Min Africa Travel Consultants

Buyengo

2009-10-16T11:36:00.007+03:00

Soon after my graduation, my mother decided to take me to visit the place where she grew up. It is right at edge of the border of Kenya and Uganda about 8 kilometres from Busia town.
What I'm talking about is actually my mother's homestead that spans to about 100 acres of land. It has a lot of vegetation and indigenous trees which provide the aesthetic value that our environment is in dire need of.
You might be thinking that you are going back in time right? Well,true and false. True to the extent that you get to enjoy a scenic view that which I guarantee you have never seen. And this is because the ecosystem is intact. It has not been tampered with,meaning you get to see lifeforms that you would ordinarily not see in your day-to-day activities. You are woken up by songs from birds which thrive in the environment created thus.
On the other hand, there are six self-contained,fully furnished cottages for your accomodation. There is a catering unit that sees to it you have the best African meals that include roast chicken, roast goat, fresh farm milk, fish and basically everything else you could crave for. My grandmother(and great grandmother) see to it that you are taken good care of so that should you want to visit anywhere in Kenya,you have an easy decision to make.

Kogelo Village

2009-09-29T22:33:00.002+03:00

This past weekend I went to my home town of Kogelo in Siaya a district in Nyanza province of Kenya and I could not believe my eyes. Our little sleepy village has been turned into a tourist site! For those not in the know, the US President Mr. Barack Obama has roots in Kenya, Kogelo village specifically. I’m sure there are a billion blogs dedicated to this great man so I will move along swiftly and talk about my village instead.

Kogelo is like my ancestral land since my father and his father and his father’s father all come from there. We are from the Luo community, a Nilotic community that is said to have migrated from southern Sudan many centuries ago. I digress we were talking about Kogelo village. So since my father comes from that village it makes it my homeland. For as long as I can remember we have been going to Kogelo to visit grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and numerous other relatives. Life in the village is awesome, fresh milk straight from the cows, lunch is chicken chased down and prepared in minutes and supper is fish straight from Lake Victoria. Life is easy, the air fresh and the people friendly.

Some of the fond memories I have are of going to the river with cousins to fetch water. They would balance the pots of water on their heads, a task I could never muster being from the city. I also remember sitting down by the fire while my grandmother told us interesting folk tales.

I’m glad tourists are flocking our village to experience the amazing culture, the people, the food and the history. The main tourist attraction is Mama Sarah Obama’s homestead, here the visitors have a chance to have a talk with the US president’s grandmother and get a glimpse at Obama’s roots. For those interested in being more than a tourist and experiencing more of the Luo culture, Siaya town is about 45 minutes away where you can walk to the market and buy some African artifacts or enjoy local delicacies such as osuga, ojuri, aliyah... Maybe one day I’ll tell you more about these :)

Lake Nakuru

2009-09-12T11:14:00.000+03:00

Lake Nakuru is an alkaline lake located along the Rift Valley. Lake Nakuru was first gazetted as a bird sanctuary in 1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. The national park is known as a bird sanctuary for the vast birdlife that resides there with over 400 species available on the lake and in the surrounding park. The most common birds have to be the flamingoes.

There are two types of flamingo species: the Lesser flamingo can be distinguished by its deep red carmine bill and pink plumage unlike the greater, which has a bill with a black tip. Lake Nakuru is an ornithologists' paradise offering the spectacular view of up to 2 million flamingos at one time during season. Usually, the lake recedes during the dry season and floods during the wet season.

Flamingoes are not the only avian attraction, also present are two large fish eating birds, pelicans and cormorants. Thousands of both little grebes and white winged black terns are frequently seen as are stilts, avocets, ducks, and in the European winter the migrant waders. The park hosts several picnic areas and some hides have been erected nearby the lake for bird observation.

Lake Nakuru National Park, apart from being a bird paradise, is also a black rhino sanctuary. The park is home for a large number of mammals such as zebras, giraffes and carnivores such as lions and leopards.

Nyeri

2009-09-09T14:41:00.008+03:00

My father comes from the Western part of Kenya, my mother from Eastern Uganda and I was born and raised in Central Kenya. It's not that confusing just means I have many places to call home and go to when city life gets too much. There is a saying that only a fool forgets where he came from and I do not intend to forget my heritage.

