Kenya as a leading safari destination in the world. The attributes

Home of Authentic Wildlife Safari

Popularly known as the Home of Authentic Safari, Kenya prides itself as the home to Africa’s most iconic parks, conservancies, and game reserves which offer incredible natural beauty, soul-stirring cultural encounters, and sensational game viewing experiences. They include the World famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, the Tsavo East, and West National Parks, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park, Aberdare National Park as well as the Nairobi National Park- the only national park in the world within a Capital city.

From the thrills and spills of the Wildebeest Migration at the Maasai Mara, and Amboseli’s legendary elephant herds against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro to cultural encounters in Samburu, Kenya guarantees some of the most exotic, diverse, and breathtaking wildlife you will ever see. From the famous Big Five to wild animals that can only be found in this part of the world, Kenya will not disappoint. The best part of this is, you get to experience all these in the raw! You can see lions, cheetahs, zebras, gazelles, and a lot more animals in their natural habitat.

Topograhy

Kenya has scenery that knows no bounds. It features an unrivaled land of diversity and contrast. From vast savannah plains, gorgeous mountains, and intriguing woodlands to lush forests and hot deserts to turquoise seas, winding rivers, and beautiful white-sand beaches.

Conducive Weather

Being geographically located on the equator, Kenya’s temperature is pretty constant all year round making it conducive for travel. If you’re up for taking a break with your heavy winter clothes, fur coats, and layers, head on to Kenya to enjoy beautiful tropical weather. While here, you can enjoy long sunny days and stunning evenings under the stars.

Cultural Diversity

Kenya is also a country that hosts a variety of cultures and a fascinating blend of people. Here, you get to meet and immerse yourself in the diffrent cultures. The Maasai, Swahili, Samburu, Turkana, Pokot, and Rendille are some of the many tribes that you can see. What makes this more interesting is that you might be able to participate in some of their cultural traditions and ceremonies and get to learn their ways.

World-class Accommodation

The accommodation options in Kenya are as diverse and abundant as its wildlife. They range from child-friendly to romantic, budget to luxury, shared area to exclusive. Most facilities’ rooms are specially designed to ensure comfort, facilities are made available to warrant entertainment and relaxation, and safari tents are spaced far apart to give enough privacy.

If you are not into staying in the wild, a wide array of the continent’s finest 5-star hotels is at your disposal. If, on the other hand, you’d love to rough it out a little bit, Kenya also offers impressive camping sites. This way, you won’t only enjoy a star-lit evening in the bush but also get to sojourn with nature. Camping sites and lodges are situated in the most safari-centric locations.

KENYA IS WORLD’S LEADING SAFARI DESTINATION IN 2021
PRESS RELEASE
Kenya has continued to cement herself as a global champion in wildlife tourism after being named World’s Leading Safari Destination 2021 by World Travel Awards (WTA).

This announcement was made on 16th December during the WTA grand final winners’ day 2021 to celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

This is the 8th time in the last 9 years and 7th time in a row that Kenya is being recognised for this prestigious award at the annual global awards. The destination won the award in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 ,2020 and now 2021.
The category had nominees from great safari destinations such as Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kenya’s tourism marketing agency- Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) CEO, Dr Betty Radier termed the win as a testament to Kenya’s superior offering of the Safari product and experience.
“This recognition is an endorsement of Magical Kenya, known as home of authentic African Safari. Without a doubt this is well-deserved, and I believe that we shall get even better. We shall continue with our commitment towards preserving and showcasing to the world the unique wildlife heritage bestowed to our country for the sake of generations to come,” she said
Despite the challenges the destination has faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Radier underscored the resilience that has positioned Kenya as a preferred destination for tourists from across the world.
“Ours is to continue building on this product which has a lot of potential for growth. For example, now with the Magical Kenya Signature Experiences travellers have an opportunity to experience a foot safari or even track wildlife while on foot” added Dr Radier
Kenya has been steadfast in innovating ways of showcasing her tourism products and making sure that more travellers are able to experience the destination. In 2020, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife launched a virtual live stream campaign to showcase game safaris in parks and reserves across the country. The campaign was broadcasted around the world as part of the Magic Awaits destination marketing
campaign. The activity was key in keeping the destination alive at the time when tourism activities were minimal.
In August of 2021, Kenya partnered with video sharing platform TikTok to showcase the great wildebeest migration and the Masai Mara. This ensured that people who were not able to travel to Kenya during the time had an opportunity to experience this spectacle
“Kenya is a rich and diverse country, with an incredible wildlife offering which we want to highlight as well as protect. Together with our partners we can now engage the world with content and experiences from any part of the country and drive more awareness of our country and wildlife, especially during this time when travel is limited with the aim of curbing the spread of the virus. Kenya Tourism Board is keen to ensure Magical Kenya remains top of mind among consumers” Commented Dr Radier
Kenya prides herself in having the best wildlife viewing destinations such the World famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, the Tsavo East and West National Parks, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park, Aberdare National Park as well as Nairobi National Park- the only national park in the world within a Capital city.
For a full list of winners visit here.
For more information about World Travel Awards, visit worldtravelawards.com, press release

