KenyaThe Rough Guide to Kenya is the ultimate guide to East Africa's best-known destination. Features include: a full-colour section introducing Kenya's highlights; practical advice on getting the most out of Kenya, from the well-known safari parks to the little known reserves, and the highlands, lakes and deserts to downtown Nairobi and the Indian Ocean; detailed reviews of accommodation and eating options to suit every taste and budget, including luxury lodges and local restaurants; candid coverage of Kenya's history, politics, culture and environment; and maps and plans for every region. |
Contents
Where to go | vi |
When to go | viii |
25 things not to miss | x |
The wildlife of East and Southern Africa | xvii |
Basics | 8 |
Getting there | 9 |
Visas and red tape | 18 |
Information websites and maps | 20 |
Kisumu Bird Sanctuary | 304 |
Kendu Bay | 306 |
Homa Bay | 307 |
Thimlich Ohinga | 311 |
Rusinga Island | 312 |
Mfangano Island | 315 |
Migori | 317 |
Kisii | 318 |
Insurance | 24 |
Health | 25 |
Costs money and banks | 30 |
Getting around | 33 |
Accommodation | 40 |
Eating and drinking | 46 |
Communications | 49 |
The media | 52 |
Opening hours public holidays and festivals | 53 |
Shopping | 55 |
Entertainment and sport | 56 |
Outdoor activities | 58 |
National parks and reserves | 60 |
Safaris | 61 |
Photography | 63 |
The environment and ethical tourism | 65 |
Peoples languages and religions | 67 |
Crime and personal safety | 69 |
Women travellers | 72 |
Travelling with children | 73 |
Gay travellers | 74 |
Travellers with disabilities | 75 |
Directory | 77 |
the guide | 82 |
Nairobi and around | 83 |
Nairobi and around | 85 |
Arrival | 88 |
Security | 90 |
Orientation and city transport | 92 |
Accommodation | 94 |
Around central Nairobi | 107 |
The museums and parks | 111 |
Markets and shopping | 117 |
Eating | 123 |
Film theatre and casinos | 130 |
Cultural venues and art galleries | 132 |
Nightlife and music | 133 |
Safari transport and operators | 139 |
Listings | 144 |
Moving on from Nairobi | 150 |
Nairobi National Park and around | 155 |
Karen Blixen Museum and Swedo House | 163 |
The Central Highlands | 167 |
Thika | 170 |
Muranga | 173 |
Mount Kenya National Park | 178 |
Nanyuki | 191 |
Laikipia | 194 |
Meru town | 198 |
Embu | 203 |
Siakago and the Kiangombe Hills | 204 |
Aberdares National Park | 209 |
Nyeri and around | 214 |
Nyahururu Thomsons Falls | 218 |
Travel details | 221 |
The Rift Valley | 225 |
Olorgasailie | 227 |
Naivasha town | 232 |
Lake Naivasha | 234 |
Hells Gate National Park | 243 |
Mount Longonot | 245 |
Gilgil | 247 |
Lake Elmenteita | 248 |
Kariandusi | 249 |
Nakuru town | 252 |
Menengai Crater | 256 |
Hyrax Hill | 258 |
Lake Nakuru National Park | 260 |
Londiani and Kipkelion Monastery | 267 |
Lake Bogoria National Reserve | 269 |
Lake Baringo | 275 |
Kabarnet and the Kerio Valley | 278 |
Elgeyo Escarpment and Cherangani Hills | 282 |
Travel details | 286 |
Western Kenya | 289 |
Kisumu | 291 |
Kericho and the tea country | 323 |
Eldoret | 328 |
Kitale | 335 |
Saiwa Swamp National Park | 339 |
Kapenguria Ortum and the Marich Pass | 340 |
Mount Elgon | 342 |
Chetambes Fort | 350 |
Kakamega town | 352 |
Kakamega Forest | 354 |
Travel details | 361 |
The Mombasa Road and major game parks | 365 |
Between Nairobi and the coast | 366 |
Machakos | 368 |
The Mombasa Highway | 372 |
Voi | 376 |
Taita Hills | 379 |
Lake Chala | 382 |
Lake Jipe | 383 |
The parks | 386 |
Tsavo West National Park | 391 |
Tsavo East National Park | 396 |
Amboseli National Park | 402 |
Maasai Mara National Reserve | 410 |
Samburu Buffalo Springsand Shaba | 429 |
Meru National Reserve | 433 |
Onwards to the Tana River | 438 |
The Coast | 441 |
Mombasa | 445 |
Nyali Beach | 473 |
Mtwapa | 483 |
Jumba la Mtwana | 484 |
Kikambala | 486 |
Likoni and Shelly Beach | 493 |
Shimba Hills National Park | 495 |
Tiwi Beach | 497 |
Diani Beach | 500 |
Shirazi Kifunzi | 513 |
Wasini island | 515 |
KisiteMpunguti Marine National Park | 516 |
Kilifi | 519 |
ArabukoSokoke Forest | 523 |
Gedi ruins | 526 |
Watamu | 529 |
Watamu Marine National Park | 534 |
Malindi | 535 |
Tana River Primate National Park | 549 |
Around the Tana Delta | 551 |
Lamu | 554 |
Manda island | 574 |
Kiwaiyu | 582 |
Travel details | 583 |
The North | 587 |
Lodwar | 592 |
Central Island National Park | 597 |
Maralal | 601 |
The Mathews Range Lenkiyio Hills | 605 |
Baragoi | 607 |
South Horr and Kurungu Camp | 609 |
Loiyangalani | 611 |
Sibiloi National Park | 616 |
Isiolo | 619 |
Archers Post | 622 |
Marsabit | 624 |
Into Ethiopia | 630 |
contexts | 632 |
History | 633 |
Kenya today | 651 |
Wildlife and environment | 667 |
Books | 686 |
Writing from Kenya | 700 |
Music | 713 |
language | 736 |
Other languages | 746 |
Glossary | 747 |
index and small print | 749 |
Common terms and phrases
accommodation Africa Akamba Amboseli bandas Bank basic buses Café Camp Campsite Centre cheap Club coast cottages daily Diani Beach disco driving East Eldoret elephants especially fish forest Gate Guest House Harambee HIGHLANDS Hills Hotel PO Box Isiolo island junction Kakamega Kakamega Forest Kenyatta Kikuyu Kilifi kilometres Kisii Kisumu Kitale Lake Lake Naivasha Lamu Lodge Maasai Mara MAJOR GAME PARKS Malindi Mama Ngina Maralal Marsabit matatu Meru Mijikenda Mombasa MOMBASA ROAD Mon-Fri Mosque Mount Kenya Museum Nairobi Naivasha Nakuru Nanyuki National Park National Reserve night Nyahururu nyama choma Nyeri pool restaurant rhinos Rift Valley River ROAD AND MAJOR route s/c rooms Safari Samburu station stay Street Swahili Tanzania tent there's tour tourist town Travel trees trip Tsavo Turkana usually vehicle village walk Watamu WESTERN KENYA wildlife