari a piedi. L’alternativa è noleggiare delle bici e pedalare, ma alla fine si decide di camminare tutti insieme. Sesto giorno: Hell's Gate National Park Hell’s Gate National Park è un vero spettacolo della natura. Appena si entra ti accoglie un lungo sentiero pianeggiante circondato da montagne rocciose di un rosso acceso che nascondono, sulla loro cima, alcuni campeggi per chi vuole passare la notte qui. Ci aspettano 12 km di camminata, ma nonostante il caldo che dopo poco comincia a farsi sentire è veramente un piacere attraversare a piedi questa riserva, sempre preceduti o seguiti da qualche zebra, qualche gazzella o qualche facocero. Il sole è veramente forte, non ho mai usato così tanta crema solare in vita mia. Verso mezzogiorno facciamo una sosta per recuperare un po’ di energia con i nostri soliti panini e poi affrontiamo la gola dell’Inferno. Qui hanno girato Tomb Raider II e devo dire che la bellezza dello spettacolo che Hell’s Gate offre è veramente degna di un set cinematografico. Ci spaventiamo un po’ quando la guida ci dice che, per arrivare alla fine della gola, si deve affrontare un percorso un po’ tortuoso tra alcune rocce passando anche sotto delle cascate che, fortunatamente, sgorgando da rocce di origine vulcanica quantomeno hanno l’acqua più calda delle docce del campeggio. Alla fine si rivela un’esperienza esaltante e siamo tutti soddisfatti del percorso fatto. Prima di tornare al punto dove il truck ci aspetta incontriamo come sempre qualche scolaresca. Lo spettacolo di questi bimbi con i loro splendidi sorrisi, tutti vestiti con la stessa divisa, è una delle immagini che mi rimarrà più impressa! E’ qualcosa di così anacronistico e contrastante con il resto del posto ma, allo stesso tempo, riesce a dare un’immagine felice e spensierata, un’emozione che davvero non so spiegare. Torniamo cotti dalla fatica e dal sole al campeggio e decidiamo di prenderci un pomeriggio di relax. Dopo tanto viaggiare e tanto camminare, ci vuole proprio! Ceniamo intorno al fuoco e dopo un bicchiere di vino rosso sudafricano andiamo a dormire, sempre col dubbio che qualche ippopotamo possa interrompere i nostri sogni. Settimo giorno: lago Naivasha - riserva Masai Mara Ci alziamo all’alba, che sul lago Naivasha è davvero uno spettacolo! Partiamo verso la riserva di Masai Mara, 320 kmq che confinano a sud con Serengeti, in Tanzania. Le leggende dei Masai ci aspettano e siamo tutti ansiosi di vedere gli animali che ci mancano per completare tutti i big five: visti leoni (anche se non siamo soddisfatti), bufali e rinoceronti, ora siamo alla caccia di elefanti e leopardi. Tutte le guide dicono che non c’è posto migliore di Masai Mara. La strada è se possibile ancora più dissestata di quelle a cui ci eravamo ormai abituati, ma per fortuna la temperatura comincia a salire un po’ e ad assomigliare a quella che noi tutti ci aspettavamo. Finalmente è savana! Da subito ci si accorge di entrare in territorio Masai perché iniziano a spuntare dappertutto le tradizionali coperte colorate, i bracciali e le collane fatte di perline e, qua e là lungo la strada spuntano bambini masai con l’immancabile bastone a guardia del loro gruppo di mucche o di capre. Oggi in Kenya è festa nazionale Kenyatta day in onore dei caduti per l’indipendenza (20 ottobre). Ce ne ricordiamo fermandoci a Narok per fare rifornimento di gasolio perché sentiamo in sottofondo dei rumori che ci fanno pensare a una specie di parata o qualcosa del genere. Purtroppo questo ci impedisce, una volta arrivati al villaggio Masai, di potere incontrare gli adulti del gruppo che sono tutti riuniti nei festeggiamenti con i grandi capi. Ci sembra di avere intravisto il raduno passando con il truck, ma ovviamente l’ingresso è vietato ai turisti. Concordiamo con il giovane capo e con un giovane masai, un moran che parla inglese, di visitare comunque il villaggio e veniamo accolti dalle danze dei moranes (che hanno veramente decorazioni e acconciature splendide) e in seguito dai