Kenya: An Imperfect Paradise
From afar, Kenya seems like an African paradise — exotic wildlife, endless greenery, and gorgeous beaches. I can confirm: it’s a beautiful country. But after seeing it up close, Kenya has grime where you’d expect gloss, and I couldn’t help but wonder about its future.
I traveled to Kenya with dreams of crossing off a bucket list item: a safari. It did not disappoint. The open savanna of the Masai Mara was magnificent. Tall grass shimmered and swayed, rustling amplified with the thudding from herds of elephant. If the air felt heavy, it could be a sign of an impending rainstorm or the labored breathing from a pride of lions gnawing at a wildebeest. If my trip in Kenya started and ended with a safari, I would’ve gone home a happy man.
But what I would’ve missed!
I intentionally didn’t book my ticket out. I wanted to explore unfettered, opening my itinerary to input from locals and travelers. And that’s how I heard about Kilifi — a beach town nestled on the warm Indian Ocean, shaded by bulging baobab trees. Bioluminescent plankton shine in the bay at night (although the moon was too full when I was there). The freshest mango costs 25 cents — depending on your negotiation skills — its tang teeming on your tongue. The backpackers, Distant Relatives, looks like it’s in a jungle, which means that millipedes mill about but you can also shower under…