It’s the perfect place from which to explore the area: there are many interesting things to see, beaches to relax on and beautiful nature reserves to visit.

There is a vibrant mixture of cultures, architecture and entertainment. Mombasa is a At the Shimba Hills National Reserve, you will encounter a lovely forest setting with elephant, leopard and the rare, sable antelope.

Towards the south, there are a number of beaches and resort hotels. The beaches are white and sandy with coral reefs to delight scuba and skin divers. On the pleasant Shimoni Island and Wasini islands there is authentic Swahili culture and a protected marine reserve.

North of Mombasa there are also several beaches like Nyali, Bamburi, Shanzu, Kikambala and Vipingo that are well-worth a visit. It is here that you will find the exotic town of Kilifi, home to artists and adventurers from all over the world.

Where to Eat

Fresh seafood and local cuisine are on the menu at many places in Mombasa. If you are downtown, try the Blue Room. Light lunch and ice cream grace the expansive menu for a budget price. Fine dining at Tamarind Mombasa is the best on the island. View the old harbor while enjoying lobster and fresh seafood.

Eat at an outdoor restaurant in the heart of Mombasa. Mubin’s offers popular fare in Africa including barbequed beef and chicken. If meat isn’t typical on your menu, try the salads at Mubin’s.

The word “safari“ means “journey” in Swahili and a visit to this beautiful country is indeed that. The history of Kenya is both long and diverse from its beginnings as a grazing land for Nilotic tribes such as the Masai, to the country as it is now, a peaceful and beautiful land.

Spanning across the last 30 or so years, the tourism industry has steadily grown both in its size but also in its diversity. With it ease of access to such wonderful parks as the Masai Mara and Amboseli for safari , it also offers plenty of alternative trips such as golf breaks and horse riding. Sadly though, through overcrowding and a rush to tourism, with the finance that safari brings, the country has also managed to gain a poor reputation for overcrowded parks and beach hawkers. Over the last decade, however the advent of responsible tourism and community management has re-aligned the balance away from numbers and back to quality.

Kenya remains, as ever, one of the places to visit in Africa for three principle reasons. The people, who are the most welcoming and friendly you will meet. The scenery, which ranges from the dramatic semi-desert in the north to the rolling hills and greenery of the highlands to the dramatic sweep of the Rift Valley floor and the Mara in the south. Finally, the game, with the Migration visiting the southern plains in August to November and the grevy’s zebra and oryx upon the Laikipia Plateau, there is an abundance throughout.

The shaggy, coarse coat is reddish brown to grizzled grey in colour, darkening with age.  Facial markings are composed of a white muzzle, lighter eyebrows and insides of the ears, while there is a cream-coloured ‘bib’ on the throat.  The most conspicuous feature of this antelope is a large white ‘halo’ or hollow ring which surrounds the base of the tail on the rump.

The body is heavyset, and the strong legs are black in colour.  The heavily ridged horns are found only in males and sweep in an arc backwards and upwards, with the tips pointing forwards.  They grow 55-100 cm / 1.6-3.3 feet long.

As it name would suggest, the waterbuck is a good swimmer and flees into water if pursued, although it is reported that they do not actually like going into water.

At 7-9 months, males are driven from their maternal family and join up with a bachelor herd.  These groups have a distinct social hierarchy based on size and strength, and contests are frequent.  Around 6-7 years, males become territorial, staking out areas of 150-625 acres and defending them against mature rivals with posturing and fights.

These territories are maintained throughout the year, and a male is generally overthrown before he reaches 10 years of age.  Only about 5-10 % of mature males are territorial at the same time.  Female groups wander over a home range of 200-600 hectares, which may be kept for up to 8 years and encompasses several male territories.

Female spotted hyenas are dominant over the males and outweigh them by about 3 pounds. It is difficult to distinguish between the sexes in the field because external female genitalia have a superficial similarity to those of the male. Why the female hyena developed in this manner is unknown, but it may have been necessary for them to appear large and strong to protect their young from males, as hyenas have cannibalistic tendencies.

Habitat

Spotted hyenas are found in grasslands, woodlands, savannas, subdeserts, forest edges and mountains.

