Kenya
Leisure and Sport
Hiking & Climbing
Horse
Riding
Cycling & Mountain Biking
Golf
Scuba Diving
Watersports
White Water
Rafting
Fishing
Motor
Sports
Hot Air Ballooning
Bird Watching
Kenya's favourable climate is
ideal for sports and recreation all year round. There are numerous companies
offering is a wide range of leisure activities to suit people of all ages.
HIKING & CLIMBING
If you enjoy hiking Kenya
has a lot to offer, the most favourable areas being, the Aberdare Mountains,
the Chyulu Hills, Hell's Gate, Mt. Susua, Mt. Longonot, the Menengai Crater in
the Rift Valley, Ngong Hills, located south-west of Nairobi, Cherangani Hill,
Mt. Elgon and Mt Kenya.
Mt Kenya offers a rewarding hike as well as
challenging climbs. There are eight routes up the mountain, three of them being
the most popular and accessible to anyone of reasonable fitness. Naro Moru,
lying to the west, is the easiest ascent with Sirimon to the north and Chogoria
to the east being equally popular but you still need to be fit and properly
equipped. Batian at 5,199mtrs is the summit and should only be attempted by
experienced climbers.
You need to be accompanied by a porter or go
with organised tour. Be careful of altitude sickness and hypothermia. The best
time of the year for climbing is from mid-January to late February and from
late August through September but it is accessible most year round.
You will need warm, wind proof clothing, strong comfortable walking boots,
gloves, a tent and a good sleeping bag as well as a stove and high energy food
and drinks. Several places hire equipment
5 Days Mt Kenya climb, Sirimon-Chogoria
This route
ends with the eastern side of the mountain, it is undoubtedly the most
beautiful of the access routes to the summit and easiest as far as gradients
go. It requires good trekking experience.
Click to view full Itinerary
| The Africa Guide's recommended book
|
 |
|
Lonely Planet Trekking in East Africa 3rd Ed - released Oct
2003
(amazon.com) - USA (amazon.co.uk) - UK
East Africa has some of the world's
most spectacular national parks and trekking routes. This guide, covering
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia, provides practical information on
how to prepare a trek, what to take, the best trails and how to hire a
guide |
HORSE RIDING
Kenya Horseback Safari - 11 Day
An evocative
horseback and road safari taking in parts of the Great Rift valley at the
foothills of the Mt. Longonot, as well as the Mara and Lake Nakuru Parks with
plenty of game viewing on offer. No better way to view game and experience
African culture than from the back of a horse.
Click to view full Itinerary.
CYCLING & MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mountain Biking is
becoming very popular in Kenya, but it is advisable not to take your own bike,
as there are places you hire bicycles.
The Ultimate Biking Adventure
Travel at the pace of
Africa on this 16-day mountain bike adventure through Kenya and Tanzania.
Experience the culture, wildlife and landscapes of this amazing continent.
click here to view full itinerary and to request more
info..
GOLFING
As with many African countries golf is a
popular sport, originating from colonial times. There are six high quality
18-hole and four 9-hole golf courses within a 20 mile radius of Nairobi. and
there are 3 other main golfing circuits; the Central Highlands, the coast and
the west. Most other main towns have a 9-hole course which are generally open
to casual visitors on payment of a small green fee.
7 day Twiga Golf Safari
An exciting golf tour combining a luxurious 5 star golf resort in Nairobi to a
safari experience in the Great Rift Valley and at the foot of Mount Kenya.
click here to view full itinerary and to request more
info..
11 Day Classic Golf Safari
A classic safari which includes the diverse golf and safari locations in Kenya.
The tour visits safari and golf locations as well a the white beaches of the
Kenyan coast for a relaxing holiday.
click here to view full itinerary and to request more
info..
6 Day Budget Golf Safari
A
budget golf safari taking you to gamepark in Lake Nakuru and to one of the
finest golf resort in the Great Rift Valley.
click here to view full itinerary and to request more
info..
