Recently in Kenya Category

You trip to Lamu Island in Kenya will be quite an adventure. You have several options just for your accommodation. You could choose to live in a luxury hotel that caters to international travellers or you could experience local culture and live in a traditional house with a palm thatch roof and woven matting covered floors. Although, going by the pictures, the traditional houses seem to be more luxurious. To read about the traditonal accommodation click here.

If you want to stick to staying in a hotel that has been tried and tested you could try this hotel.

Eco tourism is acquiring a lot of attention in the times we live in. Being a responsible traveller has become all important to have a good time. The guilt of leaving a beautiful environment tainted with human waste is something that's difficult to get over. Most popular tourist destinations get affected by too much tourist traffic so much so that in several places, resplendent forests make way for hotels and malls to entertain a constantly growing tourist population or ancient heritage structures crumble with too human activity.
Thus Eco tours present us with the opportunity of being responsible tourists.
In today's blogs I am going to talk about the eco tourist destination of Lamu. Lamu is an archipelago in Kenya which is rich in biodiversity. Lamu Island, which is a part of the larger archipelago, is linked by ferry to Mokowe on the mainland and does not allow motorized vehicles on it. Once you reach Lamu Island, you can only travel by donkey. This island is famous for its Swahili architecture and culture.
To read a detailed article about the wonders of this small island click here.

Pic courtesy harlemdakota/ Sean Lee from flickr.com

A really fancy bungalow on Lavington along Othaya Road with 4 bedrooms and lush garden is there for the taking. Besides the four bedrooms and the separate dining and furnished kitchen, it has a spacious lounge complete with fireplace!!! There is a store room and extra quarters for domestics as well as a garage. The place is available for about $41,607.

A stone log lodge overlooking the Rift Valley is a catch simply for its location. Overlooking the lovely Naivasha lake, it's a bird lover's delight. It has two bedrooms that can sleep 6 people and comes with internet, terrace, appliances, swimming pool, gym, tennis court... i'm out of breath. Besides all this there is an airstrip and even more amazing... it's built right on a 18 hole golf course, so you can swing out with your irons any time you like! The place is up for $171,531.

Tadlitum Farm is a lovely, lovgely ranch property spread over 350 acres of rich forests and Savannah grasslands, with the Bissel river flowing through it. The house is luxurious with 4 ensuite bedrooms, bar, an upper deck lounge area gazing into hills, patio, another lounge, a reception area and a huge dining room. The whole place is brilliantly furnished and contains african artefacts too! The swimming pool comes wih a gazebo area to entertain up to 30 people comfortavly. Generators, electric fencing, garage, airstrip, staff quarters are only some of the other features. This great investment opportunity can be yours for 1,100,000 dollars.

Mohamed House is the perfect Kenyan experience home with 2 bedrooms with 2 attached bathrooms, an extra bathroom, sitting room and kitchen. The house sits on an acre of land and also houses a garage and a room for domestic help. What I like best other than the african style makuti roof is the fact that the house abounds with verandas so that you always have a feeling of space and light.

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A residential apartment in Kilmani has a ensuite master bedroom in addition to two other bedrooms. There is a sitting and dining room, a kitchen and a balcony offering you stunning views of the pool and the surrounding area. Fully secured, you'll also have a pool, garden and gym at hand.

Six 1 bedroom apartments on Diani Beach are avaialble for 33 USD a day or at the rate of $10,749 for three months. The house comes with a large private swimming pool flanked by sunbeds, fully equipped kitchen, a terrace and linen. Besides parking space, also included in the price are night time security guards, a poolboy, gardener and housegirl. As an extra benefit you can also have a private cook.

South C Parkview Apartments are beautifully crafted 4 bedroom affairs. On the first floor, the place has one master bedroom ensuite, a lounge area combined with dining, a panry added to the kithen and a staff cloakroom attached to the wash are.
The apartment has been tiled according to the area and has boasts built in wardrobes and dressing tables in the bedrooms and fitted cabinets and worktops in the kitchen. With lovely gardens, ample parking and a shopping area and entertainment complex as part of the development you have a package in your hands. And this for $6241!!!!

An exclusive apartment located on a creek near Tamarind Village in Mombasa offers great views of the ocean and old-town and comes with landscaped gardends, swimming pool and the easy access to all amenities. There are 3 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms and an utility room. The place is availabel for 185,000 pounds.

Two self-contained apartments on the tropical coastline of Kenya, 18 kms from Mombasa are available for $83,000. With 2 bedrooms each built over two storeys and a shared rooftop for sunbathers, you can take them together or just one. Since the house was built to live in, the furnishing are a touch above the rest and the garden is also well cared for.

