Kenyan Culture & Heritage - Visiting the Villages

For a long time, many people have identified the cities, beaches and wilderness of Kenya as being some of the best in all of Africa. Now there is an alternative! Villages in Kenya are the perfect places to get introduced to local culture and lifestyle. Why not try our unspoiled Kenyan villages, spend

days in the homes of ethnic communities learning and getting involved in their daily lives.  The village experience in Kenya is a reflection of the purest forms of traditional culture of the 42 tribes of Kenya. You could travel up North to the lake shores of Lake Turkana, at the El Molo villages and understand the mystery and strange lifestyles of the smallest tribes of Kenya, or Western Kenya to the Alego Nyangoma Kogelo village, ancestral home to the first black President of the US, Barack Obama. Better yet, the historic ruins of Swahili villages, Gede ruins down South.

Wanting to get married? Come with your spouse and have a magical traditional Turkana wedding. Many times, you won’t miss an invitation to attend a traditional ceremony held in a village. Your accommodation will be in the homes of villagers so be sure to be welcomed with the friendly and warm smiles of a family. Most importantly any costs you incur during your stay directly go to support the livelihoods of the local community, specifically you’re hosting family, what else could be more satisfying?

You can never encounter true Kenyan culture unless you have lived within it so touch down and create your best village experience.

Other activities: Guided walks through projects supporting the villages, farm work, trekking, shopping in the markets, eco tours, interactive handicraft workshops

Culture and Heritage in Kenya

Fashion – Nairobi Fashion Market

The Nairobi Fashion Market is an outdoor shopping event that brings together over 100 fashion designers, retailers and buyers. This is usually a platform to showcase latest trends of clothing, bags, jewelry, accessories, make up, hair and beauty products, homes and other products. On a weekend in Nairobi, this market gives you the opportunity to shop for good quality products, as you sample what’s trending in the Kenyan fashion scene as you enjoy the sights sounds and beautiful people of Nairobi. Everything is displayed with that perfect touch of class because there is a story behind it.

With security being ensured, the Nairobi Fashion Market presents the absolute opportunity to get away from the wild, the beaches and out of your hotel room to feel the city of Nairobi and the warmth of its people in the market. You are sure to get entertained by good music too. The fashion sense of Nairobi is authentic and speaks only for itself so come and buy something and compare with the fashion market at home.

Maasai Market

Slightly similar to the Nairobi Fashion Market is the Maasai Market. For the ultimate breath of culture and color, the Maasai Market gives you the opportunity to buy authentic African art, hand- crafted beaded jewelry and clothing as souvenirs, gifts and even decorating material you could use for your home back in your country. At very affordable prices, you can purchase as many products as possible and at the same time promote local handicraft businesses.

As seen below, the venue for the open air Maasai Market keeps of changing with the days of the week so feel free to find a day and come spoil yourself.

Day of the week	Location
Tuesday	Off Kijabe Street, near Text Book Center Prestige Plaza, 1st floor Rooftop Parking, Ngong Road
Wednesday	Capital Center, Mombasa Road
Thursday	The Junction, 3rd floor parking, Ngong Road
Friday	Village Market, Limuru Road Galleria Shopping mall, junction of Langata road and Magadi road
Saturday	Nairobi Law Courts Parking, City Center Adams’ Arcade, Ngong road
Sunday	Law Courts Parking, City Center Safari Park Hotel, Thika Road Yaya Center, Argwings Kodhek Road Adams Arcade, Ngong road

Coffee dens

Taking coffee is one of the oldest activities that perfectly connects itself to social activity across many cultures of the world. And Kenya is not to be left behind. Since 1950, international coffee shops have been set up in different parts of Kenya, roasting different types of coffee for its local and international coffee lovers. Over time, in Kenya, coffee dens have slowly become great joints for friends, family, expatriates and corporates to meet and interact over a cup of their favorite coffee.

Modernity has set in and coffee shops have upped the social activity with technology. To add to the serene, stylish décor, relaxing music in the backgrounds, coffee shops in Kenya now have free Wi-Fi that you can use to communicate with friends and family at home as you dine in home grown coffee.

Blankets and Wine

It’s hip. It’s urban. Most importantly it’s Afrocentric in our unique Kenyan style. It’s the Blankets and Wine music experience. This is one of the most amazing, laid back experiences you could have that will bring the Nairobi urban culture closer to your heart. Held every first Sunday of the month at the Carnivore grounds, locals and tourists come together, spread Maasai shukas, wrap themselves with kikois, and carry a picnic chair and basket and most importantly wine to an experience of different genres of Afrocentric music. Afro-based fusion musicians from different countries of African come together to create your ultimate African music as you crown it with excellent food, drinks and nyama choma.

A Nairobi lifestyle experience it may appear, the Blankets and Wine music festival is the perfect way to end a weekend on the first Sunday of the month.

Visual arts

Get a feel of the real Kenyan culture, history, modernity, evolution and family life as reflected in the visual arts. Over the years, young Kenyans have invested in awesome theatrical performances and films that showcase the everyday life of a Kenyan, excellent photographic and artwork exhibitions are on display in different cultural centers in the major cities. Exceptional displays of creativity such as spoken word story telling festivals, poetry and paintings bring the picture of Kenya to large audiences.

Visual arts lovers need to get closer to Kenya’s massively talented artists and discover a reflection of the real Kenya, because the real Africa is as reflected by the real Kenya.

