Nairobi Favorites

Favorite thing: Known as the safari capital of Africa, this former Maasai watering hole is an energetic, modern city that offers a fascinating introduction to both wildlife and nightlife.

Music clubs pulse with life, shops and markets bustle, and international restaurants sit alongside those offering more regional fare.

Fondest memory: Top sights include the Karen Blixen Museum, Giraffe Centre and the black rhinos of Nairobi National Park. The compact city center is safe to walk in and taxis make other areas accessible.

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Favorite thing: The man who arranged for my Mission trip - a very humble man, took us to his house, however we arranged that we stay with his brother who is well off.

People like Nicholas who cannot afford a real house, rent rooms actually.
These little rooms are neat and clean but really very poor. They are seperated by a huge white piece of cloth hanging from the ceiling reaching the floor, and they use the back space for a place to sleep. It is actually a small bench.
In the entrance they have one or two very small armchairs, and a small sofa. They cook outside. (See the photos).

They are happy and love life, strive for a better life.
What they really ask from us? .....Not to forget them!

Favorite thing: In Kenya food and drinks should always be treated with some consideration. Tap water is never safe in Kenya. Always drink bottled water, which can be bought throughout the country in sizes between 0,20 and 5 litres. Be aware that there are less refridgerators in Kenya than in North America or Europe, and many people in Kenya don’t use the same standards of hygiene when handling food.

Meat, fish, eggs, and to a lesser extent dairy products and anything that isn't cooked or baked is riskier than other cooked products (rice, potatoes, vegetables, etc.) This also goes for "fresh" fruit cocktails, et cetera. Better take soft drinks, bottled water, tea or coffee (especially when the water was really boiled).

Favorite thing: Kenya does not have a good mobile phone network no matter what other people say. There were times when my local friends were trying and trying to get a line and communicate with their people and it was not always possible. The areas however where the bulk of tourists are staying, all have roaming. Rates depend on your own mobile phone company and can be high – check them before you leave.

Be aware that Kenya uses the GSM 900 system, which is compatible with European mobile phones but not with American or Canadian phones (which work on the 850/1900 system). A way to make cheap mobile phone calls within Kenya, is buying a SIM card from Telkom or Safaricom. Your mobile phone has to be SIM-lock-free for this.

Another very popular is the Orange card....but I had a Safaricom while in Kenya and I was very satisfied with it.

Favorite thing: In general, Kenya’s communications system is relatively good and there are many ways to make phone calls.

The international access code for calling to Kenya from another country, is +254. If you’re calling from Kenya to another country, dial 000 before dialing the international access code (but dial 006 for Uganda and 007 for Tanzania).

Favorite thing: The Swahili of Kenya bathe brides in sandalwood oils and tatoo henna designs on her limbs. A women elder, or somo, gives instructions to the bride on how to please her husband. Sometimes the somo will even hide under the bed in case there are any problems!

In another area of Kenya the main feature of the wedding is the kupamba, which happens the night after the wedding, it is basically a display of the bride. It is very popular because it is a party just for the women, and when they enter the party they are able to take off their large veils and show off elaborate hairstyles and dresses. The party can almost become a competition because it is believed that if a women has a good husband he will get her beautiful jewelry and clothes.

For the Samburu tribe marriage is a unique series of elaborate ritual. Great importance is given to the preparation of gifts by the bridegroom (two goatskins, two copper earrings, a container for milk, a sheep) and of gifts for the ceremony. The marriage is concluded when a bull enters a hut guarded by the bride's mother, and is killed.

Favorite thing: The Massai people of Kenya grow up with children of their own age and normally form relationships with these people. However, in marriage women are given to a man they do not know who is much older then themselves. The bride packs all her belongings and is dressed in her finest jewelry. At the marriage ceremony the father of the bride spits on the brides head and breasts as a blessing and then she leaves with her husband walking to her new home she never looks back fearing that she will turn to stone. This can be a very sad experience for the bride, who is 13-16 years old and may walk a long way to get to her new house. In order to ward off bad luck sometimes the women of the grooms family will even insult the bride.

Favorite thing: African weddings are a family affair and involve the combining of two lives, two families, and sometimes even two communities! There are many different wedding traditions in the African continent and no two are exactly alike. However, in all the communities the bride plays a very special role and is treated with respect because she is a link between the unborn and the ancestors. A bride might eventually bear a very powerful child, so she is treated with respect. In some areas of East Africa the grooms family would even move to the brides village and set up a whole new house there.

There are many steps that take place before marriage starting at a very young age where training takes place in how to be a suitable partner. Girls will many times go to circumcision schools where women teach them what is involved in marriage, and in some ethnic groups even learn secret codes and languages so that they can communicate with other married women. In the Wolof tribe there is even a time where the elders of the village gather with the bride and give advice and gifts.

Weddings can be very elaborate, involving feasting and dancing for days within a community, they can be very simple, or they can even be performed in huge marriage ceremonies involving many different couples.