Mr & Mrs Lasekan – Mnarani Club & Spa, Kenya

Our experience here in Mnarani Kenya was such an amazing one. We had quite enough time to rest (what we cna’t 100% in Lagos).

The spa was very much of help to us. We enjoyed the non-motorised water sports. Kilifi envoriment and the people of Kenya are of good hospitality (they welcomed us warmly). You have amazing staffs.

We look forward to having more of our holidays here in Kenya.

Mr & Mrs Lasekan
– Mnarani Club & Spa, Kenya

Why tasting local food enhance your travel experience

When you travel, the local food is an opening into the culture, people and country. Local food gives a deeper and more meaningful understanding of your destination.

How do you eat when you travel?

Do you eat familiar foods or do you try unique and local foods? We encourage you to experiment and eat local for an enhanced travel experience. Discovering local foods is a huge part of travel and there’s always something new to find.

‘…enhanced travel…’

Connect to the local people.

One of the best ways to find local and authentic dishes on your travels is to ask the locals. Be curious about foods and unusual displays. If you see something you’ve never seen before, simply ask the vendor what it is.  The vendor will more than likely give you a taste.

If it’s something that needs to be cooked, ask for the name of a dish that has that ingredient and the best place where you can try it. You will notice the local people will go out of their way to help. Food fortunately is a universal language that everybody understands. By displaying curiosity, you will find that you can communicate and connect in meaningful and unexpected ways.

‘…authentic dishes on your travels…’

Eat where the locals eat.

As you travel and visit local eating spots, usually located a few streets away from the beach or main roads, you’ll taste the most genuine food and you will be contributing money into deserving pockets.

‘…travel and visit local eating spots…’

Open up to new tastes, flavours and textures.

Traveling to new destinations is the perfect opportunity to eat something new. When you go local and seek out the regional dishes, the better your chances are of discovering new tastes, flavours and textures. Traveling allows you to become more adventurous in your food choices. You discover new foods and also rediscover new ways of cooking foods you would usually avoid.

‘…become more adventurous…’

Visit the local food market.

Get a slice of local life at a local food market where you will see what grows locally and what’s in season. You’ll discover fruits and vegetables you’ve never seen or heard of before. The local markets also offer ready-made dishes for you to enjoy and most have gifts you can purchase to take back home.

‘…discover fruits and vegetable never seen or heard of…’

Visit local stores and supermarkets.

Take the time to explore the local shops and larger supermarkets. These outlets are a window into the country’s way of life. See if they eat foods that are familiar to you, then see what new offerings you can find.

‘…a window into the country’s way of life…’

Visit farms and harbours.

See what’s growing in the soil and in the fields and find out what the fishermen are bringing to shore. If you’re lucky you may even find fish and shellfish straight from the boats, cooked or not and ready to eat. You’ll never find fresher fish than at the harbour.

‘…fish and shellfish straight from the boats…’

Without food, there is no authentic travel experience. By discovering new tastes and flavours, you gain a new appreciation and perspective of the places you visit.

Kenya is one of the greatest holiday destinations

Can you imagine being surrounded by astonishingly beautiful mountains, perfect tropical weather, and a coast line that beats most in the world? This thought briefly describes Kenya, one of the greatest holiday destinations that will take your breath away. Kenya is a dazzling African country with white sandy beaches and amazing landscapes.

Let us tell you more about Kenya and why you should plan your next trip to the gorgeous country.

‘…will take your breath away…’

Abundant Conservancies

Kenya is one of the countries that cares about the global climate and conservation.  To conserve the environment they have over 60 conservancies in the country that ensure no human interference with natural animal habitats.

‘…no human interference with natural animal habitats…’

Delightful Weather

Usually, the weather is the first thing people consider when planning a vacation. Kenya enjoys beautiful tropical weather with long sun filled days and gorgeous star lit nights and just enough rain to make the country absolutely lush.

‘…sun filled days and star lit nights…’

Friendly People

Kenyans are friendly people; they embody this culture to the fullest. The people are always ready to help and they absolutely love foreigners. You will get the most gracious of assistance in Kenya, every request is met with a smile and grace, and all you have to do is ask.

‘…smile and grace…’

Great Wildebeest Migration

Where in the world can you see more than two million animals moving from one national park to another? The Great Wildebeest Migration take place.  This happens between Serengeti in Tanzania and Maasai Mara in Kenya and has been called one of the ‘7 New Wonders of the World’. This is a sight to behold; where else can you see this other than in the Maasai Mara in Kenya?

‘…a sight to behold…’

Luxury Hotels and Resorts

Kenya has an assortment of gorgeous five star hotels that live up to the highest possible world standards.