Of all these places my favourite and the place I identify with most is Central Kenya. That's why whenever I get the chance, I go back to visit. My latest visit was in Nyeri, a very pleasant town that's about 2 and a half hour drive from Nairobi.
Don't be fooled to think that the drive is somewhat drab; it is the opposite infact, with scenic landscapes just begging for a kodak moment and I believe if you are not focused you will find yourself making unplanned-for stops to take photos of the countryside.

While in Nyeri I stayed at the brilliant Outspan Hotel with its veiws of Mt. Kenya and the Chania River flowing nearby. It is near the Karua Falls in the Aberdares. Outspan is also known for having accomodated famous visitors such as Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell and his wife Olave Baden-Powell from 1938 until Baden-Powell's death in 1941.

From the Outspan one can book a night at the Treetops lodge which is nearby to view wildlife from close proximity. If camping is your drink of choice there are various campsites in Nyeri specifically the Aberedares where one can camp and bond with nature.

Kakamega Forest

2009-08-31T23:35:00.005+03:00

I have been to Kakamega Forest. Probably one of the most unique places I have visited in recent years. No kidding. You might be wondering,"um forest,trees?". Well Kakamega Forest has more to offer than just "um trees". It is under strict management and conservation by the Kenya National Forest Reserve as the only mid altitude tropical rainforest in Kenya. Being a walk through park,we went on self guided nature trail with my father who raked his brain as hard as possible to wow us with made up names for each and every single tree and beautiful vegetation that surrounded us. I have to hand to him,he did a pretty good job. The names were too hard to commit to memory though. At least I remember river Isiukhu,one of the two rivers that flows through the forest.
Did I mention there is a campsite and cottages just in case you decide to spend sometime in a forest.:) If you ever get the urge to get in touch with nature, well, Kakamega Forest is your ideal place to visit.

Famous tree house

2009-08-28T20:20:00.003+03:00

Treetops is tree house lodge in Aberdare National Park in Kenya where you can watch wild animals in their natural surroundings without going for a game drive. The lodge overlooks two waterholes which attract a great variety of animals. There are viewing decks on ground level and on the rooftop where one can observe animals in safety and take close up pictures of the animals as they come to the watering hole. This tree house is best known for its connection to Queen Elizabeth II who ascended to the crown after her father died while she was on vacation at the lodge.
I remember my visit to the lodge a few years back. The rooms were nice and cozy, the food great and the animals so close I felt I could reach out and touch them. They do not allow loud noises as this can frighten the animals and this paused a challenge to my friends and I as we were having so much fun watching the animals and would scream every time we heard a lion growl in the distance. The lodge has 50 rooms designed like cabins in a ship and at the lounge there are trees growing through the building.
One can only stay at the lodge a night so only overnight baggage is allowed. The lodge is part of the outspan hotel in Nyeri where you have to book before gaining admittance into the treetop lodge. I loved my stay at treetops, the view is amazing and on clear days you can even see the snowy peaks of Mount Kenya.

Adventure safaris

2009-08-16T10:35:00.003+03:00

Our friend has a visitor who’s on some exchange program from China staying at her house and she asked me for fun activities to do before she goes back. She’s done the usual wildlife safari, weekend at the beach and now she’s looking for some adventure. I had the perfect place in mind. Bungewalla.
Bungewalla is a site on the banks of Tana River which is near Nyeri town about 95kms from Nairobi that offers camping, white water rafting and last but definitely not least bungee jumping. Now what can be more adventurous than jumping off a tall structure while connected to an elastic cord? It is the only bungee jumping site in Kenya and I recommend it every time to all adventure seekers. Adrenaline enthusiasts can get a fix jumping off the 60 meter high steel tower into the river below. As if that’s not quite enough you can go white water rafting afterwards.
I don’t just recommend places I know nothing about. I’ve actually bungee jumped and all I can say is it was an experience to remember. It is totally safe and the guy who runs it is really friendly and helpful – he’ll push you off if you chicken out :) no really he is nice. Bungewalla rigorously conforms to standards and guidelines governing jumps therefore it is totally safe. There are ankle attachments and body harnesses as backup so there’s nothing to worry about.
I hope she does take my advice and go bungee jumping. There is something for everyone in Kenya from relaxing seaside holidays to adrenaline pumping safaris.