UPDATES ON DESTINATION KENYA – DECEMBER, 2021
1. Conservation through branding
Kenya is activating its campaign on conservation of wildlife heritage through branding of KQ aircrafts flying into 41 destinations across the globe.
The partnership between the national carrier and Kenya’s tourism marketing agency Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has seen the branding of two KQ aircrafts; a Dreamliner and an Embraer with images of Kenya’s most iconic species creating visibility of the destination across the airline’s network.
The imagery features the last two northern white rhinos in the world at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the elephant Tuskers and lions from Amboseli National Park and the Tsavo National Park.
Kenya Airways has a zero-tolerance policy regarding Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) and has long supported wildlife conservation efforts to promote better protection of endangered wildlife and reduce demand for illegal wildlife products.
The designs on the airplanes are hinged on the conservation themes in Kenya with the Dreamliner having the last two northern white rhinos in the world (Najin and Fatu) on one side. Najin and Fatu live on Ol Pejeta Conservancy which is also the largest black rhino sanctuary in East and Central Africa and the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees.
On the other side is Tim, the most famous and iconic elephant that lived in Amboseli National Park for over five decades. Tim was one of the last remaining great ‘tuskers”. The Embraer will have Tim and the king of the jungle; a lion depicting the man-eaters of Tsavo. We hope that these images branded on the airplanes will help showcase Kenya’s diversity in wildlife, and the variety of
places to visit.
“Najin and Fatu, the last of their kind, represent the consequences of ignoring the importance of wildlife conservation. However, they also give a glimpse of hope – through the BioRescue northern white rhino recovery programme by Ol Pejeta Conservancy
2. Best Adventure destination
Magical Kenya has bagged the award for the ‘Best Adventure Destination’ at India’s Best Awards 2021, presented by leading publication – Travel + Leisure. Kenya’s win is attributed its wide range of adventure activities and experiences as well as wildlife safari product that has made the destination known as the Safari Capital of the world.
Maasai Mara in Kenya is home to over 100 species of mammals including the Big Five, and 450 species of birds and the Mara also hosts one of nature’s greatest spectacles—the Great Wildebeest Migration. Besides safaris, one can enjoy bush breakfasts, sundowners, horseback riding, and village visits. Over 45 other national parks and 100 conservancies offer sensational game viewing chances on thrilling hot-air-balloon flights, safaris, and hikes, or right from accommodation area. Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXLXBJQI5cT/
3. Kenya bags best Tourism Village Awards
Olergesailie village bagged the Best Tourism Village Award from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
The UNWTO’s pilot initiative recognized 44 villages from 32 countries that stood out for their natural and cultural resources as well as for their innovative and transformative actions and commitment to tourism development in line with the sustainable development goals or SDG.
The village is located inside Olergesaille conservancy, home to pre-historic site
https://www.unwto.org/news/unwto-announces-list-of-best-tourism-villages-2021
4. COVID UPDATE DECEMBER 2021
Advisory to Travelers
Kenya has made compulsory to ALL VISITORS arriving into the country effective December 21st, 2021 to have proof of vaccination. The same will apply to all Kenyans travelling outside the country. All inbound travelers coming to Kenya must be in possession of a VALID NEGATIVE COVID-19 PCR test certificate conducted within 96 hours before arrival into the country.
Kenya Crosses 8 million Mark in COVID-19 Vaccination
Kenya has crossed the 8 million mark in the COVID-19 vaccination exercise that targets to vaccinate over 10 million people by the end of December, 2021.
Hotels and other hospitality facilities have also recorded a 100% vaccination rate among its staff

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Positive outlook for domestic tourism in 2022

Next year could post good performances in tourism numbers as countries open up for travels after the outbreak of corona virus pandemic, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Travel and Tourism- Economic impact report.

Domestic travel growth  is “significantly” expected outpace global tourism as a whole and is expected to rise exponentially  in 2022, says the report.  The U.S. market is expected to recover faster than many other regions due to the “predicted rise in international and domestic spend in 2021, both jobs and GDP are expected to raise.

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Tourism visitor number records a 40% increase, as global travel picks up

Kenya has recorded a 40.8% growth in tourism numbers with 663,036 visitors in the period (January-October, 2021) compared to same period last year that recorded 470,971 visitors.

The US market recorded the highest arrivals into Kenya with 108,072 visitors contributing 16.3% of the total arrivals, Uganda is 2nd with 59,979 (9.0%), and Tanzania third with 58,946 (8.9%).

From Europe, the UK market in the 4^th position led with 34,121 (5.1). Others in the order of arrivals were India with 31,644 (4.8%), and China with 27,494 (4.1%).

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PRESS RELEASE

NEW LEISURE AIRLINE EUROWINGS DISCOVER COMMENCES DIRECT FLIGHTS TO MOMBASA.

• Lufthansa Group carrier launched very first commercial flight 4Y134 yesterday from Frankfurt, arriving today at 5:10 at Moi International Airport.
• Two weekly direct connections to Frankfurt operated by A330 on Thursdays and Sundays.

Mombasa, Sunday July 25^th, 2021: The Kenyan coast is set to receive more international tourists during the tourism peak season following the commencement of direct flights to the region by Eurowings Discover.

Eurowings Discover, the newest leisure airline within the Lufthansa Group, commenced its flights on the 24^th of July 2021 with two weekly flight services from Frankfurt, Germany to Mombasa, with onward flights to the region.

Speaking during the reception of the inaugural flight at the Moi International Airport Mombasa, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala said that the flight was a testament to the strides Kenya is making in the recovery of tourism activities, which were minimal due to restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. He noted that the Kenyan coast was a popular destination for European tourists adding that the flight would create a link between Kenya and European travellers.

“Kenya has been making great progress as a destination in attracting tourists from different markets and especially from Europe. This flight is yet another milestone in the recovery of activities in the country. The Kenyan Coast is especially showing great interest from tourists from across Europe and beyond. A few months ago, we received the first ever Romanian charter followed by another charter from Ukraine in Mombasa. The commencement of flights by Eurowings Discover will help us link with both Business and leisure clients from Germany and the region,” said CS Balala.

