Kenya
Kenya, a culturally rich East African country, boasts a stunning coastline along the Indian Ocean and a diverse ecosystem including savannahs, lakelands, the Great Rift Valley, and mountain highlands. It’s renowned for its abundant wildlife, including lions, elephants, rhinos, and rare species. Tourists flock to Kenya mainly for wildlife safaris, especially in the Maasai Mara Reserve, known for its annual wildebeest migrations, and Amboseli National Park with its views of Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro. Besides safaris, visitors can enjoy trekking Mount Kenya, hot air ballooning over the Masai Mara, and snorkeling in Malindi. Kenya is also home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Fort Jesus, Lamu Old Town, Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests, the Lake System in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Turkana National Park, and Mount Kenya National Park. Immerse yourself in the natural wonders of Kenya with a nature-driven tour that showcases the splendor of this remarkable land.
Nairobi:
Kenya’s capital and largest city, Nairobi is legendary for its colorful colonial history. It was once the capital of British East Africa, luring settlers who came here to stake their fortune in the coffee and tea industries. Today, you can explore the city’s famous historic sites, as well as some excellent wildlife-related attractions.
The Nairobi National Museum is a great one-stop spot to see exhibits on Kenya’s history, nature, culture, and contemporary art. Green thumbs will also enjoy the botanic gardens on the grounds. Another popular tourist attraction is the Karen Blixen Museum, the restored residence of the famous Danish author of the book Out of Africa, also known by her pen name, Isak Dinesen. To see wildlife without venturing far from the city center, visit Nairobi National Park, now a black rhino sanctuary and also home to a diversity of other African wildlife.
The food scene
Just like its diverse landscape, the food at Kenya is rich and varied too. No single dish represents the whole of Kenya and each community has its signature dishes inspired by tribal history and preferences! While Ugali and irio are definitely the most famous dishes, there is a specialty for rice lovers too. Wali wa nazu is the aromatic Kenyan pilau infused with local spices and flavored with the magical coconut taste!
Role in International Tourism and Travel:
Tourism has quickly become one of the highest earning sectors in Kenya’s economy over the years. It helps generates the third largest amount of foreign exchange and heavily dominates the service sector, in addition to creating a plethora of employment opportunities for the locals.
High Season:
January in Kenya is marked by clear, hot days and warm nights, making it the perfect season for driving around in jeeps and ticking safaris off the list! It is also the perfect season to test the waters in Kenya with diving! As February dawns, wildlife ventures out seeking water bodies, making it even better for sighting these rare species and going on safaris.
Best Season:
One of the best times to visit Kenya is from July to September, during the country’s dry season, which also coincides with the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra. The rainy seasons are also good times to travel, as there are fewer visitors and you can admire the striking emerald vegetation at your own leisurely pace.
Success stories of women from Kenya
Lorna Rutto
The sustainability advocate
Lorna Rutto is a Kenyan eco-preneur, and the brilliant founder of EcoPost, a social initiative that came into being to address the worsening problem of waste management in Kenya. She founded her company in 2009 which collects plastic waste and finds alternative solutions to this problem. EcoPost manufactures robust fencing posts that are not only immensely popular all over Kenya but also sustainable,
In 2011, the prestigious Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards recognized Rutto’s efforts to provide Kenya with commercially feasible substitutes to timber which saved over 250 acres of precious forests, and creating over 300 jobs in the process. Ruttos efforts have taken over 1 million kilograms of plastic waste out of the environment and landed her numerous acclaims and awards, both at home and globally.
Kenyan shilling