2009 was a hugely positive year for tourism recovery in Kenya seeing a significant growth since the trouble encountered at the beginning of 2008.  UK visitor figures are now over 80% recovered to the 2007 numbers, which reached 204,644 UK visitors, with the end of 2009 seeing 164,169 UK visitors.
Read on to find out what is new and coming up in Kenya.

EXTREME FISHING IN KENYA!
Follow In The Footsteps Of Robson Green With Your Own Extreme Fishing Adventure In Kenya.
Escape to Kenya and try your hand at a safari on the water, as demonstrated by Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing adventure airing on Channel 5 on 28th January at 9pm.  Kenya offers some of the finest deep sea fishing in the world with a huge variety of different species close to shore and also has an abundance of magnificent lakes to explore. Robson Green and the Extreme Fishing team visited Governors Mfangano Island Camp on Lake Victoria and Hemingways Resort Hotel, overlooking the stunning beach of Watamu Marine Park, 60 miles north of Mombasa.  You don’t have to be a seasoned angler to enjoy fishing in Kenya, beginners and professionals alike are catered for in the most captivating surroundings.

FIRST RIFT VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL – EASTER 2010
The Rift Valley in Kenya will come alive with music during the first Rift Valley Festival in Easter 2010 (3rd – 5th April) at Fisherman’s Camp on Lake Naivasha.  This three-day musical celebration will bring together local and international musicians as well as arts, crafts and culture.  Over 4,000 people are expected at the festival, which aims to secure a thriving future for the local communities in the Rift Valley region.  All profit from the festival will go towards a local project run by Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), highlighting the importance of securing clean water and sustainable sanitation services for people within the region. www.riftvalleyfestival.com

WORLD’S RAREST RHINOS HAVE NEW HOME IN KENYA
At the end of December 2009, four northern white rhinos were re-homed in the wild in Kenya.  There were eight surviving northern white rhinos held in captivity at Dvur Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic and these four (two females and two males) were transferred to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to encourage breeding and the hope of survival for the endangered species.

Being home to 81 black rhinos and some southern white rhinos, Ol Pejeta Conservancy near Mount Kenya, is East Africa’s largest Black Rhino Sanctuary and has been assessed to be the best possible location for the northern white rhino’s breeding project. Besides its proximity to the northern white rhino’s environmental stronghold, Ol Pejeta also offers well qualified and experienced staff to care for these species. The rhinos are fitted with radio transmitters in their horns to optimise security and monitoring.  The re-homed rhinos are: Sudan, a 32 year old male; Suni, an 18 year old male; Najin, an 18 year old female who is Sudan’s daughter; and Fatu, an 8 year old female.
KENYA ON SCREEN – 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUT OF AFRICA
Kenya’s wide open spaces and wildlife parks have formed a magnificent backdrop for a string of box office hits and tourism to Kenya has received a real boost from films. 2010 sees the 25th anniversary of the box office hit ‘Out of Africa’ starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford based on the real Karen Blixon’s life in colonial Kenya.

Jake Grieves-Cook, Chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board comments: “One of the best advertisements for Kenya was “Out of Africa” starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, a box office hit seen by millions, which featured almost continuous footage of Kenyan wildlife parks and spectacular landscapes. Much of the film was shot against a backdrop of the Maasai Mara Reserve and thousands of film-goers who had seen Out of Africa ended up coming to Kenya for safari to the Mara. Today Kenya continues to attract increasing numbers of tourists coming on safari not only to see the Mara but also to visit some of the fifty other parks and reserves.

Tourism to Kenya is one of the country’s biggest foreign exchange earners, creating jobs for many thousands of Kenyans, so the country is keen to welcome more film-makers looking for a great location for making movies.”

ENGLISHPOINT MARINA DEVELOPMENT IN MOMBASA
EnglishPoint Marina is contemporary development on a four-acre beachfront site across the creek from the historic Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town on Kenya’s coast.  It will offer apartments, a hotel, restaurant, spa and gym, serviced marina, water-sport centre, boardwalk with retail outlets and underground car parking.
The luxurious apartments each have a balcony and views over the harbour, use of infinity swimming pool,  pool area with deck chairs and Jacuzzi, apartment management service, hotel services available with special arrangement, free membership to the nearby Nyali Golf Club.  The hotel will have 23 air-conditioned rooms, three suites, 24-hour reception, rooftop breakfast restaurant, rooftop meeting room and conference facility.
This complex will have East Africa’s first floating pontoon marina which will be fully serviced with on-berth supply of fresh water, electricity, internet, satellite TV, fuel, pump out facilities and slipway.   It has 88 berths from 6m to 30m with access to full hotel services.   Comprehensive facilities for water-sports including deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing, kite-surfing, sea safaris and creek excursions are available to book through the complex.  Sustainability is key in the development of the complex with solar hot water, grey water treatment and recycling to reduce the demand on fresh water by 50 to 60%. 
www.englishpointmarina.com

ISLAND GETAWAY AT THE MAJLIS IN LAMU
Set on the exotic Manda Island in the Lamu archipelago located in Kenya’s North Coast, the privately owned The Majlis opened in October 2009.  It offers world-class, understated luxury, with 25 elegantly designed superior and deluxe rooms and four private villas.  The resort offers superb views of the beautiful Ras Kitau bay in front of the Shela village and 10 minutes boat ride from Lamu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Each villa is constructed entirely with local white coral blocks and handcrafted timber, opening onto a private veranda with panoramic sea views.  Each suite is very spacious with traditionally high beamed ceilings, large windows and terraces offering a breathtaking view of the garden, the swimming pool and the Indian Ocean.  On site there is also The Majlis Restaurant which offers the finest food local and imported produce reflecting a subtle fusion of international dishes together with the best local tradition.

Lamu’s history is as mysterious and fascinating as the winding streets of its medieval stone town. The narrow streets remain unchanged and in the markets and squares around the fort, life moves at the same pace as it always has. There are no vehicles on this island and the donkey and dhow remain the dominant forms of transport.  After basking on one of the pristine beaches, visitors can take to the seas on a traditional Dhow boat which are still used by the fishermen today.  www.themajlisresorts.com

NEILSON’S NEW BEACHCLUB IN KENYA
Neilson opened its new ‘Beachclub’ in Kenya, the Mnarani Club in November 2009.  Located 50km north of Mombasa on the cliffs of Kilifi and overlooking the Indian Ocean, it is an idyllic location for a laid back beach holiday.  It also offers activities for adventure-seekers such as waterskiing, kayaking, deep sea fishing, mountain biking, golf, scuba diving and game drives. Neilson is also opening the first Royal Yachting Association recognised training centre in this area offering further watersports on tap including windsurfing and dinghy sailing complete with the best equipment, inclusive tuition and RYA courses.

The hotel itself offers 100 beds exclusively to Neilson clients, children’s activity clubs, a secluded and private sandy cove, an infinity pool and vibrant beach bar.  www.neilson.co.uk/kenya
For more information, visit www.magicalkenya.com or all the Kenya Tourist Board on 0207 367 0926.