The main industry of Kenya is tourism and the reason is not hard to find. The wildlife and natural beauty of the country is unrivaled. Plenty of the animal documentaries about African wildlife you see on cable TV are filmed in Kenya. Not least the masai mara with its vast savanna attracts many a TV crew wanting to stalk a herd of lions or follow the migration of buffalos.
Venturing to Kenya on your own as a tourist to explore the nature and wildlife yourself is fully possible too. As a tourist you will find plenty of safari companies ready to take you on gamedrives in the wilderness. Several services provide fulltime drivers and guides to let you explore with a local at your side. Further the hotel and camp facilities are rather magnificent by African standards.
Terror Threats in Kenya?
There are however a few safety precautions to have in mind when plotting a trip to Kenya.
You have most likely read about the terrorist attacks by islamist groups in Kenya. The most covered attack being the 4 day siege of the Nairobi shopping mall Westgate. In fact such attacks pose a very limited risk to visiting tourists, but you are advised to stay clear of the regions bordering Somalia, as those are prone to disturbances by terrorists. In Nairobi the neighborhood of Eastleigh is worth avoiding too. By locals it is called Little-Somalia and it has seen a disproportionate amount of minor attacks and skirmishes over the years.
In general though terrorism should not be a major concern in the planning of your trip. Instead consider the social makeup of Kenya. The income inequalities are massive and in fact Nairobi is the home of the second largest slum area in the world, Kibera.
Tourist Safety in Kenya
Given the poverty of many Kenyans you will obviously be seen as wealthy. Regardless if you consider yourself as such or not. Flashing your wealth is about the worst thing you can do. Leave your giant DSLR camera at the hotel when going to crowded areas and instead bring a small pocket camera. Do not show off stacks of dollar bills or walk around with an overfilled wallet in your back pocket. A bit of caution and display of modesty goes a long way in staying safe.
Walking alone at night is not advisable anywhere, but especially not on poorer areas. Speaking of poorer areas: Slum tourism is neither an appreciated activity or a safe way to spend your holiday. A wealthy westerner venturing into a slum area with his money belt, a camera and clothing that would finance any family there for a year is asking for trouble. Stay away from areas such as Kibera and the Kiberian slum. A selfie in front of a fallen apart hut not only makes you look like a fool on Facebook, it likely gets you mugged too.
Staying Safe On Safaris
Venturing away from the cities to actually have a look at the wildlife comes with new challenges. Some excellent areas for spotting wildlife such as the Nairobi National Park can be easily reached from a Nairobi hotel, but if you decide to go on more exotic safaris further away you will find the quality of hotels and B&Bs rapidly declining.
For such safari trips away from the bigger cities you are advised to hire a guide to drive you. The guide will know where to go, how to get there and how to deal with any arising problems. Leave your important papers and any cash you do not need on the trip behind in the hotel safe. Do bring a copy of your passport though at all times.
Inside the national parks you are basically only safe inside your car. A national park does not mean it is a form of zoo or safari park. It simply means it is protected from poachers by armed rangers and that nobody are allowed to build any structures there. The national parks belong to the wildlife inhabiting them. Among those inhabitants may be lions, leopards, hyenahs, rhinos and many other wonderful creatures. However, these are wild and extremely dangerous animals. If you leave your car and start walking around a national park on foot you are exposing yourself to grave danger. A lion is a master of hiding and a rhino is rather hard to outrun.
All of this is not meant to scare you off from a wonderful safari holiday in Kenya. Quite the opposite. The heart of Africa is pounding with exciting experiences to be explored. If you take some simple advice and use common sense it can easily be done safely. Have a great trip to Kenya!
Staying Safe As A Tourist In Kenya:
Do not flash your wealth.
Avoid slum areas.
Avoid regions bordering Somalia
Keep your valuables locked up
Use common sense!
For more in depth guides to Kenya, reviews of specific sights and locations, pictures and reports we recommend visiting Kenyan Moments.
Do not flash your wealth.
Avoid slum areas.
Avoid regions bordering Somalia
Keep your valuables locked up
Use common sense!
For more in depth guides to Kenya, reviews of specific sights and locations, pictures and reports we recommend visiting Kenyan Moments.
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