He further added that Germany and Europe remain to be a key source market for tourists with the potential of further growth with the new emerging younger consumers and the continued relations between Kenya and European countries. “With the emergence of new market trends and a new consumer segment, we have an opportunity to expand our markets and to reach the now younger and health-conscious clientele. We are using every opportunity to showcase our preparedness as a destination as well as improving our experiences and tourism destinations to remain competitive over other destinations. Europe is a market that offers us a different opportunity, with the vaccination of citizens, more people will be looking forward to travel and we want to be ready for this,” he added.

On her part the Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Hon Safina Kwekwe reiterated that government was working towards ensuring that a conducive environment that allows a vibrant air travel system and in the process support tourism activities. “This development also gives us hope and reassures us that people are eager to travel and experience the world yet again, as a destination we are working hard to ensure that we are ready to host tourists’ She added.

The Kenya Tourism Board CEO Dr Betty Radier welcomed the new Eurowings Discover flight to Kenya saying that it signalled the growing confidence in the destination by tourists in regards to preparedness against COVID-19 which has enhanced traveller confidence. She added that Eurowings Discover would offer a different opportunity to travellers who wanted to visit for both leisure and business. “Commencement of this direct flight to Mombasa by Eurowings Discover shows that the work we have been putting is bearing fruits which makes us immensely proud. We shall continue to market Kenya to the world to ensure that we tap into each available market. That said, this flight is a signal of this growth and confidence in Magical Kenya as a preferred destination globally “she commented.

With more countries vaccinating their citizens across the world and most beginning to relax their travel restrictions, there is an increased demand of people yearning to travel, relax and explore across the globe. This creates an opportunity for destinations to tap into this putting into consideration the need to reassure visitors of their health as well as offering different tourism opportunities. Airlines are also alert to ensure that they offer a variety of travel opportunities for their clients as travel resumes.

“Today marks an important milestone in our company’s history: not only is Mombasa the very first destination for our brand-new leisure airline, Eurowings Discover, but with this addition to our destination portfolio, we are further strengthening our footprint on the African continent for the Lufthansa Group. We believe that for many months now, people all over the world have been yearning to travel and experience different cultures and destinations once again. Thanks to favourable market reactions and booking trends, today we are proudly able to expand our East African network offering and once again express our continued commitment not only to the region, but to the African continent as a whole”, says Dr. Andre Schulz, General Manager Sales, Lufthansa Group, Southern & East Africa.

Flight Information (all times local)

4Y134 departs Frankfurt on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 19:35, arriving in Mombasa the following day at 5:10.

4Y135 departs Mombasa on Thursdays and Sundays at 11:00, arriving in Frankfurt at 18:40 the same day.

Operated by an Airbus A330-200, a total of 270 seats are available with 22 in Business Class and 248 in Economy Class.

About Eurowings Discover

Eurowings Discover is the new leisure airline of the Lufthansa Group. Operating out of Frankfurt, this new carrier takes travellers to the world’s most beautiful short and long-haul destinations. The mission of Eurowings Discover is to tailor the travel experience to the guests’ individual needs and to make the flight a special experience. As part of the Lufthansa network, travellers can benefit from direct connections and seamless transfers to and from all German and European Lufthansa destinations, as well as an end-to-end booking process.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the airline can draw on the expertise and experience of one of the world’s leading aviation companies.

Flights can be booked on both lufthansa.com and eurowings.com.

About Kenya Tourism Board (KTB)

The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is the government agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife charged with the responsibility of marketing Kenya Locally, regionally, and internationally as preferred tourist destination.

The boards core mission is to inspire the world to visit Kenya through effective marketing of the destinations tourism products while also enriching the lives of Kenyans and visitors alike.

Ends

Media Contacts

eurowingsdiscover@lufthansa-group.com

neda.jaafari@dlh.de

+49 69 696 2999

Wausi Walya | PR & Corporate Communications Manager KTB

DL: +254 20 2749129, +254 20 2711262

Fax: +254 20 2719925 wwalya@ktb.go.ke

www.magicalkenya.com, www.ktb.go.ke

Tea, flowers top farm tours experience in Kenya

Away from authentic wildlife safari Kenya is popularly known for, farm tours are increasingly becoming must tour experiences for visitors.

The expansive flower farms that have made Kenya among the leaders in cut flower exports, a complete ‘bush to cup’ tea and coffee experiences are possible options for unforgettable becoming a-must experiences in Kenya.

So next time you are planning a visit to Kenya, consider this in your bucket list

Tea caption

Kenya provides opportunity for both local and international visitors for educational journey of tea husbandry popularly known as ‘from the bush to the tea cup’.

Coffee Caption

Kenya grows Arabica coffee which thrives on the rich volcanic soil that is found in the Kenyan highlands. Most of the coffee is produced by small land holders that are members of cooperatives that process their own coffee. A trip will offer you an opportunity to experience coffee growing, processing as well as opportunity to purchase the product at the source

Flower captions

The favorable weather conditions combined with abundantly fertile soil especially in the highlands, Kenya is popular for quality roses.  For flower enthusiast, you cannot find anywhere better to learn on the management of this flower other than in Kenya.

Link

Farm Tours for Unforgetful Experience

Kenya’s diverse tourism products can be shown in Agro-tourism which we are marketing as one of the niche products.

Agro-tourism encompasses a wide range of agricultural activities ranging from organic farming that has created a ready market for its products internationally due to the health benefits tied to them. Kenya is a global leader in the production and exportation of quality agricultural products, including horticulture, coffee, and tea. This is a sector that attracts tourists who come to see the farms and plantations from which the products they love come from.

Horticulture is practiced in the expansive flower farms in Naivasha that make part of the statistics as leaders in cut flower exports, dairy farming in Limuru, fish farming in Central Kenya and other parts of the country, bee keeping, animal husbandry, coffee and tea farming-exports have maintained a lead in the international market.

The gapping opportunity in this market has given way to a number of tour operators who are now cashing in on this virgin but complex niche.

