Thursday, December 9, 2010

Spending Christmas

Spending Christmas
The Festive season is here with us again for the umpteenth time with many choosing to keep the same routine over Christmas, spending it in the same manner. Some spend it with the extended family and if your happen to be Kenyan, you are familiar with the ‘Coasto’ trip (the Coasto trip is a weekend getaway to the Coast region of Kenya more specifically Mombasa). There are others only a handful though, who are only too willing to spend it quietly at home. The reasons for staying home vary with many lacking finances to go for a holiday out of the city or maybe the family has a new born in the house and travelling will be a very tedious process. Whatever the reasons are, it is because of external un- desirable circumstances beyond control that make many choose to stay at home.
This Festive season stay at home and enjoy the silence. One may decide to bake, play with the children, reflect on the year ending or just simply engage yourself in some charity work in the nearby children’s home or retirements home. If you choose to stay home here is a good recipe for a tasty cake which the whole family can bake together with everyone doing something to help in the process.
Gateau Casero
Ingredients

1. 3 Eggs
2. 350 grams of flour
3. 300 grams of sugar
4. 0.25 litres of milk
5. 0.25 litres of oil
6. 2.25 teaspoons of Baking powder
7. 1 rind lemon
8. 50 grams sugar
9. 50 grams peanuts (optional
Method
1. Beat eggs with the sugar until it is creamy then add the oil.
2. Sieve the flour with the baking powder and add the lemon rind
3. Add the flour into the creamy mixture and fold slowly
4. Add the milk and pour into the mixture
5. Put mixture into baking tin. Crush the peanuts into small pieces. Mix with 50 grams of sugar and sprinkle on top.
6. Put in the oven at 360 ยบ for 50 minutes or until ready and brown.
7. Serve with juice after it has cooled for desert.

Luxury Mara Safaris

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Fun Facts about Africa

Whenever Africa is in the lime light it is all for the wrong reasons, like war, hunger, bad politics or even poverty. Today however, we shall not focus on the negatives instead we shall focus on the natural beauty of the land.
Lake Tanganyika is the deepest lake in Africa reaching a depth of 1,436m / 4,710ft making it the second deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal in Asia.
Namib Desert is the oldest desert in the world and the oldest one in the world to be inhabited by lion, elephant, rhino and other species of wildlife. This is because it is not as dry as other desert and accommodates scattered shrubs and bushes for the africa wildlife’s survival.
The Sahara desert sadly, is expanding at an average speed of 0.8km a month or 0.5miles more so to the south of the desert. The desert currently is located in eleven countries (Tunisia, Mali, Chad, Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Mauritania, Niger, Libya and Algeria) either fully or partially. Meteorologists say that it receives an average of 8 inches of rainfall yearly which is way below the daily, average water consumption of man.
Lake Malawi contains the largest number of fish species in the world with over 500 species with the Mbuna rock being the most popular in the lake and is a delicacy for many of the fish eaters in the country.
Madagascar is home to the largest numbers of chameleons and their local language has over five names both colloquial and official to refer to the chameleon.
The biggest river in Congo and the only one has enough water to supply the whole of Africa with electricity all year round because it discharges 1,500,000 cubic feet of water into its tributaries that total to nearly 1.5 million square miles. River Congo has a dozen tributaries that run across different parts of the land and it is over 2720 miles or 4,375km making it the fifth longest river in the world after the Amazon, Nile, Mississippi and Volga. The irony of this is that the country is partially electrified with many using other sources of energy but they do export electricity to its neighboring countries as one of their chief exports.
Zambia is home to about three hundred and seventy five ethnic groups spread across the country. It is even keen to note that the country has enjoyed lots of periods of peace, despite these vast cultural diversities.
The Mountain Gorilla is the largest primate found in the continent with a net weight of 200kgs but the animal is rather shy, peaceful and passive as compared to other primate species. Uganda is home to a number of monkey species.
A few African Countries use bird species as their emblems on their flags. Uganda uses the Crane, Zimbabwe which has a great, yellow local Zimbabwean bird as its emblem and this bird represents the many bird species found in the country as well as across the continent.
Finally, Africa is home to one third of the world’s population with majority of the people ever so friendly and ever so helpful to anyone in need.
Masai Mara Honeymoon Destinations

