Running Wild for African Marathons

Published on About.com

African athletes are legendary in long distance running events. In the recent London marathon, Kenyan athletes Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany won both the men and the women's race. Long distance races at the Olympics are dominated by East and North Africans. But you don't hear enough about marathons being run in Africa.

At the end of June, Kenya will host the 13th Safaricom marathon. The race takes place in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and runners will be up against non-human contestants as well, zebra, impala and maybe even a rhino or two. More than 2000 runners will take on the challenge and the money raised will go toward wildlife conservation and community projects. The mere possibility of spotting a lion while running, would certainly propel me to the finish line.

Other Marathons Taking Place in Africa in 2012/13

Running a marathon is always a great excuse to travel. So why not try one of these marathons and run in the desert, mountains, savannah, or forest. All of these marathons can be combined with safaris, treks and cultural tours.

• International Peace Marathon Kigali - Kigali, Rwanda - May 27, 2012
• Big Five Marathon - Entabeni Game Reserve, Limpopo, South Africa - June 23, 2012
• Knysna Forest Marathon - Knysna, South Africa - July 14, 2012
• Amazing Maasai Marathon (Ultra) - Mt Kenya, Kenya - September 29, 2012
• Kilimanjaro Marathon - Moshi, Northern Tanzania - March 3, 2013
• Two Oceans Marathon - Cape Town, South Africa - March 29, 2013
• Marathon des Sables (extreme 6 days) - Western Sahara Desert, Morocco - April, 2013

And for more dates and races check this African marathon calendar

Vacation, Untamed: Safari in Style

Published in The Daily 

KENYA

One of the most diverse and fascinating East African countries, Kenya was the birthplace of safaris, beloved by literary icons such as Isak Dinesen, author of “Out of Africa,” and Ernest Hemingway, who rhapsodized about the country in tales like “Green Hills of Africa” and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.” Landscapes in Kenya range from the open plains of the Maasai Mara to the dazzling, multicultural

coastal towns and the sweeping vistas of the central highlands.

WHERE TO STAY

Cottars Safari

KENYA
One of the most diverse and fascinating East African countries, Kenya was the birthplace of safaris, beloved by literary icons such as Isak Dinesen, author of “Out of Africa,” and Ernest Hemingway, who rhapsodized about the country in tales like “Green Hills of Africa” and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.” Landscapes in Kenya range from the open plains of the Maasai Mara to the dazzling, multicultural coastal towns and the sweeping vistas of the central highlands.

WHERE TO STAY

Cottars Safari
An utterly elegant time warp to the safaris of old, this high-end, family-run camp is set at the edge of the vast and stunning Maasai Mara National Reserve, famed for its Maasai warrior culture and its abundance of big game. 888-870-0903 (U.S. only)

Sabuk Lodge
Situated on the beautiful and sparsely populated Laikipia Plateau, this 1,500-acre property, which overlooks the Ewaso Nyiro River, features rustic-chic rooms with stargazing beds and outdoor showers. Activities include camel safaris and walking tours led by Laikipia Maasai tribesmen.

Campi Ya Kanzi
Set at the foot of the Chyulu Hills — Hemingway’s “Green Hills of Africa” — this luxe lodge looks out on majestic, snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. The camp’s Italian owners founded the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, of which actor Edward Norton is president. +254-45-622-516

Emma Sloley is a travel and style writer based in New York City.

How to Count With Your Fingers in Different Languages (Video)

Published in Discovery.com

Three Luxe Hotels to Open in Kenya

Published in Fodors.com 

Three Luxe Hotels to Open in Kenya, Plus Branson's Safari Camp

There's more than the "Big Five" to lure safari junkies to Kenya this fall. Three new luxury resorts are opening up before the end of the year, not to mention a swish Richard Branson homestead due out in early 2013.

Good to know: Travel around opening time (August—October) and you're practically guaranteed front-row seats to the thrilling 1.5 million-animal parade that is the Rift Valley wildebeest and zebra migration.

Segera Camp

Located in the foothills of Mount Kenya in Kenya's Laikipia region, the new solar-powered Segera Camp is a collection of two-story timber and thatched-roof villas primed for views over the plateau's grasslands (the camp's 50,000 acres include a section traversed during the east-west elephant migration). Opening in August, the luxury ranch-style camp comes with horse stables, a library, bar, pool, and sun deck. Rates start from $880/night per person and include all meals and drinks, game drives, guided walks, sleep outs, laundry service, WiFi, and local taxes.

Hemingways Nairobi

The 45-suite boutique Hemingways Nairobi hotel, opening November 1, sits nine miles south of Nairobi overlooking the Ngong Hills. Designer suites come with pitched, wood-beamed ceilings, gauze-draped four-poster beds, sitting areas, terraces with valley views, and marble baths. The hotel is a 5-minute drive to Nairobi National Park (the only wildlife reserve next to a major city) and close to the Karen Blixen Museum and The Daphne Sheldrick Wildlife Sanctuary, home to orphaned elephants and rhinos. Rates start from $860/night and include breakfast.

Beach House

In Kenya's coastal region of Kilifi, the Beach House is more like a private vacation rental (that comes with a staff) than a hotel. Located right on the Indian Ocean's sandy shorefront, the Balinese-style four-bedroom house has a state-of-the-art spa just for guests, a pretty pool, and airy shared spaces that spill out onto gardens or overlook the beach. Full-board accommodations—including airstrip transfers from Malindi, Kilifi, or Vipingo, sundowner excursions (hillside cocktails at sunset), drinks (house alcohol, included), laundry, and taxes—start from $7,000/day for a maximum of 12 adults and four kids (in the children's garden cottage).

Mahali Mzuri

Sir Richard Branson's Kenyan safari camp is scheduled to open early next year on the Motorogi Conservancy in the Masai Mara. Mahali Mzuri, which means "beautiful place" in Swahili, will have only 12 tented suites, accommodating just 24 guests at a time. The cool looking tents, perched on a hillside and raised on platforms to optimize views over the landscape and its residents, come with spacious bedrooms and baths, and private terraces. Rates will start from $580/night per person, including all meals, drinks, and game drives daily.

THINKING OF A TRIP TO KENYA?

For up-to-the-minute hotel and restaurant recommendations, as well as the best planning advice, check out our Kenya Travel Guide.

Photo credits: Beach House courtesy of the Beach House; Hemingways Nairobi courtesy of Hemingways Nairobi