According to extrareference, the largest city in East Africa – Nairobi was founded by the British, who built their fort here, the main purpose of which was to protect the first railway in Africa. Despite the fact that the history of the city has only a hundred years, during this time it managed to transform from an inconspicuous village into one of the most beautiful cities on the continent. The central part of the city is quite small and can be easily explored on foot. In this place, the main architectural heritage of the country has accumulated, among which the conference hall, named after the first president of Kenya, stands out the most. One of the buildings of this conference hall is made in the shape of a lotus flower. One of the main attractions of the capital is the Nairobi National Park, located just seven kilometers from the metropolis. For people who come here for the first time, it may seem that they are not on the outskirts of a huge city, but in the center of wild Africa, since the diversity of flora and fauna here is incredibly great. Nairobi National Park is one of those places where you can simultaneously admire untouched nature and see the silhouette of a multi-million dollar capital in front of you. There are also museums in Nairobi, among which the National Museum is considered the most popular. Tourists are mainly attracted to this museum by interesting paleontological exhibits and realistic stuffed rare animals and birds. And just a few meters from the museum there is a serpentarium, where you can see all the snakes living in the country. Masai Mara National Park is located 267 km from the capital of Nairobi – the most popular safari destination in Kenya. In terms of the richness of the fauna, only the Tanzanian Serengeti and Ngorongoro reserves can be compared with the Masai Mara. About 80 species of mammals and more than 450 species of birds live in the reserve. In the Mao (Masai) language, “mara” means “spotted”. Indeed, when viewed from the air, the plain looks patchy because of the rare standing small trees. And once a year, during the migration season (from July to September), the rolling plains of Mara turn into a black stripe due to the movement of huge masses of ungulates from the south, from the expanses of the neighboring Serengeti. This is a grandiose sight. You can visit the Masai Mara throughout the year, but the most spectacular period is the time of the “great migration” from August to September. The least successful months are March-April and November (rainy seasons). A hundred kilometers from the Kenyan capital is the most interesting tectonic region of the planet – the East African Reef Fault, which is a huge lowering of the relief, which was caused by the stretching of a certain area of the earth’s crust. In many hollows there are the purest lakes and each of them is unique not only in its composition of water, but also in flora and fauna. The most famous lake in this place is the sacred lake of the Maasai – Naivasha. About 340 species of birds and one of the largest populations of hippos live in the area of this alpine lake (1880 meters). Until 1906, Mombasa was the capital of Kenya, and during the Age of Discovery it was the richest port in Africa, but now Mombasa is one of the oldest cities on the continent. Located on an island and connected to the mainland, the city is unique enough the same medieval appearance of the streets is still preserved here, as hundreds of years ago. The architecture of the buildings has absorbed the traditions of European Arab and African countries, so Mombasa is unlike any other city in the world. The main goal of tourists coming to Mombasa is a first-class seaside vacation. Many kilometers of beaches, shaded by palm trees, are dotted with modern hotels and entertainment complexes.
National cuisine of Kenya
The local cuisine is quite unique and its main feature is the widespread use of plants and wild animals found in the savannah, combined with inexpensive products. Pork and beef meat in Kenya is very expensive, so you can often find wild meat here. In local restaurants, tourists are usually offered exotic dishes: antelope fillet, crocodile meat, elephant stew, etc. Corn, legumes or rice is usually used as a side dish. Seafood is the most popular in coastal areas. Be sure to try turtle chowder, octopus stew and baked fish in banana leaves. The most common drinks are iced juice, tea, which is brewed in English with cream, as well as fairly high-quality coffee.
Transport
An important role in the transport system of Kenya is played by water transport. Ferries can travel between major coastal cities. Urban transport in Nairobi and Mombasa is quite efficient and has an extensive network. The main mode of transport in the city is the bus, tickets for which can be purchased from the conductor. If you need to travel a short distance, you can use shuttle minibuses, which, however, are quite often overloaded. There are taxis in the country, both large companies and those owned by private cabbies. It is advisable to contact the taxi drivers of large companies, and it is necessary to agree on a price before getting into the car. It is not advisable to stop a taxi on the street, as there is a possibility of becoming a victim of fraud.
