Planning a Trip to Kenya

Lamu is the land that time forgot, and definitely a place to be "off the grid." However, those seeking the calm coastal life be warned: you cannot arrive without being approached by a throng of "guides" offering their services, which can be annoying to those wanting to be left alone. Frankly you just have to find one that you feel comfortable with and accept their offer because you can't do anything in Lamu without a guide. They will become your best friends, and are indispensible in figuring out how things work in Lamu. They will organise day trips, dhow boat rides, tours of historic ruins, snorkelling/diving, and partying in local hotels (even if they are not permitted to enter the premises)... they will even leave you alone when instructed to do so. Bring a sarong, and a hat, and try to rent a house with a rooftop terrace / bedroom.

FOR DIVING or BOAT TRIP
Not far away from there is Mombasa and many little fisherman villages, like Shimoni...The beach and landscape are awesome. And its easy to go into the village and make some "friends" :) specially childrens...
For divers or snorkellers I recomend: Liquid Marine. Is a small Diving Center, but the best. And the Crew its very cool and responsable... You will spend some nice time there...
Kisses

www.liquidmarine.net -Shimoni-

If you want to escape all the tourists in the Carnivore restaurant, go to Rangers instead. It's IN the Nairobi national park (close to the main entrance) and you can eat (good food, good value for money) while watching the animals at the waterhole, very cool! Best time to go is for late dinner (after 8pm) as there will be more animals

well as alot of people have hear the locals call it "nai-robbery" so my best tip would be to lock your back packs and wear them on the front so you can see them at all times as i have heard storys of bags being slit open with knives. Also ask the locals were its safe to walk and were it isn't as with every town there are some bad areas unfortunitly the bus station is bang in the middle of nairobis :P but have fun its an awesome clourful amazing place!

Kakamega is a great rainforest which I highly recommend. There you can really relax in the flow of nature. I was staying in earth made little hut. Villagers brought me fresh milk and I had some of my rice...to me that was the best milk rice I have ever eaten :)...cooked on fire with monkey jumping in nearby branches. I highly recomend this place for a longer period of time. Place is more suitable for those that enjoy the peace fo nature and do not wish a lot of westeren kind of fun. I also went around the forest with a guide who explained me all about the animals and different kinds of trees. One thing that is not recommended is to explore the forest without a guide. One Hungarian woman got so lost that she needed 2 days to come out, all dirty, scared to death...well it is still a rainforest. Also I got lost very quickly...in about 5 minutes :)

Kibera is located in a valley not far from downtown Nairobi and is generally considered to be the worst slum in the world. It covers an area of approximately four square kilometers and is home to more than 1.5 million people who live in mud and tin shacks without electricity or even running water.

A visit here is a must for anyone who wants to get to know modern Africa as it is. Although it theoretically possible to visit Kibera independantly during the day, a better option is to take an organised tour. If you do feel the need to head up there alone, take a taxi or walk to Kibera Olympic which is on the edge of the slum (off Millimani Road). However be warned and please stay alert and do not venture in too deep; what ever you do, make sure you are well out of there by nightfall. If you find the prospect of entering Kibera alone too daunting to contemplate (and I wouldn’t blame you), the three-hour organised tour offered by Victoria Safaris (http://www.victoriasafaris.com/kenyatours/propoor.htm) represents, in my opinion, very good value. The price depends on the number of people in your group and works out at around 50$ per person singly or in pairs (2009/10). The company’s owner, James, will pick you up at your hotel in a minibus and drive you over to Kibera where you hook up with a minder and a couple of local guides who will show you around. A typical tour includes a visit to one of the many NGO’s operating in the slums, several houses/dwellings, the biogas plant, the train tracks (featured in the film ‘The Constant Gardener’) and, of course, a good walk around the streets to appreciate the enviroment and atmosphere. The minder and guides are all well-known and respected members of the community and taking an organised tour with them will not only serve to keep you safe but also to make your visit rewarding and educational. It will also provide them badly needed employment and income.

As you will see, Kibera is a city within a city and very much a world unto itself. Not to be missed are the public toilets in the centre of the slum which have been cleverly designed also function as a biogas plant. The two-level structure has a café at the top which serves good, cheap tea and its height means that it affords good views over the corrogated iron roofs stretching away in every direction. Also memorable, or should I say haunting, is the small river flowing at the bottom of the valley, its reeking water, and the carefree play of the children on its banks amid the filth and countless ‘flying toilets’ (rags and bits of paper used to wipe yourself and then tossed away). It is certainly not the kind of thing that pampered Western visitors will forget in a hurry.

L'incroyable lac rose (car couvert de flamands) de Nakuru! Voir mes photos!

If you are a photography lover, then don't go to Nakuru if (a) it is January (there could be very very few flamingoes), and (b) you are not prepared with some proper photo gear (a telephoto lens is desirable, with 300mm or beyond).

If you stay in Nairobi and you like to eat meet, ask for the restaurant "Carnivore". Pay once and eat meat as much as you can.

Beware of the ditches on either side of the main street, they're a killer. Good place to get a haircut and some not very fresh fish. When in Kisii I recommend the Kisii hotel however it is probably better to pitch a tent than stay in a room.

that´s why we also call it Nairobberi

bring small candy with you everywhere you go. the children love it.

The Masai Market moves locations in Nairobi. But no matter where it's set up on the day you visit - be informed before you go!!
Once you cross the threshold, you are immediately swarmed by people who want to escort you through the market. The idea is for one person to escort you, helping you find the things you are looking for. If you like something, he grabs it and puts it in your "maybe" pile. The maybe pile is carried by another man.
The sheer volume of merchandise is overwhelming. Let alone the entirely too fast paced guide dragging you from one end to the other trying to point out what it is you might be looking for.
You tend to wonder if they have special agreements with certain vendors to drag the tourists to one person or another. Nothing is really priced as you are browsing. It's all done at the end.
We were never given an opportunity to just "browse" or take our time. It was RUSH RUSH RUSH which left me with a sense of disappointment. There is an endless array of wonderful treasures and souveniers - don't get me wrong! Lots and lots of great things to look at and buy. Unique finds. If only I had time to appreciate that more....
Once you are done with your "maybe" pile - you are taken to the center of the market for bargaining. This was ridiculous. They start out with such a high dollar amount it's laughable. We spent about 15 minutes bartering back and forth to come to anything reasonable.
You can't blame them too much - it's how they make their living. I guess they have to try.....but in hind side, if we had it to do all over again...
I'd decline the escort, take my time, be more assertive and find what I want.
Bartering unfortunately, just comes with the territory.