Behavior

Spotted hyenas are organized into territorial clans of related individuals. The center of clan activity is the den, where the cubs are raised and individuals meet. Hyenas mark and patrol their territories by depositing a strong-smelling substance produced by the anal glands on stalks of grass along the boundaries. “Latrines,” places where members of a clan deposit their droppings, also mark territories. Hyenas are social animals that communicate with one another through specific calls, postures and signals.

Hyenas usually bear litters of two to four cubs, which, unlike the other two species, are born with their eyes open. Cubs begin to eat meat from kills near the den at about 5 months, but they are suckled for as long as 12 to 18 months, an unusually long time for carnivores. This is probably a necessity, as most kills are made far from the den, and hyenas, unlike jackals and hunting dogs, do not bring back food and regurgitate it for their young. At about 1 year, cubs begin to follow their mothers on their hunting and scavenging forays. Until then, they are left behind at the den with a babysitting adult.

Diet

The spotted hyena is a skillful hunter but also an opportunistic scavenger. It consumes animals of various types and sizes, carrion, bones, vegetable matter and other animals’ droppings. The powerful jaws and digestive tract of the hyena allow it to process and obtain nutrients from skin and bones. The only parts of prey not fully digested are hair, horns and hooves; these are regurgitated in the form of pellets. The high mineral content of the bones hyenas consume make their droppings a highly visible, chalky white.

Hyenas have long conflicted with human populations. African legends and folklore associate the hyena with witchcraft and the supernatural. Like many predators, hyenas become targeted when they take livestock for prey.

“Back then things looked so good that we made additional investments in anticipation of a bumper year in 2008,” reminisces Lacty de Sousa, general manager of an international tour company.

Among other things, his company bought eight new land cruisers to meet the peak New Year season demand in 2008. These stand idle, parked outside his office.

All tour plans were shattered when catastrophe struck on the penultimate day of 2007.

After many years of a smooth political transition, having passed peacefully through a contentious constitutional referendum in 2005, and estimated economic growth of six to eight percent-to which tourism is the third largest contributor-Kenya suddenly plunged into a two-month long period of uncertainty.

Most tourists booked for that period did not arrive or diverted to some other destination. Those already in the country left.

Thanks to former United Nations chief Kofi Annan’s intervention, political rivals decided to mend fences soon and by the middle of 2008 the industry had recovered slightly. But it was still down by 32 percent against the same period in 2007. Hundreds of lodges and hotels remain closed. Many more Kenyans have lost their jobs.

But de Sousa argues that, rather than last year’s political violence, the bleak outlook in 2009 is more due to the global financial meltdown and Kenya’s inability to market itself.

“Not even one foreign tourist was hurt or touched in the post-election violence. The country has regained a semblance of stability and remains a hospitable place for foreign tourists. But not many of them are taking holidays, in any case, as the financial crisis restricts their mobility.”

The worst-hit by this, he says, are those at the bottom of the tourism industry’s chain-waiters, drivers, bartenders, guides -who lose often the only means of subsistence for them when they lose their jobs.

Given this dismal picture, it was puzzling to find at Christmas and New Year that almost all the main lodges and resorts were fully booked. Surely, the tourists have come back!

Julie Hamon, a marketing executive from Paris, was on the last flight from France that landed at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport on December 30, 2007 before violence engulfed Kenya and tourism came to a virtual halt.

She, like hundreds of others planning to spend their New Year holidays in Kenya, was never able to leave the airport and diverted to other destinations. This year she’s back again.

“Nobody had foreseen what happened last year. But it seems to be an aberration and I find Kenya as hospitable to foreigners as ever,” she tells IPS.

Other signs, such as failed attempts to make reservations at any of the better known safaris and hotels and ever-rising transport and accommodation charges, also point to the fact that tourists are coming back.

In the third quarter of 2008 more than 5.65 million tourists arrived in Kenya and the numbers are likely to be even higher for the November 2008-January 2009 period. But tour operators argue it does not as yet represent a full recovery.