Find other apartments or maisonettes more your speed.

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A lovely detached villa just 500 meters aways from the sparkling sand of the white Dinai beach has 2 bedrooms and is built along ecological lines. Surrounded by holiday regions you can indulge in all kinds of sports and safaris. The property itself comes with 2 swimming pools, swing, sand pit, garden seating and a garden worth the seating! The walled in property is festooned with bougainvillea and the garden is ripe with mangos, passion fruits, papayas, mangos, coconut palms and flowers. It invites even multi-colored birds who twitter away. Maid service, linen, staff, well furnished dining and living areas all make for a great slumping place after a hard day of lion watching!

Villa Madagaskar is a really pretty hideaway with its conical roof and palm-shaded blue pool. With 5 bedrooms that can house 8 people, a humongous living terrace with a view to the pool where you can entertain your guests and all teh basic amenities like fridge, grill ,oven, barbeque, DVD, audio player and more, this house is vacationer's paradise. It also has a telephone and a living room to that can comfortably seat 17 people!What I find a big plus here (besides the lovely garden of fruits and flowers) is the chalet style guset house that comes with the property. 

A double storey villa in the high class Runda area comes with numerous rooms including 5 bedrooms, 2 office rooms, guest wings, 2 sitting rooms and an indoor bar. The house has a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and staff too. Security is absolutely top-notch too!

A Swahili mansion along the traditional lines is up for grabs on Lamu island $323,124. If you've been keeping track, you know that Lamu doesn't allow motor vehicles on the island which leaves you a host of narrow streets to explore. Hijani House is tucked away in one such street in the stone town. Made from coral limestone with traditional doorways with arches and plasterwork, roof beams and painted mahogany, the house is spread over three floors with 3 bedroom. the master bedroom boasts a cathedral ceiling. The terrace garden has a dining area besides the fully equipped kitchen with its eat-in space. It's a great buy for it's location and architecture... which is a mix of the traditional with all modern conveniences factored in by the American owners. In the bargain you'll also get some Swahili antiques and local artwork as part of the sale.

Villa Patwa is a 5 bedroom villa right on Bofa beach. The bedrooms are all double bedrooms with three ensuites. Besidses the dining room and lounge are, there is a hige veranda with a bed and sofas to sprawled around it. The landscaped swimming pool is in addition to the laid out lawn and garden with beach-facing gazebo. Many cooks are welcome to spoil to the broth in the large, warm kitchen and there's arecetion are for you to pretend to be lord of the manor. There's a garage and ample more space for parking, 24 hour security, a chef and housekeeping and... insect screen everywhere!

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Kenya is quite bursting with museums. And quaint ones. Whether it's the German Post Office showing trade relations and growth of Kenya through postal evidence or the Railway Museum exhibiting steam engines and the colorful history of railways in Kenya, you could spend hours discovering the past.

Unfortunately the Kenya National Museum is closed for renovation till July 2007. The museum is so very big and broken into so many sections that you could easily spend a day there. If you have only a few hours to spare then take a look at the guide book in the entry way and select your tour. For the moment the Snake Park and Botanical Gardens that are part of the museum are open to public.

Fort Jesus built by the Portuguese in 1593 is hailed as the best example of 16th century portuguese military architecture. The fort has a tumultous history, changing hands no less than 9 times... from Portuguese to Omani Arabs to being used as a British prison. Finally in 1958 the fort was declared a National Monument and in 1962 it opened its doors as a museum. The fort in itself is impressive besides showcasing archeological finds, artifacts from a shipwreck off MOmbasa and holding a rather fascinating sound and light show reliving the history of the building.

Lamu Museum is the former District commissioner's house, originally built for Queen Victoria's consul, Jack Haggard. This museum houses a rich collection of ethnographic material from the Swahili, Orma and Pokomo ethnic groups. You'll also see traditional Swahili craft such as the Siwa (side-blown horn), furniture and jewellery.
Other museums on the Lamu island are the Swahili House museum and the Lamu Fort Environment museum.

Another really fascinating place is the Karen Blixen museum, which is a farmhouse. Okay, I confess, I just love Out of Africa and this museum is the erstwhile house of the author. You can spend a quiet day here (event rentspace for a wedding reception!), view period furnishings in a genuine home setting, mull over photographs of the coffee house, Blixen's house in Mbagathi and even see Denys Finch Hatton's grave.

The National Archives is another place filled with artwork, handicrafts and is rich is historical documents and photographs.

Other museums of note are the Hyrax Hill Museum- home to material from major prehistoric materials, the Kitale museum, Narok Museum, Kisumu museum and more.

