Go Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Travel Tips

June 7, 2023

The most thrilling tourist activity in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is that of gorilla tracking, an activity that involve visitors hiking through the forest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. Surprisingly, Mgahinga can be accesed by travelers taking tours in Rwanda given its location within the Virunga Ranges. This is the reason as to why there are many tour offers that combine gorilla watching in the Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga National Park offered by several tour operators.

Within this magical park, there is only one habituated gorilla group that can be visited by tourists. Known as the Nyakagezi group, this is one of the oldest habituated gorilla in the history of gorilla tourism in Uganda and it consists of 9 members; 2 silver backs, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles and 2 infants. Though most travel books indicate that gorilla trekking in Mgahinga is unreliable because of the gorilla family escapades to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, for more than two years the group has been settled within the park and a good number of tourists have gone gorilla tracking in the park.

The gorilla permits for Mgahinga National Park can be booked at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kamwokya Kampala or at the park headquarters. You can also book these passes through a recommended tour operator based in Uganda.

Planning a Gorilla Trek in Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla tracking is a vigorous activity that can take a full day. During this tour, you are led by a guide through the gorilla’s empire/tracks as he/she explains all about gorillas such as their ecology, movements and general behavior.

Please note:

Like gorilla tracking in other groups within Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, the success of seeing gorillas is NOT guaranteed despite the high chance of seeing them. Since they are wild animals living in the jangle, they don’t have a fixed routine; therefore finding them requires luck and the experienced of your guides. These guides know gorillas intimately since they habituate them, they will hence take you to the area where they saw them last. They may also be able to suggest how long the hike might take at the journey start.
Please note that you are free to ask guides to slow down if they are going too fast or if you want to have a rest, look at birds /flowers, and your guide shall wait for you.

DOS AND DON`TS

-It is advisable that you put on jangle shoes best for steep muddy slopes
-The weather is unpredictable and it can change any time. Please carry rain wear, sunscreen, a hut and sun glasses, as.
-You are advised to Carry water and food because this activity is lengthy and tiresome especially to first time trackers
-Once tracked, ensure that you keep 5m distance from Gorillas. If approached by one, back away slowly.
-Avoid pointing or waiving your arms- this can scare away annoy gorillas.
please Move slowly and Keep your voice low/better if silent for better tracking
-When taking photos, ensure that your flash is off for can threaten gorillas.
-You may carry binoculars, these help u see far features and creatures in details.

Tips To ensure the Best Vacation Experience

Travel Tips

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May 16, 2023

Do you want to read about many different travel suggestions? Keep reading to master tips on how to plan the trips prudently, maximizing the enjoyment. You ought to plan ahead and discover time to own fun; use these kinds of suggestions in your favor.

In order to start out your vacation around the right ft ., make sure that you acquire some of in which country’s currency prior to deciding to get it right now there. Exchange costs at airports go along with some large fees, or maybe it’s difficult to get a swap office that is open in the event you arrive in a country during the night. Almost all large financial institutions will sell forex, so obtain it before going and you should have a smaller amount thing to concern yourself with when you reach your vacation spot.

TIP! You’ll be able to view incredible pets and crops. Visiting a particular desert initially can be an especially exciting journey; it’s something you ought to do one or more times during your health, just to have the shock and wonder with the desert.

Take the time to verify the political and sociable mood in the country prior to deciding to plan the trip. You will find more information on situations in numerous countries at the established Consular Extramarital relationships website. This resource will help keep you away from situations that could threaten your well-being.

Join the e-mail alerts in some vacation sites offer you. This allows you to know the method that you should travel in order to save the most money. You’ll get an email in the event the plane seat tickets you arranged or are considering purchasing, carry on sale.

In order to take your furry friend along on the travels, you will need to look directly into hotels that can be pet-friendly. Pay awareness of if they charge added fees regarding allowing pets. Do some research and also compare diverse hotels or perhaps lodgings prior to deciding to decide what type is the proper fit to suit your needs.

TIP! Get from the seat when every hour roughly to move and stretch when you have to travel for a time. Sitting at prolonged intervals can cause health conditions.

There needs to be a label as part of your luggage along with your contact details. Place it in the spot in which anyone should be able to see it if they open that. Be sure to add your identity, home deal with, and contact number. Doing this may really be described as a lifesaver if the luggage will be separated coming from you, when someone different finds that, they can easily contact an individual. If the luggage at any time escapes the sight and also gets misplaced, this can easily identify your premises and provide information on where to go back your suitcases.

