With the Indian Ocean lapping its coral-fringed coast and Mount Kenya rising from the middle of its extraordinarily beautiful natural environment, Kenya is one of Africa’s most rewarding countries to explore. Its diverse scenery, rich variety of wildlife and stimulating social tapestry – from traditionally dressed Maasai herders to sarong-wrapped Swahili fishermen – can keep travellers enthralled for months. The safari was invented here, and the infrastructure makes travel much easier than in most parts of the continent. Kenya is not all postcard-perfect – get into conversation and you’ll soon get a handle on its deep economic and social tensions, as exemplified by the violent ethnic clashes after the 2007 elections – but it takes some beating as a country to thrill and impress a first-time visitor to Africa. . .
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Links we like
Kenya Wildlife Service National parks information, including park accommodation bookings (doesn’t cover reserves).
Kwani? Kenya’s pre-eminent literary website.
Nation Group Several papers, including the Nation (the digital edition allows you to read the full paper), plus radio and TV.
The Rough Guide to Kenya News and updates from the author of the Rough Guide to Kenya, and the co-author of First-Time Africa.
Traditional music & cultures of Kenya Invaluable encyclopedia of text and music files.
Wildlife Direct Conservation network, including more than fifty blogs from the field in Kenya. Excellent resource and focus, chaired by Richard Leakey.
You Missed This Scurrilous and entertaining mix of inside scoops, rants and rambles, with a huge following.
This page last edited 9 June 2011 © Richard Trillo and Emma Gregg
First-Time Africa: know before you go 