Who is Karibu Kenya?

Karibu Kenya is a personalized holiday designer. We create each holiday specifically to the preferences of each group. We have specialized knowledge of all regions of Kenya and we work with highly- certified guides, sustainable safari camps, game-rich conservancies, and ocean-friendly resorts. Karibu Kenya is committed to giving everyone who contacts us the holiday of their dreams.

What is Karibu Kenya’s Mission and Vision?

As a sustainable tourism operator, Karibu Kenya believes that tourism should preserve the environment, protect local communities, and conserve wildlife. We offset the carbon footprint of everyone who travels with us. To this end, we promote well-managed conservancies, offer community-based activities, and work with camps, lodges, resorts, and safari guides who are as dedicated as we are to safeguarding the future of the planet.

What is that one special feature about Karibu Kenya?

I have been traveling around Kenya for fifteen years by car, plane, boat, and on foot. I know Kenya intimately, and I’ve been to every part of the country. At Karibu Kenya, we listen to the preferences of our clients and use our knowledge about Kenya to design the precise holiday that suits each group. Whether you want a bird-watching safari or a photography trip; an adventure for your kids or a secluded honeymoon; a wellness festival or a water sports fiesta, we can cover that for you.

Why should one choose Karibu Kenya when it comes to planning Kenyan holidays?

We know each and every bit of Kenya, we can plan the holidays in the best way. Karibu Kenya grew out of the Karibu Kenya Accommodation Guide which I wrote between 2010 and 2012. In person, I checked out every national park, conservancy and beach; every hotel, resort, safari camp and holiday house; and I wrote about them. The guidebook was endorsed by the Kenya Tourist Board, the Kenya Tourism Federation, and the Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association.

With the in-depth knowledge that I’ve gained about the country from my work in Kenya’s tourist industry and from my research for the guidebook, I intuitively moved into planning holidays. I now use my knowledge of Kenya to create bespoke holidays that will give my clients memories to treasure forever.

Since you are an avid traveler of Kenya and Ethiopia, which is your favorite destination and why?

There are too many famous sites around Kenya and Ethiopia for me to choose one, so I leave it to you to choose.

Kenya:

The lakes of the Rift Valley, tinged pink with flamingos and often surrounded by giraffes, zebras and antelopes, are always a treat to visit. Samburu, with its rocky outcrops and spiky doum palms, is a landscape like no other. The ranches and conservancies of Laikipia, with the views of Mt Kenya and huge herds of animals, are some of the country’s finest safari destinations. Kilifi, at the junction of the imposing creek and stunning Bofa Beach, is one of Kenya’s most lovely coastal towns. The most famous sites in Kenya are the Masai Mara, Diani Beach, Mt Kenya and Lamu Island.

Ethiopia:

Ethiopia has more World Hertiage (sp.) Sites than any other African country. The monasteries, painted exquisitely with Biblical stories; Bahir Dar, on the shores of the lake, is a beautiful town from which you can take boat trips to the islands and the source of the Blue Nile. The Simien Mountains and the Bale Mountains have rare species of wildlife and birdlife, and striking cliffs, valleys and waterfalls. The Danakil Depression is one of the lowest and hottest places on the earth; here, you can see natural oases, gleaming salt lakes and ethereal, colorful, and bubbling Sulphur. Ethiopia has 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than any other African country, including Lalibela ,Harar,  Valley of the Omo and the Simien Mountains.

Are there any less visited places in the country where one can get away from it all?

Despite both Kenya and Ethiopia being popular holiday destinations, there are huge swathes of both countries where you’ll hardly see another visitor. In Kenya, Lake Turkana and the surrounding desert sprawl across northern Kenya; the stunning lake is known as the Jade Sea for its huge expanse of luminouswater. Kakamega Forest, once part of the giant tropical rainforest that stretched across Central Africa, has unusual monkeys and plentiful birdlife in its dense foliage. The rugged Cherangani Hills are filled with great walking trails and incredible viewpoints. Western Kenya also hassome little– and little-known – national parks including Saiwa Swamp, Ruma and Kisumu Impala Sanctuary; each of these is known for specific animal and bird species. The islands in vast Lake Victoria have aquatic and migratory bird species and make tranquil holiday destinations. While Kenya’s coastline has many lively beaches, there are also plenty of beautiful bays where you might only see a fisherman or perhaps a couple of children playing on the rocks; the Lamu Archipelago in Kiunga Marine National Park is a chain of idyllic islands that have changed little for centuries.

In Ethiopia, the large coffee regions, despite growing some of the world’s most aromatic coffee, are rarely explored by visitors. The villages of the Dorze people are high on a mountain with stunning views of Arba Minch, Nechisar National Park and two lovely lakes: Chamo and Abaya. The town of the Konso people is a maze of alleys designed to confuse any visitors; their terraced farming is shrewd and their traditions are cultured. The towering auburn cliffs of Tigrey have ancient churches cut into their peaks and offer exciting climbs and magnificent views.

What do you include while creating a precise holiday from Karibu Kenya?

Kenya has so much to offer that it’s vital I explain what the options are, so visitors can make informed decisions about how they want to spend their holiday I take time to talk to the client and to understand exactly what each person or group wants. This can take several emails and zoom calls. Before I put a holiday together, I need to get a feeling for exactly what they’re interested in. If clients want to see wildlife, I need to know if they’ve been on safari before or whether this is their first trip; if they’re keen to spot rare species or want to focus on the bird life; if they want children’s activities or would like to learn photography.

