Tourists Ignore Travel Ban to Enjoy a Kenya Safari Holiday
As some countries are issuing travel bans due to the recent spate of attack in Lamu by Al Shabab extremist, there are other people who are not listening to this propaganda and have enjoyed there African Safari holidays in Kenya peacefully. Here is an interview of Mr. Larsen and his girlfriend Kathryn who were in Kenya recently.
We have travelled to Tsavo National Park where we spent three good days, just to see the lions, elephants, zebras among other creatures in their natural habitat.
The robust growth of tourist arrivals, he added, demonstrates that the industry has not been affected by the recent kidnapping of a British woman and French woman in Lamu as they were isolated cases.
When we got here on a Kenya safari holiday we called our relatives and told them that we were very secure. We spend our time having fun on the beach. Kenyans are very friendly people.
Our plans to come to Kenya for holiday were complete when suddenly we learnt about the travel advisory on UK television stations and newss, said Mr Larsen.
Whatever we saw on TV and news were terrifying; it was as though the whole Kenya was in turmoil, Mr Larsen explained. But we felt the urge to inquire from our travel agent so as to get the right picture.
I told my relatives back home that all is well here in Kenya and we are having a good time. When back I will just tell friends and neighbours to come here on holiday, he said.
The Nation asked them what message they had for potential British tourists who probably want to come to Kenya for holidays but have developed cold feet due to the travel advisory.
The Nolans added that so far, they have visited Maasai Mara Game Reserve where they saw lots of wildlife, as well as Nakuru National Park, the Aberdares, and other tourist destinations.
The country also expects more tourists from Czech Republic and Hungary between December and early next year.
Charter airlines from Scandinavian countries of Sweden and Finland are expected to enter the local skies for the first time in December.
When we arrived in Kenya last month, we were a bit worried about our safety. But now we feel there is nothing to worry about. We feel secure at our hotel and in all areas we have been visiting, they said.
Tourism minister Najib Balala has attributed the rise to diversification of tourist markets in Eastern Europe and Asia as well as vigorous marketing campaigns in traditional source markets — United Kingdom, Germany and Italy.
The tourists are on Kenya beach holiday at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa. Despite the Lamu security concerns, international tourist arrivals are high at the Coast, and include visitors from emerging markets of Eastern Europe.
Mr Larsen works for Warner Music in London while Kathryn works as a freelance production manager.
But since they were determined to make their holidays dream come true, they sought advice from their UK travel agent.
It is encouraging that more holidaymakers are pouring in from new source markets of Eastern Europe after our vigorous campaigns in recent times, he told the Nation in an interview.
Holidaymakers from China, he said, soared to 30,000 this year compared to 20,000 last year, adding that tourist arrivals from India and France are also on the increase.
Tourists Ignore Travel Alert On Country,Australian born tourist, Ben Larsen, 30, and his Canadian born wife Kathryn Kennedy, 31, said the travel advisory shattered their hopes of coming to Mombasa on holiday.
The industry earned the country Sh73.4 billion last year compared to more than Sh62 billion in 2009. The Kenya Tourist Board projects the industry to grow by 10 per cent this year.
The minister noted that a charter airline from Poland made a maiden flight to Mombasa last month with more than 200 holidaymakers, while a Russian charter airline, Orenair brought in 180 tourists and travel agents.
Their travel agent assured them that Kenya was a safe destination despite the kidnapping incidents which involved a British woman and a French woman on the Lamu archipelago.
Another British couple, Sam Nolan, 31, and Kate Nolan, 33, said they got worried at the time a British woman was kidnapped in Lamu, but later they realised that Mombasa and other parts of Kenya were fine.
What we saw on TV back home was quite ridiculous as the media blew things out of proportion giving a wrong impression of this beautiful country.
Our agent told us that the Lamu incidents were just isolated cases and that all was well in Kenya. He assured us that country was very much safe for holidays.
Another British tourist, Umesh Lad, 35, who is on holiday in Kenya for the seventh time, said he feels secure and has been enjoying his holiday without any worries.
We are here for a two-week holiday and we just feel at home. There is nothing to worry about. Such incidents happen even in London, he added.
Since we arrived in Mombasa to date, we have been enjoying our stay without any security problems, a beaming Mr Larsen said.
Mr Lad said incidents of kidnapping or other kinds of insecurities happen in every part of the world including the UK, adding that Mombasa was very safe for holidays.
But we called them and assured them that everything is fine here. When we travel home we will recommend to friends that Kenya is a safe destination.
Nov 18, 2011 (The Nation/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) –Plans for their life time dream holiday to Kenya were complete when all of a suddenTourists Ignore Travel Alert On Countryn the United Kingdom slapped a travel advisory warning its citizens that the East African country was insecure following the kidnapping of a British woman near Lamu.
Maiden flight
After the assurance, the couple made their holiday preparations, yearning for wild saris and sun, sand and sea. They arrived in Mombasa on November 1, and what they saw here was a different picture.
Last year, at least 1,095,945 million international tourists visited the country compared to 952,481 in 2009.
