Kenya

Kenya: Masai Mara Reserve to Discourage Budget Travelers

Date: January 24th, 2007 |

The popular Masai Mara wildlife park may soon be off limits to budget travelers because the reserve gets more visitors than it can handle. The Kenya Tourist Board is implementing plans to discourage low-spending travelers from visiting the park, hoping to reduce the numbers of tourists without reducing the revenue the park produces. Daily park [read more]

Ethiopia and Kenya: Threats of Suicide Bombings

Date: November 7th, 2006 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa reported Nov. 1 that it has received reports of credible terrorist threats by extremists in Somalia to carry out suicide bombings at prominent landmarks in Ethiopia and Kenya. The general threats also extend to other countries in t [read more]

Kenya: American Climber Dies on Mt. Kenya, Crime Surge in Nairobi, and an Incident in the Maasai Mara

Date: August 22nd, 2006 |

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An American died on Mt. Kenya when he got lost in heavy snow on his descent after reaching the summit. He was found Aug. 16. The incident is a reminder about the risk of traveling alone in the wilderness. Some 45 climbers have died on the mountain in the past 16 years. In other news, [read more]

Kenya: Constitutional Referendum Nov. 21

Date: November 1st, 2005 |

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Kenyans will hold a referendum on a new constitution Nov. 21 with results announced Nov. 23. Recent political rallies on both sides of the issue have turned violent, and further unrest is possible. No foreigners have been injured in these incidents, but the U.S. State Department warned that in an attempt to incite violence against [read more]

East Africa: Travel Warning

Date: July 6th, 2005 |

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The U.S. State Department reissued its public announcement warning of terrorist threats throughout East Africa, reminding travelers that targets could include clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, outdoor recreation events, resorts and other places Westerners congregate. The announcement also added warnings about seaborne travel near the Horn of Africa and in the southern Red Sea. Unknown pirates [read more]

Kenya: World Social Forum Meets in Nairobi

Date: January 18th, 2007 |

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The World Social Forum (WSF) is being held Jan. 20-25 in Nairobi and is expected to draw as many as 100,000 foreign delegates and 15,000 local participants. The WSF is a counterpoint to the World Economic Forum and is scheduled annually to coincide with the WEF’s meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Demonstrations are possible and [read more]

Kenya: Handling Police Roadblocks

Date: October 3rd, 2006 |

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Kenya has its share of police corruption, and one of the challenges for travelers is knowing what to do when confronted with a roadblock. Most of the time they are legitimate, but sometimes they are set up by criminals posing as police. At legitimate roadblocks, police will issue a “cash bill” if they accuse you [read more]

Kenya: Travel Warning Reissued

Date: January 3rd, 2006 |

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The U.S. State Department reissued its warning about travel to Kenya, citing �continuing terrorist threats and the limited ability of the Kenyan authorities to detect and deter such acts.� The warning states that U.S. officials continue to receive information about threats against U.S. and Western interests in Kenya and elsewhere in East Africa, and these [read more]

Kenya: Tourist Vans Ambushed in Maasai Mara

Date: August 30th, 2005 |

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A gang of seven bandits armed with a rifle, clubs and machetes ambushed two safari vans in the Maasai Mara game reserve Aug. 22 and robbed five Japanese, two South African and two American tourists as they returned to their lodges after a late-afternoon game drive. Two of the Japanese were injured, one seriously. Authorities [read more]

Kenya

Date: June 21st, 2005 |

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After some twenty years of battling poachers, many from Somalia, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has finally driven them out of Tsavo East National Park, the country�s largest wildlife reserve, and reopened the entire park to visitors. The northern two-thirds of the reserve has been off-limits since the 1980s but is now open for a [read more]