You
don't got to be scared to travel on safari. When CNN described Kenya in 2015 as
"a hotbed of terrorism" it called attention to some crazy myths that
has got to be prevailing to stop travellers coming to Kenya. i would like to
deal with a number of these myths to assist put your mind comfortable and feel
confident to experience that bucket list safari you've always wanted. this
would possibly not be a marketing spiel; I sleep in Kenya so i do know the great
, the bad and therefore the ugly and can share all of it with you.
Myth
1: Kenya is filled with terrorists
CNN's
description of Kenya was outlandish to mention the smallest amount . Kenya
suffered several terrorism incidents throughout 2013 and 2014, the foremost
notable of which was the attack on the Westgate plaza . Most of the activities
were much smaller scale however - grenades thrown into bus stations, churches
and nightclubs. Two major attacks occurred in April 2015 at Garissa University
and January 2019 at the DusitD2 complex. Al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda-affiliated
group from Somalia, are reported to be the key offenders.
Unfortunately
today, terrorism occurs everywhere and anywhere. within the last five years
we've seen attacks in Paris, Sydney, Brussels and Istanbul. But travellers
still flock to those places.
Fifty
million people survive a day in Kenya, so your likelihood is that pretty good
that you simply will begin alive. Kenyans want peace the maximum amount because
the next person. Moreover, the parts of Kenya you, as a traveller, would be
frequenting aren't terrorist targets - there are no attacks on any national
parks or game reserves so far . there's a terrorist risk near the Somali border
and in parts of Nairobi.
The
current travel advisory from the Australian government is that just some areas
are dangerous, not the entire country. and therefore the dangerous areas don't
hold much interest to the typical safari-goer.
Myth
2: Nairobi is "Nai-robbery"
A
decade ago carjacking, heist , and mugging were relatively common in Nairobi,
earning the town the nickname "Nai-robbery". But one mayor did tons
of labor with the road boys and nowadays Nairobi is simply as safe (or risky)
as the other big city within the world. Expatarrivals.com says that crime in
Nairobi is "opportunistic, unsophisticated, like other world
capitals." The rate has decreased annually since 2012 consistent with
Standard Digital.
I
have lived in Nairobi for five years now and I even have never been physically
attacked. One evening, my phone was snatched - but i used to be walking within
the city center within the evening alone talking on my phone; it had been
totally my fault. However, everyone who saw the thief chased him and that i got
my phone back! Nairobians themselves are uninterested in crime in their city,
especially towards foreigners because they do not want travellers to possess a
nasty experience of Kenya
Myth
3: Corruption is rife and foreigners are targeted because they're thought to
possess extra money
I
cannot say that corruption isn't rife. It is, but as a tourist you're unlikely
to encounter it. If you book a full package safari, there'll be little
opportunity for police or the other official to ask you for a bribe. Tourists
are rarely targeted. Foreigners aren't a simple target because we tend to ask
too many questions and do not always understand what's really happening. it
isn't in our habit to slide some money within the door handle for the traffic
policeman for instance . Expatriates who participate in corruption means crime
continues unpunished and Kenya's development remains stymied. The phrase
"When in Rome... " shouldn't apply to bribery and corruption.
President
Kenyatta says the proper things about cleaning up Kenya's corruption, but it's
getting to take an enormous shift. However it's never a reason to avoid a
Kenyan safari!
Myth
4: Tour operators are dishonest and you'll lose your money if you pay
beforehand
Yes,
there are some briefcase businesses, but during this age of the web you'll
certainly do your own due diligence and avoid being scammed. There are many
review sites online and lots of allow you to contact reviewers on to ask about
their experience. Use Trip Advisor, do your research, check the costs .
The
tourism industry has suffered greatly the past decade (due to the myths I'm
writing about here!) and tour operators are desperate just to form a purchase .
But if park fees are included in your package, make sure the entire price can
cover those fees. for instance , it's $80 for a 24-hour ticket to the Maasai
Mara. So if you're booking a two-night safari to Maasai Mara for $200, you'll
do some simple maths and calculate that $160 is for park fees, leaving only $40
for transport, accommodation and food. Park fees are public information so
you'll do some rough calculations. If it seems too good to be true, then it
probably is! Either your operator is paying bribes at the park gate, or your
vehicle hasn't been maintained, or your food are going to be substandard.
otherwise you could get all three! Please, it doesn't help Kenya's fight
against corruption to encourage your tour operator to pay bribes at the gate so
you'll get into the park cheaply.
The
Kenyan Association of Tour Operators and therefore the Kenyan Ministry of
Tourism also are working hard to introduce measures to curb cheats.
Sensational
media is destroying Kenya's main industry and therefore the economy is
suffering as a result. So if an African safari is on your bucket list, look
beyond the headlines and see Kenya for the amazing country it really is.
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