KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 4th Boeing 777-300ER named Amboseli National Park jetted into Kenya on Friday evening on its maiden commercial flight.

The  425-seater aircraft is the latest addition to  KLM fleet and it signals a double ‘first’ being the first aircraft to leave the Boeing plant using environmentally friendlier paint and the first to be named after a national park in Africa.

The Amboseli National Park aircraft is painted silver with dark blue accents of the SkyTeam Alliance – a deviation from the well-known KLM blue. The naming is aimed to educate people that responsible flying and enjoying the beauty of our planet can be combined.

According to the airline the PH-BVA has been named after Kenya’s “Amboseli National Park,” in honour of the parks biodiversity conservation efforts. Amboseli National Park which was branded “Kilimanjaro’s Royal Court” is a jewel in the crown of Kenya’s world-famous national parks. The 390-km sq park has fantastic views of Kilimanjaro and is surrounded by six communally owned ranches. It lies 250 km south of Nairobi in Loitokitok District and is one of the most popular Kenya safari destinations.

KLM is the only airline in the world that names aircrafts with none-coded names and have been using national parks since March 2008.

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The western region of Kenya lacks those tourist attractions that are thought to be quintessentially Kenyan.

Here, you will find no roaming lions; there will be no charming vistas of motor vehicles giving the right of way to tall giraffes or magnificent elephants. But despite this, the land beyond the rift is perhaps Kenya’s best kept secret.

A number of ecosystems come together to create this magical region of Kenya. Gentle lolling hills blanketed by tea plantations; sedate lakes that support rare populations of birdlife and fish; grasslands that are only broken by pockets of densely forested woodlands and dank swamps; little agricultural towns, each unique and different from the last.

This is a portrait of Western Kenya, an image of rich culture and fertile lands, and best of all, it has not been trampled upon or been cheapened by millions of tourist vans and feet. The region is becoming popular Kenya safari destination, especially due to its association with US President Barack Obama whose father was born in Kogelo, Kisumu.

Kisumu is a city that has been described as languid, sultry, easy-going and friendly. Sitting on the edge of Lake Victoria, this city is the third largest in Kenya and is the hub of the west. Kisumu was a colonial port that connected Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It remained in relative isolation from the rest of the country until the railway line was finished in 1903. But this was not the first attempt to connect Kisumu with the outside world. Read the rest of this entry »

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Lamu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located some 265km from Mombasa, is the perfect example of a tropical archipelago.

As you fly into the enchanting island, like most visitors to Lamu do, the view below is breathtaking. The rich blue waters and the exotic atmosphere of this tropical island seem to beckon the aircraft soaring a few metres above.

And after a few minutes of panoramic views of Lamu and its environs, the aircraft lands on the airstrip of Manda island – situated a stone-throw away from Lamu.

On alighting from the plane, visitors are led to a waiting dhow that ferries them across the channel from Manda to the antique town of Lamu.

As visitors climb from the dhow onto the docks, the heat from the tropical sun usually hits them, but this ceases to be the case as soon as they step into the streets of Lamu where the air is cool and rich with the tempting aromas of spice and perfume from the markets.

Lamu has a rich history and a fascinating culture that is celebrated every November during the Annual Lamu Cultural Festival. The three day event organised by Lamu Cultural Promotion Centre showcases traditional dances, displays of handicraft and competitions on water and land (Swahili poetry, donkey races, dhow races), and music and theatre performances from both local and visiting artists sharing a united heritage.

Lamu was established in the 14th Century as a Swahili trading outpost and settlement. The town evolved over the centuries to became one of the great centres of Swahili culture. The island is also one of the most popular Kenya holidays and honeymoon destinations. Read the rest of this entry »

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Flying into Kenya, especially from America, can be an arduous experience. Until very recently, the quickest flight you could get to Kenya would probably have run more than eighteen hours with at least two stops.

However, Delta Airlines is scheduled to commence direct flights to Kenya soon. With only a short stopover in Dakar, Delta Airlines will make flying into Kenya from the US less complicated.