14 Day Royal Golf Safari
A
luxury golf tour combining a safari to the classic wildlife parks in Kenya,
ending on the sunny white beaches of Mombasa
click here to view full itinerary and to request more
info..
SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELLING
Kenya boasts
three beautiful marine parks with crystal waters, ideal for snorkeling and
scuba diving. Most coastal hotel have equipment for hire and offer reek trips
in glass bottomed boats. Visibility is best in dry seasons - January to March
and June to October and most the diving is drift diving. You need to be trained
in order to dive, and you may be required to take a test. Take along your
certificate. There are several companies offering recognised coursing and
diving equipment for hire.
WATERSPORTS
Watersports of all types are very
popular throughout Kenya . The warm sea water is ideal for swimming with none
of the health risks that inland waters have, there is no danger from sharks or
crocodiles. Windsurfing, parasailing and water-skiing are available at many
coastal resorts.
Most hotels have swimming pools. It is not advisable
to swim in lakes or rivers due to the possibility of being infected with
Bilharzia or attacked by a
crocodile.
WHITE WATER RAFTING
Kenya has three rivers; the
Tana, the Athi and the Ewaso, suitable for rafting at all levels of competence
up to exhilarating Class V white water. The experience is more rustic and less
crowded than the Zambezi version
FISHING
Freshwater Fishing:
Excellent fly-fishing, particularly for trout can be had in the mountain stream
of the Aberdares, Mau Escarpment and the Cherenganis. Lake Victoria is the best
inland water for game fishing where Tiger fish and Nile perch are amongst
species to be caught. You are required to purchase a fishing licence which can
be obtained from Fisheries Dept in Nairobi
Deep-sea
fishing:
Kenya is reputed for having some of the greatest sports
fishing grounds in the world, with a long season running from August to May.
The most popular species found in Kenyan waters include; blue, black and
striped marlin, swordfish, sailfish, kingfish, dorado, barracuda, sharks and
wahoo. To help with conversation and research, operators are encouraged to tag
and release.
MOTOR SPORTS
The Safari Rally is a four-day event
held yearly over the Easter weekend. This covers some 4,000 km of Kenya's roads
and tracks and has become a major event on the international rally circuit. On
the first weekend of June, the Rhino Charge is held, a rally event which raises
money for rhino conservation.
The East Africa Motor Sports
Club Mombasa Road, PO Box 42786, Nairobi Tel:
+(254) 2 822843
HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARIS
A hot air balloon trip,
although not cheap, the scenes from the air over the vast savannah plains and
game reserves of East Africa, definitely make it worthwhile for a once in a
lifetime treat. A lot of the safari companies offer it as an optional extra.
BIRD WATCHING
Kenya has over 1,033 known
species of bird and more are still being discovered. These range from the
largest being the Ostrich and small being the tiny sunbird and include;
guineafowl, francolins, hornbills, weaver birds, hoopoes, starlings, vultures,
Marabou stork, harriers, goshawks, sparrowhawks, buzzards, kites, falcons,
kestrels, eagles, herons, cranes, cormorants, daters, kingfishers, pelican and
flamingos to mention a few.
The alkaline soda lakes, such as Lake
Turkana and Nakuru provide one of the most
impressive sights the country has to offer being home to thousands of pink
flamingos and pelicans. You will need to be equipped with a good pair of
binoculars and many lodges and hotels in the favourite bird watching areas will
provide lists of species seen locally and organise guided walks with
ornithologists.
| The Africa Guide's recommended book
|
 |
|
Birds of Kenya and Northern
Tanzania (amazon.com) - USA (amazon.co.uk) - UK
by Dale A. Zimmerman, Donald A.
Turner, David J. Pearson (Contributor), Ian Willis (Illustrator)
"More
than just the definitive guide to East African Birds, this is a beautiful
book--a 'must have' especially if you contemplate a journey to see these birds
in the feather." (Audubon Naturalist News) |
|