canti delle donne. Ci chiamano anche a ballare (che per gli uomini è “saltare”, come il mito dei Masai vuole) con loro e poi alla fine entriamo nel villaggio. Io rimango senza parole nel vedere tutto il terreno cosparso di cacca di mucca; mi spiegano poi che le bestie di notte vengono rinchiuse nel villaggio, che è delimitato da un cerchio di arbusti, e che le donne usano gli escrementi per costruire le case. Nonostante la fierezza e la leggendarietà degli uomini masai, tutte le attività del villaggio, escluso il pascolo, sono coordinate dalle donne masai. Ce ne accorgiamo anche al mercatino, dove nessun moranes si permette di accettare un prezzo senza avere l’assenso di mamma masai. Le case del villaggio sono talmente piccole che mi chiedo come possano viverci questi giganti dalle gambe di gazzella; e sono talmente buie che mi ci vogliono dieci minuti prima che gli occhi si abituino e riescano a vedere qualcosa. La nostra guida masai ci chiede se abbiamo qualche domanda da porre e ognuno si toglie qualche curiosità. Rimango perplessa quando chiedo come sono fatte le mitiche coperte e mi viene risposto che vengono acquistate a Nairobi…ma siamo comunque nel XXI secolo, e ci sta anche questo! Un giovane moran ci dimostra come si accende il fuoco e poi si prodiga nel domandare quante mucche dovrebbe dare al padre di Marta per tenerla con sè! L’Africa è anche questo... Salutiamo i masai dopo avere saccheggiato il loro mercatino e ci addentriamo nella riserva nazionale vera e propria, dove campeggiamo. Un geniale boiler gigante alimentato con fuoco a legna ci fa sognare una doccia calda; ed effettivamente, mai come in questo campeggio i servizi sono stati apprezzati. Ottavo giorno: riserva Masai Mara Finalmente si parte alla ricerca dei big five. Già ieri siamo stati accolti all’arrivo da qualche elefante. A tutti viene il dubbio che forse saremmo dovuti partire prima poiché leoni e leopardi sono animali che vivono prevalentemente di notte, ma seguiamo la decisione presa dalla nostra guida masai. Attraversiamo tutta la riserva sul nostro truck raggiungendo a sud il confine con Serengeti e la Tanzania. Gli spazi sono veramente sconfinati e il cielo di una bellezza impressionante. Incontriamo orde di gnu che però ci dicono essere nulla rispetto al periodo della migrazione, zebre, gazzelle, avvolti, tantissime giraffe, struzzi, dik dik, elefanti. Ci fermiamo poi al fiume Mara dove incontriamo una colonia di ippopotami e qualche coccodrillo. Un ranger, con tanto di fucile, ci accompagna per una breve passeggiata e ci spiega qualcosa di più sulle abitudini degli ippopotami. Ripartiamo a bordo del truck e proseguiamo in questa giornata così ricca e allo stesso tempo stancante; e non nascondo la delusione quando, al tramonto, rientriamo al campeggio senza avere avvistato né un leopardo né l’ombra di un leone. La guida ci spiega che la natura non si può controllare, e che questo è anche il bello della libertà in cui vivono gli animali. Sicuramente ha ragione, ma la mia delusione rimane forte. La speranza ci sostiene fino alle porte del campeggio, ma poi ci arrendiamo. La sera ceniamo stancamente e mentre alcuni masai arrivano al villaggio per danzare tutti si stanno già praticamente ritirando nelle tende. Nono giorno: riserva Masai Mara - Nairobi Partenza all’alba. I safari sono finiti, si parte verso il mare, ma la strada è veramente lunga: prima tappa Nairobi, poi Voi, e finalmente Mombasa. Attraversiamo praticamente in orizzontale tutto il Kenya. Abbiamo già lasciato la riserva quando un gruppo di gnu che si sposta velocemente ci fa aguzzare la vista, e ci accorgiamo che c’è una coppia di leoni a caccia! Anche se è veramente presto non siamo mai stati così reattivi! Lo spettacolo è veramente emozionante e i video e le foto si sprecano; ma le sorprese non finiscono qui perché dopo meno di un chilometro vediamo un leone a pochi metri di distanza che, in tutta la sua maestosità, sorveglia la sua preda ormai a terra e poi si allontana