Kenya is one of our top safari destinations and Go2Africa had a number of clients travelling there at the time the election crisis erupted. Many more booked to travel there in January and February and even more who were considering the vacation of a lifetime in the year ahead.

The unrest and uncertainty arrived just as Kenya was preparing for the height of its tourist season. The loss of 800 lives to date, which cannot be measured in cold hard facts, has been followed by widespread job losses - an anticipated 120 000 in the tourism industry alone - and millions of tourist dollars.

When the British Foreign Office recommends only the most essential travel to a country, it's well aware of the impact the warning will have on that country's economic health, international status and tourism industry.

Meanwhile tourism operators have been fighting hard to counter media-fuelled images of a country in flames, and assure people that the safari industry has been able to continue with the business of leisure as per usual.

It's a fine balance operators have to walk. Contrary to the perception that the travel industry will maintain tourist numbers at any cost, an injured tourist is very bad for business indeed - and on this score tourism operators share precisely the same commitment to travellers' safety that diplomats do.

However, tourism operators have the advantage of knowing precisely how their business is affected by the situation and of being able to see through the smoky confusion of those images on our TV screens, simply by virtue of being right there.

And herein lies the rub for a company such as Go2Africa: many of our travellers who opted to remain in Kenya when the situation erupted, have come back to us with fabulous reviews.

Unexpectedly, they've cited spin-offs from the situation - availability in a season when lodges and hotels are usually packed, extra special attention from staff with fewer guests to attend to, quieter game reserves and more opportunity for that special sighting.

At Go2Africa we're expecting a rash of specials and discounted rates from our Kenyan suppliers and itineraries are being modified to allow people to fly directly to game destinations rather than travel by road as a result of demand from people who seem not to want to give up on their long-awaited Kenyan safari.

However, our clients' leisure is our primary concern here and no one will enjoy their vacation if they're anxious and tense. Plus there are the boring, but very real, implications for your travel insurance that are essential to consider.

As a result, many clients are cancelling their vacations in Africa. And here again is where it is understandable, but frustrating, to see the whole continent being tarred with one brush in a reaction to a single country's crisis.

The Kenyan safari circuit shares a border with Tanzania and in many respects Tanzania offers the perfect alternative. Many operators here have stepped in - not simply to swoop in on the spoils of a terrible situation as the cynics might say, but in many cases to help their Kenyan counterparts meet their commitments to travellers.

Go2Africa staff returned from a trip to East Africa in November last year filled with excitement at the prospect of offering travellers 'new' areas of Tanzania to explore - remote, pristine, full of game and devoid of tourists - in the south and west of the country.

And indeed many African countries have enjoyed a boom on the back of Kenya's misery. Tanzania, Mauritius, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana all have wilderness experiences and beaches to compete with Kenya's.

We can only hope that many other travellers who had decided to spend their hard earned vacation time in Kenya this year, will continue to be inspired by all that Africa has to offer.

Our continent is often viewed as one of unrest and upheaval in places and at times, but it also is a vast and wonderful place. You'll encounter hospitable people, magnificent scenery, remarkable creatures and experiences and remote and isolated spaces that offer solitude and respite from a tourist's everyday life.

Our Readers' Views

What is your perspective on travelling to Africa at a time like this? Is it worth the risk ... or not worth contemplating? Email us your opinions.

"We had a fabulous trip. We have been telling people that we highly recommend travelling during times of political crisis because it means that you have game parks and lodging basically to oneself.” - Jackie, a Go2Africa client

"We all had a wonderful time in Kenya... Being able to discuss the situation with your 24/7 hotline was of great value, because we weren't sure whether to fly into Nairobi or to cancel, and I had no access to email.” - John (Marty) Hadank, a Go2Africa client

"A year ago we opted not to go to Kenya because of spreading apprehension that foreigners are at risk eg. NOLS closed its office there last year. We are a family of five, including three children. I am the father; safety is my foremost concern. I love Africa, having lived there for four years but appreciate how perverse it can be." - G.Orban, Portland OR

"Sorry guys, my answer is no. These people are imprevisible and a human life is very cheap or worth nothing to them. When there was law and order (as much as it can be in this part of the world) it was something now it can erupt like in no time at all and start killing each other and nobody will dare intervene (oh yes, the UN will strongly condemn violence and urge talks, who the hell is listening, you can't count on logic in such sitautions). It's too bad, I'm sure it was an interesting place to visit and had it on my list of places to go to this year or the next." - George, Canada.

"I urge everyone in the world to support Kenya, especially Mombasa, because they depend on tourism so much. Be brave and don't swallow everything you read or see on TV. Take all your old stuff to give away and go armed with loose money to tip everyone - for surely, everyone needs the money." - Sonya M Sargeant

Need More Information?

The situation in Kenya is naturally one of flux and change. If you would like to find out what is happening from a travel perspective please contact us.

Article © Copyright 2008 Go2Africa.

Print this page |  Send to a friend

Related content