Featured Country: Kenya The Kenyan government has done a great job of selling Kenya to travelers, with companies like McDonald's and the game show Survivor, using their marketing power to promote Kenya as Africa's number one safari country. Some critics have said that travelers are almost convinced that the Serengeti and Mt. Kilimanjaro are in Kenya, when in fact, they are in the neighboring country of Tanzania. Kenya still remains the entrance to spectacular wildlife, such as the Masai Mara, with glorious mountain ranges and cultures, and old thriving Swahili cities like Mombasa and Lamu. Sadly, though, Kenya's economy has decayed, the government corruption has increased, crime has become more commonplace, and the security situation has destabilized in the north (and in a few other parts). You can however - and thousands of people do each year - visit Kenya and have no problem. If you're a bit attentive, and don't mind a little bit of chaos, especially in Nairobi, Kenya is an excellent place to explore. What's in this issue? Kenya's Top Attractions Airfare Deals Read the Featured Stories on Kenya What our Insiders say about Kenya Kenya Accommodations Links & Resources Books on Kenya Kenya's Top Attractions Masai Mara The Masai Mara is one of the most popular wildlife parks in Kenya - and in much of East Africa. Thousands of tourists flock to the Masai Mara every year to spy on the legions of zebras, wildebeest, elephants, buffalo, giraffe, (and thousands of others animals) as they go about their daily business. The beauty of the Masai Mara, much like the Serengeti, is its color and rawness. It's not uncommon to travel through the savanna grasslands and see prides of lions chasing a lone baby zebra, or cheetahs with their recent kill hanging in the trees, or even a group of elephants bathing in a stream. Lamu Lamu is sometimes called the Kathmandu of Africa. Discovered by backpackers not long ago, Lamu is an ancient old-world Swahili city that has changed little for many centuries. Although there has been some recent "western" hotel developments, it still evokes a somewhat surreal atmosphere. Known as Kenya's oldest living town, and perhaps the purest Swahili town surviving, Lamu lets you peer into an authentic culture that has withstood modern day influences. The beauty of Lamu, and why it's better than Zanzibar, is that gas powered vehicles, such as cars, are not allowed on the island, except for the police. Mt. Kenya Often overshadowed by its big sister to the south (Mt. Kilimanjaro), Mt. Kenya is still the second highest mountain in Africa, towering at 16,900 feet (5,199 meter) summit. Mt. Kenya fascinates climbers because of its flora variations, which with the altitude. It also tends to attract a more technical mountain climber with its variety of difficult climbs, as opposed to Mt. Kilimanjaro, which almost anybody could climb. Mt. Kenya is a modern day volcano and its peak is regarded as the realm of Ngai, god of the local Kikuyu people. Traditionally, all Kikuyu home were built to face this sacred peak. BootsnAll AIRFARE DEALS to Kenya Brought to you by the BootsnAll TripPlanner Plan and book your round-the-world or multi-continental trip! SHort info on airports, if needed. Here are some ticket prices we found: $1190 Seattle - Nairobi, Kenya $1024 New York - Nairobi, Kenya $1110 Atlanta - Nairobi, Kenya $1150 Los Angeles - Nairobi, Kenya Now, log on to the TripPlanner or International Airfares and put together an itinerary of the places you want to see! Back to top Featured Stories of Kenya The Many Faces of Kenya Tomas Padilla spends his Kenya trip on safari in the wild, in the wilds of Nairobi, and with a tribe of Masai. Trekking Mt. Kenya Hiking the highest mountain in Kenya over four days, as a more interesting alternative to Kilimanjaro. At Home in Lamu This Kenyan island is a magical place, charged with mysterious energy. Back to top BootsnAll Insiders BootsnAll Insiders are a great source of information, and they can tell you what the guidebooks can't. We asked some of our Insiders for their take on traveling in Kenya, and here's what they had to say: Jennifer Off The Beaten Track/To Go And See Depending on if you're into city life or nature, some of my favorite places included climbing Mt. Kenya, doing the four night trek, and driving through the Rift valley. (For Safari we did the Ngorongoro crater in the Serengeti and onto Zanzibar, also a must do/see). Anyway, we went with an independent guide who made it affordable (for the budget traveler) and very personalized! Shopping in Nairobi, and every other small town is an adventure. Go to the Masai market held every Tuesday. all day near the university. Just ask any local and they can tell you where it is! If you don't have much time, you could also go for a short day trek through the Ngong Hills just outside of Nairobi. There is also a Masai market just outside in Ngong town...be sure though to get a guide, usually free, but normal to tip. There are still some random bandits so you want to be safe, not sorry. I lived in Wamunyu for months. This is one small town outside of Machakos (south of Nairobi--you can get a bus at the Machakos bus station but BE careful...there is a huge market near by making it a major hub for transits etc.). It is known for wood carvers, perhaps even where the wood carving began! Tell them Mwende sent you and they'll give you great deals...I bet the local bike man would let you rent one and you could cruise the amazing hills and get a glimpse of a giraffe or two! If you go to a local pub/restaurant they'll set you up with a room, cheap. Back to top Accommodations in Kenya Kenya Hostels Nairobi Mombasa Lamu Island Links & Resources Use the following sites to learn more about Kenya, the attractions for travelers, and what to consider on your next trip. Overland From Kenya to South Africa Do you have an endless amount of energy, patience, and time - and want to conquer an overland route from Kenya to South Africa? It may take six weeks to three months but you would have some of the best stories ever. This is the site to make it happen! Bwana Zulia Much like BootsnAll's East Africa guide, Bwana Zulia is a comprehensive, unbiased guide for travel in Kenya. It includes information on the parks, photos, travel tips, where to eat and books on Kenya. Kenyalogy Hundreds of pages with travel useful facts to help you enjoy Kenya from home. From Kenya's geography, history, maps, health and safety, to parks and reserves, wildlife, travel tales, and safari books. Kenya Web One of Kenya's best web portal services for finding everything from apartments to safari tours to local news Kabiza A westerner's perspectives about the heartbeat of Africa and his impressions on the people, culture, and landscapes. Plus some great travel tips and how to prepare for going on a trip to Eastern Africa. Back to top Books on Kenya Traditional Guide Books Lonely Planet Kenya (Kenya, 5th Ed) by Joseph Bindloss The Rough Guide to Kenya by Richard Trillo Insight Guide Kenya (Insight Guide Kenya, 4th Revised) by Jeffery Pike Nontraditional/Literary Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna by Joseph Lemasolai-Lekuton Facing Mount Kenya by Jomo Kenyatta The Journey Is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon by Dan Eldon WRITE AN ARTICLE If you have a story of your own that you would like to submit on Kenya, have a look at BootsnAll's Writer's Guidelines: http://writers.BootsnAll.com And then send it along. We're always looking for new content and new perspectives, and we hope to get yours soon. TELL A FRIEND If you feel that BootsnAll.com is a valuable resource, or that others might think so, please tell your friends about us. As many of you know, we respond personally to every email we receive in an ongoing effort to build a true traveller's community. Many have responded positively. If you have comments both positive and constructive, we would love to hear them. Tell us what we have done well and how we can improve. We would appreciate it greatly. Back to top