Visa rates to Kenya have been cut in half to make the country more appealing to visitors.

The Minister of Tourism for Kenya, Najib Balala, has announced entry visa rates are to be reduced by 50% and completely cut for children under 16 from April 1 until the end of 2010.

The visa cost for adults has been reduced from US$50 to US$25 while there is no cost for children under 16.  Balala said: “With beautiful beaches and thrilling safaris, Kenya has a lot to offer families.This scheme will help to keep costs down for all when planning a trip to our diverse country and particularly benefit those travelling with children.”

Balala, who has been in office since April 2008, was awarded the title ‘Africa Tourism Minister of the year’ at the Africa Tourism Investors Summit in Maputo, Mozambique for his efforts in leading the tourism recovery programme in Kenya.

The move has been welcome by the industry operators who say the reduction will go along way in promoting Kenya as an affordable travel destination.

In January Kenya made it into this year’s top ten cheapest destination to travel, according to calculations from First Rate Exchange Services (First Rate), the money exchange provider for the Post Office.

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Superb golf courses in combination with an incredible array of wildlife and idyllic beaches make Kenya an excellent golf holiday travel destination.

Golfers especially find Kenya attractive because of the country  offers them a unique opportunity to play their favourite game, view wildlife and to laze on the sandy beaches all during the same holiday.

Kenya boasts 40 golf courses 12 of them being 18-hole. Interestingly 6 of Kenya’s best golf courses are within a 20 mile radius of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. These include Muthiaga Golf Club, Karen Golf and Country Club and Windsor Golf Club.The oldest 18 hole course is Royal Nairobi Golf Club founded in 1906.

Other fascinating golf holiday destinations include Mount Kenya Safari Club, Sigona and Leisure Golf Club - the only golf course on Kenya’s south coast on Diani Beach.

Most of Kenya’s golf clubs are private membership clubs and are generally very quiet and especially so during weekdays. A majority of Kenyan golf courses are at an altitude of more that 1500m (5000ft) thus giving golfers additional yardage to their stroke.

It’s worth noting that you are required to play with a caddie. He or she will not only carry your golfbag but will also find your balls in the bush, if need be. The caddie may also help you with the club selection or will show you the putting line.

Regardless of the course you choose to play, golfing adventures in Kenya will always recur in your mind every time you try to recount your Kenya safari adventures.

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I happened to read a complaint letter that was sent to Sir Richard Branson a while a go.

The letter which is currently being emailed globally is considered by many to be the world’s funniest passenger complaint letter as you can find out below:

Dear Mr Branson

REF: Mumbai to Heathrow 7th December 2008

I love the Virgin brand, I really do which is why I continue to use it despite a series of unfortunate incidents over the last few years.

This latest incident takes the biscuit. Ironically, by the end of the flight I would have gladly paid over a thousand rupees for a single biscuit following the culinary journey of hell I was subjected to at the hands of your corporation.

Read the rest of the letter here.

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Laikipia Plateau Reserve is a leading game viewing safari destination in Kenya. Situated in the north-east of Laikipia District of northern Kenya, around 290 km from Nairobi, Laikipia boasts an incredible array of wildlife.

Some of the animals present in Laikipia include elephants (over 3,000), buffaloes, elands, grevy’s zebras (70% of the world’s population), bushbucks, cheetah, elusive leopard and lion.

Laikipia Game Reserve is one of the remaining refuges of the endangered Jackson’s Hartebeest and Kenyan Black Rhino (half of Kenya’s total population) and it hosts the largest population elephants outside the national parks of Kenya. Wildlife population densities in the Laikipia region now rank second to the internationally acclaimed Maasai Mara ecosystem, while the diversity of large mammals is higher than in any other part of Kenya.

Laikipia is indeed scenic with an escarpment giving way to dramatic wooded gorges and tangled riverine thickets. This breathtaking landscape indeed inspired Kuki Gallman to write the famous book entitled ‘I Dreamed of Africa’ that recounts her life in Laikipia.

Unfortunately, Laikipia has remained unknown to many Kenya luxury safari enthusists despite being a great wild safari destination in Kenya.  This is because all the accommodation is on private land where you are treated more like a house guest than a tourist. Read the rest of this entry »

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Mombasa is a leading tourist destination along the East African coastline. Located on Kenya’s Eastern coastline bordering the Indian Ocean, Mombasa boasts some of the best beaches in the world.

The second largest city in Kenya is popular for its exotic beaches, bespoke marine life, friendly people and world-class hotels.

The beaches of Mombasa are laden with opportunities for activities including deep sea fishing and scuba diving. Game viewing safaris to Tsavo, Amboseli and Masai Mara among other national parks can be planned from the city. These safaris will enable you to have a glimpse of the Kenyan wildlife from close quarters.

There are numerous world-class beach hotels in Mombasa that ensure your holiday safari is unforgettable. A majority of the hotels are set within lush and colourful gardens, where palms, tropical flowering shrubs and bougainvillaea form a superb backdrop for the water garden and its streams and fountains.

Dating back to the 16th century, Mombasa’s rich cultural history has been influenced by the Arabs, Portuguese and British who ruled the region at different points in history. The ruins of the Old Town and the Fort Jesus, build by the Portuguese in 1593, are among the leading cultural attractions along the East African coast.

