The Kenyan Beauty Through Mombasa, Nairobi to Maasai Mara.

When it comes to tourism in Africa, Kenya emerges as one of the finest destinations to enjoy a holiday at any time of the year. Kenya as a country is also blessed with rivers, lakes, and oceans that provide an ecosystem for the marine creatures and wildlife to thrive well, the oceans also support sandy beaches along the coastline making it one of the attractive places to spend a holiday with family and friends. moreover, the place is also endowed with wildlife including the big five like the cape buffalo, African lions, African elephant, black rhinoceros, and African leopards all of which are distributed in more than one National park. Among the most famous national parks in Kenya include the Maasai Mara National park, Amboseli and Tsavo National parks.

According to an annual attractiveness report published by Ernst and Young Associates of the Africa attractiveness Index released in 2017, Kenya ranked second most attractive foreign direct investment (FDI) destination. the report details why Kenya enjoys the benefits of strong economic growth and prospects with a significant improvement on infrastructure. On the other hand, Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city plays as the major economic hub for businesses in Africa, serving as the commercial nerve center of the country offering its citizens and outside investors a variety of business opportunities. Kenya is also an agricultural country, comprises of trade in agricultural products, real estate industries, tourism, and export and import of economic goods. The business community of Nairohasave also established relationships and trade links with countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. For instance, the recent opening of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will connect a distance of about 485km from the Indian ocean to Nairobi offering an opportunity for more business to thrive in the country. The SGR has also come as a relief to the many entrepreneurs who will now have an easy time while transporting cargo from Mombasa to hinterlands using the freight train. Perishable and fragile cargo are now easy and cheap to transport from Mombasa to Nairobi and vice versa unlike when using vehicles for the same purpose.

Nairobi is also the largest contributor to the economy of the country. Nairobi alone contributes 60 percent of Kenya’s GDP making it the largest contributor in the country’s economy The Majority of companies operating in Kenya have their headquarters located in Nairobi. This including the United Nations, embassies, international organization and non-profit and multi-national companies. The liberal markets and reliable infrastructure, including a stable market and relative peace, have allowed for businesses to thrive in the country. The government has also been a large supporter of multisector business growth in the country. Moreover, the government has also been on the front line in encouraging small business sector as well as protecting their established entrepreneurs from too much taxation and other unfair policies. When it comes to modern tourism, Nairobi is the only city in the world with a National Park located within the precincts of a capital city, having been established in the year 1946, the park gives its visitors the opportunity to indulge in pure safari at the footsteps of a major urban center. The Park itself is a symbolization of what Nairobi was in the last 100 years before the country gained independence. Despite being a preserved ecosystem for the rich history of Kenya, Nairobi National Park also acts as a tourist’s attraction receiving tourists throughout the year, both local and international tourist come here to view wildlife in its natural habitat. It has also contributed greatly to the Kenya’s tourism and hospitality industry as one of Nairobi’s most important revenue earner. Other sectors including, hotels, various tour firms and airline agencies that have also increased as a result of tourism activities within the city. With emerging restaurants, neighborhoods and new markets, Nairobi is fashion forward and a prime place for smart, savvy, professionals, artist and entrepreneurs looking for a home base. The place is also still growing, and there are so many resources not fully realized, hence the call for more investment and investors into the coutnry.

Kenya is also a country with diverse ethnic groups making Kiswahili and English as the official national languages for communications. Being the fact that there are many different ethnic groups, each and every ethnic group has its own different and unique culture and heritage different from others, these cultures can, of course, be demonstrated in different forms including, language, food, music, and dance and ceremonies. The different ethnic communities can also be identified through its different cousin ranging from foods like ugali (cornmeal mash), rice, Matoke (plantain banana stew), Pilau (spiced rice), Omena (silver cyprinid), and fresh vegetables and fruits.

Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the most popular destinations in Africa and globally, geographically, the place is situated in the great rift valley cutting across the planes of Narok county extending all the to Tanzania border. Maasai Mara is home to numerous wildlife including the big five, it is also home to what we could call the seventh wonder of the world where more than 2 million wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras cross river Mara to Maasai Mara. Kenya and Tanzania are the only countries with such a massive migration of wild animals in the world. It is also home to many other species of mammal, reptile, amphibians, and birds.

Kenya as a country is made up of wonderful and beautiful destinations cutting across the whole country. When using a car for transportation, it takes about five to six hours of traveling from Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Park. However, there is also the option of flying which normally takes 45 minutes covering the same distance of about 260km. the fact that Kenya is an agricultural state, tourists are able to enjoy watching the beautiful plantations covering most parts of the country while on their way to Narok by road. Tourist can also get to enjoy other activities like game drive, bird watching, and campsite at the Narok county. From here tourist can then get to Maasai Mara National Park for other leisure activities. Although the place has no oceans and lakes, tourist can always head to Mombasa for sand basking and as well as participating in marine games like motorboat riding, swimming, and sailing. The distance from Maasai Mara to Mombasa is approximately 775km, a distance traveled for about 15 hours and 30 minutes by road. In Mombasa tourists can get to enjoy the different kinds of seafoods and drinks spiced with the coconut juice, they can also visit the pre-historic site like the Fort Jesus, Gede ruins Lamu Fort and Vasco da Gama pillar.

Mombasa also boasts of beautiful beaches including the likes of Nyali Beach, Diani Beach, Watamu among many others. It also hosts several game parks like the Haller Park and Mombasa Marine Park where different wildlife like zebras, giraffes, hippos, and buffalo are found. The beauty of Kenya is just astonishing and tourists who come to Kenya occasionally makes a return trip like me.