The Tortoise

The Tortoise belongs to the Chelonian family as the third member after the turtles and the terrapins. They could be the longest living reptiles in the world and have lived for more than two hundred years having the least evolved traits since then. Their life spans are between fifty to a hundred and fifty years with the oldest one known to live to up to a startling one hundred and fifty two years.
They are cold blooded reptiles and keep warm by absorbing the atmospheres heat. There are about forty types of tortoise species including Yellow tortoise (found in South America), Star tortoise (India), Common Long Neck tortoise (Australia), Kreffts tortoise, Macquarie tortoise among many other species. The largest species of tortoises are found on the Islands of the Pacific Ocean with the Galapagos tortoise being the largest managing to grow at 4.5 feet in length. The smallest on the other hand manage a mere size of one foot.
Most of their species live on land with a few preferring to live in fresh water lakes. A few are even found in desert environs, lakes, lagoons and swamps. In some countries they are kept as pets since they don’t require huge tracts of lands as their habitat or homeland. Their diet includes fruits and shrubs as well as foods rich in Calcium to build their bones just like human beings. Their shell has up to sixty different bones joined together thus explaining the reason why they need a lot of calcium rich foods. The incubation period for eggs is between three to four months and stay on the ground for two months burrowing into the ground. This is in contrast to the turtle hatchlings who immediately head for the water after hatching from their eggs.
Their major prey is the leopard and the Jaguar in the U.S islands which is also skilled in knowing how to scoop the creature from its shell, skillfully scooping the contents and swallowing it hole.. The Pancake Tortoise has a soft shell that allows it to deflate when penetrating through small holes in the rocks. Their prey eventually gets tired of stalking them and trying to hunt them from in between the holes.
These animals have been known to be used in many folk tales and traditional stories as being seen as the wise one because perhaps mostly because of their slow nature and their peaceful personalities. They are known to have good eyesight, a wonderful sense of smell and also quick to the sense of touch which makes it hard for them to be hunted down by their enemies. Maybe that is one of the reasons why they are known to be one of the wisest animals alive. There is not much written data however, on their I.Q levels or even regarding their brain size, brain power and giftedness, to prove these tortoise stereotypes that many of these societies have held since time immemorial. Perhaps there is some unwritten truth regarding these stereotypes.

Exclusive Luxury Holidays

Kiangazi House

This is one of the most beautiful, natural country houses that one may visit while in Naivasha. It is found within a Wildlife corridor connecting the lake shore and environs with Hells Gate National Park and beyond into the Masai land. Ironically its name refers to the dry spell when rains have not rained on to the country. The homely country house is found adjacent to the private twenty thousand acre farm of Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary that comprises of a fascinating diversity of wildlife including White Rhino, Leopard, Cheetah, Buffalo, Giraffe, Grevy Zebra, Oryx and many species of antelope.
Not surprisingly, the house is built in the old traditional style of local stone and timber, with colonial houses designs that comprise of a mixture of English Architecture and African designs. The place is not too big as it only consists of three double bedrooms within the main house and two additional double bedrooms just beyond the swimming pool, all en-suite. Luxurious features in each room, like four-poster beds, lamp lighting as well as an earthly brown themed color is definitely breath taking. Romantic turndowns and freshly cut roses in the lounge, all enhance the personal touch that the staff adds to the house. Within the house, private lounges, a bar and library all with fireplaces are the perfect places to cool off and relax with ones loved ones and friends for an evening chat or round of board games.
The restaurant is known to offer the highest standards of services and of course delicious international cuisine. Spectacular sundowners across the Rift escarpments can be organized by the guest house, and early morning bush breakfasts in the lakeside forests often give guests the chance to view the ubiquitous wildlife that abounds in this dramatic area.
As human being planning is a necessary activity in our lives. Rates are based on full board accommodation and are inclusive of taxes, and are net of holiday supplements it also includes game drives in Hell’s Gate National Park, a visit to the Oserian flower farm, boat trips and fishing on Lake Naivasha, Laundry and bed and breakfast. Your total net will come to around and average of thirteen hundred dollars; with the prices ranging from one thousand to sixteen hundred dollars for a one week stay (if one is engaging in all of these activities). However rates change depending on the tourism season, or the number of travelers in the group that one has organized. The larger the group that you have organized for camp, the better. Also if one requires special care and more requirements, the budget is likely to go up. The Kiangazi house does not permit the booking of children below six years as they require very special care.
The house also offers airlifts into the city and from the city but this is sometimes at a rather expensive fee which takes away the joy of sight seeing the wonderful Rift Valley region when one is driving. Many have never been disappointed with this place but one must be ready to cough up a lot of their savings to visit the place.