‘…gorgeous five star…’

Marvellous Lodges and Camping Sites

Kenya has beautiful star-lit nights that you have to see! You can enjoy the stars and nature on cool evenings in the African bush while staying at luxurious lodges and camping sites situated in the most strategic places in the country.

‘…luxurious lodges…’

Massive Mt. Kenya

Africa’s second highest peak lies in the middle of Kenya. Mt. Kenya is not only beautiful, she is rugged, challenging, and stands tall above all others except Kilimanjaro.  The highest peaks on Mt. Kenya are Nelion and Batian; it takes guts, skill and top notch training to scale. As far as your eyes can see and the clouds will let you, you can practically see the whole country from this point.

‘…rugged, challenging, stands tall…’

Spectacular Safaris

There is balloon safaris that give you the most gorgeous bird’s eye view of the plains and actual game drives that make your heart pump. The safaris are absolutely picturesque.

‘…make your heart pump…’

Stunning Plains

From the Mara Plains to the Serengeti that straddle Kenya and Tanzania, the grasslands are magnificent. Here you will also see the exotic wildlife such as zebras, gazelles, cheetahs, lions and a host of other wild animals indigenous to this part of Kenya’s beautiful plains.

‘…magnificent grassland and exotic wildlife…’

Superb Kenyan Coast

The island life on the coast of Kenya consists of many beautiful Indian Ocean islands that will not only take your breath away with their sheer beauty but with the kind of laid back lifestyle and weather.  You can swim with the dolphins in the ocean and drink coconut filled drinks for days on end while taking in the beautiful coastal sunsets and enjoying the cool breeze that comes with them.

‘…swim with dolphins in the ocean…’

Wonderful Wildlife

Kenya has it all, from the Big Five, to some of the most exotic and breath-taking wildlife you will ever see. The best part is that you can actually see these animals in their natural habitat. You can even touch, feed and ride them if you know where to go.

‘…animals you can touch, feed and ride…’

Kenya just has to be on your dream destination vacation list, do it now, we guarantee you will have no regrets!

South Africa is open to all tourists

South Africa’s borders reopened

South Africa’s borders have reopened for tourists from around the globe with the only requirement being a coronavirus test taken no more than 72 hours before departure to spectacular South Africa.

Health and safety protocols

South Africa’s tourism sector has instituted stringent health and hygiene safety protocols, and the country is ready to welcome guests safely and in comfort to plenty tourism opportunities, world-class services and experiences.

‘… world-class experiences…’

Abundance of outdoor activities

South Africa offers an abundance of outdoor and socially distanced activities for tourists, so it’s a perfect place to consider for your next trip. South Africa is definitely a destination for travellers looking for fresh air and wonderful weather. Tourists from around the world love South Africa, a top holiday destination!

‘…fresh air…’

From its nature reserves, towns, cities, coastlines and cultures, South Africa is an adventure of matchless and thrilling activities that you definitely want to see at least once in your lifetime.

‘… matchless thrilling activities…’

Beautiful natural places

There is many national parks and beautiful natural places to visit, a favorite is the famous Kruger National Park where visitors are sure to see Africa’s Big Five; the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.

‘… Africa’s Big Five…’

South Africa has many beautiful natural phenomenon, a main attraction is the splendid Table Mountain, and you can view its beauty from afar, hike up with a guide or book a ride in a cable car going up the mountain to admire its diverse flora up close.

‘… natural phenomenon…’

Another beautiful nature reserve that visitors love is the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. The reserve has many rare plant species, walking trails and mountain views.

‘…nature, rare plants and mountain views…’

Great urban lifestyle

South Africa also has a great urban lifestyle, a popular international site for tourists is the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town. The enormous mall is a delight to shoppers from all around the world. There are five-star restaurants, food markets and activities ranging from historical walking tours, boat rides, museums and a splendid aquarium. A day trip that leaves from the waterfront that is definitely worth a visit is Robben Island; it’s an inspiring educational trip that tells the history of the struggles for people’s rights while showcasing natural surrounding beauty.

‘…beauty, museums and aquariums…’

Interesting history

Because South Africa has an interesting and extensive history there are amazing places to visit and learn more about their history. These include the Apartheid Museum which tells the story of 20^th Century South Africa and the now-defunct apartheid system. There’s also The Mandela House, a restored dwelling of the famous South African leader.

There are so many more museums and historical sites that tell South Africa’s story these include The Castle of Good Hope, an expansive and colonial 17^th century castle that is now a provincial heritage site. There’s the Cango Caves, a historical network of caves with large mineral formations. There’s also the Voortrekker Monument which commemorates the Afrikaans settlers who arrived in 1830.

