Follow your Instinct… to Kenya

Temperatures over much of Kenya are temperate, because much of the country is well above sea level. They are similar to those in California or southern Britain rather than those elsewhere in Africa.

Only the coast experiences the constant high temperatures and humidity associated with being on the equator. Even here they are less oppressive than you might experience in other equatorial countires, because of the regular daytime sea breezes and longer hours of sunshine.

Kenya experiences two rainy seasons: the first tends to occur between April and June and the second, shorter one between October and November.  To have two rainy seasons is unusual for an Africa country, and has helped boost the variety and quantity of wildlife and fauna in Kenya.

Where mankind began?

The history of Kenya could well be the history of civilisation itself! In 1959 Dr Louis Leakey discovered skull fragments that dated back 1.75 million years – giving a strong indication that mankind itself began in East Africa.  Since then further discoveries have reinforced this belief, including that of the ‘Millennium Man’ uncovered in 2000 by a French-Kenyan team.

These discoveries suggest there was civilisation in Kenya at least 2 million years ago. So is Kenya where the story of mankind began?

Discussion of this topic continues to rage in historical societies across the world, and Kenya’s place at the centre of the debate has won it many visitors keen to explore what could be the birthplace of man.

Moving forward in history, migration into Kenya has spurred a cultural diversity that persists today. Immigrants have come from many of Kenya’s neighbouring countries, and have also arrived in Kenya via the coast – where many Muslim, European, Persian and Asian workers entered,  leaving their lasting mark on the nation. The coastal region has a particularly colourful history, which is very much reflected in its culture, architecture and food.

Visitors and rulers have come from Arabian, Asian and European cultures, making Kenya a fascinating mixture of traditions. One of the more recent invasions was staged by the British, and endured for nearly a century; a lasting reminder of British colonial rule is the Nairobi to Uganda railway, the half-way point of which is roughly where Nairobi stands today. Indeed it was the building of the railway that led to Nairobi’s founding.

The country’s independence from British colonial rule was returned in 1963, when Kenya became a Republic with Jomo Kenyatta as its first president.

 To request a brochure, please email: kenya@hillsbalfour.com  

In December 1967 a party of Swiss travellers flew, for the first time, from Basle to Mombasa in order to escape the cold of the European winter and fell in love with Kenya’s fascinating wildlife, stunning landscapes and natural beauty.

Their enthusiasm for sharing this beautiful country with other travellers led to the creation of a group of Companies of which African Safari Club is part. Their enthusiasm continues to this day with the same philosophy of offering an affordable and unparalleled holiday experience in one of Africa’s most fascinating and diverse countries.

From these small beginnings the group now controls 8 hotels in Kenya and six safari lodges and camps, together with its own transfer and safari vehicles as well as a fleet of light aircraft to fly you to or from the wilderness game reserves from a private airstrip.

The infrastructure also includes African Safari Airways who operate an Airbus A310-308 aircraft between Gatwick and various other European gateways and Mombasa several times a week.

Since 1990 we have offered a year-round programme of cruises aboard the charming and yacht-like M.S. Royal Star to the idyllic and relatively uncommercialised islands of the Indian Ocean.

Nothing is left to others, or indeed to chance, as all aspects of our holidays are managed and controlled by African Safari Club’s well-trained staff. More importantly, it enables us to offer the chance to visit this truly memorable country at a price that is both affordable and good value for money, just as our Swiss founders intended.

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