infastidito da tutti i veicoli che si fermano a guardare. Mancherebbe ancora il leopardo ma dai sorrisi che tutti hanno si capisce che ormai possiamo lasciare Masai Mara pienamente soddisfatti. Mentre sfrecciamo via intravedo tra l’erba qualcosa che assomiglia a un gatto selvatico e capisco che si tratta di un serval. Un’altra piccola soddisfazione. Riprendiamo il viaggio. Usiamo le coperte masai che abbiamo acquistato per coprirci dall’aria tagliente e pole pole arriviamo a Nairobi. E' metà pomeriggio, l'autista ferma il truck in città e ci indica quali strade percorrere. Rimaniamo tutti insieme, un po’ intimoriti dalla novità di essere per la prima volta in un centro così grande. In realtà non c’è niente di concreto che possa spaventare, ma le leggende su Nairobbery si sprecano e preferiamo non correre alcun rischio. La città è caotica, e il centro niente di speciale. Sarà che il confronto con la savana non regge. Ci ritroviamo dopo poco più di un’ora al truck e si torna al campeggio Indaba, che ci sembra quasi casa! E la sera dopo cena ci si ritrova al piccolo ma accogliente pub ascoltando musica africana e chiacchierando come vecchi amici. Decimo giorno: Nairobi - Voi Giornata interamente di viaggio che ci permette di realizzare quanto il Kenya necessiti di migliorare nei collegamenti stradali. Finalmente si va verso il caldo e, gradualmente, le acacie lasciano il posto agli altrettanto affascinanti baobab. Viaggiare un giorno intero sul truck é come sedersi al cinema davanti a un film che ti parla del Kenya. Ormai sappiamo che a metà della giornata le strade si colorano di tutti i bimbi in divisa che tornano da scuola così come sappiamo che all’improvviso puoi incontrare un gruppo di zebre o di babbuini che ti attraversa la strada. Lungo le vie si formano degli agglomerati di case che, onestamente, non so nemmeno se siano città. E comunque è veramente uno spettacolo da gustare! La sera arriviamo a Voi, in un campeggio che tipicamente definirei “in culo ai lupi”, piantiamo le tende e dopo le solite attività di routine si conclude la giornata. Undicesimo giorno: Nairobi - Voi Si riparte verso il mare con tappa, prima di pranzo, a Mombasa. La città sembra più solare di Nairobi anche se il traffico per le strade popolate da matatu, tuk tuk, bici e dagli spericolati autisti kenioti non manca nemmeno qui. Ci fermiamo prima di traghettare da Likoni verso le spiaggie del sud; andiamo in centro per cambiare gli ultimi euro e ne approfittiamo per percorrere la strada principale, Moi Avenue, e vedere le zanne di elefante incrociate, uno dei simboli della città. Saliamo con il truck sul traghetto dove, in 5 minuti di tragitto, un venditore riesce a rifilarci dei bracciali e delle collane praticamente arrampicandosi sulle finestre del nostro mezzo. Certo che noi non riusciamo veramente a resistere alla tentazione di comprare, principalmente per il gusto di contrattare. Il mare già a Mombasa è di un azzurro cristallino che lascia davvero ammirati. Sull’altra sponda, l’atmosfera è tipicamente da spiaggia: a breve ci ritroviamo circondati da palme e si sente già il profumo del mare. Alloggiamo a Tiwi Beach, in un resort che dà direttamente sulla spiaggia. Le camere sono pulite e spaziose, e tutte vista mare. E che vista! Pranziamo circondati dalle solite scimmie e poi finalmente il primo e tanto sognato bagno! L'autista ci avvisa di fare attenzione ai beach boys che passano la giornata percorrendo la spiaggia in lungo e in largo nel tentativo di vendere souvenir, escursioni e chissà cos’altro. Fortunatamente noi siamo sempre in gruppo e nessuno si sente mai minacciato o disturbato. Facciamo invece quasi amicizia con le donne che vendono i parei. I colori e le fantasie sono veramente irresistibili e lo shopping è selvaggio. E si ripete ogni giorno! Alla fine ci mettiamo d’accordo e lasciamo a queste ragazze shampoo, saponi, magliette, creme, penne e altre cose che tanto non porteremmo nemmeno a casa. La sera si cena tutti insieme per