‘…historical sites…’

Fun and thrills

Other places to venture to include Gold Reef City in Johannesburg which has more than 40 roller coasters and thrill rides, an interactive history of gold mining and a 4D theatre, it’s a place that you definitely don’t want to miss with the family.

There are so many more fun sites and resorts that you need to visit, one of the most famous being Sun City. A beautiful resort with pools, water parks and multitude of restaurants and bars to choose from.

‘…roller coasters and water parks…’

Excitement throughout the year

Throughout the country there is impressive landscapes, beautiful beaches, and a wealth of top-rated accommodations, farmlands and vineyards. South Africa is filled with opportunities for luxurious comfort and thrill-seeking excitement with a climate that remains comfortable throughout the year.  Whether you want to cross vast wildernesses, search for predators in the bushveld or just lounge on the beach, South Africa has it covered.  Other activities include bungee jumping, abseiling, rafting, surfing, canoeing, diving, horse riding, hiking and much, much more!

‘…beaches, accommodation, luxury and so much more…’

Food and drinks

South Africa offers mouth-watering food and thirst-quenching drinks. From Cape Malay curries in Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap to Xhosa dishes in the townships, you won’t be disappointed.  There are many food markets to try farm-fresh goodies.  When visiting don’t be hesitant to try a wine tour where you can experience centuries of stunning estates and wine farms.  Local beers are always worth a sip.  A bunny chow in Durban is a definite not to be missed meal, it’s a creation from Durban consisting of a hollow bread loaf filled with curry.

‘…mouth-watering and thirst quenching…’

With borders open in South Africa, we hope the above sneak preview will make you want to book you trip as soon as possible.

‘…book as soon as possible…’

What’s expected from travellers arriving in South Africa?

Three major airports for international travel

South Africa has re-opened three major airports for international travel. These airports are Cape Town International, OR Tambo in Johannesburg and King Shaka International in Durban.

Expectations upon arrival

This welcome announcement has generated a lot of questions from travellers about the different requirements for travelling to South Africa. This article answers any grey area questions and explains what you can expect upon arrival.

Adhere to procedures

On arrival in South Africa, all travellers will need to adhere to the following procedures:

• Present a negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours from time of departure; this includes infants and children. Covid-19 tests must be from a registered health practitioner or laboratory.
• Where a traveller has not done a Covid-19 test prior to departure, they will be required to remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost for the period of ten (10)
  days.
• All travellers will be subjected to screening by health officials upon arrival and departure.
• All travellers detected with symptoms will be required to remain in mandatory quarantine facilities and have a repeat Covid-19 test conducted at their own cost.
• The approximate cost for a COVID test ranges from R850.00 to R1300.00 per person.
• Every traveller must have mandatory travel insurance.
• All travellers must complete a Traveller Health Questionnaire prior to arrival or upon arrival.
• Beside the health protocols, travellers will still be subjected to other formal border processes. All travellers should wear masks at all times whilst in the controlled airport area and adhere to social distance as part of queue management protocol.
• Travellers must travel with their accommodation confirmations. Travellers must download the South African COVID Alert App. The app uses Bluetooth contact-tracing technology to let people know if they have been in contact with someone who has Covid-19. It gives everyone the chance to understand their exposure to the virus.

‘…adhere to procedures…’

Depending on the airline used, when departing from South Africa, travellers will require another Covid-19 test taken 48 to 72 hours prior to departure.

According to the World Health Organization guidelines, South Africa is travel ready with the majority of establishments putting strict health and safety measures in place. Travellers can
take comfort in the knowledge that the South African tourism industry is reviving, and the safety of tourists is undoubtedly priority number one. Accepting that safety is a shared responsibility, South Africa welcomes back the many pleasure that tourists have missed for so long.

‘…safety is priority number one…’

South-African Borders are Open

h2>Continent of Africa welcome to visit

South Africa’s borders start to reopen for tourism on 1^st October 2020. The good news is that Nigeria and the rest of the African continent are allowed to visit.

At the start flights are limited to the country’s main international airports; Cape Town airport, OR Tambo in Johannesburg and King Shaka in Durban.

The three international airports are ready to facilitate cross-border travel and will obey the measures and protocols that are in place for safe world travel.

Easy entry requirements

For the safety of tourists, South Africa recommends and will ask travellers to download the ‘Covid Alert South Africa’ mobile app but this is not compulsory.

On arrival, travellers need to present a negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours from time of departure.

