Kenya Knowledge

Mombasa Old Town Mombasa is an island connected to the mainland by bridges and ferries with heavy commercial activities at the port of Mombasa. Mombasa Old Town is part of Mombasa that had heavy influence of Arab traders who settled there influencing the town and its culture including the architecture of the buildings and the Swahili language which comprises of Arabic phrases, spices and dialects. Why the name Old Town? The name Old Town materializes as a result of its ancient buildings with carved doors and balconies, curio shops that sell antique, extraordinary art designs, Kenyan souvenirs, heavy smell of spices, Mosques, Hindu Temples and Christian churches. To explore Old Town there are experienced guide who give a tour on foot as the streets are narrow to accommodate vehicles. The town has Arab inhabitants who originate from their forefathers who mingled with the local people. Another thing you will notice is Fort Jesus located just near where the town starts hence you ...

Pirates Beach Bar Pirates Beach Bar is the most popular club in Mombasa along the North Coast. The club is known for its nice music and it is always full to capacity on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. All variety of songs are played here including dance, oldies, hip hop, Hindu, and Arabic. There is a good atmosphere present that keeps the party goes alive. The beach bar is opened early and does not close till morning. For those who want to just dine there is a wide variety of Mediterranean cuisine and snacks which are readily available throughout the night.

Il Covo Il Covo is one of the many popular bar and restaurants located next to the Bamburi Beach Hotel.   It offers several varieties of drinks and has busy pool tables. Sports fans will have a good time at Il Covo because it shows live football and rugby action on their Big Screen giving you a chance to support your team away from home. Il Covo is the best place to stop before going to a night club to party. 

Nairobi National Park History Nairobi National Park is the only national park in the world with 80 recorded species variety of animals and birds close to a capital city. It is the main attraction for visitors in the city of Nairobi. The park also has a diversity of environments with characteristics of fauna and flora with open grass kind Savannah plains. There is a permanent river in the south while the western side has a highland dry forest. There are rocky valleys and gorges with scrubs, stretches of broken bush, long grass and  man made  dams attracting water dependent herbivores during the dry season. Traveling The park can be accessed by tarmac roads using normal vehicles "saloon car or four wheel drive" mainly through Lang'ata road from the city centre which is about 7 km. Animals There is diverse bird life with 400 species recorded although some of the species are not always present throughout the year "seasonal". The park houses rhinos and...

Aberdare National Park History Aberdare National Park is 160 km north of Nairobi and considered a home to some varied and breathtaking landscapes. The official name of the park is Nyandarua "Kikuyu for a drying hide" but commonly referred to as the Aberdares after Lord Aberdare who used to be president of the Royal Geographic Society. Landscape There is Aberdare Mountain reaching a maximum altitude of 3995 meters at Ol Doinyo Satima Peak and between these peaks there are icy mountain streams which are good for fly fishing. Aberdare is traversed by moorland at about an altitude of 3000 meters. Activities The areas around the Aberdare National Park have a number of small farms and coffee estates that tourists can visit to get a better experience of Kenya. Animals There are numerous animals that can be seen through the thick vegetation. These animals include rhino, buffalo, lion, elephant, hyena, antelope, giant forest hog, bush back, white tailed colobbus mo...

Amboseli National Park History The park is 400 square kilometers a home for many Maasai communities. It is also a home for elephants, zebra, impala and herds of wildebeest. Amboseli has areas of acacia forest that are also home to many small animals. The park is a good walking territory and many camps and lodges organize game walks or trips to Maasai villages. Something to note is that after the rains, Amboseli has a dry Pleistocene lake basin that houses a temporary Lake Amboseli. Landscape Amboseli National Park is a place of wide dry plains where the sky meets the land at the furthest distance. This is a place known for elephants populations and large herds with tusked bulls drawn to a series of swamp land but what really attracts people is Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa's highest mountain at 5,895m) where from Amboseli you can have beautiful view of its snowcapped peak. There are beautiful scene of the sight of Kilimanjaro high above herds of elephants crossing the plains o...

