Guide to Kenya

Beaches

Savour the gorgeous string of ivory beaches on Kenya's eastern shores, where sugar-soft sands slide seductively into the twinkling sea. Diani Beach is a magnet for tourists with its superb all inclusive resorts and endless facilities to cater for the visitor's every whim. If you like a little 'me time' thrown in with your tanning, head for tranquil Tiwi Beach where you can find a patch of porcelain-white sand away from the crowds. The deliciously warm waters of the Indian Ocean teem with exotic sea life living on the abundant coral, and you can enjoy excellent snorkelling and scuba diving, particularly in the offshore marine national parks.

Eating out

Typical Kenyan cuisine revolves around hearty staples such as beans, potatoes and maize. The national dish is ugali, dough made from corn flour, and eaten with flavoursome stews or tangy gravy. Mombasa is packed with local cafes and restaurants serving everything from spicy curries and samosas to fish and chips and fried chicken. Sample some traditional Kenyan dishes in Nairobi such as nyama choma, typically consisting of barbecued chicken, beef, goat and mutton, or try some more unusual meats like zebra, gazelle and even crocodile! Polish off your meal with the national coffee liqueur, Kenya Gold.

Nightlife

Entertainment is largely hotel-based with live music, disco and karaoke keeping the crowds happy, though venture into the towns and you can find some great bars and clubs pulsating to traditional Kenyan beats, as well as reggae, soul, rock and contemporary dance. Mombasa and Diani Beach boast plenty of busy bars and loud and lively Kenyan nightspots that keep the music pumping. In the wilds of the Masai Mara, dinner will occasionally be accompanied by local folk dancers and the dramatic sounds of wildlife just a few steps away. For a truly unforgettable memory, choose a hotel with a feeding point or watering hole, where you can watch game creeping out of the bush towards you as the sun sinks in an explosion of pinks, reds and oranges.

Shopping

You come to Kenya for the sights rather than the shopping but should you need a consumer fix there are plenty of market stalls to satisfy shoppers. Handmade crafts and juicy fruits are the staple products, while wooden carvings and colourful beach wraps are particularly popular. In Mombasa, most of the craft stalls can be found along Moi Ave and in the old town, near Fort Jesus, with everything from basketwork and paintings to soapstone chess sets and musical instruments.