Kenya's wildlife in steep decline

2009-08-08T03:08:00.003+03:00

A recent study has shown a decline in the wildlife population in Kenya due to the issues of co-existence with humans and climate change. I'm sure this problem is not unique to Kenya especially with the growing population sizes as a result of an increase in life expectancy, whereas the land mass remains static with some uninhabitable areas due to the effects of global warming. This is a serious matter that needs to be looked into, as the Maasai mara is central to the tourism industry. What is the Kenyan government and the Kenyans doing to protect their wildlife? For one, I don't understand the statement ""One of the problems is that the pastoralists own the land but the government owns the wildlife," - I thought the land is protected and so where does ownership come in?

You can read the whole article at: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/04/22/kenya-wildlife.html

Mombasa

2009-07-31T08:49:00.002+03:00

I second Ben’s sentiments on how awesome the coast is. I remember the first time we went there as a family. I was 5 years old and I was so excited I ran away from the hotel room and slept by the beach. Just kidding, I wasn’t such a creative kid. But I enjoyed that vacation so much I’ve been back to the coast countless times.
Mombasa, the largest town on the coast, is Kenya’s second largest city and a coral island located on the eastern coastline bordering the Indian Ocean. Mombasa is ideal for quiet vacations, deep-sea fishing, and water sports activities such as scuba diving and sailing.
There are numerous things to do in Mombasa. Those looking for a relaxing holiday can choose from the numerous beach front hotels and villas. The more adventurous tourists can go snorkelling, deep sea fishing, scuba diving or sailing. Mombasa has beautiful coral reef and marine life making diving and snorkelling an experience not to be missed. There are glass bottom boats at the Mombasa Marine and National Reserve that can be used to view the marine life for those who do not want to dive or snorkel. The sight of multicoloured fish and similarly coloured corals is breathtakingly beautiful.
The history of Mombasa is amazing too; due to its strategic position numerous nations hustled to dominate it in the past. Arab traders occupied Mombasa and their influence is greatly felt with the Swahili culture (a mix of Arabian and African culture) being formed. The Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama ousted the Arabs and conquered Mombasa for a while and during that reign a monumental fort (Fort Jesus) was built. Fort Jesus is now a major tourist attraction with a museum displaying different antiquities. The old town is a part of Mombasa highly dominated by the Swahili culture. The narrow streets and shuttered houses with open fronted shops with smells of spices wafting through are typical of the old town. It is possible to buy African sculptures, jewelery and spices here. It is not surprising to see beautifully carved doors around the town.
All in all Mombasa has lots to offer for the discerning tourist.

The Kenyan Coast

2009-07-24T12:19:00.002+03:00

As you may have noticed, this comes as my very first post on the blog. Don't get me wrong, I am not reneging on my responsibility as a contributor, just that I felt that I needed to get my thoughts in order before putting up something for the rest of the world to see.

I am not a taveller you know,I never really saw the big deal in moving from one place to another (It is a bit hard to remove a man from his comfort zone),until I went to the Coast for the first time ever during the Easter holidays and it blew my mind away. If you have never been to the Kenyan Coast, then you are missing out on one of the best places you could ever visit in Africa. The sandy beaches, the friendly people, and not forgetting to mention the local food that will leave you looking forward to every Easter holiday. There is a wide variety of top notch 5 star hotels to choose from as well as fully furnished villas suited to meet your comfort needs.
If you are looking for a place to sit back and unwind from office deadlines and rather erm demanding bosses, then the Kenyan Coast is the place to be.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with any of us if you would like to explore the marvels that it has to offer.

"20 years from now you will be disappointed by the things you didnt do than by the things you did..so sail away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds for your sails..explore! dream! discover!"

The Big 5

2009-07-22T12:05:00.006+03:00

Kenya is considered the world’s capital of safaris due to its numerous wildlife parks and the huge amounts of wild animals roaming these parks. There are 5 wild animals in particular that are very popular and are commonly referred to as the BIG FIVE. The members of the big five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and not their size and they consist of the Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and the Rhinoceros. I've highlighted some facts on the big 5.

Lion (Simba in Swahili)
I think lions are symbolic of the African wild. Don’t believe me, just watch the crowds that gather around these big cats when they are spotted in a national park. Lions are the only cats that live in groups, called prides. Female lions do all the hunting while the males rule the groups. Lions prey on grazing animals such as gazelles, zebras or wildebeest. Since most of the animals are faster than the lionesses they hunt as a team. Lions prefer hunting at night but are also active during the day.

Leopard (Chui in Swahili)
The leopard is the most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores. Leopards are basically solitary and go out of their way to avoid one another and any encounter may result in a fierce fight. Leopards are also the strongest climbers of all the large cats and are capable of killing prey larger than itself and dragging it up a tree. Lions and hyenas will take a leopards kill if they can so the dragging of prey up a tree is done so that the leaopards can feed in relative safety. The all-black variation of the leopard (called a black panther) has been spotted in the forested regions of Kenya, but never on the plains.

