Issue 35 December 2021 - January 2022
C astal Guide
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11. The Elephant Queen
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13. Responsible Travelling
Coastal Guide Kenya +254 76 846 8255 www.coastalguidekenya.com
02. Watersports
info@coastalguidekenya.com
07. Accommodation
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07. Restaurants 10. News
Next issue: Feb’22-Mar’22 Deadline: 10th Jan’22
13. Services 17. Listings
Kivuli Camp is located in the middle of Rukinga in the Tsavo Conservancy and is a charming ecolodge, a perfect place for an active holiday in the bush. We of fer a wide range of Day or night game drive Hikes to Marungu Hills and Mt.Kasigau Learn about community conversation Visit artisanal traditional craft making groups Experience traditional dances Elephant dung paper making workshop!
accommodation options ranging from a 4-bredroom villa style house, cottage bandas, dormitory bandas and a campsite with flushing toilets and shower with a variety of catering options.
For enquiries, please contact: bookings@tsavoconservancy.com www.tsavoconservancy.com
Call: +254 11 385 0077
Happy New Year from
C astal Guide
EVENTS DEC-JAN 2021/2022 NOMAD’S CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR Nomad Beach Bar & Restaurant Diani Beach
DISTANT RELATIVES CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY MARKET
Distant Relatives Presents The Mighty Umojah Sound System
Sat, 11 December 2021
28 DEC AT 15:15 – 29 DEC AT 06:15
Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers , Kilifi
KASA FISHING TOURNAMENTS 21/22 SEASON 1 – 5 December 2021 – International 4-day tournament – Diani
RED BULL QUICKSAND CHALLENGE Dec 12th, 2021 Diani Beach
19 December – Christmas Hamper/Open Boat – Mtwapa 27 December – Christmas Hamper Competition – Kilifi 28 – 29 December – Watamu Sea Fishing Club Christmas Festival – Watamu 31 December- Captain Andy’s Mida Creek Kids Fishing Comp’- Watamu 2022 8 – 9 January – Diani Samaki Classic – Diani 29 – 30 January – Delamere Fishing Competition – Kilifi
Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers , Kilifi
Childrens' Sports and Craft Camps @ Kivukoni - December 14, 16, 21 & 23rd. Christmas Day @ The Creek Club - Kilifi, 12pm-7pm New Years Eve Party @ The Creek Club - Family Friendly 6pm - 12pm
BENEATH THE BAOBARD NEW YEAR EVE REVIVAL 30,Dec 2021 – 1st Jan 2022 Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers ,Kilifi
Welcome back to #DestinationDiani
Let the festive season magic begin. Indulgent flavours, exceptional views, great music, captivating performances, unforgettable experiences and so much more. Make your reservation today by calling +254 709 481 000 or email us on rsv@dianireef.com
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with Coastal Guide Promote your business this coming year!
Call: +254(0) 76846 8255 info@coastalguidekenya.com www.coastalguidekenya.com
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RESPONSIBLE TIP S
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As we have seen over the past couple of issues, tourism can act as a vehicle for positive change by protecting natural and cultural heritage and providing tangible social and economic benefits for local communities. In this issue, we've decided to focus on what tourists themselves can do to contribute to this positive change and help push forward the responsible tourism agenda to the benefit of all involved. Here are our top ten tips for responsible travel.
Be respectful of cultural differences and travel with an open mind. It's good to learn about your destination before you travel and take time to understand its customs, traditions and social conditions. Experiencing new things, learning from differrent cultures and appreciating all that makes a destination unique is one of the joys of travelling. When holidaying on the Kenyan coast, learning to speak a few words of Kiswahili and dressing modestly when away from the beach and tourist hot spots can go a long way towards creating more meaningful connections with local people.
Reduce, reuse, recycle. The Kenyan coastline sadly bears testament to our over-reliance on plastics and yet access to bins and the infrastructure in place for re-cycling are very limited. Disposing of your waste responsibly may well mean carrying it around with you until you arrive back at your accommodation. But thebest thing to do is to minimise the amount of waste you create in the first place. If your hotel provides drinking water, use that to fill a reusable bottle before heading out. If not, you can also cut down on plastic bottles by buying a 10litre bottle of drinking water and using that to refill you own bottle. Plastic bags have been banned in Kenya so carry around a reusable bag for purchases, and always try to avoid single use plastics such as straws and takeaway food packaging.
Support local businesses. Buying and eating local helps ensure your holiday spending has a direct and positive impact on the destination economy. This applies to everything from handicrafts and souvenirs, to food and even day trips and longer excursions. It is a win-win situation as eating local food is the best way to gain a culinary sense of place and using local guides usually results in being shown around by someone with in-depth local knowledge. It can be tricky to know how much things cost, so it's worth asking around at your accommodation or checking out fixed priced shops before heading out to the markets or engaging with beach vendors. Haggling is fine if done in a good-natured manner, but always bear in mind that the livelihoods of local vendors and artisans depend on being paid fair prices.
Help preserve natural environments. Kenya has an abundance of spectacular natural heritage which is one of the reasons it is such a popular holiday destination. Help preserve its wildlife, landscapes, marine ecosystems and natural habitats by respecting all guidelines, sticking to designated trails (Including on safari!), and never purchasing products made from endangered plants or animals. Also, be mindful of what food you eat, opting for responsibly caught fish and always saying 'No' to bush meat.
Give responsibly. Many tourists are encouraged to buy sweets, pens and other gifts to hand out to children and other villagers, especially when visiting rural communities. However well-intentioned this may be, there are often unintended consequences. It encourages a culture of dependency and begging and can also generate conflict if distributed unfairly. It is much better to contact reputable local organisations to find out exactly what's needed – bearing in mind that the answer may well be money – and to let them deal directly with communities through their social welfare and outreach programs.
Book with tour operators that promote positive visitor-host interactions and fair business practices. When choosing a tour operator for traditional cultural experiences, and particularly activities involving indigenous communities, don't be afraid to ask questions before booking. For example, ask whether they promote fair and equitable business relationships- i.e. how is money you pay distributed and how much control do the communities have over the activities that take place? Not only does this help protect the rights of local / indigenous communities, it also helps visitors benefit from experiences that are more authentic, respectful and rewarding. Better again, book tours that are organised and managed directly by the local community.
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CTM Diani Tiles, Taps, Toilets, Baths, Showers, BathShower enclodure, Sink, Basins,Tile Adhesives, Bathroom cabinets and accessories +254 717 124 203 diani@ctm.co.ke
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