If you determine to have any camping vacation, remember to bring maps you could carry along. You must also consider having a long GPS product or compass just in case you lose your path.

When packing to get a trip look at the versatility of the clothing that you will be packing. You need to use shoes with multiple outfits, and blazers may be worn over and over again. Getting a lot more use away from items within your wardrobe will lessen the variety of them you need to pack.

IDEA! It is very important so that you can be scrupulous of food allergies once you travel to be able to foreign gets. If you might have food allergy symptoms, you should become acquainted with the Spanish names of one’s allergies.

Make sure you allow regarding changes inside weather, as it could completely modify your plans with no warning. Be sure to test the weather to your planned vacation spot as the trip time approaches. Nothing can easily ruin the most effective travel ideas quicker than finding yourself on any freezing seashore in Florida or even a sweltering snowboarding slope in Colorado.

These suggestions need to have helped you will find the information you should plan your following trip in a fashion that will enable you to have one of the most fun you should! The previously mentioned tips are not difficult first-time travelers can simply apply these, while nonetheless allowing seasoned travelers to boost their power to plan excursions, as properly.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort – Open for Business

Accommodation

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May 2, 2023

Just about to open its doors for the summer season, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is located near the village of Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada, and accessible by a scenic 45 minute private seaplane transfer from Vancouver, BC., or a 30 minute boat ride from Tofino. Open annually from mid May until the end of September and offering 3, 4 and 7 night all inclusive adventures great for the entire family.
Daily wilderness activities are highly personalized and customized based on each guest’s experience level, willingness and desires. This means no “signing up” for particular activities in advance and the ability to choose what you want to do each day.

Every evening our Activities Directors will sit with you personally and design your adventures for the next day depending on weather, tidal charts, animal sightings and your willingness to go wild! As Clayoquot specializes in remote experiences, guests may choose to be taken to a pristine and secluded beach to learn how to surf, have a First Nations guide escort them on a day long hike to the “Wild Side” interpretive trail and Flores Island, take on a mountain fed rushing river in a kayak, or experience a gentler ocean kayak cruise to private inlets and hidden coves.

Horsemanship and riding are signatures of the resort, with a range of talented horses for the beginner to the expert rider. Wildlife viewing is also part of daily life, whether guests go in search of black bears and whales or see the wildlife on the outskirts of camp, kept there by a team of well trained and well loved dogs.

Gorilla Tracking, a Life Changer Adventure in Africa

Experiences

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May 2, 2023

To many people, mountain gorillas seem to be rude, untouchable giants that could easily provoke a fight to humans. Surprisingly the mountain gorillas, though large or gentle creatures, can be easily seen peacefully on a gorilla tracking safari in Rwanda, Uganda or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the inauguration of gorilla tourism within these three destinations that are home to mountain gorillas, No fight or flight response between tourists and the gorillas has ever been encountered in the wild. The gorillas are known to be the largest primates in the world, sharing 98% of the human’s DNA. That’s why many of us refer to them as the gentle giants.

Today there are about 1050 mountain gorillas living the wild of Africa. Remember there are no mountain gorillas in the zoo and the common gorillas you see in Zoos are Eastern lowland gorillas. The mountain gorillas live within the Virunga Region, a forested hilly area shared by Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Within these 3 countries, visiting the gorillas is possible and a well regulated way of observing these gentle giants has been put in place and harmonized to ensure their protection from getting extinct. Like other wildlife, the mountain gorillas also face several threats which include poaching, human wildlife conflicts, human diseases and more!

Where to Go Gorilla Trekking
There are four national parks where one can see the mountain gorillas in the wild;
• Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Natioonal park in Uganda
• Parc des Volcans aka Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
• The Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire)

In Rwanda, most tourists visiting this beautiful country focus on gorilla tracking and observing the endangered silverback with their family members. Observing the mountain gorillas that are surprisingly playful and relaxed in the presence of humans, is one of the most life changing moments that you will experience on the African continent.

The Trek to the Gorillas

Hikes various national parks is a treasured moment which starts early in the morning with a brief orientation from the local guides at park headquarters. Groups of eight trekkers are guided by rangers and tour guides with the assistance of a porter and hike up the volcanoes to look for one of the habituated gorilla families in Rwanda. Depending on where the group starts their hike, trekkers may encounter walking long distances, coming across the different flora and fauna in the wild. During the trek (which could be muddy), the guide gives information about the the surrounding flora, and fauna that you come across.