On agro-tourism excursion, tour operators visit farms with their clients, both large scale and small scale.  The farm offer tours that allow one to view for example the planting, harvesting, and processing of crops such as tea and coffee.

Agro-tourism is fast growing, and this will be much felt within counties as counties continue to identify their unique and distinct tourism products in which agro tourism has a major stake.

In Kericho, Southern part of Rift valley, Maranga and Kiambu in the Central region of Kenya for example, agro-tourism has been identified as one of the key attractions. The crop has attracted a number of tourists from across the globe with visitors from countries such as UK, Ireland, and China coming to sample various tea products on offer and get the opportunity to understand the benefits of tea from experts. Kenyan tea among other markets is popular in China and Ireland, United Kingdom with Pakistan being the being the largest market for Kenyan tea.

Coffee is also a key agricultural commodity in Kenya that attracts visitors from across the world who come to learn how the product is harvested, processed, and brewed. This helps visiting tourists appreciate the process it takes for them to enjoy a good cup of coffee. A number of farms in the country such as Fairview Coffee Estate in Kiambu County and Karunguru Estate Coffee Farm among others have ventured into this practice which is growing by the day. Coffee attracts tourists from countries such as China, Europe, Central Africa Republic, and Canada among others.

Additionally, the flower industry continues to be a key attraction with several farms opening up for farm tours. Some also show visitors the efforts they are making locally to protect the environment. Naivasha being a center of Kenya’s booming horticultural industry hosts many flower farms, some of which offer tours to visitors. Tourists from countries such as Japan, UK, Netherland and United States have come to Kenya to sample flowers.

These tours not only offer travellers the experiential travel they desire but also gives them a chance to learn about their key export products, sample and buy their own tea, coffee, and flower at the source.

Farm Tours for Unforgetful Experience

Kenya’s diverse tourism products can be shown in Agro-tourism which we are marketing as one of the niche products.

Agro-tourism encompasses a wide range of agricultural activities ranging from organic farming that has created a ready market for its products internationally due to the health benefits tied to them. Kenya is a global leader in the production and exportation of quality agricultural products, including horticulture, coffee, and tea. This is a sector that attracts tourists who come to see the farms and plantations from which the products they love come from.

Horticulture is practiced in the expansive flower farms in Naivasha that make part of the statistics as leaders in cut flower exports, dairy farming in Limuru, fish farming in Central Kenya and other parts of the country, bee keeping, animal husbandry, coffee and tea farming-exports have maintained a lead in the international market.

The gapping opportunity in this market has given way to a number of tour operators who are now cashing in on this virgin but complex niche.

On agro-tourism excursion, tour operators visit farms with their clients, both large scale and small scale.  The farm offer tours that allow one to view for example the planting, harvesting, and processing of crops such as tea and coffee.

Agro-tourism is fast growing, and this will be much felt within counties as counties continue to identify their unique and distinct tourism products in which agro tourism has a major stake.

In Kericho, Southern part of Rift valley, Maranga and Kiambu in the Central region of Kenya for example, agro-tourism has been identified as one of the key attractions. The crop has attracted a number of tourists from across the globe with visitors from countries such as UK, Ireland, and China coming to sample various tea products on offer and get the opportunity to understand the benefits of tea from experts. Kenyan tea among other markets is popular in China and Ireland, United Kingdom with Pakistan being the being the largest market for Kenyan tea.

Coffee is also a key agricultural commodity in Kenya that attracts visitors from across the world who come to learn how the product is harvested, processed, and brewed. This helps visiting tourists appreciate the process it takes for them to enjoy a good cup of coffee. A number of farms in the country such as Fairview Coffee Estate in Kiambu County and Karunguru Estate Coffee Farm among others have ventured into this practice which is growing by the day. Coffee attracts tourists from countries such as China, Europe, Central Africa Republic, and Canada among others.

Additionally, the flower industry continues to be a key attraction with several farms opening up for farm tours. Some also show visitors the efforts they are making locally to protect the environment. Naivasha being a center of Kenya’s booming horticultural industry hosts many flower farms, some of which offer tours to visitors. Tourists from countries such as Japan, UK, Netherland and United States have come to Kenya to sample flowers.

These tours not only offer travellers the experiential travel they desire but also gives them a chance to learn about their key export products, sample and buy their own tea, coffee, and flower at the source.

KENYA  AS A GOLFING DESTINATION.

Popularly known as the “Home of Champions” for producing world champions in athletics, Kenya has in the recent past stood out as the next golfing frontier in Africa.

Already, the destination has firmed up her position as a top golfing destination in Africa, boasting over 40 courses across the country and a growing local and international fan base.

In 2020, Kenya was named Africa’s leading Golf Destination by World Golf Awards, beating countries like Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa which are considered as the cream of Africa in golf. At the same awards, Karen Country Club situated in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi was declared as Kenya’s best golf course while the Great Rift Valley Country Lodge and Golf Resort located in Naivasha picked up the award for being the country’s best golf resort.

In addition to the well-manicured golf courses that boast international standards that offer players and fans alike a magical golfing experience, each year, Kenya hosts a number of major international tournaments and several local golf championships.

The annual Magical Kenya Open Championships is one of the competitions that have played a huge role in promoting the country as a golfing destination. This status was further boosted in 2021 after the European Tour added the Kenya Savannah Classic to its list of events for the year. The 72-hole stroke play event took place from March 23-26 at Karen Country Club in Nairobi and came just two days after the conclusion of the Magical Kenya Open, held at the same venue.

In 2019, Magical Kenya hosted the inaugural magical Kenya Ladies Open, Part of the Ladies European Tour. The event was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the covid-19 pandemic but the destination will be looking forward to hosting the event which will be held at the Baobab course at Vipingo Ridge from the 10th – 13th February 2022.

