Kenya

Country Information:

The capital of Kenya is Nairobi. About 55 million people live in Kenya and the main languages are Swahili and English. Kenya is primarily Islamic, though there are smaller Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha’i populations as well as believers in traditional religions. The top exports are tea, cut flowers, refined petroleum, coffee, and legumes. Kenya’s time zone is 7 hours ahead of EST.

Jim’s Perspectives:

My father and I were fortunate to be able to travel together in a trip through Kenya in 1996. This is a haven for nature lovers and a huge tourist attraction because wildlife is found in such abundance. We started at the Mara River and Maasai Mara, which hosts an incredible array of wildlife. After traveling around the planet, and doing multiple safaris, the Mara is the best in the world!

Next up was Amboseli, with incredible wildlife such as lions, cheetahs, African elephants, rhinos, and buffalo roaming under the imposing Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak. 

Then off to Tsavo, one of the largest parks in Kenya. In the Tsavo there is a incredible variety of wildlife, from the “Big Five” to smaller mammals and birds. 

Lake Nakuru National Park was up next, and is home to millions of flamingos, warthogs, waterbuck, buffaloes, reedbucks, and the occasional leopard as well as White and Black Rhinos. 

The finale was The Ark, “Set in the heart of the Aberdare National Park, iconic and yes, quirky. The Ark overlooks a floodlit waterhole and salt lick, which attracts a host of awesome wildlife. Resembling and named after Noah’s Ark, The Ark comprises of three decks from which numerous balconies and lounges provide a superb location for wildlife to be seen.” I believe The Ark and the Maasi Mara are the finest safari destinations in the world.

 

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