In This Edition:

• AfricanMecca News - Award & Partnership
• Kenya - People & Language
• Top 10 Reason For Visiting Kenya - Reason # 7
• Loldia House in Lake Naivasha
• Funzi Keys in Funzi Island
• Kenya Safari & Culture Video Guide
• African Safari Program Prices & Proposal
• Indian Ocean Beach & Cultural Program Prices
• Another Perfect AfricanMecca Customer Experience
• Newsletter Notes

1. AfricanMecca Safaris Scoops Tanzania Tourist Board Safari Award At African Travel Association (ATA) Congress

2. American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Recommends Kenya As Your Affordable Africa Destination & AfricanMecca As Your Africa TOP ASTA Operator Member Specialist Safari Company - Spring 2009 Edition

3. BBC Wildlife Teams Up With AfricanMecca Safaris To Feature Iconic Africa Wildlife Experiences - July 2009 Edition

Kenya - People & Language

Present day archaeological evidence suggests that some two million years ago, man's ancestors roamed an area in the very north of Kenya, in the region of Lake Turkana near Kobi Foora. Hominid fossil finds dating back that far have earned Kenya the sobriquet "The Cradle of Mankind". Nevertheless, natives of Kenya are almost entirely immigrants whose ancestors reached the country less than 10,000 years ago. Oral and linguistic evidence indicates that Kenya has been the focus of three major immigrations:

In the beginning, the Cushites from the north and northeast - from current day Ethiopia arrived some 9000 years ago. The Cushites who were divided into the southern and eastern groups occupied, unchallenged, the northern half of the country until a movement of Nilotes entering Kenya west of Lake Turkana began a period of interaction with their hosts and later the displacement of the southern Cushites to what is now Tanzania.`The development of these mixed societies led to the Nilotic immigrants being divided into two groups - the Plains Nilotes and the Highland Nilotes. A later immigration (around 500 years ago) of Lake Nilotes, from the direction of what is now Uganda, led to a further Nilotic settlement around Lake Victoria.

Click here for a complete guide to Kenya

Top 10 Reasons For Visiting Kenya - Historical - Reason # 7

Number 7: Historical Experience: Kenya is a country that is as old as the early exploration of the world by Romans: from 45 A.D, Hippalus, a Roman sailor, was pushed to the East African coast by the monsoon winds, to present day. Kenya holds a historical treasure for all to learn and enjoy. The country contains old extant forts standing strong, ruins that were deserted by residents without any explanation, immigration by European settlers who farmed and lived in the highlands of Kenya like Karen Blixen, discoveries like the Thompson Waterfalls at Nyahururu by Joseph Thompson in 1859, immigration of people from India, Arabia, China as explorers and traders. A meeting with the Samburu people in Northern Kenya will enable you to learn about their Israelite experience and Jewish heritage: how their families trickled down from the Mesopotamia region thousands of years ago. Kenya and East Africa as a region are also internationally credited to hold the original hominid excavations of prehistoric humans underscoring the theory of our existence to have originated from the area.

Click here to review all Top 10 Reasons For Visiting Kenya

Kenya Safari Accommodation Guide

Loldia House in Lake Naivasha
AfricanMecca Tier 1 Accommodation. Click here for details on Safari Tier™

The Kenya of the pioneers was a land of expansive farms, carved from the highlands and the country around the beautiful Rift Valley Lakes. The virgin untamed land drew the early settlers, in those days roamed by Maasai herdsmen and wild game. With only rudimentary tools and teams of oxen, forests were cleared and fences established to open the land to herds of cattle. Although life was hard, the settlers enjoyed an outdoor lifestyle, walking, riding and hunting amongst the profusion of animal and bird life in the Great Rift Valley

Click here for complete information on Loldia House & complete guide to Lake Naivasha

Indian Ocean Cultural Beach Accommodation Guide

Funzi Keys in Funzi Island - South of Mombasa Island
AfricanMecca Tier 1 Experience. Click here for details on AfricanMecca Rating

Tucked away on an unspoilt island in the Indian Ocean, yet only 15 minutes flying time from Mombasa, The Funzi Keys´ unique appeal is its luxurious seclusion and beautiful natural scenery. Surrounded by water and superbly located on a west-facing beach with glorious views of the African sunset, this remote and exclusive hideaway is the perfect place to escape from the outside world in style. Funzi Keys was voted, for the second time, one of the top 101 hotels in the world by Conde Nast.

Click here for complete details on Funzi Keys  complete guide to Funzi Island

Loldia House

1. Loldia House Room View - Click Here To Watch Video
2. Loldia House Twin Room View - Click Here To Watch Video
3. Loldia House Bathroom View - Click Here To Watch Video
4. Loldia House Lounge View - Click Here To Watch Video
5. Loldia House Morning View - Click Here To Watch Video
6. Loldia House Outside View - Click Here To Watch Video
7. Loldia House General Views - Click Here To Watch Video

Click here for a complete video guide to Kenya

• 8 Days - Showcasing Kenya Safari I: From US $4400 or GBP 2750 per person sharing. Programs Inclusions: accommodation, meals, drinks, road and local air transfers, conservancy and park fees, game activities and all taxes. Click here for a complete itinerary. Tailor-make safari is available on request.

Click here to review other Kenya recommended safari programs.

• SPECIAL OFFER: Funzi Keys: From US $240 per person per night plus another 15% discount - contact us for details.
• 2 Nights Tsavo Explorer Kenya Safari & 5 Nights Mombasa Beach Holiday: From US $708 or GBP 472 per person

The above beach extensions can be tailor-made for our guests from North America, UK and other worldwide regions. Click here for prices for Indian Ocean Beach Holidays to Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo etc.

Bush & Beach Safari - Combine with Mombasa Beach Holidays. Click here for prices and safari programs

Jambo Altaf,

As usual the program went like clockwork and it was a wonderful holiday. We had the added bonus of visiting the elephant orphanage and giraffe sanctuary on our first day in Nairobi which was a welcome addition and great fun. Loldia House was beautiful and Peter was a wonderful host. Lake Nakuru is absolutely stunning and exceeded my expectations and Little Governor's never fails to disappoint - the Masai Mara was full of the usual lions, cheetah, huge herds of elephant and much much more. All in all a wonderful experience yet again - My third time to Kenya and it never disappoints.

Some photos to follow.

Kind Regards,
Simon Woodlock
United Kingdom