Golf sport and spin-offs Apart from offering a quality golfing experience, golfers also have a chance to explore numerous other products found close to the golf courses. The close proximity of Kenya’s top golf courses means that you can play golf in the morning, bask on a pristine white beach in the afternoon, and get up close and personal with an elephant at a waterhole in the evening.

A golfing holiday in Kenya would certainly be a memorable experience. Golfers can enjoy amazing trips after a round of golf. If you are in the Coastal region, a visit to the many historical attractions such as Fort Jesus and Mida Creek, game parks like Tsavo Game Park and the Mombasa Marine Park, combined with an evening relaxation at the beautiful sunbaked beaches of the Kenyan Coast would certainly be worth it.

If you happen to be playing at a golf course in the Rift Valley, a visit to destinations such as Lake Nakuru Game Park, Hell’s Gate National Park or a trek on Mt. Longonot would not disappoint. The lush green tea plantations found around Kericho Golf Club and Eldoret Golf Club would also offer scenery worth visiting. For those in the capital Nairobi and the green central highlands, there’s so much one can do after a round of golf from visiting the Nairobi National Park – which happens to be the only National Park situated in a capital city in the world, to the Giraffe Centre where you can dine with the giraffes and Karura Forest.

There is simply so much to explore and experience while in the country as you enjoy your golfing experience.

KENYA  AS A GOLFING DESTINATION.

Popularly known as the “Home of Champions” for producing world champions in athletics, Kenya has in the recent past stood out as the next golfing frontier in Africa.

Already, the destination has firmed up her position as a top golfing destination in Africa, boasting over 40 courses across the country and a growing local and international fan base.

In 2020, Kenya was named Africa’s leading Golf Destination by World Golf Awards, beating countries like Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa which are considered as the cream of Africa in golf. At the same awards, Karen Country Club situated in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi was declared as Kenya’s best golf course while the Great Rift Valley Country Lodge and Golf Resort located in Naivasha picked up the award for being the country’s best golf resort.

In addition to the well-manicured golf courses that boast international standards that offer players and fans alike a magical golfing experience, each year, Kenya hosts a number of major international tournaments and several local golf championships.

The annual Magical Kenya Open Championships is one of the competitions that have played a huge role in promoting the country as a golfing destination. This status was further boosted in 2021 after the European Tour added the Kenya Savannah Classic to its list of events for the year. The 72-hole stroke play event took place from March 23-26 at Karen Country Club in Nairobi and came just two days after the conclusion of the Magical Kenya Open, held at the same venue.

In 2019, Magical Kenya hosted the inaugural magical Kenya Ladies Open, Part of the Ladies European Tour. The event was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the covid-19 pandemic but the destination will be looking forward to hosting the event which will be held at the Baobab course at Vipingo Ridge from the 10th – 13th February 2022.

Golf sport and spin-offs Apart from offering a quality golfing experience, golfers also have a chance to explore numerous other products found close to the golf courses. The close proximity of Kenya’s top golf courses means that you can play golf in the morning, bask on a pristine white beach in the afternoon, and get up close and personal with an elephant at a waterhole in the evening.

A golfing holiday in Kenya would certainly be a memorable experience. Golfers can enjoy amazing trips after a round of golf. If you are in the Coastal region, a visit to the many historical attractions such as Fort Jesus and Mida Creek, game parks like Tsavo Game Park and the Mombasa Marine Park, combined with an evening relaxation at the beautiful sunbaked beaches of the Kenyan Coast would certainly be worth it.

If you happen to be playing at a golf course in the Rift Valley, a visit to destinations such as Lake Nakuru Game Park, Hell’s Gate National Park or a trek on Mt. Longonot would not disappoint. The lush green tea plantations found around Kericho Golf Club and Eldoret Golf Club would also offer scenery worth visiting. For those in the capital Nairobi and the green central highlands, there’s so much one can do after a round of golf from visiting the Nairobi National Park – which happens to be the only National Park situated in a capital city in the world, to the Giraffe Centre where you can dine with the giraffes and Karura Forest.

There is simply so much to explore and experience while in the country as you enjoy your golfing experience.

KENAYA  AS A LEADING SAFARI DESTINATION IN THE WORLD.

Popularly known as the Home of Authentic Safari, Kenya prides itself as the home to Africa’s most iconic parks, conservancies, and game reserves which offer incredible natural beauty, soul-stirring cultural encounters, and sensational game viewing

From the thrills and spills of the Wildebeest Migration at the Maasai Mara, and Amboseli’s legendary elephant herds against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro to cultural encounters in Samburu, Kenya guarantees some of the most exotic, diverse, and breathtaking wildlife you will ever see. From the famous Big Five to wild animals that can only be found in this part of the world, Kenya will not disappoint. The best part of this is, you get to experience all these in the raw! You can see lions, cheetahs, zebras, gazelles, and a lot more animals in their natural habitat.

Topography

Kenya has scenery that knows no bounds. It features an unrivaled land of diversity and contrast. From vast savannah plains, gorgeous mountains, and intriguing woodlands to lush forests and hot deserts to turquoise seas, winding rivers, and beautiful white-sand beaches.

Conducive Weather

Being geographically located on the equator, Kenya’s temperature is pretty constant all year round making it conducive for travel. If you’re up for taking a break with your heavy winter clothes, fur coats, and layers, head on to Kenya to enjoy beautiful tropical weather. While here, you can enjoy long sunny days and stunning evenings under the stars.

Cultural Diversity

Kenya is also a country that hosts a variety of cultures and a fascinating blend of people. Here, you get to meet and immerse yourself in the different cultures. The Maasai, Swahili, Samburu, Turkana, Pokot, and Rendille are some of the many tribes that you can see. What makes this more interesting is that you might be able to participate in some of their cultural traditions and ceremonies and get to learn their ways.