Exclusive Africa Safaris

Jamhuri Day Celebrations

Jamhuri day celebrations are here with us again as Kenyans who are very eager to celebrate forty six years of internal self rule. Some people see the holiday as a relief from the hectic work schedules with others sighing that the week is less a day since the Kenya holiday happens to be on Sunday and will eventually spill over to Monday. While other people see it as another day to run up- country to visit the extended family back home. Whatever your plans, many do not consider it a day for practicing their patriotic duties that include nation building activities and events. The most one may do as a patriotic activity will be to attend the half day celebrations at Uhuru park of Nyayo stadium as they listen to dignitaries and honorable men and women recounting speeches on National unity and cohesion.
As a tourists or even Kenyan you are not aware what is all this hullaballoo regarding this revered Jamhuri day. Many Kenyans do consider it an important day in the calendar. Here are a few facts on the day: This celebrated day is associated with Dedan Kimathi one of the most heroic Mau Mau fighters during the colonial period. However he passed on earlier and was unable to see that fruitful day for the country as it was on of his greatest ambitions.
Kenya’s first Jamhuri day celebrations were in the year 1963 when the colonial government released itself totally form the country and Kenya acquired its new status of becoming a republic. The Union Jack (British flag) was lowered as the Kenyan flag was let to fly up in the sky. It is similar to the heroes day that is marked in the United States of America where the likes of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks are celebrated.
The Late Jomo Kenyatta was at last recognized as the country’s president to the New Republic of Kenya. There was ululation and jubilations from the people of Kenya who were more than elated to the fact that they were now free. All sorts of fireworks lit up in the air. A new government was then formed consisting of Kenyan ministers, parliamentarians and permanent secretaries form across the country representing the diverse ethnic groups in the country. This day later led to creation of new boundaries in the country to represent the different regions in the region. Many of these boundaries are still in use up until today.
For many of the celebrations over the years, the re- current theme has been on national peace and cohesion and to continue reminding the people on the importance of peace in a diverse nation such as Kenya. They say music is the universal language for people thus many songs and dances are organized to entertain people throughout the day. Important local artists like Suzanne Owiyo, Eric Wainaina and Rufftone sing their songs in praise of peace and of the country.
Other Kenyans prefer having a quiet afternoon with the family or visiting national parks which are opened for them. These national parks are avenues for people to remember the natural beauty that the country is blessed with. How do you enjoy your Jamhuri day? Share with us so that we too may get a few ideas of enjoying the day.

Luxury Safaris africa

Elsamere Hotel and Conservation Centre

Elsamere hotel is a great haven for lovers of nature which consists of the lush green vegetation during the rainy season or the dry savanna grasslands when the rains have decided to go on strike. The hotel is set in the Acacia forest on the banks of the Lake Naivasha in Kenya's Rift Valley. It is apparently the former home of the late Joy Adamson who, together with her husband George, became the world’s most famous couple for their pioneering conservation work and relationship with the lioness Elsa. Joy eventually wrote a book which became a best seller and it was subsequently casted into a film both titled, 'Born Free'. The main reason for staying in this centre is to be involved with conservation projects in regards to endangered species like the lions, birds like the Verraux's Owl, turtles as well as some species of monkeys such as the black and white colobus monkeys. To make this a learner friendly atmosphere, the cottage has several rooms left aside for classrooms for school children and company employees to learn about the joys of nature.
The center is rather small providing accommodation of between 15-18 people in several cottages set in the gardens around the main house. Each of these cottages has a veranda with rooms that are bright, spacious as well as attractive to any beholders eye; further more, they all have ensuite bathrooms. One of the rooms in the main house it built appropriately for the physically challenged with a wheel chair provision and ramp to comfortable maneuver through the various floors of the cottage.
Elsamere is best known for its warm hospitality and home like atmosphere that is felt immediately one enters the hotel. Lunch is more often served in buffet style with plenty of outdoor tables and chairs for alfresco dining for the guests to have a total natural experience. Dinner is hosted each night and it is the perfect opportunity to get to know the guests, many of who may tend to be visiting researchers and conservationists from all over Kenya and the European countries. Interestingly, Elsamere is open to the public day between 3pm and 6pm everyday. Visitors are invited to watch a video, visit the museum and shop in the business centre found in the cottage. A traditional afternoon tea is served at 4pm which is typically a British practice. The museum contains a small collection of Joy Adamson's painting and artifacts which are quite many since painting was a favorite hobby of hers, memorabilia from the Born Free film are also displayed in the museum; alongside, lots of documented tapes on Joy and George Adamson's work with wildlife.
While there one is not confined to the walls of the centre instead, one can hire boats or arrange a guided tour to view birds and other wildlife on the nearby Crescent Island that is not too far from centre. Lake Naivasha can also be a hot spot for tourists to enjoy the various kinds of birds along the lake.
This is a different kind of touring adventure from the usual sunbathing and is bound to leave you feel wanting more.