Mount Kenya History East of the Great Rift Valley, about 175 km North East of Nairobi lies Mt. Kenya at 5,199 meters the mountain is the second highest peak in Africa. It is a very important source of water providing about 50% of the country's population and produces 70% of Kenya's hydroelectric power. It has been described as one of the most impressive landscapes in East Africa with glacier-clad summits, diverse forests and Afro-alpine moorlands with other outstanding scenery. If you are planning to visit December to March and June to October are the best seasons to visit. Also, climbing may occur when the moon is near or full. Traveling The park can be reached on Nanyuki Isiolo road via Sirimon Track or Nyeri Nanyuki road near Naro Moru. Also Mount Kenya is 175 kilometers and reachable via Chogoria on the Embu Meru road about 150 km north of Nairobi. If you want to fly there there is a commercial airstrip to the park at Nanyuki. Attractions The major attraction...

Lake Bogoria History Lake Bogoria an active volcanic area lies at the beginning of Kenya's Northern Wilderness 32 square km. The western shore of the lake is lined with spouting geysers, bubbling geothermal pools and squirting steam. Massive flocks of Flamingos are attracted to this soda waters and you will see pink carpet in addition to fresh water springs at the lake edge attract an abundance of birds and wildlife. Traveling Diversion from the Nakuru Baringo road via Marigat will get you there with private transportation. There is also an airstrip that charter flights however it would be easier to organize safari with a group of people with a hired car or tour company. Animals The water springs of fresh water at the lake's edge attract wildlife and birds with abundance Fish Eagles that prey on flamingos. Animals that can be found at the lake shore include Zebra, Gazelle, Baboons and Great Kudu. Other animals are leopard, caracal, klipspringer and greater kudu. ...

Lake Elementeita History This lake is considered a small soda lake located in the eastern sweep of the Great Rift Valley. The early colonial history of Kenya surrounds the lake because of the role it played. This is also the estate and stronghold of Lord Delamere considered the builder of the Kenya colony. Landscape The lake like it counterpart Lake Nakuru attracts many visiting flamingo with gazelle, zebra, eland and families of warthog grazing. It is also a nice place for long walks and birding. Traveling Elementeita is a one and half hour drive from Nairobi. From Nairobi the main road will take you to Elementeita by bus, private transport or Matatu. If you follow the main highway it will take you to Nakuru.  Those who are financially capable can take charter flights from Naivasha airstrip. One thing to note is that camps and lodges can organize transfers from Nairobi to Naivasha and local excursion. Attractions Of course the lake itself is a big attraction, b...

There are unique indigenous food menu that different communities have that identify them in a specific manner. Mukimo Mukimo is like Githeri but the maize and beans are mashed with potatoes or sometimes cooked bananas. This food is typically from the Kamba tribe and the best place to find it is Machakos although other communities like the Kikuyus also like it. Ugali and Fish Ugali is maize flour cooked using water but instead of living it like porridge, it is left to harden. When it is well cooked, it takes the shape of a cake. This is a favorite food for the people of Kenya but especially the Luos in Nyanza Province. This is due to Nyanza proximity to Lake Victoria and at the coast for other Kenyans because of the Indian Ocean. Githeri This is food found mainly in the Kikuyu community in Central Province. The food comprises of a mixture of boiled maize and beans. Ingoho This is simply cooked chicken loved by the Luhyas of Western Kenya and it is mandatory for ...

Ugali with Skumawiki Preparing Ugali Ugali which is pronounced “oo-ga-ly” is a staple starch component made of grinded maize flour and water which is eaten in East Africa that is Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Congo, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda mainly refer to it as Ugali while the other countries have their own name for it.   Ingredients Maize flour (Corn flour) 4 cups of water (950 ml) Accompanying meat and/or vegetables i.e. Beef or chicken stew Steps to follow Measure at least 5 cups of water in the cooking pot and start boiling. Add the maize flour slowly while stirring with a wooden cooking stick/utensil. This can take to about 15 minutes of slowly adding maize flour and stirring and then adding more when necessary. Continue to add maize flour while stirring until the dough thickens. Most people like hard Ugali while others like it soft. Hence, just cook to desired ...

Chapati Preparing Chapati Chapati is commonly known as an Indian dish that East Africa has adopted as part of their daily meals. It is commonly eaten in restaurants, cafes or even at homes as an accompanying snack to beef stew, tea, coffee, vegetable stew, soup etc. Ingredients 2 cups of wheat flour 1 tea spoon ghee 1 tea spoon salt Bowl of water Steps to follow Take a bowl and mix all the ingredients together to prepare dough of the mixture. Knead the dough for it to become soft. Leave it for 30 minutes. Create small round balls from the dough and smear them with flour to avoid it sticking to the table. Take a rolling pin and a rolling board and roll the small balls of dough to a round shape like pancakes. Heat a heavy based flat frying pan, smear little ghee on a pan and cook the chapatti until blisters appear on the bread’s surface. Turn it over and cook the other side. Remove it from the frying pan and serve it with tea, stew, soup etc. ...