World-class Accommodation

The accommodation options in Kenya are as diverse and abundant as its wildlife. They range from child-friendly to romantic, budget to luxury, shared area to exclusive. Most facilities’ rooms are specially designed to ensure experiences. They include the

comfort, facilities are made available to warrant entertainment and relaxation, and safari tents are spaced far apart to give enough privacy.

If you are not into staying in the wild, a wide array of the continent’s finest 5-star hotels is at your disposal. If, on the other hand, you’d love to rough it out a little bit, Kenya also offers impressive camping sites. This way, you won’t only enjoy a star-lit evening in the bush but also get to sojourn with nature. Camping sites and lodges are situated in the most safari-centric locations.

World famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, the Tsavo East, and West National Parks, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park, Aberdare National Park as well as the Nairobi National Park- the only national park in the world within a Capital city.

Nairobi; Wednesday 27^th July 2022: The Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) is set for a physical return on 5^th – 7th October 2022 after a two-year hiatus occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic.

The expo which is the largest East and Central African travel trade Show will bring together about 200 exhibitors and 150 buyers among other industry partners and media from some of Kenya’s key source markets in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Betty Radier says that the 2022 expo is expected to attract participation from about 30 countries from across the globe. “We have not been able to host the Magical Kenya Travel Expo physically in the last two years due to the pandemic. Last year we opted for a virtual show to keep the travel trade abreast with the opportunities we have as a tourist destination and to ensure that we kept the engagements going. With the great improvements in the Covid-19 situation in Kenya and Internationally, we are delighted to announce that the Expo will be held physically this October,” said Dr Radier.

She added that the Expo would provide an ideal opportunity for the travel and hospitality industry to network and explore business opportunities in person and also familiarize with new opportunities. “We welcome our partners from around the world to come and witness what makes Kenya a special destination. It will be an opportunity for sector players to sell the opportunities available to the buyers and also give a first-hand exposure of the product. We encourage the all tourism players and partners to take advantage of this opportunity,” Dr Radier.

The expo also presents an opportunity for the local exhibitors including hotels and travel agencies to benefit from a cost-effective promotional platform that will generate new business through interaction with international trade.

A number of seminars with compelling themes on current trends in the travel industry will be presented during the three-day expo.

Over the years, the Magical Kenya Travel Expo has brought together different international buyers from top source markets into Kenya who have seized and created opportunities in the country’s thriving tourism sector which is one of the backbones of the country’s economy.

MKTE attracts hundreds of participants from across the globe each year and has played a significant role in boosting the country’s tourism and by extension, East Africa’s.

The Magical Kenya Expo comes at a time when the government is upping its efforts to restore the industry which suffered due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the full reopening of the economy, the government through KTB has been engaging different partners in the tourism industry with an aim of restoring the industry’s sector performance back to pre-pandemic levels.

The industry has been on a recovery path with the sector earnings jumping 65 percent to Sh146.51 billion last year up from Sh88.56 billion in 2020, according to the Kenya Tourism Sector Performance Report of 2021.

The report further noted that the domestic bed nights grew by 101.3 percent between 2020 and 2021 while international bed nights grew by 0.05 percent.

Nairobi, TUESDAY 5th July 2022: The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has commenced a joint promotional campaign with leading Indian travel agents targeting potential Indian travelers.

The partnership with FCM Travel Solutions India, Pvt Ltd, and Yatra will aim to support tourism recovery in Kenya through building visitor confidence for Indian travelers to Kenya. The campaign will prioritize travelers into Kenya from India with each partner expected to provide maximum mileage on their platforms from potential clients with designed offers and curated itineraries.

The one-month-long campaign is targeted at populated PAN India cities which include Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat, and Bangalore among others where most tourists come from.

Commenting about the campaign, KTB CEO Dr. Betty Radier says: “with the full resumption of commercial flights between the two countries, we are exploring avenues of collaborations with key partners in travel to ensure that Magical Kenya is in the radar of potential visitors.  This campaign will ensure that we showcase the destination to millions of Indians who are looking for authentic experiences and adventures”.

Dr. Radier added that partnership with operators was crucial because they have direct contact with travelers and hence can influence decisions “With over a billion people, India remains a key market that in the near future could move from an emerging to a key source market. We, therefore, need to harness this potential to pull more Indian visitors into Kenya, we shall work with more providers and agents to actualize this. Going forward, we want to further our efforts towards promoting Kenya as an ideal destination for people seeking a quality vacation or business or leisure trip”

Through the partnership, over 300 passenger conversions to Kenya are expected through specialized packages and promotional tactics such as out-of-house marketing, push notifications, GDN, and social media marketing. Additionally, it will increase Kenya’s brand awareness and generate inquiries in the market to boost arrival numbers from the Indian market.

Two years after the COVID-19 outbreak pushed India to impose one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, the country has seen an end to all virus-related containment measures. Even though COVID-19 is still a threat across the world, India has decided to open all economic activities similar to the pre-COVID times. Already, over 1.9 billion COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered in the country with at least 88% of the population being vaccinated which is the largest number globally.

The Post-pandemic era in India is witnessing a growing need for personalization and real-time connectivity, with an increasing number of Indians turning to travel agencies and trip planners, especially as they seek more affordable alternatives. currently, several small and mid-range travel agents are expecting operations to resume sooner than expected.

In 2019, prior to the pandemic, Kenya received 122,649 travelers from India with the destination already receiving a 55 percent improvement in numbers compared to last year during this period. Statistics currently show that Kenya will receive about 80,000 travelers from India by the close of 2022 which will be a major coup.

