TIPS FOR WOMEN TRAVELLING TO KENYA

TRAVEL TIPS FOR WOMEN TRAVELING TO KENYA

If you're a woman traveling to Kenya, personal safety is probably the number one concern you have. But for women traveling to Kenya on their own, if they follow some basic precautions, they should be OK. Thousands of women travel alone in Kenya each year and have a great time.

Of course basic health and safety precautions should be followed by all travelers to Africa but here we concentrate on issues particular to women visiting Kenya.

How to Deal With Unwanted Sexual Attention

Women traveling alone in Kenya will likely experience some unsolicited attention from men but it's usually more annoying than dangerous. The basic problem lies in the fact that local women will rarely travel alone, it's just not culturally acceptable, but situation is changing. So along with Hollywood movies and scantily clad western female tourists on the beaches, the idea that western women are "available" is quite pervasive. This is though not a cause for alarm.

Basic rules:

• Ignore cat calls, tsskkss's, whistles and anything else thrown at you verbally by bored men.
• Wear sunglasses to avoid direct eye contact with men.
• Respect the culture you are in.
• Dress conservatively. This is very important in Muslim regions like Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu if you want to avoid extra attention. No mini skirts, shorts, tank tops or tight shirts.
• Don't go out on your own at night unless of course in the hotel you are staying
• Say you are married and carry a photo of your 'husband' with you or just say your hubby works for FBI
• If you feel you are being harassed or followed, walk into a shop or hotel and ask for help.
• If you are lost ask directions from a woman or family.
• Make a scene if you are groped or pinched and shame the person publicly. A shout will usually do the trick.
• Stay in a hotel where you can lock your door at night. Family hotels are often the most comfortable for women traveling on their own.

Female Health Issues

• Bring your own feminine hygiene products with you. Sanitary towels are available and most major towns will have supplies but you probably won't have a lot of choice and they'll be very expensive.
• Other medical supplies you should pack include a couple of treatments for UTI's and yeast infections. If you are on the pill, bring enough to last your whole trip. Remember that a bout of diarrhea or vomiting will render the pill ineffective, so be careful.
• If you are pregnant and traveling, or find out you are pregnant while traveling, consult your tour guide to find the best hospital for regular check ups. Or simply find a Traveling Companion

If you find yourself in a situation where you aren't comfortable traveling on your own then it's quite easy to find yourself some travel companions. You'll be able to meet local women a lot easier that way.

• Buy a travel guide magazine and stay in a recommended hotel. The hotel will be filled with independent travelers who usually don't mind at all if you tag along for the day or a week or even a month
• Post your itinerary on masimba safaris tips for women travelers. As this is a good site where you could find a travel companion.
• Join local tours when you first arrive so you can get your bearings and acclimatize to the culture.

Women who are Traveling in Africa Now

Finally, I find travel blogs by people who are actually traveling or living in Kenya to be a very useful source of information on current conditions. There are lots of women writing blogs from all over Africa who are either volunteering or traveling there right now and would have excellent advice for you

What to Pack

• Carry short shorts and skirts for use at the coast; go for clothes that will cover the knees and shoulders to respect local cultures in the mainland. 
•  Jeans and t-shirts is highly recommended, as this is what locals wear in many areas.

Avoid anything white while in the parks –

• Kenya’s parks are very dusty and the red soil will instantly dirty light colored clothes.

• Make sure you have a light scarf – it's a really easy way to cover shoulders or hair where appropriate (such as visiting a mosque). There's no need to buy one before you go – you can easily buy a very cheap scarf or sarong once in Kenya.
• Pack some warm layers; don’t assume that Kenya will be constantly hot! Evenings can get pretty cold, particularly in the cold season of June/July.

• Avoid jewelry as it makes you a target for mugger’s pickpockets and there won't be much opportunity to wear it.
• Take plenty of toiletries and cosmetic supplies if your trip will include long periods of time outside of major cities. It can be both expensive and difficult hard to find everything from shampoo to mascara once you get off the beaten track.
• Make sure you take enough sanitary products for the duration of your trip as they can be very difficult to get hold of in some areas
• The same applies to contraceptives (especially oral), so take a full supply.
• If you need to wear lenses, contacts can cause irritation in dusty or sandy areas, so take a pair of glasses just in case and some eye drops to ease discomfort.
• To avoid taking bulky bottles for a long trip (you won't thank yourself for packing a heavy bag in the African heat!), try Lush shampoo bars, which can also double up as soap.
• Take a small scrubbing brush – great for getting out ingrained dirt after long periods in dusty countries, which can make you feel instantly cleaner and better!
• Other great supplies for girls include Echinacea, vitamin C and lavender oil – these can be a great pick-me-up but are hard to find locally outside major towns.
• Iron supplements and dried fruit (e.g. apricots) are helpful during menstruation - excellent for those extra munchies and your body's special needs.

For a woman wishing to travel to Africa, Kenya is the perfect choice and if these simple tips are followed then the safari will be a guaranteed satisfaction.

