It is no surprise that this East African country is increasingly popular as a wild nature experience destination. Meanwhile, destinations in Africa in general have recorded evidence of 33% growth over the past 3 years, based on booking data from Travel Company Trafalgar.
The land of contrast
Kenya is often associated with the image of a barren plains with the bright red sun slowly sinking into the dusty horizon or a herd of cattle heads of millions of yearslinging to a long line of migrants between Tan narina's Serengeti National Park and Kenyan's Maasai Mara National Reserve in the journey to find a lush grassland. If you only stop here, you will not be able to fully reflect the diverse landscape of this country, there are many more interesting things if you take it and explore.
On the northern equatorial road, in the semi-dried Samburu National Reserve, our group of 5 people discovered a rare ancient heron with a neatly arranged fur coat. This species is especially endemic to Kenya.
Further south, we encountered the ancient hirs Maasai and Rothschild, with their external recognition slightly different from their previous counterparts that we had just seen.
Although the differences are very small, for wildlife lovers, they are a rare beauty.
The most common phenomenon will be a herd of elephants with small children, a single geesepreypreying, and a high-risk black pangolin grazing.
But perhaps the most attractive thing about the trip is witnessing animals expressing their natural behavior with their own eyes. It is as if we are seeing close-up footage of documentaries about wild animals in the most vivid and realistic way. So serious that when the feeder canon or a linh crane flies away, the mouth clinging to the small piece of rib blood from the prey's body, the wind carries a foul smell.
Another time, we witnessed a herd of young lions hunting for prey. They quietly surrounded a single goose. The baby lion flood was signaled to recede. Sitting in a Jeep, we held our breath to observe from afar and waited.
something warned the swallow, and at the last moment, it ran away. The whole group breathed a sigh of relief. The disappointment of the lions comes with the release of the yearling.
majestic, realistic natural scenery, wildlife life is the largest tourist attraction in Africa and Kenya is considered a top destination for this type of tourism.
Interesting game
Our group stayed at The Ark Lodge, located in Aberdare National Park, next to a lake. The house is equipped with something like a bell.
When booked, visitors will include a list of wild animals they want to see at night, such as rhinos, elephants or lions. At night, the staff will sound the alarm if they discover the animals gathering near the lake.
I fell asleep waiting, but unfortunately no animals appeared. However, the next morning, from a shelter to observe animals, I saw a dusty elephant, along with a giant wild boar, washing up the ground as the sky before dawn gradually brightened up.
The shelter is a small round room with narrow, airy windows, helping to prevent cold and wild animals, while allowing visitors to take photos of them right in front of their eyes. I stand close enough so that I don't need to use zoom lenses on the camera, just using my personal phone is enough.
In the forest, wherever there are natural water resources, they are considered potential areas. At Sweetwaters Serena Camp, located in Ol Pejeta Reserve in Central Kenya, a lake located right outside the camp area attracts a herd of barbed whale, herder, elephant, buffalo and pangolin to drink water and bathe in mud all day. There is only a fragile electric fence to stop them.
Tourists lined up along the campsite, some were surprised and shocked, some called relatives to share this unique moment.
equally interesting is the scene of dozens of hippo soaking in the lake next to the Muthu Keekorok Lodge resort every day. It is difficult to believe that these heavily sighted creatures are the most dangerous amphibious animals in the world. But their fearsome teeth were exposed when they were big, looking extremely funny.
Community experience
The wildlife in Kenya is very attractive, so are the people here. Among the more than 40 ethnic groups in the country, the Maasai people are most famous for their impressive traditional costumes, a semi-triptic lifestyle and adumu ritual dances.
I visited a Maasai farm, one of many located along the road leading to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. For around $40 (about 1 million VND), visitors can visit the earthen tents where families live and admire young Maasai boys performing a adumu shower dance, as it is often only performed in weddings, religious rituals and cultural events.
Tourists are encouraged to take photos and donate to local schools and the visit is also really interesting even though it is mainly for show.
The women I met at the Shela Women's Union left the strongest impression. Men can walk around the streets of the coastal towns of Lamu and Shela a lot, but women are less likely to walk. Women can still go out shopping or go to friends' homes and often wear burqa in Lamamu, where the majority are converted to Islam, an exception in a country where 86% of the population is Christian.
The Association's headquarters is filled with colors and laughter, and is one of the few community spaces where women can comfortably work. The reception area is decorated with Kitenge fabric cushions and curtains - printed patterns popular throughout the continent.
Here, about 10 women aged 22 to 50 gathered every day to organize cooking classes and serve food for weddings and restaurants, tourists
While working, these women chatted happily. They wear scarves and colorful dresses that they often hide when going out.
The day I stopped by for lunch, a group of 12 other tourists from Spain were attending a cooking class, learning how to make vegetarian, bean, stir-fried Samosa and rice.
After they left, the women in the Association gave themselves a seafood lunch. Ms. Abdillahi, one of the people who works here happily said that this job brings her an income. The salary earned was used to pay for the school fees for the 3 children and added to the husband's income. Her husband, a captain, is using his hands to separate each lobster and shared: "We have money, we enjoy life, we make friends and feel in love with life."
It is also an accurate depiction of the local people of Kenya, who have devoted part of their lives to tourism.