Kenya is reached by air mainly through Jomo Kenyatta and Mombasa international airports. Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi, about 20 km outside the city, is the busier of the two and is excellent for tourists who want to go on tours around the whole of Kenya.  However, if you just want to take in the warm sun and the sandy beaches, then the Moi International Airport in Mombasa is the choice for you. There are excellent deals to be made on cheap flights in Kenya through your travel agent.

Finished in the early twentieth century, the Kenyan railway line traverses some of Kenya’s most beautiful landscapes, going through the Tsavo National Park. It will provide you with perhaps the most leisurely and scenic route through Kenya with trips to Mombasa and to Kisumu. The attendants on the train are friendly, the food is excellent and the cabins are extremely comfortable. Read the rest of this entry »

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Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is a modern cosmopolitan city to be reckoned with. Its seamless melding of African traditional and modern elegance is designed to provide any visitor with an optimum level of comfort and enjoyment.

While in Nairobi, you can dine at typically traditional restaurants offering African cuisine ranging from millet ugali to Ethiopian taj. Nairobi also boast  numerous international restaurants offering delicacies from Italy, India and Japan among others.

The cultural scene is equally impressive too. Theaters showcase local talents and there are various joints that will entertain you with truly Kenyan tunes every night of the week. A trip to Nairobi will immerse you in a culture, a lifestyle that is both authentically African and refreshingly internationalized. You will enjoy every minute of your time in Nairobi, whether you choose to enlighten yourself in the galleries or to plunge deep into the frenzy of all night clubbing.

K’osewe’s is a hangout for locals of all social strata looking for that so very elusive taste of the past, of home. The restaurant specializes mainly in fish accompanied by the ubiquitous East African dish, Ugali. Conveniently located in the heart of the city on Kimathi Street, it beckons anyone adventurous enough for local food. Chui’s on Museum Hill is also another local favorite.

After a morning of excursions to the museum and to Snake Park, you can sit down to a pleasantly casual lunch. Tamambo restaurant, in Westlands, takes guests on a journey for the taste buds. Sweet and sour vegetables are served with creamy coconut rice as tilapia cooked in diced peppers sits waiting. Deserts are available for both the sweet toothed and those with a leaning towards tart. Tamambo offers a taste of Africa for the bold, and the comfort of the west for the timid.

Like most of the Nairobi hotels and restaurants, the Blue Nile Ethiopian restaurant has found a niche in the multicultural environment. Over the years, it has attracted the attention of not only Ethiopian expatriates, but that of curious locals and tourists too. The fact that they come for more only goes further to prove how truly exquisite the service and food is. Located in Hurlingham, the restaurant is uniquely decorated with paintings of Ethiopian mythology and its spicy dishes are definitely not something you will forget soon. Read the rest of this entry »

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Kenya is a foremost travel destination in the East African region. From the arid northern region to the magnificent coastal region, Kenya remains the heart of the African safari experience.

A safari in Kenya guarantees you to see the big five – lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino and elephant as well as other popular wild animals.

A jade jewel lying encrusted in red brown earth is what the satellite image of Lake Turkana brings to mind. Surrounded by lava beds and extinct volcanoes, Lake Turkana is the world’s largest desert lake. It is adjacent to the Kenya-Ethiopia border and owes its stunning color to algae that rises up and floats during calm waters. However, as John Hillaby noted in his book Journey to the Jade Sea, Lake Turkana is moody and often tempestuous.

This beautiful color has been known to go from blue to gray to jade in a matter of minutes. Fishing, bird watching and water sports are just a few of the activities available to the guest. More interesting is the historical aspect of Lake Turkana. Koobi Fora in the Sibiloi National Park on the northeastern shores of the lake is often referred to as the cradle of mankind. It is a literal hotbed for fossils including a three million year old giant turtle and the remains of a three million year old hominid.