Although November is relatively not a busy tourist month, hotel bed occupancies in the North Coast are between 70 and 90 per cent compared to 50 and 60 per cent in the same period last year.
The tourist said he spent a week in Nairobi with his wife and their seven-month-old baby and they did not feel that their lives were under threat.
We have friends who were planning to come to Kenya but they told us that they are worried about their safety.
Suspect in the Killing of A British Tourist on Kenya Holiday Nabbed
A Briton who was on Kenya safari holiday was Killed on Sunday morning and the wife kidnapped at the Kiwayu Safari Village a resort in Lamu located 40Km from the Kenya Somali Border. The Couple had just spent the night in the resort after a week on Masai Mara safari. The husband is believed to have been shot dead after trying to resist the assailants, who ordered the Britons to hand over their valuables. His wife was dragged to the speedboat on which the gunmen had arrived and has not been seen since. They were the only clients at this Kenya Beach resort at the time.
Police have arrested a Kenyan suspected believed to have aided the gunmen and shot her husband dead at an exclusive holiday resort. The suspect is believed to have information about the organiser of Judith Tebbutt’s kidnapping and her husband David’s killing, said Stephen Ikua, the District Commissioner of Lamu West district.
It is believed that the organiser operated in Somalia and had links to al-Shabaab, a group that has sworn allegiance to al-Qaeda and threatened to attack Kenya on several occasions. Mr Ikua said the group may have fled to Somalia with Mrs Tebbutt and was not aware of any communications with the kidnappers. there is no further details as investigations are ongoing
It is our prayer that the search for Mrs Tebbutt will be fruitful as UK has also sent in her forces to join in the search of Mrs Tebbutt
There is a jewel than no other city in the world can offer. This is a natural wilderness located just 10 kilometers from Nairobi City Centre. Nairobi National Park boasts of more than 400 species of birds, 80 species of mammals, 40 species of reptiles and amphibians and over 500 species of fauna. The park offers a haven of tranquility and an unparalleled adventure spot for any person who has travelled to Kenya and staying in Nairobi with no time for a long safari in Kenya.
Located on Langata road, one can start there day by enjoying a sunrise breakfast at the Nairobi National Park with family and friends. The natural beauty at sunrise, the quiet and peaceful refuge together with the lushness of the riverine vegetation combined with the sounds of the singing birds is the perfect setting for an unforgettable breakfast. The distance roaring of a lion is not only an impressive but cautionary reminder of the presence of the King of the jungle, but also an alarm that time for a game drive is here.
When on a game drive, just look at the acacia fringed to reveal the Masai giraffe silhouetted against the Nairobi skyline. If you turn to the other direction, confronting you will be a herd of browsing black rhinos. For the more curious type, turning your patience in search of the beautiful and shy but elusive leopard would be good for you.
When the hurly burly of the city life has taken toll on your life leaving you feeling tired and worn out and the wild animal have taken a deserved siesta from the heating sun of the city, then it’s time to take a break at one of the 4 picnic sites in Nairobi National Park to have a barbecue lunch that will not stop to attract raptors but will also get Mr. Hyena pissed off. If you haven’t carried picnic lunch and wasn’t prepared for a barbecue just stop for a refill at the picturesque Rangers restaurant for do a self service at Sebastian’s café.
Among animals to be seen while on a tour of Nairobi National Park include the hippos wallowing among the meandering coils of the Athi River on the East End of this Park. You can see the crocodiles, vervet monkeys, terrapins and some colorful birds. The King of the jungle will not go unnoticed as here at the Nairobi National Park, his kingdom exists and he rules but you won’t see the Elephant, the largest land mammal.
Its evening and the palette of colors fills the sky at sunset providing a dinner setting that no other location will provide you. This is also a place for some quite reflection as you marvel the beauty of the sunset in Africa. Just sit back and watch the amazing and dramatic pictures of the animals in an ever changing backdrop before you bid the Lions Kingdom farewell and driven back to your Nairobi hotel at the city centre.
Did you know that you can hold your corporate event at the Nairobi National Park? Forget about the boring boardroom setup where you are surrounded with white walls. Picture a board meeting in an African traditional baraza setup in the wild open spaces of the savannah that is offered by the historical ivory burning site and at the Kingfisher picnic site of the Nairobi National Park.
You can sample the wildlife offered in Kenya by taking a walk at the Nairobi Safari walk or the Animal orphanage. In Nairobi and want and has a day or few hours that is not enough for a Kenya safari holiday to the beautiful Kenya national parks, let Lil Super Safaris – UgandaLastMinute.Com be your guide for a Nairobi National Park safari.
Samuel Baker was the first white man to discover and name Murchison Falls. An explorer in search of the source of the Nile, Baker and his wife Florence set of from Khartoum in 1863. In their company on the search for the source of the Nile were 3 boats, 21 donkeys, 4 camels and 4 horses.
