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 won’t 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 experienced 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 criminals.
Unfortunately today, terrorism happens 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 getting 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: to date there have been no attacks on any national parks or game reserves. There is a terrorist risk near the Somali border and in parts of Nairobi.
The current travel advisory from the Australian government is that only some areas are dangerous, not the whole country. And the dangerous areas are not of much interest to the average safari enthusiast.
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-robbery”. But one mayor worked hard with street kids and today Nairobi is as safe (or as dangerous) as any other big city in the world. Expatarrivals.com says that 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 after him and I got my phone back. Nairobi locals 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 targeted 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 officials to ask you for a bribe. Tourists are rarely attacked. Foreigners are not easy targets 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 on the door handle for the traffic cop, for example. Expatriates engaging in corruption mean that crime goes unpunished and Kenya’s development remains blocked. The phrase “When in Rome…” should not apply to bribery and corruption.
President Kenyatta says the right things about cleaning up Kenya’s corruption, but it’s going to take a big change. However, this is certainly not a reason to avoid a safari in Kenya!
Myth 4: Tour operators are dishonest and you will lose your money if you pay in advance
Yes, there are some briefcase businesses, but in this age of the internet 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 (because of the myths I am 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 that $160 is for park fees, leaving just $40 for transportation, lodging, and food. Park fees are public information, so you can do some rough calculations. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Either your operator is paying bribes at the park gate, or your vehicle hasn’t been maintained, or your food will be substandard. Or you could get all three! Please, it doesn’t 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 Kenyan Ministry of Tourism are also working hard to introduce measures to curb cheating.
The tabloid media is destroying Kenya’s main industry and the economy is suffering as a result. So if an African safari is on your bucket list, look past the headlines and see Kenya for the amazing country that it truly is.