Luxury Lodges Maasai Mara

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Water –Buck Hotel

This hotel is situated in Nakuru town particularly on Biashara road that connects to the bigger Nakuru west road. The journey takes an average of a one hour drive from the city center as it is only thirty kilometers from the city on Nairobi. However a few tour guide offer airlifts to the hotel that has an air pad landing area.
This is known as one of the best hotels in Nakuru town. It was designed with an African theme in mind with African colors filling the entire hotel. These colors range from a deep, earthly red- brown to a warm orange sun like color that just seems to light up the mood and atmosphere of the entire place. The deep red- brown color helps to portray the rich, fertile African soil while the orange is a sign of the African sun and the warm nature of the Kenyan people. The red is also a symbol for the Maasai people in the land who are the S.I unit for the Kenyan people all over the world. Most pictures always show the Maasai Moran posing in a picture dressed in his red attire. It is also true to say that the Maasai people are one of the few communities in the country who still uphold many of the cultural rights and artifacts as compared to the other communities. However the Maasai are not the majority of people in the country.
The Water – Buck hotel is duly situated on the highlands of Nakuru over- looking the Thompsons Falls that are the most magnificent water falls around. The water can be seen falling from a height of fifty meters or so while forming a smoky and also mysterious to the entire scenery.
The fifty rooms of the hotel are lavishly furnished with comfortable and elegant furniture. The rooms are a combination of both double and single rooms (each room is en- suite) to suit the vast requirements of their clients. Both rooms are also fitted with warm showers, a personal butler attached to every room, wonderful room service as well as a telephone with unlimited calls to be made. The icing on the cake is that the rooms are also fitted with television sets (DSTV enabled) so that the client is able to keep abreast with local and international events while still on holiday.
Among the other facilities that are part of the Water- Buck hotel are a swimming pool, court yard as well as a gym and spa to relax the muscles after a hard day of sight seeing.
Lastly each room is fitted with a balcony to overlook the expansive Rift valley area. Tourists are often seen relaxing in the verandahs of the balconies as they enjoy the cool evening breeze as they sip tasty wine while they watch in awe the beautiful Rift Valley escarpment. Averagely the food is well cooked but it does not offer the extra- ordinary cuisines from Italy and the rest but none the less, the services are professionally done and that would somehow explain why the prices for food range between two thousand to three thousand shillings per plate.

Masai Mara Destinations

Merica Hotel

Merica hotel is part of the bigger Merica group of hotels that has other hotels scattered in the Rift Valley, the Mara as well as other parts of the country. The hotel rates four star meaning that it is yet to be considered a first class, elegant hotel. This not with standing, the staff and personnel of the hotel are only too willing to offer first class professional services to its clients. The hotel is best known for its lush gardens that are often used as venues for picture taking for recent newly weds, since the scenery is too beautiful to ignore. The compound is just an inviting gesture into the hotel whose yellow and brown theme are an inviting gesture to guests; the theme also creates a relaxing ambiance for those needing a relaxing ambiance to walk into at the end of the day.
The hotel is known by locals for its unique ostrich resort that seeks to promote bird watching activities in the region and edutainment as well to its eager touring visitors. The ostrich have the biggest eggs of all among the bird species and it is no wonder that the ostrich eggs is offered as a breakfast item in its breakfast menu. They say that their eggs are the rich in magnesium nutrients for the building and strengthening of bones for the human body.
There is a bouquet of adventurous packages that the Merica hotel offers to the tourists that includes all sorts of spicy adventures and explorations in the Nakuru region as well as the expansive Mara region. It also has two exclusive board rooms/ conference rooms to cater for business needs of the client. If you are seeking an African gate- away into the wild wild safari, look no further, Merica is the best place for you. Perhaps you have told your beloved people that you are visiting Nakuru for the first time or Kenya for that matter and they have requested a few souvenirs to take back home, Merica has a well stocked curio shop that has all sorts of African carvings, paintings and a variety of unique sea shells. Even when your supplies are out of stock, don’t fret over it, the hotel also has a business centre with all kinds of quality supplies for you.
The attractions near the hotel are Lake Nakuru, the Lake Nakuru National park, and Nguba farm that happens to be a conservancy catering for sick and abandoned birds. Lake Bogoria is not too far from the hotel. The biggest of all Kenya attractions is Lake Elementaita, the biggest fresh water lake in the Rift valley escarpment. The Lake is also famous for the hordes of pink flamingo birds that parade themselves majestically along the shores of the lake. Merica also offers mountaineering activities for individuals, couples and groups on the dormant Menengai peak. The Mountain is known for its famous crater at the top that is about half a kilometer deep.
The hotel food prices range from about eight hundred shilling to fifteen hundred shillings which a fair price is considering that it has a variety of dishes on its menu that are common in the country and overseas to cater to a variety of individual taste buds of both its local and foreign clientele.

Masai Mara Adventures