Due to recent unrest and upheaval in Kenya, many people who had planned on visiting Kenya are wondering about travel safety.
Currently Nairobi and the Masai Mara are fine for travelers. The recent violence in Kenya is not a threat for those visiting Kenya at this time. That said, make sure to check up on the Kenya travel safety situation before you leave your home country. Visit your country’s embassy website or other travel safety warning site for up to date information on Kenya travel safety.
Talisman Restaurant
320 Ngong Road, Karen
Nairobi, Kenya
Located in Nairobi’s upscale, leafy Karen neighborhood, Talisman Restaurant is a great place for lunch or dinner. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the outdoor patio and garden while dining on excellent meat or vegetarian dishes.
The Kenya money is the Shilling, or KES (KSh for prices). Kenya shillings are split into 100 cents. Kenya money comes in bills and coins, denominated as follows:
Kenya shilling coins: 50 cents, 1, 5, 10, 20, 40 Kenya shillings
Kenya shilling notes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 Kenya shillings
The most famous place in Marrakech is definitely the Djemaa el Fna, Marrakech’s main square. At the heart of the city center, the Djemaa el Fna is wide and bustling with food vendors, snake charmers, restaurants, and visitors and locals alike.
Stop by the Djemaa el Fna during the day to try some fresh-squeezed orange juice and hone your bargaining skills or visit at night to eat from the many market stalls selling grilled meat and vegetables.
Serena Hotels are famous for their high quality and beauty, and the Zanzibar Serena Inn hotel is no exception. Dont’s let the simple exterior of the Zanzibar Serena Inn fool you; the interior of the Zanzibar Serena Inn hotel is a stunning blend of Arabian, Persian, and European styles.
Located in the heart of Stone Town, Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Serena Inn hotel is one of the best luxury hotels in Zanzibar.
One of Zanzibar’s best beaches, Mangapwani beach is on Zanzibar’s northwest coast. Mangapwani beach is known for its many sheltered coves and rock outcroppings, as well as its secluded beauty.
Zanzibar is known for its spices and wonderful fresh fruit, so it’s no wonder that there is no shortage of great restaurants in Zanzibar.
Here is my list of the best restaurants in Zanzibar:
Tower Top Restaurant
Tower Top Restaurant, Zanzibar
Address: 236 Hurumzi Street, Zanzibar Tanzania
Phone: 255-(0)77-7423266
The famous Tower Top Restaurant, which is located in the Emerson & Green Hotel in Zanzibar, is one of Zanzibar’s best restaurants.
Guests at Tower Top Restaurant in Zanzibar enjoy live music while dining Arabian Nights-style on carpets and beautiful pillows. With ocean views to match the food, Tower Top Restaurant is well worth a visit.
Sweet Easy Restaurant
Sambusa Two Tables Restaurant
When planning your first trip to Morocco, there are a lot of options for where you can go. While the best cities to visit are in traveling distance from one another, keep in mind that distances can be far and transportation is not always fast, clean, or reliable. With that said, the top places to visit in Morocco are:
Marrakech – With the bustling Medina and busy souks, Marrakech is sure to keep your senses stimulated for your entire stay.
Fez – The cultural capital of Morocco won’t disappoint with its beautiful architecture.
Essaouira – This seaside town is a great retreat from the heat of the desert.
Atlas Mountains – High above the desert, the Atlas Mountains are a beautiful place to camp or drive.
Casablanca – Famous for the movie by the same name, Casablanca is an amazing city and well worth a visit.
2009 Gnawa and World Music Festival dates are late June 2009
The Gnawa and World Music Festival in Essaouira, Morocco is an annual music festival that celebrates music from all over the globe. The festival, which takes place every year in June, is one of the most popular music festivals in Africa.
Now in its 12th year, the Gnawa and World Music Festival features 250 Moroccan artists and musicians and 150 musicians from other parts of the world.
In addition to music, the Gnawa and World Music Festival offers artistic and cultural events, as well as conferences and meetings
Rockin’ the Casbah
By STEVE DOUGHERTY
FROM his perch on a rooftop terrace near the crenelated western ramparts of the walled city, a visitor from England watched the sun set in spectacular display over the Atlantic Ocean. As it disappeared on the cloudless horizon, the sun’s rays cast a golden glow on a rising crescent moon decorated on the eve of the summer solstice by a silvery alignment of planets and stars.
“Nice touch, that,” quipped Bill Corbett, a 39-year-old London photographer, D.J. and music fanatic whose visit to Essaouira, an exotic, wind- and sun-swept Moroccan city on the northwest coast of Africa, for the 10th-annual Gnawa and World Music Festival, would prove a transforming experience. “This really is a midsummer night’s dream.”
2, Derb Sedra, Bab Agnaou, Kasbah, Marrakech
Les Bains de Marrakech Phone: + 212 (0) 44 38 14 28
Les Bains de Marrakech Opening Hours: 9am-8pm every day
Les Bains de Marrakech is a chic, stylish hammam in Marrakech’s Kasbah. Located off a main street down a small alley, visiting the hammam feels like you’re being transported into a world of peace and tranquility. After spending time in Marrakech’s bustling Medina, Les Bains de Marrakech will be a welcome haven.
Try a refreshing oriental bath or a romantic couples’ steam bath (600dhs), followed by an ultra-relaxing massage (250-700dhs). For a more traditional Moroccan experience, go for one of the luxurious hammam treatments (150-450dhs). While you wait, enjoy the central patio area while reclining on a sofa sipping Moroccan mint tea or ice water.
The Ngorongoro Serena Hotel and Safari Lodge is located right on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Like all Serena hotels, the Ngorongoro Serena Hotel is luxurious and has all the amenities of a world-class safari lodge. The hotel blends into the earthy backdrop of the crater edge, and is a perfect jumping-off point for your safari game drives in the crater.
Rooms at the Ngorongoro Serena Hotel are decorated in neutral tones with all the attention to detail one would expect from a Serena destination. The hotel offers an array of meals, including BBQ lunches, as well as spa facilities and a boutique.
Room rates at the Ngorongoro Serena Hotel are $555USD/night for a double room during the high season (Jun 1-March 31), $335USD/night for a double room during the low season (April 1-May 30).
For high-end luxury in Marrakech, nothing tops the Amanjena Hotel. Located a short drive from the city center in a larger-than-life complex, the Amanjena Hotel is a resort haven. Relax by one of the swimming pools, get a massage at the world-class spa, or enjoy a cocktail while listening to live music at the bar.
If you can’t afford to stay at the Amanjena, you can head to the hotel for dinner at one of their wonderfully decorated restaurants. Get there before sunset to take a walk around the grounds and have a drink before your meal.
Room rates at the Amanjena Marrakech range from 950-3350USD/night, depending on the season.