The Africa Page
Africa is a truly amazing contintent. When I was small my parents would talk about the time they spent in Uganda and Kenya in the 50's and 60's. They had some incredible adventures and from everything they said they enjoyed it immensely.
I have subsequently developed a fascination with Africa and Kenya in particular. Dave and I have been to Kenya twice now and although I try to describe to people what it's like, I find it difficult to get across just what a different world it is. The country is beautiful and the people friendly, resourceful and proud. Many more experienced and able literary minds have written about Africa and have done it more justice than I ever could, so I say only this - go there and experience it for yourself. I promise you won't regret it.
Most people go to East Africa to go on safari. Safari is a Kiswahili word meaning "journey" of any kind, but it is now synonymous with trips into the bush to see wild animals. I won't go into details of which tour companies to use - everyone has their own recommendations - but I have to say that there is no moment that brings you more in tune with Africa than the smell of an elephant. Anyone who's smelt an elephant will know what I mean!!!
Our favourite place to stay in Kenya is at the Royal Reserve resort in Kikambala. This is approximately half an hour north of Mombasa and as you can see from the link, its fabulous. Like many hotels along the coast, all excursions and trips can be organised from the resort. Speak to Simon and tell him Debbie sent you!
One place that is often overlooked by tourists but is well worth visiting is Nairobi. Kenya's capital is an eclectic mix of traditional and modern and is much less humid than the coast. It's also not that large so take your time and explore. Take a trip out of Nairobi through Karen (named after Karen Blixen) and stop on the escarpment road that overlooks the Great Rift Valley. Once you've recovered your sense of scale, head back into Nairobi and have a meal at the Carnivore restaurant. Vegetarians need not attend as the name speaks for itself. I would personally steer clear of the usual chicken wings and sausages - be adventurous and try eland, hartebeest and zebra.
So far I've rattled on about Kenya but I must award an honourable mention to The Gambia. We discovered it quite by accident when we were looking for a cheap last minute getaway last year. Rather than risk one of those dreadful "allocated on arrival" efforts on the Costa's we took the plunge for about an extra £50 each and went B&B at the Sunset Beach hotel in the Gambia. Under 5 hours flight time from Gatwick and with consistently good weather it seemed too good to be true - but it was excellent. The tour operator, The Gambia Experience, know everything there is to know. The Gambian people, particularly those who work at the hotels, like to invite tourists to their homes to experience what life is like out there and it is an eye-opener, believe me. It must be pointed out, however, that these visits are not offered in order to "rub your nose in it"! The locals take great pride in entertaining visitors and do all they can to make you feel comfortable and welcome. They don't regard these trips as showing off their poverty but more to show off their visitors!
In The Gambia, which is a truly tiny country, there is very little in the way of "big game" animals but the birdlife is superb and birdwatching tours are a speciality. The Gambian government is very environmentally aware and do a lot to encourage residents to make as little an impact as possible on the land. There have been some huge investments made to restore the beaches which had been eroding for years and this has been very successful.To see up close what's been done, take an escorted quad bike tour. Even if you've never ridden a motorcycle, I guarantee you'll love it - but put on plenty of sunblock before you go!
I have a wide selection of pictures from Africa. If you would like to view some of my favourites click here.