K enya has long been recognised as Big Game country, with huge numbers of animals in over 40 National Parks and Reserves and the country has a long and illustrious history of protecting its varied wildlife. All this has helped provide the visitor to Kenya an wide range of experiences in all sorts of terrain. A wildlife safari in Kenya is indeed a magical experience into the 'Kingdom of God'. In fact, Kenya has been a focus of attention for its varied wildlife for many years. The country has had its fair share of international publicity too. Adventurous hunters like Teddy Roosevelt and Earnest Hemingway have contributed significantly in promoting Kenya as a popular wildlife destination in Africa.
Popular movies like 'Out of Africa' and 'The Lion King' have also contributed in promoting Kenya's status as the wildlife destination in East Africa. In fact, Kenya has a reputation for being more popular than it should be- numerous minibuses plying in its wildlife parks and the large number of safari lodges dotting its countryside are an indication of the commercialisation of Kenya's popular wildlife tourism sector. However, Kenya has been coping extremely well with the hordes of package tourists coming in. To counter this trend many new 'Boutique' lodges have also cropped up, which host only a limited number of guests in an exclusive and remote setting.
All this means that Kenya can cater to every market segment and once you expereince a Kenyan Safari you will know why so many safari-addicts return to Kenya repeatedly. To add to the charm of wildlife, the Kenyan coast is also considered one of the best in Africa with soft, white sands and warm blue waters. Most of Kenya's wildlife parks are also easily reachable from the coast including, Tsavo, Taita Hills and Shimba Hills.
So if you're planning a wildlife safari, Kenya is undoubtedly one of the best countries to offer you a truly 'wild' expereince. Although South Africa has a good tourism infrastructure as compared to Kenya, the experience of a Kenyan wildlife safari somehow appeared more 'real' for me. Right from the local people you meet in the countryside to the local guide acompanying you... a Kenyan safari is somehow offers a much authentic 'flavour' than what one can experience in more developed countries like South Africa. I was also happy to know that my tourism dollars were contributing towards the welfare and development of a developing country in much need of foreign exchange revenues to bolster its economy.
All in all, a Kenya safari can be summed up in two words....'highly recommended
Kenya Safari: Nairobi City Tour
Nairobi City
Nairobi is the capital and the largest city of Kenya. The name ‘Nairobi’ is a Maasai word that translates to ‘the place of cool waters’. However it is popularly known as the ‘Green City in the Sun’. Nairobi is the most populous city in East Africa, one of the most prominent cities in Africa both politically and financially. Home to thousands of Kenyan businesses and over 100 major international companies and organisations including UNEP, UN etc.
Schedule
The tour covers the modern city centre, parliament buildings, and the railway museum where old steam locomotives are exhibited including the one from which Superintendent John Lyall was taken from by a man eating lion in Tsavo in 1901.You will also visit the city market where a wide variety of African curios and tropical fruit and flowers are on sale, ending with a visit to the Kenyatta International Conference Centre view-point which has a revolving restaurant.
Step 1: Pick up from your hotel in Nairobi
Step 2: Visit parliament building, railway museum, city market ending with Kenyatta International Conference Centre.
Step 3: Drop off at your hotel
Nairobi National Park – 4 hrs
This is the only National Park in a city. It is a unique wildlife sanctuary which is a few kilometres from Nairobi’s busting city centre but despite its proximity over 50 species of mammals can be found.
Schedule
This is a four hours tour. You will watch species of mammals including the four of the big five. As an option you can visit the animal orphanage where wounded or orphaned animals are nurtured back to health. The tour returns to city centre by sundown.
Step 1: Pick up from your hotel in Nairobi after lunch. An hour’s drive to the park. Enjoy a close encounter with wildlife
Step 2: Return to your hotel in Nairobi by dawn
Karen Blixen Museum and Giraffe Centre – 4 hrs
Karen Blixen Museum is located in the outskirts of Nairobi on Karen road. Its history dates back to 1914, during the First World War, with the arrival of Karen Blixen from Denmark. At the foot of Ngong Hills, Karen Blixen established herself as a farmer. After the departure in 1931, the suburbs retained the commemorative home of Karen.
The Danish government donated the house and the surrounding land to Kenya after independence. The house was restored by the Danish government, and was used during the filming of “Out of Africa” which immortalized Karen Blixen’s book by the same name. The museum was opened to the public in 1986.
A striking feature about Karen Blixen is the beautiful grounds. The house built in 1910 has a red tile roof and mellow wood panelling in the rooms. When Karen Blixen bought the property, it had 6,000 acres of land but only 600 acres were developed for growing coffee; the rest was retained under natural forest.
Much of the original furniture is on display in the house. The original kitchen has been restored, and is now open for viewing. A Dove Stove similar to the one used by Kaeen Blixen is on display, as are the kitchen utensils.
The museum has become a herb of various activities including private parties, research and visitation, from all over the world.
The Giraffe Centre is located atLangata approximately 5 kilometres from the centre of Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in order to protect the endangered Rothschild giraffe, that is found only in the grasslands of East Africa.
The Giraffe Centre was started by Jock Leslie-Melville, the Kenyan grandson of a Scottish Earl, when he and his wife Betty captured a baby giraffe to start a programme of breeding giraffe in captivity at their home in Langata – home of the present centre. Since then the programme has had huge success, resulting in the introduction of several breeding pairs of Rothschild Giraffe into Kenyan National parks.
In 1979, Leslie-Melville added an education centre to his (then still private) giraffe sanctuary. By 1983 he had raised enough money to establish the Giraffe Visitor’s Centre as a tourist destination in Nairobi.
The main attraction for visitors is feeding giraffes from a raised observation platform. The centre is also home to several warthogs which freely roam the area along with the giraffes.
Schedule
The luxurious tour drives you towards Ngong Hills by passing the Ngong village to the Karen Blixen Museum of the Out of Africa’ fame, which was for many years her home. Later proceed to the Giraffe Centre to view and feed the famous Rothschild’s giraffe which is an endangered species. Enjoy feeding the Giraffe from a specially constructed viewing platform.
Carnivore Restaurant
The restaurant is situated 4 kilometres from the city centre. The Carnivore opened its doors in September 1980 to instant success. The food, service and atmosphere are strikingly different from anything ever seen in Kenya. The Carnivore is a meat speciality restaurant and is justifiably referred to as ‘Africa’s Greates Eating Experience’. Twice voted amongst the world’s 50 best restaurants by an expert panel in ‘Restaurant’magazine. Carnivore is described as amazing.
The Carnivore is also home of the Simba Saloon, a delicious a l carte restaurant by day and Nairobi’s most popular nightclub. The informal indoor/outdoor atmosphere, exceptional snacks and the pulsating rhythms of Africa combine to ensure an exciting ambiance.
Bomas of Kenya
Bomas of Kenya was started by the Government of Kenya in 1971 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Kenya Tourist Development Cooperation (KTDC). The Company was established to preserve, maintain and promote the rich diverse cultural values of various ethnic groups of Kenya and to act as tourist attraction centre thus Bomas of Kenya is expected to preserve the authenticityof the Kenya’s Cultural values and to portray them in the pure form. At the Bomas of Kenya currently we have fourty seven (47) different traditional dances collected from different tribes of Kenya.