Kenya Travel Guide & Manual - International Luxury Travel Market

3
A land of sports lovers with
plenty of challenges for visitors
Kenyans love sport – hence the familiar sight
of football being played in the evenings on the
edge of every village in the land.
Yet, in terms of international sporting prowess,
it is in athletics that Kenya excels – especially
running events at distances between 800
metres and the marathon.
In both men’s and women’s events, Kenya
probably leads the world at these distances. In
particular, Kenya has a grip on the 3,000 metre
steeplechase, in which the nation has repeatedly
made a clean sweep of medals at the Olympic
Games and IAAF World Championships.
By contrast, the nation’s rugby, football, volleyball
and cricket teams have enjoyed mixed
fortunes in recent years.
PASSIONATE
Kenyans are especially passionate – and highly
knowledgeable – about football, not only about
the latest events and scores in the domestic
league but only in regard to what’s happening
in the UK’s Premiership or similar top-level
leagues in Spain or Italy.
The national cricket team, meanwhile, has
performed well in one-day internationals – even
reaching the semi-final of a recent World Cup.
Kenya is a solid performer in terms of African
rugby. Its rugby ‘sevens’ team has done particularly
well and the game is now established.
Rugby is growing in popularity and is now
played outside its home base of Nairobi.
Most visitors are probably
unaware of the fluctuating
fortunes of Kenya’s national
teams, but are certainly impressed
by its success on the
athletics track.
For tourists, however, the
real point of interest is those
sports and activities in which
they can actually be involved.
Climbing/trekking and golf are
probably the two most popular
sports for visitors. For climbers,
Mount Kenya – at 5,199
metres the second-highest peak
in Africa – is the big challenge
and main attraction. Mount
Kenya is 200 km from Nairobi,
so it is easy to reach. A number
of specialist companies can
arrange climbing trips as well as trekking in the
foothills of Mount Kenya and the high moorland
of nearby Aberdare National Park.
For golf enthusiasts, Kenya has more than 40
courses, most of them dating from colonial
times. In and around Nairobi, which is blessed
with several fine courses, the climate is just
about perfect for the sport, with low humidity
and temperatures that rarely exceed 27°C
even in summer. There are two 18-hole courses
at the coast and two nine-hole courses. Two
new 18-hole courses are under construction
at Vipingo Ridge. The coast, of course, is also
perfect for sailing.