salutare l’autista e il cuoco che domani riporteranno il truck a Nairobi. Scopriamo anche che nel resort si mangia veramente bene. Nota particolare per il beef palau, che dà veramente soddisfazioni a tutti. Anche il pub del resort è accogliente e la gente che si ferma qui ha veramente l’aria di volere vivere in pieno l’atmosfera di queste spiagge, lontano dal caos più turistico che invece ci dicono regni nella vicina Diani Beach. Dodicesimo giorno: Mombasa Mi alzo pigramente per godermi in pieno questa giornata senza programmi. Faccio colazione guardando il mare e poi la giornata trascorre in spiaggia tra nuotate, dormite e shopping. Resto sorpresa all’arrivo in spiaggia da quanto il mare si sia ritirato a causa della bassa marea: per arrivare all’acqua bisogna camminare per forse più di cento metri sul fondo fatto di sabbia, rocce e costellato di stelle marine. Vado in esplorazione si unisce un ragazzo del luogo che diventa una guida utile per capire cosa mi passa sotto i piedi. Faccio un tuffo dove finalmente c’è acqua a sufficienza e poi torno alla rilassante vita da spiaggia. Nel pomeriggio decido di raggiungere Diani Beach per acquistare gli ultimi souvenir e per connettermi a internet e dare qualche segnale di vita via web. Il taxi che mi chiamano alla reception costa 8 euro, che per il Kenya è un vero furto, ma dicono che il sentiero per raggiungere la strada principale sia pieno di imprevisti…e sento di potere affrontare l’investimento! La cosa più interessante che vedo andando a Diani Beach sono le cosiddette palestre per i colobi, delle scimmie bianche e nere: da una parte all’altra della strada sono tirati in aria dei cavi per permettere a questi animali di attraversare senza correre il rischio di essere investiti. Un consiglio per lo shopping al centro: i negozi sono cari e la contrattazione è difficile, ma lungo la strada ci sono una serie di bancarelle dove, armati di pazienza, si possono fare grandi affari! Tredicesimo giorno: Mombasa Partenza alle 7.30 per quella che doveva essere una tranquilla mattinata di snokelling e che si trasforma in una vera avventura. Tutti convinti di salire sui matatu per andare a 5 minuti di viaggio di distanza veniamo informati, già in viaggio, che ci sono 50 km da percorrere il che, sulle strade di South Beach, non sono proprio una passeggiata. Ci rassegniamo e, hakuna matata, ci facciamo portare al molo dove si parte per l’escursione su una versione moderna di dhow con meta il Marine Park. Sulla nostra rotta incrociamo i delfini che si divertono a mettersi in competizione con la nostra barca e, quando arriviamo a destinazione, nonostante il tempo non sia proprio dei migliori devo dire che lo spettacolo merita davvero! Ci troviamo di fronte al più tipico dei paesaggi tropicali: mare cristallino, spiaggia bianchissima e coralli e pesci colorati da scoprire sott’acqua! Rientriamo verso le 3 del pomeriggio e riprendiamo la tranquilla vita in riva al mare di Tiwi beach. Al tramonto il cielo offre uno spettacolo strepitoso: anche se il sole scende alle nostre spalle, sopra al mare si formano degli splendidi riflessi colorati che fanno da cornice alla luna che splende già alta. Fa comunque buio presto, ma non si crolla più subito come quando eravamo in campeggio e le serate al pub sono l’occasione per conoscere sempre meglio i nostri compagni di viaggio. Quattordicesimo giorno: Mombasa Ultima giornata di mare che decidiamo di trascorrere ad abbronzarci. Grazie al mare cristallino e alla sabbia bianca il riflesso del sole è talmente forte che ci si abbronza anche all’ombra delle palme, rischiando qualche cocco in testa. Nel giardino del resort ci sono diversi abitanti: oltre alle immancabili scimmie avvisto lucertoloni lunghi oltre un metro, iguane coloratissime, gechi, ragni grandi come una mano che però mi assicurano non scendano mai dagli alberi, e in mezzo al mare vedo gru e altri uccelli. Alla sera cena di gruppo: si chiacchiera ancora un po’ e poi tutti a fare i bagagli. Quindicesimo