Kenya Tourist Board shares “Big 5” reasons to visit

The Kenya Tourism Board can think of five big reasons to visit Kenya, and a host of others, as well.

The tourism board’s Luke Jones told a Tuesday Toronto gathering that Kenya offers visitors opportunities to see what are referred to as the Big 5 in African wildlife— elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalo and leopards, with sightings of those and other creatures easily available in the country’s many national parks.

“Every time you go there’s going to be an amazing wildlife encounter,” he told the gathering, which had Kenya hoteliers and tour companies on hand.

Experience wildlife sightings

Nairobi has a national park on its doorstep, making wildlife sightings easily available for those visiting the capital city. Nairobi National Park is a home for the likes of endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and diverse birdlife, with more than 400 species recorded.

Some 30,000 Canadians visited Kenya last year, and Jones declared that interest in the country is on the upswing, adding, “This is going to be the year for Kenya.”

Wildlife is at the core of Kenyan tourism but tourism officials say that’s only one side to their homeland, citing the likes of culture in an ethnically diverse country.

Those officials add that Kenya has a long coast, with Jones stating that a beach stay is a “great way to finish your safari.”

Meanwhile, Kenya Airways says it can easily deliver Canadians to Nairobi. Canadians travelling to New York City can fly with the Kenyan carrier from that city’s JFK Airport non-stop to Nairobi, with the airline now having daily service between the cities.

The airline also serves several European cities, enabling Canadians to also reach Nairobi by first heading to Europe.