ENJOY YOUR SAFARI

QUEEN ELIZABETH TREE HOUSE NYERI-KENYA(a young girl climbed into a tree one day a Princess and she climbed down from the tree next day a Queen)

TREE TOP HOTEL KENYA

Treetops Hotel is a hotel in Aberdare National Park in Kenya near the township of Nyeri, 1,966 m (6,450 ft) above sea level on the Aberdare Range and in sight of Mount Kenya. First opened in 1932 by Eric Sherbrooke Walker, it was literally built into the tops of the trees of Aberdare National Park as a treehouse, offering the guests a close view of the local wildlife in complete safety. The idea was to provide a machan (hunting platform on a tree during shikar in India) experience in relative safety and comfort. From the original modest two room tree house, it has grown into 50 rooms. The original structure was burned down by African guerrillas during the 1954 Mau Mau Uprising, but the hotel was rebuilt near the same waterhole and has become fashionable for many of the rich and famous. It includes observation lounges and ground level photographic hides from which guests can observe the local wildlife which come to the nearby waterholes.

The hotel is known as the location where Princess Elizabeth acceded to the throne of the United Kingdom upon the death of her father George VI during a visit in 1952.

ESTABLISHMENT 

The initial idea of Major Eric Sherbrooke Walker, who owned land in the Aberdeen Range, was to build a treehouse for his wife "Lady Bettie", who liked them. The idea grew, and ultimately the couple oversaw the construction of a two-room treehouse in a huge, 300-year-old ficus|fig tree as an adjunct facility to the Outspan Hotel (which they built and owned) in 1932. Initial construction was hampered by the presence of wild animals, as the treehouse was purposely built beside animal trails leading to a nearby waterhole. Laborers and supervisors were often chased away by wild animals, which led to increased labor costs

While originally two rooms, and open only on Wednesday nights to overnight guests as a night-viewing platform, rising demand forced the Walkers to accommodate more visitors. The visit of Princess Elizabeth, and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh to Kenya in 1952 led to their visit to the Treetops as personal guests of the Walkers. The Treetops was reinforced, and its capacity was increased to four rooms 

Succession of Queen Elizabeth II

Treetops came into public notice when Princess Elizabeth, as she then was, stayed there at the death of her father, George VI, which occurred on the night of February 5-6, 1952, while she was at Treetops. She learned of the fact, however, after having left, at Sagana Lodge. She was the first British monarch since George I to be outside the country at the moment of succession, and also the first in modern times not to know the exact time of her accession because her father had died in his sleep at an unknown time. On the night her father died, before the event was known, Sir Horace Hearne, then Chief Justice of Kenya, had escorted the princess and her husband, Prince Philip, to a state dinner at the Treetops Hotel. After word of George VI's death reached the new queen the following day, she returned immediately to Britain

a young girl climbed into a tree one day a Princess and after having what she described as her most thrilling experience she climbed down from the tree next day a Queen.

 THE QUEEN WITH A GUARD.

TREE TOP RE-FURNISHED

The Treetops was rebuilt in 1957 on a nearby chestnut tree overlooking the same waterhole and salt lick near the elephant migration pathway to Mount Kenya, and has grown to about 50 rooms, with the hotel being built on additional stilt support. It rises straight out of the ground on stilts and has four decks and a roof top viewing platform. The accommodation is compact and cozy, consisting of 50 rooms.

The rise in popularity of the Treetops is partially due to Elizabeth II's visit and accession in 1952, but also partially due to their no see, no pay policy during their early years — a common business policy on safaris, where guests were not charged for services if they failed to see any big game.

Visitors can observe the wildlife from the top deck, the viewing windows in the communal space, or from ground level hides. They can also take motor tours from the Treetops. The Treetops remains an overnight destination, with only overnight luggage being allowed, and visitors being driven in from the Outspan for the night. Other facilities include a thousand watt artificial moon used to illuminate animals at the waterhole during dark nights. Another unusual restriction at the Treetops is a low decibel level restriction due to the hearing sensitivity of many animals, including a ban on all hard-soled footwear

Currently, the Treetops is run by the Aberdare Safari Hotels which acquired the two properties, Outspan and Treetops in 1978. Following the success of Treetops, another treetop lodge — the Shimba, was opened by the Aberdare Safari Hotels group in the Shimba Hills National Reserve.

Aberdare Safari Hotels have embarked on an initiative dubbed “Return the Bush” in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service. The initiative involves the rehabilitation of 125 Ha of Aberdare National park that has been degraded by the toll the fenced-in Elephant population has exerted on the ecosystem. The electric fencing for the paddock covering an area of 16.5 Ha around the lodge was completed. The paddocking enables reforestation as well as the natural regeneration of the local flora within the paddock.

QUEEN'S ROOM 

The queens room is a magnificent room with a good view of the park from the balcony. It has a big king size bed, a spacious bathroom. its the most spacious room at the tree tops. i had a chance to visit the room and took some great photos

i seated at the queens bed. its so magnificent 

queens bathroom.

 queens balcony facing the waterhole.

Notable visitors

Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts movement, was a resident of Nyeri and a frequent visitor to Treetops. In 1938, he commissioned a cottage on the grounds of the Outspan Hotel, which he named Paxtu. The final resting place of Baden-Powell and his wife Olave, is located nearby. Jim Corbett, hunter, conservationist, and author, who accompanied Elizabeth II during her stay at treetops in February 6, 1952, lived in the same house, as Baden-Powell, and is buried nearby, next to Baden-Powell and his wife Olave.

The visit of Princess Elizabeth cemented the fame of The Treetops.the Treetops has attracted a large number of rich and famous people every year, Some famous personalities who have visited  visited the Treetops before or after the accession of Elizabeth II are Charles Chaplin,  Bernard Macharia, Joan Crawford and Lord Mountbatten and a much-publicized return visit by Elizabeth II in 1983. 

TREE TOPS HOTEL IS JUST THE PLACE TO BE AND ENJOY TO THE FULLEST.. 

  

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