The area known as Paraa has been homeland to the Lwo people. This is a nilotic group of people whose origin can be traced from as far north as Egypt. Just as Samuel Baker, the Lwo (LUO) left who are mainly cattle keepers and fishermen left their homeland in search of water, pasture and food. They thus followed the Nile but unlike Baker whose motivation was to get the source of the Nile, theirs was to get more land for their livelihood hence the name Lwo or Luo which means to follow. They followed the Nile settling at Bar le Ghazel in Sudan before breaking up and having others proceed south to Northern Uganda area of Pavungu which is North of Paraa where Murchison falls is. After a disagreement among the Luo brothers who settled here that is Gypir, Labongo, and Teffil, the group began to disperse. Labongo and his family went East forming the Acholis and the Langis found in Gulu, Northern Uganda. The Teffil went west while the Gypir remained North and expanded to occupy the Paraa Region.
On reaching the falls at Paraa, Samuel Baker was captivated by the beauty of the falls and this is what he wrote:
“The fall of water was snow-white, which had a superb effect and contrasted with the dark cliffs that walled the river, while the graceful palms of the tropics and the wild plantains perfected the view. This was the greatest waterfall of the Nile, and in honor of the President of the Royal Geographical Society, I named it the Murchison Falls, as the most important object throughout the entire course of the river.”
At the time there were lots of wildlife which unfortunately have been reduced by the decades of civil wars in Uganda. The Park was renamed Kabalega Falls National Park by Amin’s Regime in 1973. This was in honor of the Kabalega – the king of Bunyoro who fought Samuel Baker in 1870s. It is during the late 1970s on Amin’s fall that the elephant population was reduced to less than two hundred individuals. The Black rhino was reduces to extinct level and currently there is none at all. According to history, Murchison Falls National Park was the most visited park in Africa in the 1960’s. This was changed from the late 1960’s as human conflict rendered this place unsafe to explorers. Things changed with the new government of President Museveni after sending the LRA out of the region and the Murchison Falls Safari has become one of the most popular safaris in Uganda. A boat cruise on the Nile to the bottom of the falls unveils the beautiful snow- white fall of water with the super effect as described by Baker.
As Uganda Safari experts, UgandaLastMinute.Com organizes Murchison falls Safari for those who are on short stay in Uganda and long safaris in Uganda that combines Murchison falls and Gorilla trekking in Uganda. Considering as Safari to Uganda, let UgandaLastMinute.Com be your host.
The Pearl of Africa
We had a few days to make a quick trip somewhere and thought about going to Africa again. We had gone to Kenya some years before and we had made a friend for ever, Andrew, so I contacted him to get advise for Uganda.
He introduced me to Martin and said: “Talk to him as if you were talking to myself” An so I did.
Martin and Ugandalastminute.com took care of all we needed since we landed at Entebbe Airport. Even before. They have already very good options but you can taylor-make them at your convenience. They will advice you professionally and will give you different options.
We spent the first and last night in Kampala due to flights, but the rest of the days we did not do anything but enjoying pure nature at its best.
Kibale forest is worth a visit. Long trekking but when you manage to find the chimps there are no sore muscles. The perfectly trained local rangers will explain anything you ask and will tell you about the flora and fauna. They will also brief at the start on what to do when you find the group of chimpanzees. Carefull with the safari ants!! They were the biggest danger we were exposed to during the entire trip, but you can avoid them by using long socks, long trousers and a good pair of boots.
The lodge was just in the National Park, just metres away from the beggining of the path to the chimps. They have hot water and electricity restrictions, but enough for anyone needs. Food is not gourmet, but who needs it! It was nice, healthy and abundant.
Queen Elisabeth National Park is an amazing park with some more luxurious lodges. Don’t forget the Kazinga channel visit. Again, local rangers will take you through it and they will also explain everything along the way.
The best part of the trip was waiting for us at the end. Bwindi National Park is paradise. The lodge was just in front of the steep mountain we had to trek next day. I have to say I was scared when I saw it, but when we got to the departure point next morning, the ranger in charge talked to us about what we could expect, how it was going to be, the security and rescue team, etc, etc, and all my fears immediately vanished away.
Perfectly trained rangers and porters will guide you to find the family of gorillas. This is the kind of experience you cannot get many times in life. It is really steep, but only the view you get from up there is more than rewarding. And when you find the gorillas as close as you could never imagine, in the wild, you feel like an electric shock. Dirty, sweaty and tired but extremely happy, we could spend one hour observing a complete family of “gorillas in the mist”. I felt as if only 10 minutes had passed but we cannot exhaust those gorgeous criatures.
We were very lucky because we found the family in a record 20 minutes. It normally takes a bit more. Go well rested and if possible, get a lodge close to the start of the tracking. The roads going up there are an absolute nightmare.
Although you can have some hours of what they call “African Massage” (horribly bumpy roads), generally speaking, main roads are fine, but be prepared for long rides. I would suggest, on time permitting, not to do in one go the Bwindi-Kampala trip. It is an absolutely exhausting 14 hours drive.
Anyway, I would do the trip again tomorrow even considering the VERY high price of the permits to see the chimps and gorillas.
Many thanks to Martin and Ugandalastminute to make our holidays!
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