Biographies . Photos A,, Photos B.
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Kenya's
New Western Tourism Circuit Launched Kenya
is keeping pace with the demands of the
international tourism market, and offering a
diversified range of destinations beyond simply
wildlife and beach safaris.
At the small
village of Si Galla Galla, near Kakamega, one can
catch a spectacular traditional bullfight. Such
events are an important event for the local Luhya
community. Held throughout the year, these are
pitched battles between two bulls each one
representing an individual village. Thronged by
excited supporters, the bulls lock horns and fight
until one bull turns and runs. The winning bull is
led around the field in a victory lap, accompanied
by a chanting, jubilant crowd. This
impressive spectacle represents a significant
cultural link between traditional African cattle
culture and the art of bullfighting as practiced
throughout Southern Europe. The
Kakamega forest reserve is also on the western
circuit. Local guides told us Kakamega is a remnant
forest, once linked to the great Equatorial forests
of the Congo, and is home to a number of unique and
endangered species. The forest has resident
populations of primates, including the rare red
tailed monkey, butterflies, chameleons and stunning
birdlife, such as the giant Blue Turaco.
In
order to promote local conservation, KEEP (Kakamega
Environmental Education Program) has been
established, which is a community group working
with local children to ensure that the forest and
its resources are protected and preserved for the
future. They also provide guiding services to local
guesthouses and have constructed accommodation
facilities for backpackers within the grounds of
the forest station. Another
tourist attraction is Kit Mikaye, in Seme. Despite
its close proximity to Kisumu, very few people
visit this sacred site. Set among a field of
boulders, Kit Mikaye is a large upright stone,
bolstered by smaller supporting boulders. Myths and
legends regarding the stone abound among the local
Luo community. It was once believed to be a living
entity that roamed this area at night, visiting
nearby Lake Victoria to drink. Sacrifices were made
to the stone in return for divine favor and
blessings. Even today, some believe that a visit to
Kit Mikaye bestows good fortune upon the
visitor. The
local community is now offering guided tours
through the passages within the rock, which are
also home to large colonies of bats and nesting
birds. One
can attend a special commemorative boat race
between local fishermen in traditional Ssese
canoes. A
real highlight is a sunset trip to Mbasa and Mholo
Islands, not far from Mbita Point. These two
islands form a very important breeding colony for
=day is an incredible experience. Thousands of
birds fill the air, literally carpeting both
islands in life as they descend to roost among the
rocks and trees. With the last rays of the sun
turning the waters of the Lake to gold, this is one
of Kenya's greatest natural spectacles. Close
by is Ruma National Park. This little visited park
comprises 120 square kms of savannah and gently
rolling hills. This is the last refuge of the very
Roan antelope, with the world's last remaining wild
population found within the boundaries of the park.
The Roan are easy to see on the wide open
grasslands, grazing freely among stands of
whistling thorn acacia. Ruma is also home to
several other rare species, chiefly the Rothschild
Giraffe, Jackson's Hartebeest and the tiny Oribi
antelope. From
the heat of Ruma, one can move on to the relative
cool of the beautiful Western Highlands. Tabaka
near Kisii in the Western Highlands, is home to
Kenya's finest stone carvers. The Kisii / Gusii
community are renowned for their artistic skill
with the local soapstone. They have a long
tradition of carving ornate decorative art and
jewelry, together with functional items such as
plates and bowls. The
stone is found in a series of large open quarries
throughout the Gucha area, which have also proved
equally rich in uncovered fossil evidence and
prehistoric artifacts. Cooperative workshops have
been formed to produce work for the international
market. Kisii stone is sold worldwide, and several
works by Tabaka artists have found a place in major
international art collections. Tabaka soapstone
graces the UN HQ in New York, and the UNESCO HQ in
Paris, in the form of a massive 7- ton "bird of
peace" or Enyamuchera. The
success of this industry shows in the town of
Tabaka, where every household seems to be busily
engaged in carving, polishing, washing and
packaging stoneware. This very success has meant
the preservation of a very important cultural
tradition. A visit here is an excellent opportunity
to experience this rich culture and to purchase
some beautiful handcrafted works of art. Also
in the Western Highlands is Kericho. This small
town was brought to life by the Kenyan tea
industry. The lush green carpet of tea bushes that
cover these high cool hills are quite literally
fields of gold. Tea remains Kenya's highest foreign
exchange earner, and this region produces one of
the world's finest quality teas. Agri-tourism
is becoming increasingly popular, and the small
colonial hill town of Kericho is the perfect base
to visit the local plantations, producing both tea
and fresh cut flowers. Tea plantations also play an
important role in local ecology, and are used a
buffer zone to protect tracts of indigenous
forest. Moving
North to Eldoret, this area holds great untapped
potential for tourist development. From the heights
of Mt Elgon on the Ugandan Border to the arid
savannah around Lake Baringo, this region offers a
great diversity of attractions. Sports
tourism is becoming increasingly popular around the
world, and Kenya's Western Highlands are the home
to some of the world's finest sportsmen. In the
days preceding the Western Kenya launch, Kenyan
runners had dominated the international athletic
scene, taking 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th place
for men and 1st and 2nd for women in the Boston
Marathon. The
secret of this success lies in these hills. The
average altitude in this area is well over 2000m,
and these rarified conditions are ideal training
conditions for runners. Two local schools, St.
Patrick's at Iten and Sing'ore Girls near Eldoret
have produced most of Kenya's Olympic Superstars.
Altitude training can assist with development of
both endurance levels and
technique.
Five separate
highly specialized training camps for athletes have
been established in the Iten and Kabarnet area, for
both local and International athletes. These are
ideal for athletes looking to gain a high altitude
advantage. Finally,
not to be missed are the Tugen Hills at Kipsaraman,
where one of Kenya's first community museums has
been opened. The museum houses exhibits on
biodiversity and conservation, as well as important
local human fossil finds and a fascinating exhibit
on the possible prehistoric origins of a local
mythological creature, the Chemosit, or Nandi
Bear. Even
more impressive than the museum itself is its
location. Perched on a the edge of a precipitous
drop, the view from Kipsaraman is an incredible
panoramic vista of the Rift valley and distant Lake
Baringo that quite literally takes the breath
away. Kenya
invites visitors to come and experience the wild,
wonderful and welcoming West.
Happy
Returns. Africa
Travel Magazine's Associate Editor Muguette
Goufrani is extremely excited about returning to
Kenya this year - well in advance of the Jubilee
Congress in order to enhance our photo library, and
do some important networking. Her roots in Africa
go back to Casablanca, Morocco and since graduation
, her travel industry career has taken many paths
inside Africa and beyond, eventually to North
America and a position with this magazine and our
ATA Chapter. Her forte is the ability to write good
original stories in French, laced with personal
anecdotes that give it flavor and spice. The above
photo was taken in Kenya while she was on vacation
from her job with Air Afrique in Abidjan. Like the
rest of us in ATA, she is very high on Magical
Kenya. Let
a Smile be Your Umbrella!
Kenya
Tourism has launched an ongoing marketing campaign
under the umbrella of "Magical Kenya" - and what a
colorful umbrella it is - targeting the North
American market like never before. Africa Travel
magazine, web site and the (ATA) with its chapters
across two continents is helping turn on the magic!
Anytime you need detailed facts on Kenya, go to
this address. www.MagicalKenya.com
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