Other than the unmatched beauty of Kenya’s safaris and mountain and beach holiday resorts, its public culture of hospitality guarantees that tourists stay for longer. Having said that, The country’s image as a peaceful place was badly dented and then the global economic recession hit us, so the industry is in special need of an enabling regulatory framework – of pro-tourism government policies.

The country offers iconic tour destinations such as the legendary plains of Serengeti, the geological marvel that is the Ngorongoro Crater and Africa’s highest peak the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro. To top it up this it hosts the famous wildebeest migration.

These are the destinations that get hundreds of thousands of people each year to go on an African safari.If you are looking for some of the wildest areas of African wilderness you will find it here at the selous game reserve considered the largest game reserve in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

African safari Wildlife aside, Tanzania also boasts of great African beaches. Zanzibar only recently voted Top 10 beaches of the world by the UK’s Guardian News paper is the jewel of the east-African coast and perhaps the best-kept secret in the Indian Ocean with coconut palms and powder soft coral sands washed by shimmering clear seas but there is more with the islands of Pemba and Mafia, part of the Zanzibar Archipelago. You can walk down the streets and alleys of Stone Town, a world heritage site, and feel as though you’ve been lost in time. Zanzibar island is only 50 miles long but full of variety. One can visit the ruins of the palaces created by the Sultans of Oman or tour the breathtaking coast and oh yes it is possible to swim with the dolphins.

Within the space of just a few hours, it’s actually possible to go from lazing on idyllic white sandy beaches to exploring moss-covered ruins of ancient Swahili city-states. From climbing the mist-covered slopes in the Southern Tanzanian Highlands to trekking through the barren landscapes around Ol Doinyo Lengai, guided by a spear-carrying Maasai warrior.

Although the country offers travellers an array of options, set against the backdrop of a cultural mosaic in close to 100 ethnic groups amicably rub shoulders with one another, most visitors often head straight for the famed northern wildlife-watching circuit and then unwind on Zanzibar’s beaches not knowing better because Tanzania has much more to offer anyone with the time and inclination to head off the beaten path.

For those seeking creature comforts our advice would be to stick to the northern safari circuit and Islands of Zanzibar with great roads and expensive resturants down south, and especially in the south and west of the country, you’ll soon find yourself well off the beaten path, surrounded by a Tanzania that’s far removed from Western civilization.

This beach resort in Kenya, East Africa has been heralded as the most comfortable and exciting voyage on the western seaboard of the Indian Ocean. With its 3 restaurants, 3 swimming pools, a professional diving school and its own Watersports Centre, Voyager Beach Resort really does have something for everyone.

Moored just 7km north of Mombasa, a short hop from the city’s international airport, this classic resort in the style of a ship, offers the ultimate high-value, action-packed family holiday – overlooking one of the most beautiful stretches of warm Indian Ocean water in the world.

Between beach activities you can pick up a few souvenirs in Kenya’s best coastal shopping arcade and, after watching the sunset, there’s the option of dancing the night away at the discotheque. Of course, one of the most popular activities is simply lazing on the beautiful beach.

Voyager Beach Resort offers a daily entertainment programme and family shows. The Adventurers’ Club is free of charge for children aged 4 to 12. The many activities available include making a splash on the wet, wild waterslides, taking part in the beach Olympics and snorkelling over fish-filled coral reefs.

There are some other accounts that mention Chinese ships of Zheng He’s fleet sinking near Lamu Island in Kenya in 1415. Survivors are said to have settled in the island and married local women.However, the authenticity of this story is disputed

Although the beaches near Lamu may be the best in all of Kenya, Lamu has not yet been over-developed, like Zanzibar. It still has the feel of a small town instead of a tourist trap.

As with any other town on the coast, or any in Kenya for that matter, remember to be considerate of the local’s beliefs. When sunbathing or in your hotel, it’s not so important, but when you’re in town, remember to dress conservatively, with tops that keep the shoulders covered, and skirts or pants that reach at least to the knees. Also, be aware that most people in Lamu and elsewhere on the coast do not want their picture taken. Always be considerate and ask permission first.

There are two towns: Lamu Town, the larger one, is where most of the official business takes place, and it has more shopping and hotels, but no beach. Shela is small, and can be more expensive at high season.