South of Turkana, Lake Naivasha is one of only two fresh water lakes in the Rift Valley. On your journey through Kenya, it is definitely a stopover that you dare not miss. Along with Lake Baringo, the lake attracts an immense variety of bird life numbering upwards of five hundred species. Most of these species are either rare or only found in these regions. Lake Nakuru is  also among the Great Rift Valley’s lakes. Being a saltwater lake it is the habitat for the pink flamingo, one of nature’s most magnificent creatures. The breathtakingly vibrant sight of a million flamingoes in flight is something everyone on a Kenya safari should not miss.

Straddling the equator, Mt. Kenya is the heart of the country and also its tallest peak. It is a sacred mountain to the tribes that live on its foothills. The Kikuyu believe that Mt. Kenya is the home of their god, Ngai while the Masai believe that their ancestors descended from this mountain. Its perpetually snowcapped peaks can be seen from miles away in the plains. The flora on Mt. Kenya has evolved in a way that is distinctly unique. Read the rest of this entry »

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The annual Wildbeest Migration in the Masai Mara and Serengeti game reserves is the most spectacular wildlife show in the world.

Every year, between August and November, about 2 million wildbeest and zebras move in search of greener pasture and water as seasons change.

Although the migration timing varies, the best time to get a glimpse of the dramatic event is between June and August when the wildebeest gather in preparation to cross the renowned Grumeti River. Numerous predators such as lions, hyenas, cheetah, leopard and a host of carnivoures can be spotted hovering around the area waiting for a chance to strike the weak prey.

The wildebeest make their arrival in Masai Mara between August and September, although at times they arrive as early as July.  The animals remain in the Masai Mara between October and November before gradually returning to Serengeti.  This usually happens between December and January.

The Masai Mara National Reserve, located in the southwest Kenya on the border of Tanzania, is the most popular game park in Kenya. Although it is relatively smaller in size compared to other Kenyan national parks, Masai Mara is home to an amazing concentration of wildlife. It is therefore one of the most popular Kenya safari destinations.

Masai Mara borders the Serengeti plains along its southern end and it is nourished by the Mara River. River Mara hosts plenty of hippos and crocodiles that make the annual Wildbeest Migration a really dangerous task.

The Masai Mara is situated 168 miles from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and is reached by road and air. The road trip takes at least 6 hours by a 4WD vehicle as the roads are quite rough and should be avoided during the rainy season (April-May) as the roads become impassable.

Because of the bad quality of roads, most tourists prefer flying into the Masai Mara. Unfortunately this makes their safari more expensive and they miss out on some of the thrill of travelling in an African bush. There are several airlines offering daily scheduled flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to the Mara; a 45 minutes flight.

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Echo, the world famous Amboseli National Park elephant matriarch, is dead.

Echo died at 2pm on Sunday, 3 May 2009, from what the Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE) believes to be the result of old age and the long 3-year drought that has left Amboseli National Park dry with very little to offer in terms of food.

According to Global Voices website, Echo collapsed on Saturday morning and had remained down for more than 24 hours, unable to get up, until she eventually died.

Echo is believed to be the most famous wild elephant in the world after her appearance in various films the most memorable being her 1993 debut in the film Echo of the Elephants produced by the BBC Natural History Unit and narrated by world famous elephant researcher Cynthia Moss with BBC’s Martyn Colbeck behind the camera. Echo appeared in the films sequels now popularly known as the ‘Echo Trilogy’.

The ‘Echo Trilogy’ includes Echo of the Elephants (1993), Echo of the Elephants: The Next Generation (1996), and, the most recent, Echo of the Elephants: The Final Chapter (2005). Most recently, Echo has appeared in the film about Martyn Colbeck’s work called An Eye for An Elephant.

Amboseli National park is a leading Kenya wildlife safari destination.

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Rangers in Kenya’s Hellsgate National Park have spotted an albino buffalo, the first of its kind ever recorded in the wildlife rich country, park officials said on Friday.