In Kenya theatre is a common form of social education. Plays tend to be local production of foreign plays, and there is a definite tendency towards broad comedy. Other than the National Theatre groups like the Phoenix Players and Redykyulass are very popular.

Music and dance in Kenya is a rich amalgamation of many tribes and ethnic groups. Songs sung after victorious lion hunts in the masai tribe are popular performed along with a leaping dance to show off their prowess. Sikuiti, Siwu and Nyatiti are popular instruments (i'm just showing off... those would be drums, flute and lyre respectively) belting out tunes to raise your soul. Musicians like Mighty King Kong, Joseph Ogidi Eric Wainaina are bringing the african beats blended with some western twangs to the international stage. Keep an ear out. In a place like Africa, everything's music if you pay attention.

Though kenyans don't have many art galleries, the country is a literal storehouse. From rock caves to paintings, intricate beadwork and beautifully fashioned adornments, water gourds, neck pillows, body paint... evrything is used as an expression of creativity. A discerning visitor will be surprised at the wealth of art outside of the four walls of a gallery.

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Tourist activities in Kenya are mostly wildlife oriented with some of the best national reserves and parks, opportunities for bird viewing, underwater life watching and camel and donkey safaris.

For an animal kingdom extravaganza, you want to see the wildebeest migration at the Masai Mara National Reserve. Nestled in the Great African Rift Valley, the reserve is home to not just the BIG 5- lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and cape buffaloes, but also to gazelles, zebras and million sof others spread over 1,500sq km. Another thing you might want to try at Masai Mara is hot air ballooning over the park. View wildlife as you drift in the sky.
It is also home to a large number of bird species owing to the Rift valley which is another popular destination.

The top spots in the Valley for bird viewing are the lakes of Bogoria, Baringo, Naivasha and Nakuru. Even if you're not interested in the winged ones, the Rift Valley is a spectacular natural phenomenon being home to glaciers, volcanoes, depressions and lakes. Conditions for hiking, trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking and more are ideal in the Rift Valley. The wildlife is not contained to birds here. You could see the rare Colobus monkey, black rhinos, reticulated giraffes, zebra mouse and other s besides the usual lions and leopards!... if lions and leopards canever be called 'usual'.

The Amboseli National Park is one of the best places for viewing wildlife in Africa. Despite its relatively small size as compared to other parks, Amboseli with its flat and dusty landscape with little vegetation is ideal for catching a glimpse of the large number of elephants (over 900), black rhinos, cheetahs, impalas, hippos, lions, etc. What makes this park even more alluring is the backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Amboseli has some splendid flora and fauna and affords you magnificent views of the snow capped Kilimajaro.

Another important park is the Tsavo National Park which is the largest in Kenya and the best administered. Other than the usual BIG 5 and the more, the park gives you varying topography from semi-deserts to savannah to mountain forests to acacia woodlands and palm thickets. Springs, rivers and lava flows make up other attractions.

And finally the Samburu Game Reserve which is home to over 300 species of birds. The park is renowned for its rare and endangered species of birds and wildlife. You'll also find the Samburu people who give the park its name, a colorful fascinating lot. You could also try a camel or donkey safari with the Samburu tribe.

Other than this, you could venture into Nairobi National Park just 8 kms out of the capital, the Kakamega Forest that offers a great selection of primates and up to 350 bird species and the Mount Kenya National Park known for its rich biodiversity and inspiring scenery.

You might want to trek up Mount Kenya. Other than the highest peaks of Batian and Nelion, climbing up the snow-capped heights doesn't require special equipment. You can get up 4985m to Point Lenana and enjoy views that go on and outstanding ecology. In fact Mount Kenya is an UNESCO World Heritage site with its 12 glaciers, waterfalls, cliffs, afro-alpine flora and simply because it is the world's largest free standing volcanic mountain.

For divers the marine parks of Malindi and Watumu is a popular destination. But though not as developed or easily accessible, the islands of Shimoni and Wasani are even better. Due to plankton in the water visibility might not always be good but you'll still glimpse many fish if not coral. If you're not a diver, just take a ride on a glass bottomed boat in Malindi.

When you're in the mood to just chill, the beaches in Kenya are like a haven. Pristine white sand, sparkling blue water and the mandatory coconut palms from an idyllic dream. Lamu has some of the best beaches especially as they are not plagued bu the seawood problem that afflicts some of the northern beaches. Many of the southern beaches also have the advantage of being shark free. On the mainland, one of the best beaches is Diani.