All travellers will be screened on arrival and those who show symptoms will be required to have a Covid-19 test.  Where necessary, travellers will need to enter mandatory quarantine facilities at their own cost.

At the moment the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Russia, France and the Netherlands are considered high-risk countries and are not permitted entry into South Africa. The high-risk category is drawn up in terms of the World Health Organisation criteria and will be revised every two weeks.

Recovery of tourism

South Africa announced that they are really looking forward to welcoming visitors once again. The opening of borders is a major milestone towards the recovery of tourism on the African continent. South Africa is among the safest tourist destinations in the world.

After six months of lockdown, South Africa is eager to rejuvenate tourism and share the adventures, game drives, hiking and other unbelievable memorable tourism experiences that the country has to offer.

Amazing holiday destination

South Africa has astounding natural beauty and is more often than not picked as the most amazing holiday destination by tourists. Tourists love the beaches, the luxury accommodation and beautiful coastal drives.  South Africa also has an astonishing variety of marine life; it’s the best place in the world to view whales from beaches and to swim with great white sharks.

With some of the best national parks in the world, South Africa has been rated the finest wildlife destination on earth. It’s the perfect place to experience great sunsets with giraffes or elephants. The country has more species of large mammal than anywhere else in the world.

Pink Flamingos return to Kenya’s Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru sees a bright spot on the horizon

The long-missed pink flamingos have returned to Kenya’s Lake Nakuru. Eight years ago, rising water levels at Lake Nakuru drove away the pink-coloured flamingos. The flamingos are the park’s biggest attraction and now they’re back!

Flocks of flamingos

Flamingos are the most instantly recognizable wading birds in the world. They capture the hearts of bird lovers and non-bird lovers! Flocks of flamingos are seen looking for food in the lake’s turquoise waters, while others flap in a wave formation and a rhinoceros grazes nearby.

The return of the flamingos rekindles hopes of a gradual rebound in an area reliant on tourists. Caroline Mwebia, the park’s tourism warden said “with the increase of the number of flamingos we have started seeing visitors also increasing“.

The beautiful flamingos eat insect larvae and algae that gives them their pink hue. High water levels shrink the birds’ ideal breeding and feeding grounds.

Mwebia said “when Nakuru Lake first rose, flamingos left for nearby lakes like Bogoria and Baringo whose waters were shallower. But heavy rains in recent years have also flooded those lakes, forcing the birds to return to Nakuru, where they are an intrinsic attraction.”

The flamingos are so popular that the street leading up to the park is decorated with flamingo-shaped lampposts.

‘…they are an intrinsic attraction…’

Some Flamingo Trivia

• There are only six species of flamingos in the world, they all belong to the bird family Phoenicopteridae, and they are the only members of that scientific bird family.
• Flamingos are popular guests in many zoos, aviaries, aquariums, marine parks, and botanical gardens well outside their native ranges.
• The word ‘flamingo’ comes from the Spanish and Latin word ‘flamenco’ which means fire, and refers to the bright colour of the birds’ feathers.
• Not all flamingos are brightly coloured, some of the birds are mostly grey or white. The strength of a flamingo’s coloration comes from its diet. Younger birds also have less coloration.
• While flamingos are considered wading birds, the same classification as herons, egrets, spoonbills, and cranes, they are most closely related to grebes genetically.
• Flamingos are strong but rare swimmers and powerful fliers, even though they’re most often seen just wading. Flamingos do fly very well, however, many flamingos migrate or regularly fly between the best food sources and nesting grounds.
• When flying in a flock, the top speed of a flamingo can be as high as 56 kilometres per hour.
• Flamingos are monogamous birds that lay only a single egg each year. If that egg is lost, stolen, damaged, or does not hatch, they do not typically lay a replacement.
• The pink, orange, or red colour of a flamingo’s feathers is caused by carotenoid pigments in their food. A wild flamingo’s diet includes shrimp, plankton, algae, and crustaceans skimmed from different water sources. In zoos and aviaries, captive flamingos are often fed a specialized diet that helps preserve and enhance their unique coloration.
• Flamingos often stand on one leg to preserve body heat, tucking the other leg into their plumage so it is kept warm. They will alternate legs to regulate their body temperature.
  A flock of flamingos is called a stand, colony, regiment, or flamboyance.
• Flamingos have a wild lifespan of 20-30 years, but in captivity have been recorded as living up to 50 years or longer. Captive flamingos typically live longer because they are not subject to predators, poachers, or other threats.
• Visitors to Lake Nakuru also enjoy the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats. These include the lake itself, the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges.

‘…enjoy the wide ecological diversity…’

Updated – 2021/09/17

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