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Original poster

Would you take your dc's to Kenya?

57 replies

Realitea · 22/02/2017 19:59

Dh suddenly "has" to go there and is quite annoyed that I don't want to go (I'm a worrier) I've read that it's not safe but I don't know.. would love some knowledge of the place.
We have two dc's one who is quite young.

OP posts:
ImNotOkayyy · 22/02/2017 20:00

Has to go why? Family problems? Work?

Original poster
Realitea · 22/02/2017 20:01

No he's just decided it's somewhere he's always wanted to go and now won't stop going on about it.

OP posts:
LIZS · 22/02/2017 20:03

How young? The injections aren't pleasant and it is malarial. A road safari is pretty heavy going too.

Original poster
Realitea · 22/02/2017 20:03

Oh god it's put me off even more now

OP posts:
Original poster
Realitea · 22/02/2017 20:04

The youngest is 6

OP posts:
LIZS · 22/02/2017 20:05

There are specialist family operators but personally I wouldn't with an under 10.

Zorra · 22/02/2017 20:11

It's not all malarial: Nairobi is relatively high altitude so doesn't suffer much. Where / what do you want to do? We've been lots of times (kids 7 and 3) but I used to live there. It's very easy going and lots of fun, amazing beaches and largely very safe and friendly. But in general if you are against going somewhere then just don't bother. Why be pressured into it?

lazydog · 22/02/2017 20:12

No way. We had armed guards accompanying our safari back in 1998, with the ammo clips for their automatic weapons taped together, but facing opposite ways around, so that they could quickly flip them over and reload in the midst of any firefight. When the vehicle at the front of our group got a flat they climbed onto the roof to keep lookout while the tyre was changed, as apparently that was a common ambush tactic. It's meant to be even more dangerous now...

lazydog · 22/02/2017 20:14

I'd love to go again, personally, but I wouldn't take kids. Smile

Zorra · 22/02/2017 20:16

Where was your safari Lazydog?? I've never had that and been on plenty over the last 10 years: the only time we had an armed guard was near the Somali border.

LesLavandes · 22/02/2017 20:19

I have been taking my children to Kenya regularly since 2011 - Nairobi, sometimes safari and to the coast - nearer Tanzanian end. We have all the vaccinations, and of course are very vigilant but we also use good tour operators who have local agents in Kenya. We have never been concerned or had any problems. Yes, it is a different culture but this country is beautiful with beautiful people. Btw. I am not Kenyan!

ActuallyThatsSUPREMECommander · 22/02/2017 20:21

The roads are really properly dangerous. Forget Al Quaeda, it's the driving standards that'll kill you.

Have you read the FCO advice?

Original poster
Realitea · 22/02/2017 20:22

It's not striking me as the sort of place you'd take a small child. I don't like the way I'm feeling pressured into this either (maybe I'll save that for the relationships board!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Realitea · 22/02/2017 20:23

Yes I have. I tried telling dh about it today and he scoffed at it saying if it was that dangerous they wouldn't be selling holidays there

OP posts:
Dailymaildailyfail · 22/02/2017 20:26

No- check the FOC website. There is some advice to only travel if essential in some parts of Kenya (I.e close to Mombasa) but if you're flying into Nairobi it's still quite hairy. I might do it with a partner but not with kids. I work for an online travel flash sale site and put it this way- we won't sell any product anywhere near Kenya for these reasons. It's just not safe enough.

Zorra · 22/02/2017 20:26

That's your answer then no? It's not really about how other people feel / FCO advice etc but about how YOU feel about it. If you're pressured to go you'll be on your last nerve which will make it a crap holiday anyway. Go somewhere you both want!

LordRothermereBlackshirtCunt · 22/02/2017 20:26

My dad is from Kenya, I first went when I was 9 and loved it. How safe it is depends entirely on which part of the country you visit, and how you travel. Where does your DH want to go, exactly?

Original poster
Realitea · 22/02/2017 20:27

Apparently going somewhere I want is holding him back as he 'wants to see the world'
It's like banging my head against a wall. Will just have to hope he listens

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Original poster
Realitea · 22/02/2017 20:28

Dh wants to go to Mombasa but said Nairobi would be a 'compromise' Hmm

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missyB1 · 22/02/2017 20:29

Nope I wouldn't take a child there. DH and I went about 8 years ago and I never felt completely safe. The safari was great though!

Autumnchill · 22/02/2017 20:34

Went in 2007 with Titan Tours who were fantastic. Didn't feel safe in Nairobi as there was a protest day we landed and we had armed guards on every floor by the elevators but was only there over night.

Best holiday but would probably wait for them to be older to fully appreciate it

LordRothermereBlackshirtCunt · 22/02/2017 20:36

My dad is actually from Mombasa. It's not somewhere I'd travel all that way to visit. My uncle still lives there and there are parts of the town where you drive through red lights so as not to stop. He doesn't visit my grandmother's grave because he and his wife don't feel safe visiting the cemetery. NAirobi is even worse, by all accounts.

If you were thinking about flying into the Masai Mara, then I'd say go for it. But there are a hundred places in Africa that would make for a better family holiday than Mombasa and Nairobi.

Original poster
Realitea · 22/02/2017 20:40

Thank you. I will remember that when it comes up in conversation again.

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Arcadia · 22/02/2017 20:50

He says if it was dangerous they wouldn't sell holidays there. Erm ... Tunisia? I wouldn't go personally, not with children anyway. We won't even go to turkey now having had some lovely times there. I would without DC though. We went to Egypt (Sinai) before DC but wouldn't now. He can go with a mate then you get to do a holiday you want to do with a friend?

AristonAndOn · 22/02/2017 20:51

I got married in Mombasa 6 years ago. I'd love to go back with my dc, but even my dh who is quite laid back about these things says it isn't safe enough now.