Mombasa is accessed mainly through Moi International Airport, although the main gateway to Kenya is the Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi - about 480 km from Mombasa.  Kenya Airways, Airkenya and East African Safari Air operate flights from many international destinations.

The main tourist season is between January and February, since the dry weather at this time of year is generally considered to be the most pleasant.

Visas are now required by almost all visitors to Kenya, including Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans and Canadians, although citizens from a few smaller Commonwealth countries are exempt.

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Mfangano Island has been a popular tourist destination ever since English explorers John Speke and Richard Burton stepped on it in 1857.

Enclosed by the waters of Lake Victoria, the unspoilt island is a must visit spot for everyone visiting this great lake. The tranquility of the island offers ideal conditions to forget the hustles and bustles of everyday life.

Besides being the largest island in Lake Victoria, Mfangano is renowned for its ancient rock paintings believed to be the work of Twa – a forager-hunter community closely associated with the pygmies of Eastern Congo. The reddish rock paintings are found in a scooped cave on the northern coast of the island. They are thought to have been made between 1000 and 4000 years ago and may have been used for ancestral rituals.

Mfangano Kenya luxury safari provides unlimited opportunities to catch Nile Perch,the king of the lake’s fish. This vertebrate can grow up to 1.8 metres long, weigh 140 kg and makes for delicious eating. The smaller Tilapia can also be found swimming in the shallows of the lake. Read the rest of this entry »

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The enchanting wilderness and big game of Kenya has always attracted explorers from all corners of the world. Kenya gives wildlife adventure seekers the chance to experience an incredible range of landscapes, unique natural features and species as well as an endless array of ecosystems.

With 27 national parks and 33 national reserves hosting over 4 million animals, Kenya is a paradise for the wildlife enthusiast. From the internationally acclaimed Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration to East and Central Africa’s greatest concentration of flamingos wading in Lake Nakuru, Kenya offers some of the best wildlife safari adventures in the world.

The Great Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration, for instance, draws numerous visitors from around the globe annually. Taking place between July and October, the Masai Mara migration sees around 2 million Wildebeest, 300,000 Thompson gazelle and 250 zebras moving from Masai Mara national Park in Kenya to the neighbouring Serengeti national Park in Tanzania. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Coast of Kenya offers some of the best luxury safari and holiday destinations along the East African coast. Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu are particularly very popular among international tourists as they boast some of the finest beaches in the world.

People who have been to the Kenyan coast have confessed that Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu are the most ideal destinations for a fantastic tropical beach holiday. I don’t want to exaggerate the splendour of the Kenyan beaches but nothing sounds more true than to wake up to the beauty of Mombasa.

Located some 480km by road from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya bordering the Indian Ocean. Mombasa is a haven for those looking for quiet, relaxing Kenya luxury safaris,water sports and game fishing opportunities. Read the rest of this entry »

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A group of zebras attempted to cross the Mara river in the Masai Mara, Kenya, on November 13 when a crocodile jumped from the water, biting the head of one of them.

The stricken animal attempted to make a getaway for the shore, but didn’t stand a chance as two more hungry crocodiles lurked menacingly in front of it as well.

In the end the zebra was taken down by all three predators, who enjoyed their catch on the shore of the river in an action captured on film by Reuters.

The Masai Mara is one of the most popular game reserves in Africa and the Mara river is notorious for being infested with crocodiles. Read the rest of this entry »

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Leisure Lodge, one of the most popular lodge in Kenya is among the top hotels in the world.

The hotel was recently voted among the top 99 world best according to the most visited website in the hotel industry; www.holidaycheck.com

Leisure lodge is located in Diani, along the Kenyan coast, and was selected based on reviews by travellers on the website that attracts 200,000 views daily with sample reviews of over 210,000 hotels.

The award is presented annually during the ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel show.

Leisure Lodge is one of only three golf resorts in Kenya. Photo Caption: Diani Beach Kenya

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The government of Kenya has pledged to brand Kogelo village in western Kenya as a tourist destination.

Kogelo is the Kenyan village in which US President-elect Barrack Obama has ancestral roots.

Dubbed the Obama Route, Kogelo tours will be part of the western Kenya tourism circuit.

The main attractions in western Kenya include Lake Victoria, the source of River Nile, Mt Elgon and the dense Kakamega Forest.

Other attractions are Kit Mikaye, Ndere Island, Kisumu Impala Sancuary, Saiwa Swamp National Park and Ruma National Park. Photo caption: Kit Mikaye located near Kisumu, Kenya.

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The Kenyan tourism industry is waiting with bated breath for positive spin-off effects from last week’s US elections.

Kenyans are optimistic that US President-elect Barack Obama’s family ties to Kenya will not only positively influence America’s foreign policy in the region, but also raise the profile of Kenyan tourism in America and around the world.

The Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) has already said it would be capitalising on the President-elect’s Kenyan heritage, who was born to a white American mother and a Kenyan father from Kogelo, a small rural village in western Kenya. It is highly expected that Americans visiting Kenya would now include the small town of Kogelo in their holiday itinerary.

Nationals from the USA (and the European Union) need to apply for a 90-day temporary Kenyan visa to visit the country. PHOTO/AFP-Getty Images

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