giorno: Mombasa-Nairobi Si va a Mombasa a prendere il pullman diretto a Nairobi. Prendiamo un minibus dal resort che traghetta e ci porta alla stazione. Sul bus c’è scritto aria condizionata, ma dai finestrini aperti capiamo che non sarà proprio così. La strada è orrenda e l’autista corre come un folle; mi chiedo come faccia a non rompersi tutto. Il pullman ferma in the middle of nowhere come diciamo noi, dove ci sono i bush che fanno da toilette. Non che non fosse già capitato con il truck, ma fa più impressione vedere le donne keniote, magari musulmane, con le loro lunghe vesti colorate che si inoltrano tra i cespugli con una disinvoltura che mi fa sorridere. Arriviamo verso le 17 a Nairobi in zona aeroporto dove finalmente rincontriamo il nostro truck e il nostro autista che ci riporta all’Indaba camping dove subito ci buttiamo sotto la doccia. La sera decido di assaporare la cucina del Carnivore, ristorante leggendario di Nairobi dove una volte venivano servite bistecche di zebra e antilopi varie mentre ora ci si accontenta di carne di struzzo e coccodrillo. All’ingresso del ristorante si può ammirare l’enorme e spettacolare spiedo su cui vengono arrostite tutte le portate. Su ogni tavolo c’è una bandierina e finché sventola i camerieri continuano a portarti nuovi assaggi: abbassare la bandierina significa arrendersi, e passare quindi al dolce e al caffè. Impossibile vincere la sfida. Mentre si cena i camerieri intonano più volte in alcuni tavoli vicini il solito inno Jambo buana! Veramente da non perdere (il costo si aggira sui 25 euro a testa, tutto compreso). Sedicesimo giorno: Nairobi-Italia (aereo) |
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IL PAESE: Kenya in cifre Capitale: Nairobi Superficie: 582.650 kmq Abitanti: 31.639.091 (tasso di crescita demografica 1,27%) Abitanti capitale 2.411.900 (3.064.800 ab. nell'area metropolitana) Religione: protestanti, cattolici, musulmani, animisti, riti e credenze indigene, altre religioni |
| Questo articolo è rilasciato sotto i termini della
GNU Free Documentation License Esso utilizza materiale tratto da http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya Cronologia/Autori: http://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenya&action=history Kenya Da Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.
Il Kenya è uno Stato dell'Africa Orientale, confinante a nord con Etiopia e Sudan, a sud con la Tanzania, a ovest con l'Uganda, A nordest con la Somalia e ad est con l'Oceano Indiano. Nairobi ne è la capitale e la città più grande. il Kenia dal satellite
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Divisione amministrativaIl Kenya è suddiviso in 7 province e 1 area:
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Territorio e climaDalla costa bassa e sabbiosa dell'Oceano Indiano, il territorio del Kenya si eleva procedendo verso le aree interne. Alla fascia costieram lungo oltre 400 Km, succede una regione di altopiani aridi e stepposi; quello centrale, che si eleva a quote comprese tra i 1500 e i 3000 metri, è diviso dalla frattura della Rift Valley che si sviluppa da nord a sud e che forma il bacino del Lago Turkana (o Rodolfo). Ai lati della Rift Valley si innalzano imponenti massicci vulcanici, il maggiore dei quali è il Monte Kenya (5199 m), uno dei monti più alti dell'Africa. L'altopiano digrada a ovest, in prossimità del Lago Vittoria, e a nord dove il territorio del Kenya è occupato da un ampio tavolato desertico.
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I fiumi e i laghiI fiumi del kenya non sono imponenti, i due principali, Tana e Galana, si gettano nell'Oceano Indiano e hanno un regime molto variabile nel corso dell'anno perché dipende esclusivamente dalla frequenza delle precipitazioni piovose. Il lago più vasto del paese è il Turkana, dal momento che solo una piccola porzione del Lago Vittoria appartiene al territorio del Kenya; il Lago Turkana ha acque salmastre e vi affiorano numerose isole.