Elephant (Ndovu)
The African elephant is the largest living land mammal, one of the most impressive animals on earth. It is distinguished by its high level of intelligence and complex social structure – they take care or weak, injured or orphaned members and seem to grieve over dead companions. Elephants have an amazing trunk that acts as a nose, hand, extra foot, signaling device and a tool for gathering food, siphoning water, dusting, digging and other functions. The elephant’s ears are huge and very useful. They use their ears to signal or warn when alarmed or angry and also use them to control body tempreture. Elephants are hunted for their tusks for ivory. Elephants can live up to 60 – 70 years of age and they usually die of malnutrition because they can’t chew properly after their teeth are worn out.

Buffalo (Nyati)
Buffaloes are large, heavy, cowlike animals. The buffalo live all across the country, in both the grasslands and the forested regions. Buffaloes have a bad reputation and are regarded as unpredictable and dangerous because they attack when cornered or wounded though if left alone they are usually placid. Buffaloes spend more time feeding at night than during the day. They seem to have a relatively poor ability to regulate body temperature and remain in the shade for long periods of time in the heat of the day, or wallow in mud.

Rhinoceros (Kifaru)
There are 2 species of rhino in Kenya, the black rhino and the white rhino. The white rhino's name derives means wide, a reference to its wide, square muzzle adapted for grazing. The black, or hooked-lipped, rhino, along with all other rhino species, is an odd-toed ungulate (three toes on each foot). It has a thick, hairless, gray hide. Both the black and white rhino have two horns, the longer of which sits at the front of the nose. The black rhino is usually solitary. The white rhino tends to be much more gregarious. Rhinos are also rather ill-tempered and have been known to charge without apparent reason. When attacking, the rhino lowers its head, snorts, breaks into a gallop reaching speeds of 30 miles an hour, and gores or strikes powerful blows with its horns. Still, for all its bulk, the rhino is very agile and can quickly turn in a small space. The rhino has a symbiotic relationship with oxpeckers, also called tick birds. In Swahili the tick bird is named "askari wa kifaru," meaning "the rhino's guard." The bird eats ticks it finds on the rhino and noisily warns of danger. Although the birds also eat blood from sores on the rhino's skin and thus obstruct healing, they are still tolerated.

Mt. Longonot

2009-07-19T19:15:00.002+03:00

I recently climbed a mountain. No small feat for this couch potato. Ok so Mt. Longonot is not the highest mountain in the world but it’s a mountain none the less. The highest point of the mountain is the rim of the caldera, which is about 3321 m above seal level. The climb took a toll on me (do not climb a mountain carrying those big handbags that fit everything plus the kitchen sink! And stay hydrated!!) but the scenery was worth it.

Mt. Longonot is protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service as part of Mount Longonot National Park. The mountain is the main physical feature of the national park hence the name Mt. Longonot National Park but this does not mean the park has nothing else going for it. For one it is approximately 85km North West of Nairobi so you can get to the park in two hours from the capital city, climb the mountain and be back in time for lunch!

The park is also home to various species of wildlife notably zebra, giraffe, elands, thompsons gazelles, grants gazelles, guinea fowls, buffaloes and at least 400 different species of birds. We actually saw some buffalo and zebra while climbing the mountain.

Once at the top of the mountain we walked round the rim. A forest of small trees covers the crater floor, and small steam vents are found spaced around the walls of the crater. It is such a beautiful sight. I recommend visiting Mt. Longonot National Park to anyone. We left the hustle and bustle of the city for a few hours, climbed a mountain, saw some wildlife and had an amazing picnic without breaking our bank accounts or driving for hours.

Next challenge: climbing Mt. Kenya maybe? I hear it’s an excursion unlike any other…

Kenya

2009-07-12T17:25:00.000+03:00

Kenya is an extraordinary country, and I’m not just saying this because I’m Kenyan. Where else would you get dazzling white beaches, wildlife reserves busting at the seams with animals all year round and snow capped mountains that lie on the equator! We even have a national park in the middle of a major city!

Kenya may be famous for its athletes who dominate major marathons, its coffee that’s exported to all corners of the world but most of all I think Kenya is famous for it’s wildlife national parks and reserves. Some of the national parks in Kenya are Aberdare, Amboseli, Buffalo Springs, Chyulu Hills, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo, Meru, Mount Kenya, Mount Longonot, Shaba and the Maasai Mara.

