When William Shakespeare wrote the play, Merchant of Venice between 1596 and 1598, he may not have thought of how the Italian resort would resonate with global tourism 400 years later. The play may have portrayed the Elizabethan English but the choice of Venice as the setting was not by accident. Venice was by then a commercial hub known for its wealth and commercial attributes. It was one of the wealthiest cities in Europe due to its strategic location within the Mediterranean region where goods from all over the world were traded. A couple of days ago, Venice was at the centre of yet another glamorous…
Author: Peter Muiruri
When William Shakespeare wrote the play, Merchant of Venice between 1596 and 1598, he may not have thought of how the Italian resort would resonate with global tourism 400 years later. The play may have portrayed the Elizabethan English but the choice of Venice as the setting was not by accident. Venice was by then a commercial hub known for its wealth and commercial attributes. It was one of the wealthiest cities in Europe due to its strategic location within the Mediterranean region where goods from all over the world were traded. A couple of days ago, Venice was at the centre of yet another glamorous…
Men die younger than women. Men are over-represented in almost every major disease category. Their masculine norms and the nature of paid work contribute to this. Yet, their health issues are not just about them; they matter to everyone. While these may look like cold facts about men’s health, they are from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a global agency that knows quite a bit more about global health issues. They show that despite the ‘privileged’ position men occupy in society including being paid 20 per cent more than women, filling more parliaments, and owning more businesses, they still…
It was day two of our tour of the Mara, and this time, Loyk Mara would be our home for the night. The previous day, our small team had scoured the length and breadth of Mara Enkaji with its sustainable setup. What surprises would Loyk throw our way? After a hearty English breakfast at Enkaji, we hit the road. Before detouring on a dusty and uneven road towards Talek, we made a brief stop at Sekenani, the main gate to Maasai Mara National Reserve. Here, tourist vans parked by the big entrance, the occupants eager for a game drive in the…
It was day two of our tour of the Mara, and this time, Loyk Mara would be our home for the night. The previous day, our small team had scoured the length and breadth of Mara Enkaji with its sustainable setup. What surprises would Loyk throw our way? After a hearty English breakfast at Enkaji, we hit the road. Before detouring on a dusty and uneven road towards Talek, we made a brief stop at Sekenani, the main gate to Maasai Mara National Reserve. Here, tourist vans parked by the big entrance, the occupants eager for a game drive in the…
Maasai Mara is a land of superlatives. It is one of the most written-about animal reserves in the world, and although not the biggest (at least in comparison with the neighbouring Serengeti), Mara, as it is known, stands in a class of its own. Epic big cat chases reel in global filmmakers and tourists alike, turning the local plains into one big wild theatre. The local Maasai community, whose legendary customs and hospitality make them one of the world’s well-recognised people, call Mara and the environs home. For beginners, Mara is like a multifaceted jewel that sparkles on every side…
Maasai Mara is a land of superlatives. It is one of the most written-about animal reserves in the world, and although not the biggest (at least in comparison with the neighbouring Serengeti), Mara, as it is known, stands in a class of its own. Epic big cat chases reel in global filmmakers and tourists alike, turning the local plains into one big wild theatre. The local Maasai community, whose legendary customs and hospitality make them one of the world’s well-recognised people, call Mara and the environs home. For beginners, Mara is like a multifaceted jewel that sparkles on every side…
Evolution of bush dining in the Mara. (Courtesy) On a hill overlooking the heart of the Masai Mara wilderness, Samuel Karkar sets up a portable grill on a gas stove. Here, he will skew some sausages while pieces of bacon fry on low heat on an adjacent iron cast pan. Set on a nearby set table are various types of cereals, cold milk, freshly-squeezed juice, honey and several bread spreads. The table stands in sharp contrast to the red oat grass and a favourite for the ungulates. Samuel, who grew up near Talek in Mara, had woken up some minutes…
Trends that will shape travel in 2025. (Courtesy) The year 2024 began by riding on the successes of the previous year. According to Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the country recorded 2.09 million tourists in 2023, a 35.4 per cent increase from the 1.54 million tourists who visited the country in 2022. Due to the large number of tourists, bed nights increased to 8.6 million in 2023. By the end of 2024, Kenya was poised to receive more than three million visitors with industry leaders projecting arrivals to hit the five-million mark by 2027. However, higher visitor…
A foot path at the AA Lodge Maasai Mara leading to the cottages. (PHOTO/FIDELIS KABUNYI) In an age where over-tourism is a leading cause of environmental degradation, loss of cultural and natural sites, sustainable tourism is helping preserve local destinations for future generations. This is not only by managing visitor numbers but also promoting healthy behaviours. A growing trend within the local hospitality industry is the propagation of small gardens within hotels, lodges and other tourism hotspots, supplementing the food consumed in these destinations. Apart from the promotions of sustainable travel practices, these gardens are encouraging the efficient use of…
Smocha [TikTok] Kenya’s growing street food culture has gone global, thanks to local and international content creators. Take smocha, a mix of smokies, chapati, and salad for example. It has become a staple street food competing for attention with nyama choma and captivating food lovers from all over the world. The vibrancy of the Kenyan culinary revolution is being amplified globally through TikTok, the video-sharing platform with hashtags such as #Food with 43.5 million posts, #FoodTikTok with 10.4 million posts, and #StreetFood with 1.4 million posts. Local creators are also using the hashtag #KenyanFood to bring the rich flavours of Kenyan street cuisine to an international audience.…