4 myths that you can dispel and travel to Kenya safely
You don’t have to be afraid to go on safari. When CNN described Kenya in 2015 as “a hotbed of terrorism”, it drew attention to some crazy myths that need to prevail to prevent travelers from coming to Kenya. I want to address some of these myths to help put your mind at ease and feel confident about experiencing that bucket-list safari you’ve always wanted. This will not be a marketing spiel; I live in Kenya so I know the good the bad and the ugly and I will share it all with you.
Myth 1: Kenya is full of terrorists
CNN’s description of Kenya was outlandish, to say the least. Kenya suffered several incidents of terrorism throughout 2013 and 2014, the most notable of which was the Westgate Mall attack. However, most of the activities were on a much smaller scale: grenades thrown at bus stations, churches, and nightclubs. Two major attacks occurred in April 2015 at Garissa University and in January 2019 at the DusitD2 complex. Al Shabaab, a group affiliated with Somalia’s al Qaeda, are reported to be the main offenders.
Unfortunately today, terrorism occurs everywhere and everywhere. In the last five years we have seen attacks in Paris, Sydney, Brussels and Istanbul. But travelers still flock to these places.
Fifty million people survive every day in Kenya, so your chances of making it out alive are pretty high. Kenyans want peace as much as anyone else. Also, the parts of Kenya that you, as a traveler, would frequent are not terrorist targets: there have been no attacks on any national parks or game reserves to date. There is a terrorist risk near the Somali border and in parts of Nairobi.
The current Australian government travel advisory is that only some areas are dangerous, not the whole country. And the dangerous areas don’t hold much interest for the average safari goer.
Myth 2: Nairobi is a “Nai Robbery”
A decade ago, carjacking, armed robbery and mugging were relatively common in Nairobi, earning the city the nickname “Nai-robo”. But a mayor worked a lot with street kids and today Nairobi is as safe (or as dangerous) as any other big city in the world. Expatarrivals.com says crime in Nairobi is “opportunistic, unsophisticated, comparable to other world capitals.” The crime rate has decreased every year since 2012 according to Standard Digital.
I have lived in Nairobi for five years and have never been physically attacked. One night, my phone was stolen, but I was walking alone in the city center talking on the phone; it was totally my fault. However, everyone who saw the thief chased him and I got my phone back. Nairobi people are tired of crime in their city especially towards foreigners because they don’t want travelers to have a bad experience in Kenya.
Myth 3: Corruption is widespread and foreigners are attacked because they are believed to have more money
I cannot say that corruption is not widespread. It is, but as a tourist you are unlikely to find it. If you book a full safari package, there will be little opportunity for the police or any other official to ask you for a bribe. Tourists are rarely attacked. Foreigners are not an easy target because we tend to ask too many questions and we don’t always understand what is really going on. We are not in the habit of slipping some money into the door handle for the traffic cop, for example. Expats participating in corruption mean crime goes unpunished and Kenya’s development remains stymied. The phrase “When I am in Rome…” should not be applied to bribery and corruption.
President Kenyatta says the right things about cleaning up corruption in Kenya, but it’s going to take big change. However, it’s certainly not a reason to avoid a Kenyan safari!
Myth 4: Tour operators are dishonest and you will lose your money if you pay in advance
Yes, there are some briefcase businesses out there, but in this internet age you can certainly do your own due diligence and avoid getting scammed. There are many review sites online and many allow you to contact reviewers directly to ask about their experience. Use trip advisor, do your research, check prices.
The tourism industry has suffered greatly in the last decade (due to the myths I’m writing about here!) and tour operators have been desperate just to make a sale. But if park fees are included in your package, check that the total price can cover those fees. For example, it costs $80 for a 24-hour ticket to the Maasai Mara. So if you’re booking a two-night Maasai Mara safari for $200, you can do some simple math and figure $160 is for park fees, leaving only $40 for transportation, lodging, and food. Park fees are public information, so you can make some estimates. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Either your operator is paying bribes at the park gate, or your vehicle has not been maintained, or your food will be substandard. Or you could get all three! Please it does not help the fight against corruption in Kenya to encourage your tour operator to pay bribes at the gate so you can get into the park cheaply.
The Kenya Tour Operators Association and the Kenya Ministry of Tourism are also working hard to introduce measures to curb cheating.
Tabloid media is destroying Kenya’s main industry and as a result the economy is suffering. So if an African safari is on your bucket list, look past the headlines and see Kenya for the amazing country it really is.