The Maasai Mara is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World. That is the wildebeest migration and it happens around this time (July – October) every year. The wildebeest migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania into the Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of greener pastures. The migration is spectacular and driving in the midst of these herds is an experience you do not want to miss. The migrating herds attract predators such as lions, hyenas, cheetahs. If you want your own real live discovery channel then the Maasai Mara game reserve is unparralled.

Game is best viewed in the morning or in the evening when the animals come out to hunt. If you are lucky, at most major national parks you might just see lions attack and feast on their prey. If you love birds then there are plenty of bird species to be seen in most parks in Kenya. Whatever you like, I can assure you there is a place in Kenya with your name on it waiting for you to visit.

Maasai mara

2009-07-11T10:17:00.001+03:00

I was in Kenya a few weeks back and decided to visit the Maasai mara. Actually, I was accompanying a friend from Europe coz why would I go to such a tourist place having grown up in Kenya? Well I was wrong and so were those who made such snide comments like, "you've only been away for a short time and you're already acting like a tourist?" Let's just say they were very wrong, I had the time of my life.

Our journey started at about 9am from Nairobi by road (we were meant to leave at 6am but that's a story for another day). We stopped for some cheesy photos at the Great rift valley which extends from the middle east to Africa and divides Kenya into east and west - truly spectacular. We also had a good view of mount Longonot (dormant volcano) as we haggled with hawkers who saw a good opportunity to peddle us some of their wares. By this time I have to say my guest was highly impressed by the great scenery and was speaking excitedly ... louder than usual. Next we stopped at one of the small towns 'Mai Mahiu' for some R&R and to buy some Kenyan art. Loaded with an almost life size wooden carving of a maasai woman's head, carved fruit bowls and other paraphernalia, we then set out to our destination satisfied that we'd made a great bargain and oblivious of the adventure awaiting us.

We arrived at our beautiful and tastefully decorated tented camp at the maasai mara in time for a quick lunch before heading out for our first game drive. The unfenced national park was right next to some maasai villages (manyattas) ... apparently the maasais and the wildlife have some kind of an understanding, almost like a treaty???? Right at the beginning of the park, our experienced tour guide spotted a leopard resting on a tree branch. We spent the next few hours watching the animals in awe. Apart from the elusive rhino, we managed to spot 4 of the big 5 (Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo) plus many antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, ostrich etc. Our experienced guide had more than 30 years experience as a tour guide and knew his animals well. He was also an avid photographer and took us to areas where we could take the best picture shots. Did I mention how we shamelessly spent 1 hour following a lion and lioness that were about to mate? To our disappointment, they turned out to be a bit shy and we had to give up this noble ambition.

After sunset, we went back for a nice meal and some tuskers (arguably the best beer in Africa;). The nights were quiet apart from the occasional growl in the dark that punctuated the stillness. At dawn, we'd wake up to the sound of birds chirping and the smell of fresh dew. That was the best sleep I have had in a long time, lights off at 9pm, no music, no radios and most of the times no mobile phone network coverage.

On day 2 of our safari, we were out by dawn to go watch the sun rise and 5 minutes into the game drive, spotted a pack of cheetahs. The following day we went on a drive to the Tanzanian boarder to watch the wildebeest migrate to Kenya in search of greener pastures (wildebeest migration happens between July-October).

Overall, we had a fantastic time and how could I forget the hospitality of the maasai people ... welcoming tourists into their manyattas for a little fee and energetic children running after the vehicles wearing big smiles and waving furiously.

Would I go back? Yes, yes, yes, yes.

So, if you've not been on safari, you are missing out big time.

About Us

2009-07-07T11:40:00.001+03:00

This blog is for anyone who's been bitten by the travelling bug. Anyone who wants to see the world, especially the motherland (Min) Africa. All the blog authors are born and bred in Kenya, East Africa so we believe we have the authority to act as consultants and help you plan the ultimate safari. Nothing is too big or too small for us. Whether you want to see some wildlife, just hang around dazzling white beaches or experience the nightlife in the capital city, we can arrange it. Through this blog we hope to connect anyone and everyone to different travel destinations in Kenya. Thank you for dropping by we hope you find what you are looking for. Do not hesitate to leave a comment, ask a question or contact us.
Karibu (welcome in Swahili)