Njahe Njahe is a Swahili name for another type of beans. Njahe is usually eaten in Kenya at lunch time as a form of stew to accompanying food like rice, bread etc. Ingredients 1 chopped onion 1 cup boiled Njahe 2 chopped tomatoes 1 ½ table spoon turmeric 1 table spoon powder 1 table spoon chopped cilantro 1 ½ cup coconut milk 2 table spoon oil Salt Steps to follow Heat the oil in a cooking pot. Cook the onion gently until it turns light brown. Partially mash the boiled Njahe with a cooking stick. Add onion, tomatoes and mix well. Put the turmeric and seasoning and half the cilantro. Pour the coconut milk and stir to blend the ingredients. Cover the pot and leave to simmer for 10 minutes before garnishing with the remaining cilantro. Serve with rice or Chapati.

Preparing Nyama Choma Nyama choma is roasted meat and is extremely popular because of the availability of cheap meat in the country. It is usually served in adult parties with beer. Ingredients 1. Salt and pepper to taste 2. 3 pounds beef short ribs Steps to follow Start by seasoning the ribs with salt and pepper. Get a grill with charcoal or gas over medium high heat and grill for 1 hour. If you are not comfortable with the grill, try using the oven as an alternative and live it there at about 300 F for one and a half hours. The meat should be ready, just use your good judgment. Serve with Ugali

Preparing Maharagwe Maharagwe is a Swahili name for beans. Maharagwe is usually eaten in Kenya at lunch time as a form of stew to accompanying food like rice, bread etc. Ingredients 1 chopped onion 1 cup boiled beans 2 chopped tomatoes 1 ½ table spoon turmeric 1 table spoon powder 1 table spoon chopped cilantro 1 ½ cup coconut milk 2 table spoon oil Salt Steps to follow Heat the oil in a cooking pot. Cook the onion gently until it turns light brown. Partially mash the boiled beans with a cooking stick. Add onion, tomatoes and mix well. Put the turmeric and seasoning and half the cilantro. Pour the coconut milk, stirring to blend all the ingredients. Cover the pot and leave to simmer for 10 minutes before garnishing with the remaining cilantro. Serve with rice.

Pilau Recipe Preparing Pilau Pilau rice is mainly an Indian dish that is served with any kind of stew especially curry or beef carbonate. Ingredients 1. 250g grain rice 2. 150 g cashew nuts 3. 3 table spoon vegetable oil 4. 4 cloves 5. 2 cardamom pods 6. Cinnamon stick 7. 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 8. 120g raisins 9. 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 10. Salt 11. 1 Coriander for garnish 12. 1 onion for garnish 13. Knife 14. Small pot 15. Small pot with lid 16. Small frying pan 17. Wooden spoon Steps to follow Wash and drain the rice to get rid of the starch. Heat three table spoons of oil over high heat in the cooking pot. Add the cashew nuts, cloves, cardamom pods, cumin seeds and cinnamon. Maintain high heat and fry for two minutes. Add shallots and fry for two more minutes and the shallots should turn translucent. Add the raisins, salt, and turmeric, stirring for a few minutes. Add the rice and two cups of very hot water to the seasoning...

Githeri Preparing Githeri Githeri is a simple food to make which consist of a mixture of maize and beans. It is preferred by many poor people because the ingredients are readily available and also very cheap. It is believed to have originated from the central part of Kenya where Kikuyu tribe resides. Ingredients  1/2 pound dried red beans 1 pound dried maize Chopped onion 3 tomatoes 1 table spoon vegetable oil Salt Royco/spices Steps to follow Take the red beans and dried maize and mix them into a cooking pot with water. Soak the mixture overnight to make it soft. In the morning boil the water for about two and a half hours until the mixture becomes soft or cooked. Fry the onions into a fresh cooking pot. Add the tomatoes. Add salt to taste. Cover the cooking pot for about 3 minutes. Add the beans and maize mixture to the cooking pot. Let it cook for about 10 minutes or more depending on how ready it looks. Serve when ready