“This is the first time that an albino buffalo has been found in our parks and it’s a great day for nature and animals lovers,” said Nelly Palmeris, senior warden at Hellsgate.

The three-month-old calf, spotted within a large herd, has a very light brown coat, and is easily distinguished from other buffalo.

Its lighter colour will make it a more noticeable target for predators, park officials said.

The cultural stigma against albinos, both animal and human, among the Maasai pastoralists that live near the park could also create a threat.

“The African community and especially Maasais associate albinos with bad omens,” Palmeris said. “We are just coming from a bad drought and the Maasai might associate the famine with this buffalo and kill it.”

She added that rangers have enhanced security around the herd to ensure the Maasai do not attack the unique mammal.

The calf was not spotted for months after its birth because its herd was largely confined to obscure, shaded areas to mitigate against recent drought conditions.

While the rare sighting is a first for Kenya, albino buffaloes have been spotted in several other countries.

Source AFP

External resources:

Kenya wildlife safaris

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Wildlife populations in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve have declined massively over the past quarter century due to pressures from  human presence.

According to a recent  report by the International Livestock Research Institute, the giraffe population in the Maasai Mara declined by 95 percent, warthogs by 80 percent and impalas by 65 percent, between 1989 and 2003.

“These losses are widespread and substantial,” Joseph Ogutu, who led the ILRI study, said in a statement. “And they are likely linked to the steady increase in human settlements on lands adjacent to the reserve.”

The Maasai are a tribe of semi-nomadic herders, but they have increasingly settled in recent decades, upsetting the historic harmony that previously existed between the human and animal communities around the reserve.

Large scale crop cultivation, the massive expansion of permanent human settlements, and increased presence of livestock have deprived wildlife of grazing areas, leading to a decline in numbers. Read the rest of this entry »

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The coast of Kenya offers some of the finest deep-water fishing in East Africa where marlin, sailfish, shark, swordfish, wahoo and tuda.

Kenya’s big game fishing, a kind of fishing that uses boats to catch big open-water species, is concentrated in Malindi,Watamu and Shimoni areas.

Although game fishing along the Kenya coastline is possible throughout the year, there are two very definite seasons for the sport.  These are the Yellowfin Tuna season which runs from August through the end of October and the marlin season which runs from December to mid March.

On the other hand, the billfish arrives in large numbers at the Kenya coastline when the north east monsoon blows. September and October are recognised as months for good catches of tuna and wahoo, while December to March as the best season for sailfish and marlin, although billfish are caught throughout the year.

The tropical climate at the Kenyan coast is conducive for big game fishing. Temperatures year round vary between 22° C and 33° C. July and August are the coolest months. Light clothing is recommended, as even the evenings are usually warm. Short sleeve shirts, shorts and trousers for men and short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts are sufficient.

The Kenyan coast provides sufficient accommodation to visiting anglers. Mombasa has the highest concentration of resorts, lodges and beach hotels in the region, ranging from beach campsites to five star deluxe beach properties.

The city, located some 485 km from Nairobi, can be accessed by road, air or train. Mombasa is the gateway to the region and to get here you need to flying into Moi International Airport or take the 520 km road journey from Nairobi; the common entry port for most international visitors.

There are several daily flights from Nairobi to Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu. When travelling by road, it is advisable to consider taking a rental car either in Nairobi on in Mombasa to help you get around.

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Working with a travel agent has its advantages. You get to visit exotic locations for free that you would otherwise have paid through your nose.

In my six years of working with Africa Point, i have been privileged to visit places like Severin Sea Lodge, Leopard Beach and Mara Lodge. This time round I went to check out Sheshe Beach hotel in Southern Coast of Mombasa in Kenya.

I was on a mission to check out the facilities of the hotel. Mombasa is a very humid place and the hot air was really getting to me. We were picked at the bus station and reached Sheshe beach hotel at 8.00am on Saturday. I took the Friday 10.45pm bus from Nairobi which took me 6 hrs on the road to reach Mombasa.

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