Why Travel to Kenya?

 

When I tell people that I just returned from Kenya, many of them want to know why Kenya? What made me want to go there? This blog is an attempt to answer that question more fully as well as a place for readers to find resources to make their own trip. 

One reason people like to visit Kenya is to see the animals. Kenya is well known for its wildlife conservation areas. People travel from all over the world to go on safari here. Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most popular locations to visit. I will write more about booking a safari with my favorite company Rift Coast Safaris & Tours. Here is a sneak preview of some of the animals we saw on our recent trip.

So often, people in the U.S. want to hear all about the animals, but for me the biggest reason to travel to Kenya is the people. We first came into contact with our friends at Twins Bright Academy outside of Eldoret, Kenya through one of our colleagues at Neosho County Community College. We planned a study abroad trip in 2018, and he suggested that we have his brothers pick us up at the airport. We stopped in to see our friend at his parents’ house outside of Eldoret, and they took us on a tour of the primary school they had built on their land.

We have been coming back every year since then. The family lets us stay in their home. The school lets us play games and interact in the classroom. The teachers help us learn Swahili. And we try to bring water filters and school supplies to leave behind. 

For those of you who are interested in making international friends and partnering with international schools, watch for more posts about that as well. For now, you might want to check out Open World Cause, a nonprofit started by American teachers to help support educational efforts throughout the world.