Kenya. Reserves, resorts, excursions, traditions, treasures

Reading Ernest Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa, everyone imagines himself as a brave hunter on a safari on the Kenyan savannah. In the thirties of the last century, the writer visited East Africa, where he hunted wild animals. Nowadays, safari, which means “journey” in Swahili, is more of a journey, as hunting is officially prohibited in Kenya, unless you are armed with a photogun.

Reserves

For lovers of photography, Kenya is a paradise. More than sixty national parks will provide the opportunity to see dozens of species of animals and birds in their natural habitat. Each reserve is unique in its own way. For example, Tsavo National Park is the largest open park in the world. The Masai Mara will give visitors the opportunity to see the Big Five – elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, leopard and lion. In the reserve "Lake Neivasha" allowed walking, which in the immediate vicinity of wildlife is a rarity, such parks in Kenya only two.

For tourists seeking to get acquainted with the nature of Kenya, there are hotels located in the territories of nature reserves. For example, the five-star KichwaTembo hotel, which translates from Swahili as “elephant head”, is built right in the Masai Mara Park near the Sabaringo River. In this unique complex with Hemingway style interiors, guests have the opportunity to see the Great Migration without leaving the hotel grounds.

But Kenya is not only savannahs, woodlands and millennial baobabs. On the territory of a small country, there are sandy deserts, thickets of tropical forests, and coral beaches with palm trees.

Resorts

On the coast of the Indian Ocean is the tropical resort of Mombasa. The second largest city in Kenya, after Nairobi, is partly located on the same coral and is connected to the continent by dams. Mombasa is an international port, the focus of economic and cultural life. Here the historic center with medieval buildings of Portuguese and Islamic architecture is adjacent to modern respectable casinos. The best hotels in Kenya are located in Mombasa. Among them there are chic five-star and very budget options for every taste and wallet.

Excursions

Nairobi, the capital of the country, is remote from the coast, but it is quite close to the two largest peaks of the African continent – Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro. In clear weather, they can be seen directly from the city, climbing the hill. After Nairobi, you should visit the National Museum of Kenya, where you can see the remains of a prehistoric man. In restaurants and hotels of the capital, tourists will be shown a bright African show, fed dishes from exotic types of meat: crocodile, camel and ostrich.

Returning to the camera, tourists will definitely want to bring photos of Kenyan beauties in bright clothes and hunters performing tribal dance.

Traditions

In Kenya, despite the fact that it is now a rapidly developing country with good economic growth, many people still adhere to the traditional way of life.

Kenya’s most famous tribe is the Maasai. They can be distinguished by their high height, slender physique and proud posture. The heads of women are always shaved, the earlobes are pulled and decorated with large beaded earrings. The tribe leads a nomadic life, their main property are cows, on which you can see various patterns indicating belonging to a particular clan. Maasai children, both boys and girls, undergo initiation and become full members of the tribe. Young Morani warriors are stained with ochre and given freedom to move, own livestock and trade. In return, the Moranis become defenders of society and traditional ways of life.

The Maasai do not like being photographed without permission, believing that the camera is stealing their powers. But monetary compensation completely solves this problem, for remuneration they pose with pleasure.

Treasures

Another treasure Kenya gave the world is coffee. Coffee was brought to the country by Europeans, and the local population turned their industry into one of the most advanced in the world. Coffee grown on the slopes of Kilimanjaro has a rich taste and aroma with wine and fruit shades. Among the varieties of Kenyan drink there are truly elite. For example, AA Ruiruiru - it is characterized by high acidity, shades of orange, lemon and berries. The cost of its grains at auctions reaches very impressive figures.

Kenyan teas are less well known in Russia, but those who have tried them once will not remain indifferent. Kenyan tea is one of the most environmentally friendly in the world, grown at an altitude of 1500 to 2700 meters above sea level. Due to its high caffeine content, Kenyan tea has a strong tonic effect and is ideal for a morning meal.

So next time you drink Kenyan tea, think of the snow-capped peaks of the mountains of Kenya and Kilimanjaro, the herds of zebras migrating between national parks, the chic beach of Shanzu in Mombasa, and buy a plane ticket.