If they want a beach holiday, I need to know whether they prefer privacy or want a place with plentiful activities; whether they like resorts with multiple restaurants or prefer the seclusion of a beach house; whether they want water sports, golf and boat trips prearranged or prefer exploring on their own. It also depends on the ages of the group. Some families want a holiday where their children can learn Masai skills, water sports, local cuisine and more. Some want to relax while others want to explore. Some want to dine out while others prefer to have a chef at their house.

If one wants to explore Ethiopia, what are the directions that one should follow?

Ethiopia is huge and diverse and has some extraordinary historical and religious sites, dating back to the 4th century; many of these are cut into cliffs that involve intimidating climbs. There are also remote villages where people live according to customs and traditions that haven’t changed for eons. It is, however, important to note that the country has had some unrest in the last couple of years. All visitors should follow the guidance of their tour operators and, most importantly, the advice of their governments.

What do your Yoga and Wellness Retreats have to offer?

I offer lots of different styles of retreats and festivals. Retreats tend to be in a private house or secluded safari camp, and their activities are specific to the group and the location. A retreat at a safari location might include game drives, breakfast in the bush, yoga sessions on the savannah and a walk with Masai guides. At one

recent retreat in the Masai Mara I taught handstands against an acacia tree, guarded by our Masai guide while elephants strolled by, before eating breakfast at a table set up for us on the plains. A retreat in a house might be more reclusive, and include time for reflection, art, discussion and movement. For retreats at the coast, we incorporate boat trips, snorkeling, stand up paddleboard and island visits, while leaving plenty of time for long beach walks. I also offer combination retreats, for example writing and yoga; these could include journaling, editing, content creation and yoga.  I also organize the Kilifi Wellness Festival, which includes a whole host of different sessions in a beautiful location.

The festival takes place at Salty’s Kitesurf Village on Kilifi’s stunning Bofa Beach and 3 Degrees South water sports center on clifflined Kilifi Creek; sessions, workshops and discussions run throughout the four days, and include stand up paddleboard yoga, aerial yoga, circus arts, vinyasa flow, yin, ashtanga, dance, art, animal movements, breathwork, sound bath, nutrition, spoken word, mental health, gender, forgiveness and more. Activities include open mic, cacao ceremony, ecstatic dance, beach party and the moonrise dhow cruise. Therapists are on hand for private sessions of reiki, access bars, sound healing, energy healing, taro treading’s, physiotherapy and massage amongst other things. The festival’s tented marketplace has a wide selection of wellness-related products, eco-friendly designs, nutritious delights, coastal creations and sustainable fashion.

Kenya is Africa’s premier yoga and wellness destination. The country hosts such an extraordinary number of retreats and festivals, of such diversity, that there’s something for everyone. Karibu Kenya promotes all the wellness professionals who are offering these innovative retreats and festivals. Only in Kenya can you experience this unique blend of safari, coast, mountain, yoga and discussion. A page of the Karibu Kenya website is dedicated to showcasing these retreats and festivals, and the specialists who offer them: https:// www.karibukenya.co.uk/yoga

Few words about the book “Karibu Kenya Accommodation Guide” and its availability?

Karibu Kenya Accommodation Guide is a comprehensive guidebook to Kenya, with detailed information on over 850 camps, lodges, hotels and resorts. It also includes facts about Kenya, all the regions in the country, the national parks, reserves and conservancies, and the activities and facilities on offer in each area. Color illustrations enhance every chapter, including maps of each region and photos of all properties. The guidebook is divided into regions and has a fully inclusive index, making it clear and easy to use. It is available in all good bookshops around Kenya.

For the first time travelers planning to visit Kenya or Ethiopia, what is your piece of advice based on your travelling experience?

Your guide can make or break your trip. The Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association has rigorous training and certification, and it’s important that your guide is certified with them. In Ethiopia, we recommend you travel with a professional federal guide rather than relying on local guides at each destination. For the optimum experience, talk to your tour operator or holiday designer about your interests. Whether you’re interested in wildlife, historic sites, mountain climbing or photography, getting the right guide will enhance your experience exponentially.

About Tamara Britten, the founder of Karibu Kenya…

Tamara is the founder of Karibu Kenya and the co-founder of:

• Exclusive Ethiopia
• The Kilifi Wellness Festival

Tamara has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia and a BA in History from Royal Holloway College, University of London. She’s the author of the Karibu Kenya Accommodation Guide, which is endorsed by the Kenya Tourist Board, the Kenya Tourism Federation, and the Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association. While researching the guidebook, Tamara traveled around Kenya for two years locating camps, lodges, resorts and hotels, some of which had never been listed in a guidebook before, and checked the facilities and activities at each.

As an itinerate traveler, Tamara has worked in:

• Safari camps and mobile safaris in Namibia
• Bars and restaurants in Thailand
• An adult education center in Hong Kong
• English language schools around Asia and Africa

She has published articles and stories in publications around the world, and has won a number of writing awards. Along the way, she picked up qualifications in teaching English as a foreign language, scuba diving and yoga, to name but a few. With Mulugeta Ababu–the professional federal guide and co-founder of Exclusive Ethiopia – Tamara traveled around Ethiopia exploring all the destinations that a tourist might like to visit, checked out the accommodation facilities, tried out the activities, and explored the sites. The Exclusive Ethiopia company is committed to providing the precise holiday that each individual visitor wants and giving each client a taste of the splendors of Ethiopia.

Company name: Karibu Kenya Exclusive Ethiopia
Webiste : karibukenya.co.uk
Contact person name: Tamara Britten
Email id: tamara@karibukenya.co.uk