KENYA AND THE REGION

AS YOU LIKE IT SAFARIS is headquartered in Kenya — the most popular safari destination in the world, attracting more than half a million tourists each year. Kenya is named after Mount Kenya or "Kirinyaga", the mountain of whiteness.

Kenya is a civilized nation, a multi-party democracy with its parliament based in the national capital Nairobi. It is roughly the size of Texas, covering 582,644 sq km (16,600 sq km of which is lakes) and has a population of 30 million people, 99% of whom are indigenous Africans. The rest are mostly Asian Indians, Europeans and Arabs, and English is the official language along with Swahili. Kenya sits astride the Equator, and the coast is always hot, with temperatures commonly in the low/mid 80s. The average temperature in Nairobi is around 73°F. Kenya's currency is the Kenyan Shilling (Ksh): at the time of writing, the U.S. $1.00 is worth approximately KShs. 80/-.

Kenya and its people have the natural ability to make every traveller feel at home: while you're here you will often hear the Swahili word "karibu", meaning... you're welcome!

MOUNT KENYA

Mount Kenya is a majestic African mountain, rising 5,199 meters above sea level to a snow clad peak. It's a never to be forgotten sight, and one we are proud to share with our guests in association with the experienced mountaineers of the Climb Kenya and Conservation Youth Self-Help Group.

Mount Kenya can be climbed by any normal healthy person. The most reliable weather for climbing is between late December and late March and from mid-July to late September. We offer guided treks of 1-7 days, offering something for everyone from casual walkers to accomplished climbers. To see a letter from a recent client who enjoyed this climb with us click here

Climbing the mountain not only offers a great sense of achievement; the area also affords fascinating opportunities for a wide range of interests:

• GEOLOGY/GLACIOLOGY: Mt. Kenya is a volcanic mountain that last erupted 2.5 million years ago, and offers wonderful opportunities for rock study and research.

• BOTANICAL INTEREST: Mt. Kenya national park offers a variety of vegetation including hue-crooked trees, growing up to 15 meters high. The undergrowth is rich in shrubs, herbs and creepers.

• GAME AND BIRDING: You are almost guaranteed to see the Big 5 (Lion, Leopard, Black Rhinoceros, African Elephant and Cape Buffalo), and other interesting animals are occasionally seen. Conspicuous birds include the colourful hurtlubs turaco and scarlet-tufted malachite sunbirds

• OTHER ATTRACTIVE FEATURES: these include the colourful tarns, the large numbers of small lakes and of course the scenic landscape.

Highly experienced leading mountain guides, assistant guides, cooks and porters accompany our crew to ensure all your equipment is safely carried. They will also take care of other camping equipment, food and cooking. The only things you will be expected to carry are your water bottle, waterproofs and immediate personal items.

Please note that at times the going can be hard. Though there is no need for technical climbing, the mountain involves some challenging walking, and you may feel the effects of altitude at higher elevations. Our experienced guides will keep an eye on everyone's progress throughout the climb and advise on a suitable walking pace.

On request we also undertake helicopter trips up Mt Kenya, so that physically impaired guests can fully participate in all our activities and those working to a tighter schedule can still experience the wonders of the peak. You can also choose to climb to Point Lenana (at 4,985 meters), then come down and fly up to see the top of the mountain.

KILIMANJARO AND BEYOND: ADVENTURES IN TANZANIA

Though our main facilities are in Kenya, we have operatives and partners all around the region, and many of our guests choose to travel into Tanzania, to the south of Kenya, and visit the world-famous Mount Kilimanjaro. Our dedicated team in Tanzania guarantees you the same high standards of comfort, safety and local knowledge that we always insist upon. For more details, contact us now and let us make it happen!