Nairobi; Wednesday, 20 July 2022: Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is seeking to grow total bed occupancy by the domestic traveler to over 51% recorded before the covid-19 pandemic through a new partnership with the domestic travel trade.

KTB Chief Executive Dr. Betty Radier says the domestic traveler has cushioned the sector over the covid-19 pandemic period and the propensity of Kenyans to travel and explore attractions in their motherland has grown over time.

“The domestic market is no longer just an alternative market for us, it is a key market and that is why we are joining hands with the domestic travel trade to give impetus to the growing trend of Kenyans to travel,” says the CEO.

She was speaking at KTB offices on an occasion to onboard domestic travel trade for a six-month-long campaign to promote domestic tourism. Dr. Radier said Kenyan travelers have an opportunity to enjoy seamless hospitality services from the partnerships

“Our partnership is bringing on board over 20 partners including tour operators, airlines, and hoteliers making travel packages complete for a seamless experience. This campaign will give us an opportunity to enhance the experience that travelers can enjoy in the destination away from the beach and safari products and begin to move into other cities,” says Dr. Radier.

While lauding Kenyans for keeping the hospitality afloat during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, KTB CEO disclosed that major towns such as Naivasha, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Nanyuki are quickly becoming favorable spots for domestic travelers besides Mombasa.

She said the partnership with the private sector will provide other opportunities for enhanced experiences availed to Kenyans away from the traditional beach and safari product.

On his part, Bonfire Adventures CEO Simon Kabu said; “Our partnership with KTB is meant to urge Kenyans to take up travel within their own country and experience the different offerings that are available. We have negotiated with other partners including the hotels and airlines to offer affordable rates so that we can encourage more people to take up travel. At Bonfire we have come up with a program that even allows travelers to pay in bits in readiness for their planned travel.”

He said travel packages offered to the domestic traveler through the partnership would spur and ignite interest among Kenyans to travel and experience their country.

The campaign comes at a time when the destination is witnessing an improvement in the number of tourist arrivals from both the domestic and international markets.

According to the Kenya Tourism Performance Report 2021, from the period between January to September 2021, the bed occupancy rates increased to 4,138,821 as compared to the same period in 2020 (2,575,812) recording a recovery of 60.7 percent.

This sustained recovery of the hospitality sector was largely supported by domestic travelers with domestic bed nights growing by 101.3 percent while international bed nights grew by 0.05 percent.

The performance was an indication of a steadily growing trust for the Magical Kenya destination, which can be credited to renewed marketing efforts as well as confidence in the country’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The growth was also supported by innovative products offered to both domestic and international markets by major players, mainly hotels and domestic airlines.

Nairobi; Thursday, 28^th July 2022: Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is relying on key International and local personalities to Market Kenya as a preferred and safe tourist destination.

Speaking after hosting an American RnB star Anthony Hamilton to a morning game drive at the Nairobi National Park, KTB CEO Dr. Betty Radier said the strategy was part of a larger strategy to display the destination through the eyes of key personalities.

“Kenya is globally known as a destination that host big events, concerts and musical events. The last two years have been difficult but I am glad to note that we are on an upward trajectory. When International superstars like Anthony Hamilton come to Kenya to perform, it sends the right signals to other people who were not sure about coming to Kenya,” said the CEO.

She pointed out that KTB in the past few years have made a deliberate effort to leverage the power of key personalities to showcase Magical Kenya’s tourism experiences as sell Kenya as a key sporting destination in Africa.

We are glad that he is in the country and many Kenyans will get to enjoy his music. We are also glad that he was able to experience an authentic African Safari which leaves him with beautiful memories to share,” added Radier.

The 51-year-old American superstar is set to perform on Saturday, July 30th, 2022, at the Carnivore Grounds at Yetu Live. It is the second time the American musician is in Kenya to perform, the first time being in 2013.

He was hosted for an early game drive at the Nairobi National Park. “I am delighted to be back in Kenya after several years. Iam grateful for the opportunity to visit the Nairobi National Park, today I saw a lion for the first time and I have visited Africa several other times. I have also seen the other wonderful wildlife and enjoyed breakfast in the park; the people are great and welcoming. Everyone should visit Magical Kenya.,” said Hamilton.

Hamilton is a multiple award-winner and has produced numerous hit albums. He has been nominated for and won numerous awards in his music career including his first Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “You’ve Got the Love I Need” in 2002.

KTB has previous leveraged other key personalities to showcase the destination; they including the current Magical Kenya destination Ambassador Eliud Kipchoge, the Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Ambassador Edward Norton, Naomi Campbell and Ugandan Musician Eddy Kenzo.

KTB CEO said taping into different segment of travellers has prompted KTB to identify diverse product and experience to meet the varied preference and choices.

“The game drive we had today plus a breakfast in the bush shows something unique that we can offer and Anthony Hamilton now has something exciting he can relate to about Kenya, apart from the performance he will be having on Saturday.,” said Dr Radier.

NAIROBI, August 3, 2022: The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has launched a one month-long photo exhibition at the National Museum of Kenya aimed at raising the awareness of Mt Kenya as a prime adventure tourism destination.

The exhibition dubbed “Mt. Kenya Photography exhibition” will allow the public to interact and purchase amazing pictures of the incongruous Mount Kenya topography as well as highlight adventurers scaling the mountain’s rough terrain.

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala said that there is a big potential for more visitors to tour the iconic Mt Kenya, hence the need to continue harnessing resources to improve the visitor experience and to appeal to more adventure seekers and mountain climbers.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife through the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Kenya Tourism Board and other partners have put together this exhibition so that we can arouse the interest of Kenyans and other travellers to visit this iconic landmark. Through this exhibition we shall also be raising funds geared towards improving the visitor experience for adventure lovers at the Mountain “Said CS Balala

Earlier in May this year, CS Balala alongside KWS Director General Brigadier (Rtd) John Waweru and other dignitaries participated in an expedition of scaling up the mountain to showcase the exciting and immense potential of this gem.

