Backpacking Africa Archives - Page 5 of 5

Africa

Exploring Suguta Marmar and Maralal

By Wangechi Gitahi

Suguta Marmar and Maralal towns are found in Samburu County, which is located in the Northern region of Kenya and is dominantly occupied by the Samburu tribe/community. My decision to delve into this region which doesn’t fall into the usual “tourist” areas especially for backpackers, was guided both by the urge to solve a mystery as well as satisfy my adventurous spirit. One of my foreign readers had queried on the safety of solo, female backpackers travelling in Kenya and it hit me, I didn’t actually know, as I had never traveled solo in Kenya. My conscience wouldn’t be clear if I responded with a generic response as all my articles and information are about my actual, personal experiences. My brain thus conjured this amazing albeit insane plan that I should attempt to backpack via public means, solo, overland from Nairobi to Lake Turkana in Loiyangalani. I figured, if I…

Africa

Be cool in Nyeri

By Wangechi Gitahi

Nyeri is located in Central Kenya which is in the highlands. It is thus generally cool all year round which provides good weather for farming of both livestock and crops. Coffee and tea are a common cash crop in the area even in small farms. The grade from this area is regarded highly as generally, the quality and grade of tea and coffee from Kenya is world renown. It is also home to the second highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kenya as well as the Aberdares National Park. It is dominated by the Agikuyu tribe who are famous for their love of farming and business expertise. Below are some activities I would highly recommend to make you “cool” in Nyeri. 1.Visit the tea farms The tea farms normally look like lush green grass from a distance and it is only when one gets close, that you see the tea leaves.…

Africa

9 fun things to do in Mombasa

By Wangechi Gitahi

Mombasa county is in the coastal area of Kenya as it lies along the Indian Ocean. If beaches, history, culture, sunrises, sunsets and having a good time is your thing, look no further, Mombasa is the place to be. When you see the above tusks sculptures, know you are entering Mombasa town. Mombasa is greatly associated with fun and relaxation and thus jokes are made that entering is easy, leaving is a problem. The coast area is divided into North Coast and South Coast and I will start off with North Coast which is where Mombasa is located. 1: Visit the Beach: There are several beaches in the North Coast that include Bamburi, Nyali, Shanzu among others. Bamburi beach is popularly referred to as Pirates beach due to a restaurant and club found there.There are so many things to do at the beach a) Search for a ship wreck There…

Africa

The suprise that is Samburu National Reserve

By Wangechi Gitahi

Samburu National Reserve is located in Samburu county which is in Northern Kenya. Samburu county is as a hot and dry area and thus I had previously stereotyped the reserve to not have a large number of wildlife. I was greatly and pleasantly surprised by the wide array of animals we found. The reserve decided to show off, to factually tear down the stereotype and reveal its true self, a true home to a wide array of wild life. In this instance, we were camping within the park, both a new thing for me as well as an adventure that could not be missed. As we pitched our tents near the Ewaso Ngiro/Ewaso Nyiro banks, the monkeys were all too glad to welcome us. They eyed us from the safety of the trees and only the bold ones approached our camp. Kindly note, we were camping in a designated camping…

Africa

Kenya 101

By Wangechi Gitahi

1. Kenya is officially known as the Republic of Kenya, its capital city is Nairobi and it is located in East Africa. 2. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the North, Tanzania to the South and South West, Uganda to the West, South Sudan to the North West and Somalia to the North East. 3.English and Kiswahili are the formal languages. Some Kenyans speak exceptional English as a result of it being colonized by the British, thus English being a formal language. 4 . It is dominantly Christian but is open to all other religions. 5.Kenya has a population of over 45 million ,comprised of 43 distinct tribes. 6.It is generally refered to as an agricultural country and most of the best tea and coffe is produced in Kenya 7. The second highest Mountain in Africa-Mount Kenya which is 5199 metres high is found here. 8.The First African Nobel Peace…

Africa

Ethiopia 101

By Wangechi Gitahi

1.Ethiopia is officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and its capital is Addis Ababa. 2. The dominant religion is Christian with most being Orthodox Christians. 3. It is the most populous landlocked country in the world and the second most populous country in Africa. 4. It is bordered by Eritrea to the North and Northeast, Djibouti and Somalia to the East, Sudan and South Sudan to the West and Kenya to the South. 5. Ethiopia was never colonized during the “Scramble for Africa”, but was occupied by the Italians. 6. Ethiopia has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa. The nine sites are Aksum, Fasil Ghebbi, Harar, Konso Cultural Landscape, Lower Valley of the Awash, Lower Valley of the Omo, Rock-Hewn Churches, Simien National Park and Tiya. 7.The Ethiopian Calendar has 13 months and it is 7 ½ years behind the Gregorian calendar. New Year in Ethiopia starts on…