Do you think Kenya is a safe place for a family holiday ?

[LardLizard]

Thinking for Possibly next year ?

no I am not being ridiculous. Brits love to forget their violent colonial past, but this one is a bit too recent for me. If you honestly think that it is not an issue, then you are the one who is being ridiculous.

Please make sure you take all precautions against malaria. A friend's small daughter nearly died through cerebral malaria contracted in Kenya.

@DullAndOld I'm mixed race. I don't think I need reminding about my colonial history.

vlad well then that's different. You know what I am saying though.

Dull To be honest it would make for an interesting thread I think, if you ever start it do give me a shout. The so-called guilt or white-washing of the Brits. I totally see what you are saying. But in the context of this particular thread's subject matter, I am left a bit .

People need to be more aware and socially conscious and that extends to choosing holiday destinations, IMO.

If that's how you want to look at things, Amatree, you might as well stay in your house and never leave it again. I doubt there's a country in the world where something unethical isn't happening to some degree.

Sorry, but this is all madness. The US incarcerates children and executes the mentally ill. Anyone not going to Disneyworld because of that? Sri Lanka has a horrendous human rights record. But it’s okay to go there but not Kenya?!

yes we could start that thread ...I have already been accused of holidaying in Skegness, and of only choosing inclusive resort holidays, where apparently I never leave the resort....just because I mentioned stuff that bothers me...

Eh what do they mean you can't swim in the sea in South Africa? Go to Durban or Cape Town. Go to the bush in kwazulu natal which has no malaria.
It seems like you've done no research into this trip...

It is very, very unsettled again unfortunately. Me & DH? Hell yes! Us & DC? Just no-I honestly wouldn't risk it which is such a shame as a fabulous part of the world which I'd normally champion

We are quite well travelled but found it terrifying. No way would I take kids. We went a while ago though and attended a wedding (of the ruling family). Also went on safari on Somalian border. Bet you can't go there now.

No. Terrorist activity is strong and on the rise.

Read here www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya/terrorism
There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attacks in Nairobi and the coast and resort areas of Mombasa and Malindi.

No

Littlepeas

the very experienced and well travelled agent we booked through did tell me that you can't really go into the water because it is very cold and there are sharks

No offence to you Little, but not sure your very experienced travel agent is correct. I am from the Eastern Cape and I can assure you it is perfectly fine to swim in the ocean. If you are on your way here shortly as per your post, please do pack swimming attire. Just out of interest, is it Shamwari you are visiting?

No.

I travel to Kenya a few times a year for work. I adore Kenya. However, I wouldn't take my children at the moment.

I agree with the people saying that safaris aren’t ideal for young children. They usually involve many hours spent in a hot, bumpy vehicle with not much happening, interspersed with short bursts of excitement when you see a cool animal. I’d leave it a few years personally.

@LardLizard , my mum took me when I was 17. We did a week safari and a week in a hotel . It was an amazing experience but I never felt safe . The men are frankly a bit weird and we did get into a hoary situation with the locals in the town .
It was a good while ago so I'm not sure what's changed but I wouldn't take my children as beautiful as it was .

I have recently returned from Nairobi and the Central Business District has a real problem with armed muggings right now - even in broad daylight. The UN has a warning for its staff to avoid the area. So if you go, don't stay there!

We have been and it was the most memorable holiday we have ever had, however our DS was 12. When's we booked we found a lot of safari companies didn't even allow under tens. For all the reasons already mentioned I would wait until the youngest is that age.

Germany deals in the arms trade- better not come here

Japan doesn't recognise children of non Japanese parentage as Japanese. - better not go there either for their human rights clauses

Dubai has poor construction industries mortalities- avoid

FgM is happening under our noses in the UK as are arranged marriages and child prostitution.....

Every country has mal practices. Don't whitewash certain countries and "blacken" others.

To be honest, from our experience definitely not!

I was a very senior travel agent for 35 years so extremely well travelled.
My abiding memories of Kenya were having to be careful with money and possessions everywhere as petty theft was rife. (We had our airport departure tax stolen from our bags just before leaving for our flights.). If you ventured out of the hotel grounds the local men, in particular, looked at you very strangely. You couldn't go onto the beach as you were constantly harassed by pedlars, the safari jeeps were extremely bumpy and your clothes ended up being covered in this red dust. There were virtually no public toilets anywhere outside of the hotel. (Once when I was desperate the tour guide stopped the bus and made me go behind a bush at the side of the road.) Also, hygiene not great and when in Nairobi our tour guide - local - advised us not to leave the hotel once dusk descended and even in broad daylight we were advised to place all visible jewellery in our underwear. The week after we returned home the beach hotel next door to ours - Mombasa - suffered an armed raid and all tourists were held as hostages. 😱. However, to be fair this was 1991 and I am sure some things have improved but I certainly wouldn't return.

To those suggesting Botswana instead of Kenya I am assuming you are aware of the huge price difference alone between the two. 🙄. Hardly comparable!

Tea I don' t really get your point.

Is it safe to leave the resort and go for a walk to a local market?
Is it safe to go out of the highly secured tourist zones?
Can you go for a walk on the beach after dinner?

In the countries you mention, yes. Even a child alone can go from the hotel to a shop nearby (not inside the resort) and buy postcard or chocolate . In Kenya, would you?
Is it not about politics or mal practice, just basic safety.

No public toilets, really, really, ever been walking in the lakes, not many public loos on the hills there.

I have gone from being a lurker to making an account just to post, i am an expat living in nairobi and have travelled extensively all over the country over the last few years. I have never felt anymore unsafe than I do in say london or another big city. The national parks are perfectly safe and if you book through a reputable travel agent you will be absolutely fine. The beaches are beautiful and the coastal towns are perfectly safe to wander around. Yes there are cultural differences but that would apply to anywhere.
My main concern would be safari is not really the best activity for a small child. The animals are best seen very early in the morning or of an evening and games drives are often hours long on very bumpy roads in equally bumpy vehicles so not the best for grumpy pre-schoolers needing a nap.
If you have any more specific questions please feel free to ask :)