Ugali Preparing Ugali Ugali which is pronounced “oo-ga-ly” is a staple starch component made of grinded maize flour and water which is eaten in East Africa that is Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Congo, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda mainly refer it as Ugali while the other countries have their own name for it. Ingredients Maize flour (Corn flour) 4 cups of water (950 ml) Accompanying meat and/or vegetables i.e. Beef or chicken stew Steps to follow Measure at least 5 cups of water in the cooking pot and start boiling. Add the maize flour slowly while stirring with a wooden cooking stick/utensil. This can take to about 15 minutes of slowly adding maize flour and stirring and then adding more when necessary. Continue to add maize flour while stirring until the dough thickens. Most people like hard Ugali while others like it soft. Hence, just cook to desired texture. To know that Uga...

Cura Orphanage History Cura Orphanage is a place for children who are unfortunate having lost parents to AIDS. It is located in the village of Cura in Kenya. The orphanage has 50 children ranging in ages from 4 to 13 this is all possible with funding from Rotary Clubs in Kenya, Canada, UK and the United States, from the Slum Doctors Programme and from other well-wishers across the globe. Cura Orphanage is committed in providing a loving home for its children where the children find safety, health and a new family. The children attend local primary schools and strives to be an integral part of local village making Cura a place where hope for the children has a place to grow. This is a place where you see children growing and happy despite many challenges the children face. This home has many things it needs to get done. Support Interested people who want to partner with this to make it grow and thrive can do one or all the following; sponsor the care of a child for less than ...

The Shepherd's Home History The Shepherd's Home was opened in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya in March 2003 housing more than 20 young girls and care of loving, nurturing and highly-skilled individuals directed by MacMillan and Nelly Kiiru who have dedicated their lives to Christian and Kenyan causes. Children in Africa who their parents die of AIDS inherit the stigma surrounding AIDS and are put at the bottom of the agenda and forgotten forever. The worse thing is that these children are expected to care for sick relatives or to earn money for the family so they stop attending school. In addition, girls often end up working as prostitutes, unaware of the danger they get themselves into. The girls dropping from school do not learn prevention from diseases such as AIDS instead they put their lives at risk and perpetuate this deadly cycle. This is why when children leave The Shepherds Home, they get love and spiritual healing they need to face the truth about what's ha...

Dorcas Children's Home History Dorcas Children's Home is located in Kinango town, Kinango Division, Kwale District, Coast Province of Kenya. It was started in 2006 with eleven children founded by pastor Jonathan Khakala "a pastor of the Redeemed Gospel Church and co-ordinator of the Dorcas Children's Home" and Mrs. Claris Mbeyu Kitty. The Kinango area is semi-arid with rainfall below 500 ml per annually making a place if food shortage. In addition, there is also poor infrastructure, traditions characterized by illiteracy, witchcraft, polygamy and wife inheritance have resulted into high poverty and HIV/AIDS and orphaned children prone to sexual abuse and child labor. The goal of this Home is to develop disadvantaged children "poor, orphans" into a balanced and dependable people who are ready to develop themselves and their own community. To enable them to realize their full potentialities and make them enjoy normal life just like any other hum...

Nyumbani Children's Home History Nyumbani Children's Home was founded in 1992 by the late Father Angelo D'Agostino, S.J., M.D., a physician, psychiatrist and Jesuit priest being an active response to the alarming number of HIV infected children currently orphaned or abandoned in Kenya. This home is considered Kenya's first and largest facility for HIV+ orphans housing approximately 120 children ranging in age from newborn to twenty three years old. Children at Nyumbani Children's Home come from all over Kenya in places including Marsabit, Nakuru, Isiolo, Kakamega, Kisumu, Mombasa, Ngong, Dagoretti and areas within Nairobi representing all ethnicity in Kenya. The Children's Home finds its children through national hospitals and through Nyumbani's own community outreach program called Lea Toto. In addition, the home did more by converting one of the cottages at the Home into a Respite Center for children in Lea Toto who were not responding at home t...