There are several mountain gorilla families within the gorilla parks . Family members range between 10 and 30 members. The family is composed of a fully grown male silverback (namesd after the hair on their backs) as the head of the family, black bucks (youthly gorilas), females and juveniles. Because the gorilla families constantly move around the forest searching for food, the trek could take from one and two hours, depending on their current location in the forest.

Upon meeting the gorillas in the wild (the magical moment) toursits have an hour to encounter the family! You will see the primates grooming, playing and eating, as if they never noticed the arrival of curious human onlookers. The local guides use certain vocalizations around the gorillas that researchers to convey a message of peace to the family. These vocalizations were found by the late Dian Fossey during her study in the Volcanoes National Park. Appeased by the lack of threat, the gorillas will come out from their perches and rub past you as they play or look for delicious stalks of bamboo or one of the 142 varieties of plants represented in the silverback’s diet, including celery, nettles, thistles, succulent herbs, and wild berries.

It is common for playful baby gorillas roll past tourists or even touch pants legs if they get close enough. One of the most interesting parts of watching the gorillas in their natural habitat will be witnessing their human-like emotions and mannerisms. If you are an animal lover or simply enjoy adventure travel, gorilla tracking will prove to be a most memorable experience.

10 Best Lodges for a Family Safari in Africa

Accommodation

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February 20, 2023

1. Camp Jabulani: located near Kruger National Park in Kapama Game Reserve. Meet a very special herd of elephants within campus.

2. Giraffe manor: in Nairobi, Kenya, it is an incredibly child-friendly small hotel. And it is also home to a herd of very playful Rothschild giraffe.

3. Jock Safari Lodge: situated in Kruger National Park, Jock Safari Lodge welcomes children of all ages.

4. King’s camp: located in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, it is luxurious living epitomized.

5. King’s Pool Camp: situated in northern Botswana’s Linyanti Wildlife Reserve on the western boundary of Chobe National Park, this lodge seduces tourists from all over.

6. Luangwa Safari House: is a private house in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. It offers all the homely comforts.

7. Richard’s Camp: known for its traditional tent accommodations near the Masai Mara Game Reserve.

8. Serengeti Under Canvas: an amazing option for families with kids below 12, situated in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.

9. Shamwari Riverdene Lodge: located in Port Elizabeth in a malaria-free area, a safe haven for families.

10. Zambezi Queen: only floating safari so you better make the best of your stay here.

A Weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida

Experiences

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August 24, 2022

Recently my wife and I took a visit to St. Petersburg, Florida. As a sort of a mini vacation, as we like to call them, we stayed for just under 36 hours, but really packed a lot of adventure into those hours. Here is a little snapshot of the places we visited in this beautiful city. I would also like to note that all of these attractions are within minutes of each other, at most a 45 minute walk. However, you may not notice as the time will fly by. It’s a very wonderful walk indeed.

The Dali Museum

When we arrived in St. Petersburg at around 10 in the morning (right when the museum opened), we were welcomed to a fantastic and very modern sight: the Dali Museum. Featuring art created by the world renowned Spanish surrealist painter, Salvador Dali, the museum’s collection not only captured my imagination, but also sparked inspiration. Held captive by each work of art, I found myself learning interesting facts I never would have come across otherwise. Did you know Dali co-created a 17 minute film that was released in 1930? I got to sample a few clips of the film and it is truly a work of art, I now understand why it was so popular at the time of its release.

From the many galleries showcasing his work to the theater displaying his history, what struck me the most was his masterpieces, which were extraordinarily large, some over 12 feet tall. Each required long moments to study and ponder on the imagery and detail. My personal favorite from Dali was his “The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus” masterpiece. It caught my eye for nearly 10 minutes. I must say, the Dali Museum was an excellent choice for a visit to St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Hollander Hotel

Placed near the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, the Hollander Hotel has a rich and interesting history. It actually changed names twice: it started out as the Hollander Hotel in the early 1900s and later was renamed under a new owner; however after being vacant for a number of years, it was repurchased in the early 2000s and finally bought back to its former glory and name. I have enjoyed staying at this hotel so much, it’s actually become my new favorite. It breaks the mold of the everyday hotel and it does it in an amazing way.