Explore Lamu island by catching a launch to it from the mainland. A showcase of sandy white beaches and sailing dhows, this fascinating island doesn't alllow motorized vehicles! The narrow streets are navigated by hand carts and donkeys. Founded in the 9th century, it is one of the few remaining Swahili towns. The many mosques and grand Arab houses with wooden carved doorways, a fortress that's open to public, a Hindu temple and two excellent museums are its attractions. Dhows have been a form of transportation since the 8th century. They are still widely in use to and fro the Lamu archipalego.Be sure to sail in one.

Shrouded in mystery the Gedi ruins , an Arab-Swahili town are like a reclaimed lost city. Gedi town situated in 45 acres of forest that has grown around and over it in the years it has been abandoned. Initially built in the 13th century and then rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries, it was left for ruin without apparent cause. The town built inside a walled area consists of palace, a main mosque with many smaller ones, private houses and three pillar tombs.

Lake Turkana is the largest desert lake in the world. The lake has over 40 species offish which attract many migratory birds. Two of its islands have been declared as national parks to protect their wildlife. Humanoid fossils 3 million years old were discovered in this region making Lake Turkana a prehistoric researh site. Two of the islands on the lake are volcanic and a flooded crater on another isalnd is home to large number of crocodiles. But what's fascinating to me is that the lake is subject to storms that disturb the algae to produce color changes in the water.
Lakes Victoria, Naivasha, Baringo and the Western highlands are other spots you might want to spend time on.

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My favorite buy from Kenya was the makonde, which are dark wood carvings so delicate that it looks like the artist just carefully scalpeled a layer of bark to make his piece. I got a lovely brown angel.
Another common souvenir are the local sarongs, kangas and kikois, made of cotton they bear bright colored prints representing different Swahili proverbs. Traditionally sold in pairs, one to wrap around the waist and the other to carry a baby on your back! One of the best place to buy the kikois is Lamu where the thick, striped fabric originated. With the utilitarian effect thrown in with a honest-to-goodness Swahili proverb, I think they make a neat memoir.
There are also dyed bags with strong leather straps, kiondos - woven sisal baskets, spears and shields (I don't think airport authorities will let you carry these back home), soapstone carvings and colorful beads and necklaces sold by young Kamba and Masai men on the coastal beaches. Masai beadwork is especally intricate and beautiful making patterns that usualy mean something traditionally.

The Shukka is a red blanket blended with black, blue or another color and most masai use it for warmth. Also, you can find musical instruments with ease in Kenya... a good drum, an African lyre and uniquely styled flute called the siwa.
There are markets all over the place. You could visit the Masai market held in Nairobi's city center on Tuesdays or visit the Bishara Street in Nairobi and Mombasa.
The gift shops in hotels are well stocked but you'll get the best bargains at the markets. Haggling is a way of life and considered a business skill. Let your expertise show and remember to set a reasonable value looking at the skill involved in the artefact.
Kenyan shops are open Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm.

Nightlife in Kenya is in the cities. Most hotels and tourist resorts in the major cities have discos or live bands each evening. There are also a few nightclubs to be found. Many cinema halls are scattered over Nairobi showing mainly British, European and Hollywood flicks. Theatre is a popular form of entertainment with the National Theatre and several small groups performing. The best known of these are the Phoenix Players.

The national food in Kenya is unarguably meat of every kind. Beef, chicken, lamb and pork are mouth-wateringly good as are the wide variety of tropical fruits. The local specialty is called nayma choma which is roasted goat's meat most often served with vegetable mash. The tough meat might take some getting used to. Some places even serve buffalo steaks marinated in local liqueurs and berries with honey and creme meandering over it.
Vegetarians don't need to worry though. Indian restaurants are easily available. Staple diet for kenyans does seem to be maize and beans. Doughnuts called mandazi are also popular.
Drinks include chai- tea boiled in milk and water, Tusker and White Cap- the locally brewed beers, Kenya Cane- spirit distilled from sugar cane and Kenya Gold- a coffe liqueur. Uki, a beer made with honey and changaa, a spirit distilled from maize are also found. Kenya is said to have some of the best coffee in the world.
The weather in Kenya is conducive to open air dining and Nairobi has quite a few cuisines on offer.
Restaurants in Kenya are not known to be the best, but you could find a consistent few that you must visit for a good meal.

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Kenya enjoys a tropical climate with plenty of sunshine all year round. Nights and mornings are usually cool and temperatures are varied given the geographical diversity with a hot and humid coast, temperate inland and very dry north and northeast.

Though main tourist season in Kenya is in the dry months of January-February and July-August with March to May experiencing long rains and October to December facing short rains, it really isn't that bad to go in the wet season either. In fact it can be a little adventurous to slide around in and out of mud in your car and of course quieter, less congested and much cheaper!