The expedition realized Sh. 10 million in cash and kind and proceeds are already being ploughed back to among others things improve nature trails, develop sanitation facilities and hiking trails. The exhibition is a continuation of the exercise to raise more funds to make the mountain a prime spot for adventure tourism activities and hiking.

Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa, who was the chief guest during launch said, “for more than twenty years, Safaricom has supported different conservation initiatives across national parks, reserves and forests which are a source of livelihood to local communities and directly contribute to the economy. We are delighted to support the Mt. Kenya Photo Exhibition which seeks to bring together both individuals and other organisations in support of the mountain ecosystem and to promote it as a sustainable hiking and camping destination,” said Ndegwa

There are three main climbing routes to access the peak of the Mt. Kenya. These routes require KWS surveillance so as to address; the monitoring of litter management along the routes, responding to emergencies like search and rescues, monitoring and facilitating visitors’ accommodation, protecting KWS equipment on the mountain high altitude zones, among other challenges.

KWS Director General, Brigadier (Rtd) John Waweru says that an ambitious plan has been mooted to address the urgent needs to transform the heritage site into a popular rendezvous for fun seekers “We plan to enhance the experience in our adventure parks by refurbishing and upgrading the visitor facilities. Some of the other experiences we want to improve include; sport fishing, camping, cave exploration, cultural and religious visits and spruce up amenities that have been a pain point for climbers who visit the mountain for a hiking experience as well as recruit more rescuers to assure adventurers of their safety in case of challenges. I call upon adventure enthusiasts to list Mt. Kenya on their bucket list”, says the DG

Some of the partners  supporting the initiative  include; Visa Kenya, Vipingo Ridge, Safaricom’s M- Pesa, Huawei, East African Breweries Limited, KCB Bank, and Sahihi Interior Builders among others. The climbing expedition saw a number of participants tip the mountain’s Lenana point (4,985m).

Country Lead for Kenya at Visa Eva Ngigi-Sarwari notes, “We are excited to support the enhancement of the experience for visitors to Mt. Kenya, especially through unlocking various enablers including digital and finance. With the inclusion of digital forms of payment, Mt. Kenya’s appeal as a mountaineering destination will grow amongst both local and international tourists” she says.

Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa standing at 5,199 M and is one of the key adventure tourism destinations in the continent. Some of the known attractions at the mountain include the three peaks namely Lenana, Nelion and Batian, lakes which include Alice, Michaelson, Ellis and the diverse vegetation and wildlife.

Kenya Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Dr Betty Radier Says “Adventure is one of the key attractions highlighted by the new vision strategy that aims at showcasing and giving visitors life changing experiences. Mt Kenya gives us a unique selling point and this exhibition will show Kenyans and the world the beauty that they should come and experience” Said Dr Radier.

Tuesday, 19th July 2022: Kenya’s tourism sector is targeting group travelers as a strategy to increase the share of the market and improve visitor arrivals into the country as the sector fully recovers.

The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has said that it is constantly looking for opportunities that can help grow the industry by attracting different segments of travelers, both local and international including women from across the world

Speaking during an event held to showcase Kenya’s diverse offerings to a group of 50 women from the colored girl community at the Nairobi National Park, Principle Secretary, state department for Tourism & Wildlife Zeinab Hussein said that group travel is today a big catalyst to tourism growth in terms of numbers and receipt especially in the post covid19 era, and that the government would take full advantage of it to pull travelers.

The PS further noted that women play an important role in tourism and added that there were more opportunities for them now more than ever before. “Travel is an important part of life for people, including women. Kenya’s tourism industry is not only becoming more accessible and welcoming to women travelers, but also more importantly, to their experiences and wellness. We have worked to ensure that we are a safe destination and that we can offer a memorable and value-for-money experience for all travelers” said the PS

She further added that the government had put in place the requisite tourism products and infrastructure to enhance the tourism experience in Kenya “From an infrastructure standpoint, Kenya has had a tremendous growth in infrastructure that supports tourism including roads, airports, hotels and also products that visitors can enjoy. Further, over the last few years—more hotels and resorts have been built to cater for everyone’s interests, and more flights are being scheduled into and out of the destination allowing more people the freedom of choice” She added.

Founded in 2016, the Colored Girl is a global community of over 82,000 Black, Latinx, Indigenous & Asian women (BIWOC). The group which is the largest network of women of colour aims to nurture women to thrive in the world today and transform the world tomorrow by impacting the lives of communities through travel.

Kenya is hosting part of the one week long colored girl Imara retreat in Nairobi. The retreat has a wellness, personal and professional development goal which will enable the ladies to have a perfect combination of travel, relationship building and branding.

KTB CEO, Dr. Betty Radier, says “The Imara retreat resonates with the current vision of Kenya’s tourism sector – just like this retreat, we are focusing on ensuring that our visitors have immersive and life changing experiences when they visit Kenya. We want them not just to feel safe but to also carry memories that will last their life time. In Nairobi, the group will be able to enjoy Safari, culinary experiences, culture, fashion and shopping among other experience.”

“The choice of travel as way of achieving wellness and motivation is wise because travel changes perspectives in terms of how one views things as well as helping one to learn about cultures and other people from across the globe. Kenya is glad to tap into the colored girls and other networks to show the world that Kenya should be a travel destination for all” Said Dr Radier

The colored girl global community has a combined buying power of $3.9 Trillion making it a prime target market for Kenya’s tourist. Their key tourist interests include cultural experiences, safari, beach experiences, culinary experiences and fashion.