Almost every aspect of the hotel drips character. The entryway draws you in with its warm and inviting decor. The rooms feel like a Florida beach, yet they remind you of their unique history and the eras they have seen. The moment you walk in the front door you are greeted with the soft vintage style of the front desk and an original 1900s telephone booth right in the lobby. Shortly after checking in, I took a walk up the stairs to my room and I was able to hear the slight creak of the old hardwood beneath my feet and the warm light of a nicely restored chandelier above my head, which only reminded more how special this hotel truly is. Even the outside look of the entire hotel has not changed much since it was built, overall, I loved every bit of it!

We even had a chance to eat at the Tap Room, a restaurant inside the hotel. We ate dinner and breakfast there, but my favorite meal was the breakfast. It earned an A+ with a family style buffet featuring all the classic fixings, except for pancakes; however the food was very fresh and the staff was friendly. The dinner was a B- as the food was not as good as breakfast and options were quite limited; in fact I couldn’t find an option that I really liked. Everything was reasonably priced, staff was nice and helpful, the new pool area was a treat, and overall it was an excellent stay.

Sunken Gardens

Our last stop before we departed and left for the world of work was the Sunken Gardens, a beautiful and serene slice of nature. From the moment we entered the gardens, we felt as though we’d taken a step off the earth and onto an entirely new world. Every step we took drew us into a new version of mother nature; we saw many types of plants, birds, fish and even an alligator snapping turtle up close (but not too close, thankfully). The placement of walking paths did not deter or break the sense of immersiveness of the gardens. If we were to walk from the left side of the gardens and go around, we would have found ourselves in a beautiful area for weddings with a waterfall, unique plants (I won’t spoil it), birds, flamingos, turtles, Koi and even more birds.

All together the walk took about an hour to complete. We stopped to see everything we could. The sheer beauty cannot be put into words, but even photos could barely contain the wonderful views the Sunken Gardens had to offer. The entrance fee was cheap, and the location was excellent; actually within a few minutes walk from the Hollander Hotel. Overall, the weekend was an amazing experience, full of fresh air and colorful sights, perfect for kids as well.

Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme – New Beauty Experts in Residence

Accommodation

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August 7, 2022

Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, the contemporary palace of rue de la Paix, offers clients a complete and luxurious range of beauty treatments, courtesy of the four beauty experts presented within the Parisian residence.

Treat yourself with an interlude of softness and voluptuousness in the comforting ambiance of Le Spa, thanks to the exclusive protocols of La Mer. Live a unique sensory experience in this elegant spa venue which spreads over 250 sq m (2,690 sq ft) where the walls are subtly enhanced with Paris stone, onyx, mahogany or even tiled with golden mosaics.

In the heart of the venue, discover Martine de Richeville’s remodelling technique, a slimming body treatment. After studying psychology and Chinese medicine, Martine de Richeville gave her name to this unique remodelling technique, which she put in place by studying slimming processes. This slimming remodelling treatment is carried out through manual techniques, which will sculpt your body and give your figure slimness and vitality.

Two prestigious suites of our Parisian residence were completely redesigned in order to offer you a selection of beauty treatments.

Step into Suite 601 – Nail Suite by Kure Bazaar, the confidential location for a manicure mastered by the French beauty brand, at the heart of our five-star hotel. Guests will be able to benefit from grand rituals for the hands and feet, as well as other exclusive nail treatments, in exceptional surroundings.

Last but not least, let yourself be drawn into Suite 101, in which John Nollet recreated his universe around Louis Vuitton trunks and his travels. In this unique hairdressing salon, hair is washed while lying on a comfortable meridian, surrounded by many travel souvenirs, in a décor inspired by the style of the hotel, and bordered with a private terrace where one’s hair can be styled while smelling jasmine flowers when spring arrives.

The wide range of beauty experts present in the Parisian palace make Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme a genuine peace haven, ideal for relaxation and pampering.

Belgium – Flanders With the Bicycle and Ship

Europe

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February 16, 2022

Flanders is the federal region of Northern Belgium that is predominantly Dutch-speaking. It is surrounded by the North Sea, Netherlands, France and the Belgian region of Wallonia. Note that the term Flanders is also sometimes used to refer to the original land of the Flemings that not only comprises Belgian Flanders but also the French Flanders in France and the Zeelandic Flanders in the Netherlands. Because of their common past, the Belgian Flanders shares many cultural characteristics with the French and Dutch Flanders.

The Belgian Flanders is divided into a number of regions – West Landers, East Landers, Antwerp, Limburg and Flemish Brabant. The biggest cities include Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and Leuven. Strangely though, the Belgian Flanders capital is Brussels even though Brussels lies in a different federal region i.e. Brussels district.