The hot and dry months of January and February see large congregations of bird life on the Rift Valley Lakes. Game gathers around water sources and is easier to spot.

June to September is the time to go if you're a wildlife freak... actually even if you're not. The spectacle of almost countless wildebeest, zebras, and other species migrating from Serengeti to Masai Mara is truly awesome. Nothing like seeing nature's raw power to make yourself feel the grandness of the world.

July and August are the best months for overall game viewing. And October to January have the clearest seas making these months the best time for snorkeling and diving.

Other than the usual holidays of Christmas, Easter, New Year's, Kenya also celebrates Eid-al-Fitr and Diwali, MUslim and Hindu festivals respectively.
The other national holidays are Moi Day (Oct.10) named after the president, Kenyatta Day (Oct.20) - a celebration in honor of all the heroes who died fighting for independence and Mandaraka Day (June 1), which is the anniversary of self-government.

The reason to watch out for these annual holidays is the Kenyan form of celebration - dancing. Traditional dances like masai and samburu are part of all celebrations with much hpynotic swaying, energetic leaping and precision movements. Dance competitions are held all over between various ethnic groups adding to the diversity of the celebrations.

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Getting around Kenya is fairly simple. There is a good network of around 250 domestic airports with flights that service the coast, major game parks and Western Kenya. It's a relatively cheap way to cover much ground and you should buy your tickets in advance. Another common air travel system are the chartered flights which usually charge a set rate regardless of the number of passangers. Charter companies offer individual and group charter in a range of aircraft and are particularly convenient if you want to get to a remote area.

Renting a vehicle in Kenya is easy but rather expensive. Estimate up to $80 a day for a Corolla and $150 perday for a 4 wheel drive. If you've got your own car you should get a free three month permit at the border as long as you have a valid passage for it. Certain routes in north-east Kenya require police permission, so be sure to check that out. Driving at night is not advisable.

Kenya also has plenty of scope for off road and mountain biking. But be alert on the main roads for unruly traffic and come with your own basic repair kits though competent bicycle fundis or mechanics can be found in most towns. One of the most popular cyclist destination is Hell's Gate National Park. If you're like me and start puffing after the first half hour of cycling then maybe you don't want to travel this way and just rent cycles for half-a-day to explore willy-nilly.

Within the large cities, taxis are widely available and convenient. So are the increasingly popular Auto-Rickshaw or Tuk-tuk. But since they are not metered, be sure to fix the price in advance. Get local advice for correct rates. An interesting mode are the cycle-rickshaws called 'border-borders' as they were the popular means of accessing the Ugandan border.

Though buses are known for speeding and are generally crowded, they are a cheap and convenient way to travel with services running within a city, between cities and even across the Kenyan border to Uganda,Tanzania and Ethiopia. There are regular morning buses leaving for major cities. Some of the safer and far more comfortable bus services are Easy Bus, Eldoret Express and Stallion Bus.

The most popular form of public transport is the Matatu. These mini-buses or Nissans are brightly painted, music blaring, often over-crowded but essential part of the Kenyan experience. They operate on set roues and compete with each other for passengers often resulting in a 'tout' (the man responsible for collecting fares inside a matatu) walking off with your luggage. Be firm and you'll find that striking up an easy relationship with a tout is invariably a valuable source of information. The tout is usually a young man dressed in the height of fashion, the bus driver will drive like a maniac and your fellow passengers are likely to be goat and chickens, and you have to shoutto be heard... don't miss it for the world. Keep your luggage in view, your hand on your heart and enjoy a ride on the matatu at least once.

Hitch hiking in Kenya is quite simple. Just stick your hand out with palm downwards to signify you want a free lift. Chances are you'll get one with a free lunch thrown in. Taking a lift from a local is fun. You get some local color and it's far more comfortable and fast. Though it is primarily safe, be sure to hitch hike in pairs and at a decent hour from a nice place on the highway. Now I probably sound like your mother.

Kenya's rail system is currently being privatized. The train system is comfortable, some of it luxurious but rather a slow way of getting around. The overnight Nairobi-Mombasa trip is the most popular with tourists. The passenger line runs between Mombasa-Nairobi and Nairobi-Kisumu. It is also possible to take a train to Kampala. The Uganda passenger train was discontinued years ago.
There is a special tourist train - a steam exxcursion which takes place every second saturday of the month. Book in advance since it only runs if there are enough passengers!

Sail down the East African coast in a dhow for a memorable travel experience. Board popular (and expensive) dhow cruises from Nyali opposite Mombasa island.

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