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Il clima e gli ambientiIl clima, caldo e umido nelle regioni costiere, diventa più mite e asciutto nel cuore del Paese, in rapporto all'altitudine. Le piogge sono concentrate in due periodi dell'anno, da marzo a maggio e da ottobre a dicembre. L'ambiente dominante è quello della savana, tutelato da numerosi parchi naturali che coprono circa il 10% del territorio nazionale. Sulle pendici delle montagne e lungo il corso dei fiumi si trovano tracce dell'originaria foresta pluviale; mentre a nord, nelle zone meno piovose, la savana sfuma nel deserto. La savana è l'habitat di grandi mandrie di erbivori (antilopi, gazzelle, giraffe, bufali, zebre, elefanti) e dei loro predatori (leoni, leopardi e ghepardi). Nelle acque dei laghi e dei fiumi vivono ippopotami e coccodrilli.
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La storia e la popolazioneMolte città costiere del Kenya furono fondate dagli Arabi che, a partire dal IX secolo d.C., intrattennero proficui rapporti commerciali con i gruppi indigeni bantu. Dall'incontro tra i due popoli nacque la cultura swahili, contraddistinta da due elementi di unificazione: la lingua kiswahili e la religione islamica. Gli agricoltori kikuyu, dell'etnia bantu, rappresentarono subito il gruppo più potente e numeroso del territorio; la loro supremazia fu messa in discussione dai bellicosi masai, un popolo di allevatori che invase il Kenya nel XVI secolo. In quel periodo i portoghesi occuparono alcune località della costa. La presenza degli europei si intensificò alla fine del XIX secolo, quando il Kenya divenne una colonia britannica. I bianchi scacciarono gli indigeni dai fertili altopiani dell'interno, avviando l'agricoltura di piantagione. I kikuyu vennero impiegati nelle belle fattori disseminate sul territorio e diedero un importante contributo alla crescita economica del Paese. I masai, invece, furono sempre più isolati, perché rimasero ancorati alle loro tradizioni. Nel secondo dopoguerra i kikuyu lottarono aspramente per conquistare l'indipendenza, che fu ottenuta il 12 dicembre 1963. Il Paese in seguito è rimasto in buoni rapporti con la Gran Bretagna, introducendo un sistema amministrativo simile a quello britannico e promuovendo importanti riforme economiche. Nel 1982 è stato instaurato un regime autoritario e antidemocratico; da alcuni anni tensioni e violenti conflitti etnici insanguinano il Paese.
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DemografiaLa popolazione del Kenya continua a crescere a ritmi elevati: nel giro di vent'anni è pressoché raddoppiata e molto alta è la quota di popolazione giovane, con meno di quindici anni. La densità demografica è elevata nella regione interna degli altopiani; mentre la fascia costiera è poco abitata, fatta eccezione per l'area di Mombasa. Il tasso di urbanizzazione è ancora basso; la maggior parte della popolazione vive nei villaggi, in capanne costruite nei pressi dei campi e dei recinti per il bestiame. La popolazione urbana si addensa soprattutto nelle città di Nairobi, la capitale, e di Mombasa. La religione è così suddivisa: animisti 60%, cattolici 27%, protestanti 7%, musulmani 6%.
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CuriositàIn Kenia, vicino a Malindi è situato il Centro Spaziale Italiano Luigi Broglio, in concessione all'Agenzia Spaziale Italiana. Il centro è utilizzato per tracciamento di satelliti dell'Agenzia Spaziale Europea e di altre agenzie, come quella cinese. La sua posizione equatoriale rende questo sito ideale per lanci spaziali, benché l'ultimo lancio effettivo risalga al 1988. Il centro è stato costruito nel 1964 grazie all'impegno del Professore Luigi Broglio (1911-2001), pioniere della ricerca spaziale in italia.
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L'economiaL'economia del Kenya, dopo un periodo di relativo benessere negli anni immediatamente successivi all'indipendenza, si trova oggi in una fase di grave crisi. Il benessere di pochi, infatti, è pagato con la miseria di molti; l'instabilità politica, la corruzione dilagante e le continue violazioni dei diritti umani hanno accelerato la crisi economica e aggravato le condizioni di vita della popolazione.
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Collegamenti esterni
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