Each town and city in the Belgian Flanders has something interesting for tourists. Bruges for instance is usually referred to as the ‘North’s Venice’. It is one of Europe’s best preserved cities whose layout, streets and canals are a striking throwback to the pre-motorized era. It is the ideal postcard town. Ghent too is a scenic location whose blend of past and modern architecture as well as convenient location between the cities of Antwerp and Bruges works to its advantage.

The small Belgian Flanders town of Sint-Niklaas is home to the nation’s biggest market square. Cycling buffs and persons who love to soak in the fresh air of the outdoors will particularly enjoy its clearly marked cycling paths.

Best Time to Go on an African Safari

Travel Tips

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October 19, 2021

Depending on your travel needs, African safaris can be done at any time of the year. When planning an African safari, the dry and wet/rainy seasons are two essential seasons any traveler should put into consideration. However, seasons do vary from one country to another and this requires some bit of research if you plan to have an excellent African safari experience.

The dry season is regarded as the best time to go on an African safari. This means the typical African safari is perfectly conducted in the months of June, July, August, September and December, January, February. These dry months are ideal for visitors who wish to embark on primate experience, especially mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For those going on a safari in Uganda, gorilla trekking in Uganda are done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. For those going to Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is the best place to visit and in the DR Congo, the Virunga National Park is the best place to see mountain gorillas and Kahuzi Biega National Park is ideal for Eastern lowland gorilla trekking.

The dry season also offer the best game viewing experience to visitors on an African safari. The best places to consider for your game viewing experiences in Africa include among others Kruger National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Etosha National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Amboseli National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Serengeti National Park, Selous National Reserve.

The dry season is as well ideal for hiking or mountaineering experiences. The advantage with the dry season is that there is low rainfall received and most trails are kept relatively drier thus making it easier for hikers to explore the Rwenzori Mountain ranges, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya and many others.

For those of you who are interested in exploring and experiencing in-depth about whales in South Africa, the best time is usually in the months of June, July, August, September, October and November. South Africa is an exceptional place in the world that offers the best whale watching experiences.

To witness the great wildebeest migration in Kenya and Tanzania, the best time to embark on an African safari is between July and October. The wildebeest migration is a unique wildlife experience which involves a huge concentration of wildebeests, zebras and Thomson gazelles migrating from the vast savannas of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.

In case you are interested in discounted tours then April is the best month of the year for you go on an African safari to East Africa or Southern Africa. Plenty of rainfall is received during this month and most destinations receive fewer visitors. Most accommodation facilities are then forced to cut down on their accommodation rates as away to attract more visitors. Considerably, wet or rainy season in most African safari destinations occurs in April, March, May and October, November.

Bird watching in Africa is best conducted between November and March. For memorable birding safari experience, the best destination to consider include Botswana, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and in East Africa, January, February, March offer incredible bird watching experiences. In East Africa, the best destinations to visit for birding include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and many more. In West Africa, bird watching trips are best done in Gambia, Cameroon and other places are best to explore from November to March when most migratory birds confine into Africa.

The disadvantage with the wet or rainy season is that most of the routes to Africa’s national parks and reserves where most African safaris are conducted tend to be muddy, slippery due to heavy rainfall. Given the nature of most African roads, it becomes challenging to navigate to your dream destination.

In summary, there is no specific best time to go on an African safari. To have excellent African safari experience, the dry/peak season and wet/rainy also known as the low season are two most essential seasons you need to put into consideration and definitely, you won’t be left in regrets. Get in touch with our reservation team and let’s plan your African safari together!

Beyond Safaris: Things to Do in Kenya

Experiences

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October 11, 2021

In the previous post on this blog, I mentioned the need for Kenya to move beyond the traditional safaris and diversify its tourism product offering, or risk going stale. This may have created the impression that apart from wildlife safaris, there is nothing else for you to see and to do in Kenya. Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth. The country offers you plenty of holiday activities and other great reasons why you may want to travel to Kenya. Today’s post highlights a few of these opportunities.

1. Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE)
Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is one of Africa’s most important commercial hubs. This also makes it a key destination for business meetings, conferences and other events. Fortunately, the city has plenty of world class hotels and venues to meet this demand.
Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya

The Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya

The most famous, and by far the largest, conference venue in Nairobi is the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC). KICC is located in the city centre, within a walking distance of many of the city hotels. This makes it the ideal place if you are hosting a large event with participants

Besides KICC, most of the good hotels in Nairobi have great facilities for conferencing and meetings. The hotels include several respected regional and international brands, among them include Hilton, Intercontinental, Fairmont, Serena, and Sarova hotels. This is in addition to a number of equally high quality local hotels such as Safari Park, Fairview, and Jacaranda hotels among others. Every year, new hotels get established in Nairobi every year, some of which I mentioned in this old post. The newest entrants include Eka Hotel, The Boma, Hogmead, among many others. Even more are set to open in the next one or two years, including notable international brands like Radisson Blu and Kempinski.

But Nairobi is not the only venue for conferences and events in Kenya. All the other major cities, including Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru, have good hotels where you can hold your meeting or exhibitions too. There are even plenty of excellent conference venues in smaller and less crowded towns like Limuru, just a short distance from Nairobi.

2. Sports Tourism
Kenya is the home of marathon champions and other world-class athletes. If you love athletics, you may want to travel to Kenya for one of the several annual marathons, half-marathons, and other athletic events. You will get to race against some of the best runners in the world as well as many upcoming athletes destined to be world beaters.

The most popular annual marathons in Kenya include the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, the Safaricom Lewa Marathon, the Kass International Marathon in Eldoret, the Masai Mara Marathon, and the Ndakaini Dam half-marathon. There are also plenty of other less known, but equally competitive, marathons held all around the country.

Apart from athletics, Golf tourism is the other form of sports tourism you can enjoy in Kenya. There are more than 40 golf courses in Kenya, over a dozen of which are 18-hole courses.

The Muthaiga golf club is arguably the most renowned of these golf courses. Each year, the club hosts the Kenya Open, which is also part of the European PGA Challenge Cup. Other beautiful and popular courses include the Great Rift Valley Lodge, Karen Golf and Country Club, Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa, and the recently opened Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort.

Two upcoming golf resorts -the Olerai Golf Resort near the Masai Mara and the Sergoit Golf and Wildlife Resort near Eldoret – underline the importance of golf tourism in Kenya.

3. Romantic Vacations
Did you know that Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton while on vacation in Kenya? Rutundu Logs cabin, the actual place where the Royal couple were staying, is set in a beautiful location on the slopes of Mount Kenya, only a short distance from the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. That in itself is testimony to the fact that Kenya is home to some nice hideaways for romantic vacations of all sorts.

Whether you want an ideal place for popping the question, honeymoon, or whatever romantic occasion, you will find something in the Kenya. Not just in the wild, but even more so in the coastal beaches. Some of the best romantic beach destinations in Kenya are in Lamu, Diani, Chale Island, and Wasini Island.

4. Adventure Travel
If you are an adrenaline junkie, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the wide array of adventure opportunities available to you in Kenya. The ultimate is perhaps the technical fifth class rock climbing and mountaineering at Mt. Kenya. Even though it is the second highest mountain in Africa after Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya is more difficult and technical to climb.

Skydiving is another notable adventure activity you can undertake in Kenya. The annual Diani skydiving Boogie (see this website) is considered by some experts as the skydivers’ Mecca. Whether you are a novice or a veteran skydiver, you should attend the boogie at least once in your life. What makes it most special is the atmospheric condition of the Indian ocean, which allows for a free fall of up to one minute.

Other adventure travel activities you can enjoy in Kenya include kayaking, white water rafting, and bungee jumping in the Sagana, Tana, and Athi rivers.

5. Water Sports
The Kenyan coast is not just ideal for beach holidays, it is also well suited for several water sports. Among the water sports you can engage in in Kenya include:

Water skiing (see this website for example)
Wind surfing (website)
Kite surfing (website)
Snorkeling (website)
Deep sea sport fishing (website)
Scuba diving (website)
And many many more

Although most beach hotels can help you arrange your watersports adventure, some are particularly more focused on such. They include Ocean Sports Resort in Watamu, the Majlis in Lamu, and Almanara resort in Diani.

6. Voluntourism
I have mixed feelings about volunteer travel as it is currently practised in Kenya, moreso because I believe the best solutions for any local problems can only come from within Kenya. But in its purest state, the overall concept is noble. Voluntourism is a way to have a holiday while at the same time actively contributing to the betterment of the community in your destination. There are some few honest organizations out there through which you can offer to volunteer your skills to positively and genuinely benefit certain disadvantaged communities in Kenya.

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