Visual arts is not only in the organized environment of a photographic exhibition but out on the streets of Nairobi, art displays in the most fantastic ways. If get the chance to take a leisure walk down the streets of major cities in Kenya you could come across excellent displays of graffiti art done by the daring and creative minds of young artists. As strongly opinionative as they will appear, the use of color and cartoon work will wow you.

Awesome Activities

This unique off-road car rally is held every year to raise money for conservation of the Aberdare Ecosystem. The Aberdares National Park is a sanctuary for the endangered Black Rhino and an important water catchment area providing water to the Tana and Athi rivers, Kenya’s main rivers. The Aberdares is a hidden world of wildlife; its thick vegetation provides perfect cover for countless species.

A variety of vehicles aim to reach designated checkpoints scattered over approximately 100 square kms of rough terrain in the shortest distance possible. During the rally, teams have to make the decision between taking a safer, wider route or taking a riskier more direct route. The teams must then plot the control points on the map and decide their route. Navigation is by compass or GPS and the winner is the competitor who visits

all controls in the shortest distance, GPS measured.

Hundreds of spectators head into the bush to watch the event, setting up campsites and starting off early to get to the Gauntlet (a combination of 2 or 3 checkpoints that invariably involve water crossings and other difficult obstacles).

If you are visiting Kenya – the Rhino Charge is a must see event. The funds raised from the Charge go directly to Rhino Ark, a conservation charity working to fence Kenya’s Arberdare Forest, affording protection to endangered species and habitat.

The Rhino Charge is a truly unique event, both sporting and social.

Night Life in Kenyan Cities

The late night scene in Kenya’s cities and towns can be described as simply vibrant, fun and plentiful. After the sun has set in the ‘green city of Nairobi’, travelers and visitors can be fully entertained in some of the city’s stylish and exciting bars and nightclubs. Kenyans too love to party! This is therefore a chance to meet and interact with locals as you drink and dance to music of your choice. Nightlife at the Coast is as exciting as the Swahili name given to the main city of Mombasa, ‘Mombasa Raha’ (Swahili term meaning Mombasa Fun). A perfect way to spend evenings after basking in the sun, if you have energy, you could sample some of the coastal towns’ nightlife.

Bars and nightclubs are most popular during the weekends. Locals, tourists and expatriates like to meet under the stylish, sophisticated and electric ambience of cosmopolitan secure nightspots where resident DJs belt out the latest dance music. To sweeten the nightlife experience, professional table service waiters are there to serve you from a rich menu of spirits, liquor, cocktails and shooters

Bars and nightclubs aside, Kenya’s beauty after sunset is impeccable! Lights on! Cameras on! At the roof top of Nairobi’s skyscrapers, the beauty of the city at night comes to life. Exercise your photography skills by taking shots of Nairobi’s skyline, the people and places that dot Nairobi’s architecture.

More things for fun - Sigona Golf Club

Sigona Club is located in Kikuyu, 18 kilometers, just outside Nairobi. It was founded by the Kenya Estates Limited around 1938, with its construction and design by Mr. Berkley-Mathews.

Flowering trees and bushes; The club’s eighteen-hole course, offers its members Kenya’s most beautiful fairways which are privileged to receive an average amount of rainfall thus, maintaining it’s greens.

The toughest hole is the seventh and measures 458 yards for men and 485 for women.

More Golf More Fun in Kenya - Leisure Lodge Golf Course

Leisure Golf Club located on the South Coast of Mombasa is an undiscovered golfers paradise. Set amongst established coconut palms and lush vegetation, the golf course snales around numerous indigenous trees.

The 6084 metre championship golf course plays host to top international amateur events and is earmarked to play host to an event on the South African sunshine tour.

Widely regarded as the most beautiful golf course in East Africa, Leisure Golf Club also incorporates the longest par 5 hole 9 and one of the most beautiful yet challenging par 3’s in hole 15.

Hole 15 is the signature hole of Leisure Golf Club encapsulating all that this golf course has come to represent. Teeing from behind a man made lake with bunkers surrounding the green, an accurate shot is required. This beautiful hole is also house to a large number of migratory birds and local wildlife.

It truly is Kenyan golf at its very finest. Come and sample this golfing gem.

Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club

The course was cut out of native trees, typical of the wetter side of Nairobi, predominately the giant diospyros of the ebony family, “ithare”, and the huge “mukui” seen by the riv

er.

The forest sat on a terrain consisting of rolling hills and naturally formed lakes. No other location in Kenya will you find the views you see from here on a clear day.

On your way up the drive leading to the hotel, you get a view of the Aberdare Mountain ranges. Once on the course you see a lovely view of Mt Kenya. You also get a glimpse of Ol’Doinyo sabuk and The Ngong hills.

A coffee plantation borders the course and wildlife such as birds and Sykes monkeys are common. The clubs caddies are courteouos and very knowledgeable about the course and the game of golf. Their advice could save you many strokes.

The superbly built 200 acre Hotel and Golf club is definitely one of its kind in East Africa. Situated 17 kilometers from Nairobi, a visit to the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club is a must for not only golfers, but anyone seeking luxury.

Tees are well maintained to preserve their immaculate appearance.

The club’s course has an international standard with beautifully landscaped sand bunkers. The distance from the ladies’ and men’s tees is 5,580 and 7,277 yards respectively.