It makes sense to hire a local tour guide. These guides can get you prices 15-20 percent below anything you can negotiate on your own, and you are doing something to help the local economy, which is based entirely on tourism.

Although the best beach is in Shela, it’s worth spending some time in Lamu Town. Some of the island’s best food is found at the Seafront Cafe there. For about $5, the garlic crab is the best on the island.

Tourism is the major industry in Malindi. The city is exceptionally popular among Italian tourists. Malindi is served with a domestic airport and a highway between Mombasa and Lamu. The nearby Watamu resort and Gedi Ruins (also known as Gede) are located south of Malindi. The mouth of the Sabaki River lies in northern Malindi. The Watamu and Malindi Marine National Parks form a continuous protected coastal area south of Malindi. The area shows classic examples of Swahili architecture.

Kenya is fortunate to have an abundance of protected coral reefs and beaches (250 mi/420 km of the stuff). Malindi on what’s called the Coral Coast provides a very nice introduction to the area—there are surfing snorkeling deep-sea fishing and other water sports. The Malindi Marine National Park is protected and has fine beaches clear water and very colorful fish. Malindi, the second major city on the coast lies about 100 km north of Mombasa.

Malindi has been a Swahili settlement since the 14th century. Once rivaled only by Mombasa for dominance in this part of East Africa, Malindi has traditionally been a port city for foreign powers. In 1414, the town was visited by the fleet of the Chinese explorer Zheng He. Malindi’s ruler sent a personal envoy together with a giraffe as a present to China on that fleet.

The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama met Malindi authorities in 1498 to sign a trade agreement and hire a guide for the voyage to India, when he erected a still existent coral pillar. In 1499 the Portuguese established a trading post in Malindi which served as a resting stop on the way to and from India. A church dates from this era. The pillar stands to this day, though there have been calls by conservationists to take care of the pillar, since soil erosion might make the pillar fall into the ocean.

Many traditional buildings survive, including the Juma Mosque and palace on the beach, a stretch popular with tourists.

Solitary, arboreal and nocturnal, they are difficult to spot but can sometimes be seen sunning themselves from their favourite viewpoint. Their nocturnal lifestyle is probably a reaction to human pressures and hunting. In National Parks, large game reserves and remote areas they can be seen moving about more readily during the day. They like to drape themselves over tree branches or rest in caves to escape the midday heat.

Leopards living in golden grasslands have a light buff or tawny coat that is covered with dark, irregular circles called “rosettes,” providing excellent camouflage amongst foliage. In densely forested areas their colouring is much darker, almost black although their spots are still discernable in bright sunlight. Preferring riverine forests and rocky, dense bush, their adaptability has enabled leopards to exist in a wide variety of habitats as increasing human encroachment has forced them away.

In the Cape Province south of the Orange River, they have been largely eradicated by stock farmers except in rugged mountainous areas. The Cape Leopard that lives in the Cape mountain range is much smaller than its big cousins in the Limpopo region. Their diet is probably the contributing factor, consisting mostly of dassies and much smaller prey. Occasionally astonished hikers in the Cederberg mountains have been graced by the rare appearance of a wild leopard joining them at the fireside.

A life of seclusion is the way of the leopard and they tend to avoid one another. Highly territorial, their range overlaps that of their neighbours and they only tolerate a trespasser into its home turf to mate. Leopards mark their territory with urine and leave claw marks on trees. They are constantly on the move within their range and know each others location from these markings and their low, rasping calls.

Females have litters of two or three cubs after a gestation of about 100 days. Leopard cubs are kept hidden for the first 2 months and are suckled for at least 3 months. The mother takes them hunting when they are 4 months old and they may stay together as a family group for up to two years. As cubs are weaned they learn to hunt small animals. Leopards prey on a wide variety of creatures ranging from insects, rodents, birds, fish, dassies, monkeys and baboons to large antelope more than double their own body weight. Efficient and stealthy hunters, they may kill more than their immediate needs and ‘store’ their quarry in trees for several days. Only hyaenas rival the leopard in their readiness to gorge on rotten meat.