4 Myths That You Can Dispel and Travel Kenya Safely

You you should not will need to be fearful to go on safari. When CNN described Kenya in 2015 as “a hotbed of terrorism” it termed attention to some ridiculous myths that have to be prevailing to avoid travellers coming to Kenya. I want to deal with some of these myths to support put your intellect at ease and sense self-confident to experience that bucket checklist safari you’ve got generally wanted. This would not be a advertising spiel I live in Kenya so I know the very good, the poor and the unappealing and will share all of it with you.

Fantasy 1: Kenya is whole of terrorists
CNN’s description of Kenya was outlandish to say the least. Kenya experienced several terrorism incidents throughout 2013 and 2014, the most notable of which was the attack on the Westgate Buying Centre. Most of the functions ended up a lot more compact scale nonetheless – grenades thrown into bus stations, church buildings and nightclubs. Two main attacks transpired in April 2015 at Garissa University and January 2019 at the DusitD2 advanced. Al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda-affiliated group from Somalia, are reported to be the key offenders.

Sad to say right now, terrorism occurs in all places and any where. In the past 5 years we have noticed assaults in Paris, Sydney, Brussels and Istanbul. But travellers nonetheless flock to these spots.

Fifty million people today endure each individual working day in Kenya, so your chances are pretty fantastic that you will arrive out alive. Kenyans want peace as substantially as the future individual. In addition, the elements of Kenya you, as a traveller, would be frequenting are not terrorist targets – there have been no assaults on any countrywide parks or activity reserves to day. There is a terrorist risk near the Somali border and in areas of Nairobi.

The present-day journey advisory from the Australian governing administration is that only some spots are dangerous, not the total country. And the perilous parts never maintain much curiosity to the average safari-goer.

Fantasy 2: Nairobi is “Nai-robbery”
A ten years ago carjacking, armed robbery, and mugging ended up reasonably widespread in Nairobi, earning the town the nickname “Nai-robbery”. But just one mayor did a large amount of do the job with the street boys and at present Nairobi is just as secure (or dangerous) as any other significant town in the entire world. Expatarrivals.com claims that criminal offense in Nairobi is “opportunistic, unsophisticated, similar to other environment capitals.” The criminal offense price has lessened just about every calendar year considering that 2012 according to Regular Digital.

I have lived in Nairobi for 5 decades now and I have by no means been physically attacked. A single night, my cell phone was snatched – but I was strolling in the metropolis centre in the night by yourself speaking on my cellular phone it was entirely my fault. Even so, everybody who saw the thief chased him and I acquired my phone again! Nairobians them selves are fatigued of crime in their metropolis, in particular to foreigners due to the fact they you should not want travellers to have a terrible encounter of Kenya

Myth 3: Corruption is rife and foreigners are targeted mainly because they are imagined to have additional income
I can not say that corruption is not rife. It is, but as a tourist you are unlikely to encounter it. If you e book a comprehensive offer safari, there will be tiny option for law enforcement or any other formal to talk to you for a bribe. Travelers are not often specific. Foreigners are not an quick goal due to the fact we are likely to talk to far too numerous thoughts and do not constantly have an understanding of what is truly taking place. It can be not in our pattern to slip some income in the door tackle for the traffic policeman for case in point. Expatriates who participate in corruption signifies criminal offense continues unpunished and Kenya’s development remains stymied. The phrase “When in Rome… ” ought to not utilize to bribery and corruption.

President Kenyatta suggests the proper points about cleansing up Kenya’s corruption, but it is going to acquire a enormous shift. However it really is surely not a reason to stay away from a Kenyan safari!

Fantasy 4: Tour operators are dishonest and you will drop your dollars if you pay out in progress
Of course, there are some briefcase companies, but in this age of the online you can unquestionably do your individual because of diligence and avoid remaining cheated. There are a great deal of assessment web sites online and a lot of make it possible for you to speak to reviewers immediately to check with about their practical experience. Use Vacation Advisor, do your study, examine the prices.

The tourism industry has suffered tremendously the past 10 years (because of to the myths I am crafting about in this article!) and tour operators have been desperate just to make a sale. But if park expenses are bundled in your offer, test that the whole value can protect all those expenses. For example, it is $80 for a 24-hour ticket to the Maasai Mara. So if you are scheduling a two-night safari to Maasai Mara for $200, you can do some uncomplicated maths and compute that $160 is for park fees, leaving only $40 for transport, accommodation and food stuff. Park charges are general public details so you can do some tough calculations. If it looks far too superior to be accurate, then it probably is! Possibly your operator is paying bribes at the park gate, or your car hasn’t been maintained, or your food will be substandard. Or you could get all a few! Be sure to, it does not enable Kenya’s combat in opposition to corruption to really encourage your tour operator to shell out bribes at the gate so you can get into the park cheaply.

The Kenyan Affiliation of Tour Operators and the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism are also doing work challenging to introduce measures to curb cheats.

Sensational media is destroying Kenya’s major business and the economic climate is struggling as a end result. So if an African safari is on your bucket checklist, look beyond the headlines and see Kenya for the remarkable nation it definitely is.