"Nyumbani" means home in Swahili. Kenya, nchi yangu. Kenya, my home.
If you already know a little bit about me, you know that I am a (very) patriotic Kenyan. I love my country (minus the corruption). It surely is a beautiful land and I enjoy being a domestic tourist. There is so much to see and experience, that I would need years to cover everything.
In 2019, I drove down to the Nguruman escarpment (beyond Magadi) with my aunt for my 25th birthday. We had such a great time, that I hardly took any photos (just an excuse...or maybe not). Quite honestly, being 25 does not seem that different from 24...except, I am now only 5 years to 30!!! (cause for alarm).
Music Credits: Saronde- Kilamu ft. Blinky Bill, Idd Aziz
Sometimes I dream of vast Maasai land painted with scattered acacia trees and mellifluous chirping birds. This dream gives me so much life. Oh my Kenya, why are you so calming?
Kenya is culturally rich and diverse. Karibu sana and experience it yourself!
I love to go to the Coast which is accessible by road and train, though it is okay to fly there once in a while (40 minute flight). Kayaking is my favourite water activity. It is just you, the waves, the sea life, the monkeys and occasional fishermen. Truly one of the best ways to disconnect from the world.
I also like to watch talented fishermen at work in the Kilifi Creek. The best spot for this activity I believe is Mnarani Beach Resort & Sailing Club.
The Coastal towns (Mombasa, Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi and others!!!) not only have great white sandy beaches (some of the best in the world), but also authentic gastronomical experiences, diverse flora and fauna, wildlife, great sea life and cultural immersions. Here are (many) photos to explain myself a bit more :)
I like to play tennis in the cooler season (June/July) at the Coast. The courts at Baobab Beach Resort and Spa (Diani, South Coast) offer the perfect opportunity to take a break from the sand. Beware, the monkeys can sneakily steal your tennis balls!
Nairobi is the only capital city and business hub in the world that has a national park. In addition there are other animal orphanages and parks to explore, such as the Giraffe Centre and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Orphanage. If you visit during the rainy season, brace yourself for some real Kenyan mud...!
Having been born and raised in Kenya, I sometimes take it for granted that I am surrounded by incredible, irreplaceable wildlife.
Did I mention that NNP (Nairobi National Park) is my favourite spot in Nairobi?
If you think that Kenya is all about wildlife and beaches, I'm afraid you are wrong. Nairobi in particular has a lot to offer, from interesting architecture, cozy cafes, great restaurants (highly recommend indulging in Kenyan beef!), colour festivals, local markets, cute Air Bnbs, Afro House, and much more (I promise the government of Kenya isn't paying me for this).
Did I mention that Nairobi is the Silicon Savanna aka the Hub of East Africa? I won't get into too much of that, because economics is quite boring innit! Instead, here are some photos of me and my Strathmore University team that volunteered for the World Investment Forum team, at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2016). We had great fun and made great friends too :)
If you love motor sports, you can experience a number of events throughout the year: Hill Climb, Safari Rallies, Rhino Charge, Motocross, Autocross, Rally Raid and many more. All these events take place in cool locations and usually entail a weekend, or even one week of fun ;) ALSO, did you know that the 2020 World Rally Championship (WRC) will take place in Kenya from 16th to 19th July? So glad we are back on the international rally map!
Here is a short video from the 2018 Hill Climb. In addition to the action, we enjoyed camping...nothing better than pitching your own tent, preparing for nyama choma (Kenyan BBQ) and sitting by the warm fireplace in pitch darkness. No WiFi, no emails, no calls (seriously, the network deep in the bush is quite poor or non-existent). This, is my ideal getaway from city life.
Similar to Barcelona, Nairobi has a couple of beautiful sites that are between 1 to 5 hours away by car.
Tigoni (one of Kenya's tea estates) is rather cold compared to Nairobi, but has a calming effect on me every time I'm there. I love to stay at the Lakehouse Tigoni for a weekend getaway with friends (another way to escape Nairobi's hustle)...and it is only 40 minutes away.
Kereita Valley is about an hour away and If you love trees, there is no better place (maybe the Aberdares). My cousins and I went for zip lining (maybe not the best decision on a cold and rainy day in June) but, we definitely had a great time. We chose the six line option which means you need to be prepared to hike from one zip line to the other. It is not too rigorous and I'd highly recommend it. Check https://theforest.co.ke/
We later walked through Kereita Valley and came across herds of sheep and a lot of breathtaking greenery. It was tremedously peaceful.
Naivasha town is only 2 hours away. You can drive down just to see the breathtaking sunrise at Lake Oloiden and then drive further down to Lake Nakuru National Park (there must be some professional guides on road trips in Kenya. If not, hit me up and we'll make one of our own).
You can also choose to cycle on the smaller roads in Naivasha. The most fun is going off-road though!
Kisumu city is said to have one of the best sunsets in Kenya. Fiery colours and pure tranquil are a guarantee when watching the sun sink into Lake Victoria. Fish from this lake is some of the best available in the Kenyan market. I was lucky enough to catch some fishermen at work, and later watch the sky change colour (one of my favourite things to do).
Another of my favourite places is Ngare Ndare forest in Timau. It is 4 hours from Nairobi (oh and btw, every time I refer to travel time, it is in relation to road travel by personal car). The blue pools are surreal. The best part is that you can swim in fresh, cold water that streams all the way down from the ice caps on Mount Kenya...and better yet, you can drink this water straight from the pool! How cool would it be to share the pool with elephants and other wildlife?!
...I could go on forever about how awesome my Kenya is, so, for more information please drop me an email :)
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