1. Fun and adventure
If you love fun and adventure, Kenya is a melting pot with an endless array of activities and destinations that promise undiluted fun. It is the world center for animal safaris and active adventure holidays. Enjoy wildlife safaris, bird watching, windsurfing, horseback riding, golfing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, mountain biking, snorkeling, scuba diving, hot air ballooning, mountain climbing, hiking, water skiing, fishing, and many more wonderful activities.
Apart from the mentioned, you can also get a chance to practice marathon running with the world’s greatest athletes and gold medalists, on the hills of the Great Rift Valley. Try eating nyama choma with the locals, or sip wine aboard a sailing dhow on the calm waters of the Indian Ocean. Whatever your interests, you will be spoiled with choices in Kenya.
2. Affordability
With a favorable exchange rate against many international currencies, Kenya is a fairly inexpensive tourist destination. Although the Kenya shilling fluctuates, it often gives a much better value compared to other major currencies, such as the United States dollar, sterling pound or the Euro. Exchange rates are currently around KES 83-86 to a US Dollar, KES 129 to a Sterling Pound and KES 110 to a Euro.
The cost of living is much lower in Kenya compared to Europe or the United States. Credit cards, including Visa, Master Card and American Express, are widely accepted in all major hotels and establishments. You can also use your ATM debit card to withdraw cash from Kenya banks ATM machines. The financial sector and Kenya banking system is developing at an incredible rate due to advances in technology, accessibility to mobile devices and cable Internet telecommunication, which is now readily available.
3. Natural beauty
From snow-capped mountains to the deep Rift Valley with its extinct volcanoes and hot springs, Kenya offers a breathtaking natural beauty that is distinctly spectacular. Inland, there are wide-open plains and savannahs, arid deserts and undisturbed forests. Along the coast there are magnificent sandy beaches and access to amazing coral reefs. Whether you choose to laze in the tropical sun, swim in the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean or climb Mount Kenya, you will experience an unparalleled variety of beauty everywhere you travel. Go on safari to spot the “Big Five” animals in the wild, or simply enjoy our history, culture and lifestyle. Kenya has something for everyone.
4. Climate
Kenya enjoys a wonderful tropical climate. It is generally warm all year round, with plenty of sunshine and cooler nights and mornings. Visitors are able to enjoy most activities on the beaches and in the national parks all year round. Since Kenya lies on the equator, the seasonal temperature changes are not extreme. However, due to the differing topography, you will experience different weather patterns when traveling across Kenya. The hottest months of the year are February and March with temperatures as high as 93°F (34°C) while the coolest season falls between July and August with temperatures dropping to around 60°F (16°C). Kenya provides very perfect weather for those who live in colder countries to escape to.
5. Food and drink
Kenya coffee, tea and beer have received accolades as some of the best products in the world. In fact, Kenya beer is so popular, both locally and abroad, that the Kenyan breweries are looking to expand their beer export to more countries, including the United States. Kenya also has a rich variety of cuisine. The ethnic cuisine of Kenya’s various tribes includes the famous nyama choma and ugali.
Safe wildlife game meat, such as crocodile and ostrich, is served in up-market restaurants, including the highly recommended Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi. In the hotels and restaurants, you will find a sophisticated blend of European standards with ethnic Kenyan food. There is also a host of international cuisine available in restaurants and hotels including Italian, American, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, French, Mexican, Korean and Lebanese dishes.
6. People and culture
Kenya is renowned for its diverse culture and heritage. Despite the numerous ethnic tribes that exist, Kenyans embrace a great sense of unity, peace, acceptance and closeness as one people and one country; all strong virtues of traditional African culture. The Kenyan people are warm, friendly and hospitable. You will not feel like a stranger when you walk down the streets – you will arrive as a visitor and leave as a friend. The unique culture of some of the ethnic groups, especially the Maasai, is a great experience to be enjoyed.
7. Wildlife
Kenya is the home of the wildlife safari, and offers some of the best and most accessible game viewing in the world, including the hard-to-resist attraction of the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino). These, together with many other animals that are unique to Africa, can be seen at the national parks and game reserves throughout Kenya.
8. A Natural wonder of the world
The wildebeest migration in Maasai Mara is one of the natural wonders of the world. Kenya also has many other places of world interest that are worth visiting, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Lamu, Kenya’s oldest living city. Lamu is known for being the best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. There is also the Mount Kenya Forest Reserve in Mount Kenya. Other World Heritage Sites include Fort Jesus in Mombasa, a historical monument built by the Portuguese in 1593, and the Ruins of Gedi, built in the 14th century to encourage the Arab-African trade and other unexploited gems of Kenya scenery that include the Kerio Valley escarpment – a popular destination for Paragliding.
9. Business and investment opportunities abound
As a developing country and an emerging market, Kenya is rapidly becoming an excellent destination for good business returns. It offers an attractive combination of a growing economic infrastructure, favorable fiscal and monetary policies, stable political environment and a vibrant market economy. With the government having minimized it’s involvement in business, local and international companies and entrepreneurs have a chance to widen their margins and explore untapped markets.
Kenya produces and exports some of the world’s best tea and coffee among other agricultural products.
It is the communications hub for East Africa, and the main transport hub to most of the African countries in the region. There’s unmatched opportunity for investors and businesses with interest in trade, imports and exports. A wide range of international and foreign firms, including the United Nations, maintain regional headquarters in Kenya, and the country has a wealthy supply of natural resources and educated manpower.
Kenya’s economic growth has been on an upward trajectory since 2003. It is estimated that Kenya’s GDP was $38 billion with an annual growth rate of 4.4 percent (2011). The real GDP growth for 2013 is forecasted to be above 6 percent. This growth has primarily been driven by key sectors namely building and construction, agriculture, technology, tourism and financial services.
In order to achieve the country’s growth goals and it’s vision 2030 goal of becoming a middle-income economy offering a high quality of life to all its citizens in a clean and safe environment, investment opportunities abound in areas of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), agriculture, tourism, energy, oil and gas mining, infrastructure, building and construction, finance, environment and manufacturing.
Current major infrastructure developments that are sourcing for potential investors and financing include the government-owned Konza Technology City project and the flagship project, Kenya’s second transport and economic development corridor – Lamu Port and New Transport Corridor Development to Southern Sudan and Ethiopia – LAPPSET.
The investment prospects are even better after the recent 2012 oil discovery in Turkana County. It is a time of growth for Kenya and a great opportunity to invest in our growing economy. Kenya is open for business and for investment.
Content sourced from: http://www.kenya-information-guide.com/visit-kenya.html
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