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Updated "Travel to Kenya Warning" from the State Department
This morning I received an updated warning from the State Department about traveling to Kenya. The last time there was a warning posted was June 2014. The fact that my trip is coming up in about a month makes me a little nervous. I am hoping that Tauck is well informed about the areas in which we teavel, and that I can sleep at night...before and during the trip. Any of your well traveled thoughts would be appreciated.
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If you look at the State Dept warning, you'll see it is just an update to the previous general warning. There has been no imminent specific threat identified.
Tauck has a team that monitors the situation wherever they run tours. In the case of Kenya and other countries (including the US!) where there is a potential for terrorist acts, you always run the risk that something will happen. It is the nature of our world today. No country or tour company can protect you all the time, so there is always some risk- it is the price we pay for enjoying life vs just living.
If you research the history of events in Kenya (and Tanzania), you will see most recent incidents have occurred in the north and east along the coast and near the border with Somalia, at a gatherings of people (mall, school), many perpetrated by Al-Shabaab, Somalia-based terrorists seeking revenge for Kenyan military participation in international peacekeeping. With the exception of Nairobi and one incident in Arusha, TZ (likely tribal or family dispute), I don't recall ever hearing about any incidents in the places where we will be traveling. I think you are more likely to be hurt in a car accident (or train wreck) here in the US than anywhere on our tour. Kenya derives a significant portion of its GNP from tourism so has stepped up security measures at airports and other such locations.
See you in 29 days!
We also constructed several safaris on our own. During these trips, we visited Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The only place I ever felt the least bit uncomfortable was at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi. When we were last there, the main international terminal had been destroyed by fire. The temporary facilities were crowded and disorganized. It was chaos.
However, I just received an email from an American wildlife biologist who accompanied us on our last safari. He said the new international terminal at Kenyatta Airport if fully functional now. Last time, it took us two hours to pass through the police check points into the airport and then through the airlines, baggage and customs lines. Last month, my friend did all these things in under 15 minutes.
This trip is the trip of a life time. Relax and enjoy Africa and its wonderful people. The wildlife will literally blow your mind....Leo M.