Lewa Children's Home History Lewa Children's Home provides a loving environment, nutritious food, clean water, education and support for abandoned, orphaned or abused children in a family setting. It is headed by Spokesperson, Phyllis Keino who has been caring for orphaned Kenyan children since 1964. It follows that Phyllis Keino's philosophy is that education is the most important gift you can give a child, which has been an inspiration to so many people in Kenya and around the world. In order to share in this philosophy there are ways to contribute one being stock donation and any other type of donation. It is located in Eldoret adjacent to the KipKeino School built by "Bread and Water Africa" and the Baraka farm. The main reason was to allow children to be a walking distance from the school. At the moment Lewa Children's Home cares for 94 children, 47 children within the home and another 47 assisted within their respective communities. There is a...

SOS Children's Villages History SOS Children's Village Association Kenya was founded in 1971.  Kenya was one of the first African countries in which SOS Kinderdorf International became active. Its main aim help reduce the ever increasing number of orphaned and neglected children in the country that was not receiving support from the state. After it was founded one year later the construction of the first Kenyan SOS Children's Village started in Buru Buru, a suburb of Nairobi. SOS Children's Village facilities have been built in Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa, in Eldoret and in Meru over the years. Programmes SOS Children's Village helps in several ways, these are: SOS Children's Villages - Family Based Care; SOS Family Strengthening Programmes; SOS Youth Facilities; SOS Kindergartens; SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools; SOS Vocational Training Centres; SOS Social Centres; SOS Medical Centres; SOS Emergency Relief Programmes. Support The SOS Chi...

Grace Childre's Home History Grace Children's Home is a home for orphans located in the slums of Nairobi. Support The International Humanitarian Hope Society (IHHS) saw a need for a purchase of septic tank as the sewer was running freely and the children were sick with airborne diseases. There was also need for fresh water because water was trucked in which is an expensive process. The Home had started digging a well and the IHHS has raised the funds to complete this project. In addition, it has help the orphanage with completing the need for mattresses and bedding as the children were sleeping three to one bed, on a twin bed. Also, the overdue medical and food have been paid. IHHS overall evaluation of this home includes: the operation of Grace Care Home is impressive for the little amount of finances presently available; the children are very happy; the staff is very committed and cheerful; the vision for the future of this orphanage will include a medical cli...

Rusinga Island History Rusinga Island is approximately 10 miles "16 km" wide and 3 miles "5 km" at its widest point lying in the eastern part of Lake Victoria at the mouth of the Winam Gulf. It is known as the family burial site of Tom Mboya expected to be Jomo Kenyatta's successor as President of the new nation of Kenya after his assassination in 1969. Materials This island is known for its extraordinary rich and important fossil beds of extinct Miocene mammals dated almost 18 million years. It has exotic trees which are home for a bird species many of which are unique in Kenya. The grounds can also be used as expedition areas. Hospitality There are delicious home grown cooked food and comfortable accommodation with ideal base from which to explore other areas of East Africa. There are also exotic trees housing diverse bird species many of which are unique to this area.

Lamu Island History Lamu was founded in 13th century being the oldest living town in Kenya is a recognized world heritage site as one of the best preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. The town has beautiful architecture including Lamu Fort, mosques, and decorative carvings on doors, attractive wood work and lintels. Attractions Lamu's beaches are perfect for soaking up the sun and relaxing. There are boat trips that will take tourists to visit the numerous islands within the Lamu Archipelago. Water sports is also another easily accessible attraction which later follows with diving from Kiwayu. Kiwayu has wonderful beaches with its east side suitable for diving with nice reefs and tidal pools. 

Shimba Hills National Reserve History Shimba Hills National Reserve is a National Park in the Coast Province of Kenya in Kwale District of Coast Province, 300 km2, 33 km from Mombasa and 15 km from the coast. The National Reserve is mainly an area of coastal rain forest. Over 50% of the 159 rare plants in the country are found in Shimba Hills especially the endangered species of cycad and orchids. It is a home for butterflies and birds. The gazette of Shimba Hills as a National Forest was in 1903 and grassland areas were incorporated in 1924. The reserve was double gazetted as the Shimba Hills National Reserve in 1968 Mkongani West Forest Reserve and Mkongani North remain as Forest Reserves to the west of Shimba Hills. On the north of Shimba Hills lies Mwaluganje Forest Reserve. Shimba Hills is rich in flora and fauna and is the home for many African elephant in Kenya. Bushy tailed mongoose, sable antelope, elephant shrew, black and rufous etc are among other animal spec...