201510 VISITORS einseitg

Destinationen
With love to Kenya
Portrait
Our African expert Heike Hodl has worked in
Kenya for a Swiss company for twelve years
and captures her experience in a book
she wrote. As a lecturer she holds a presentation
about "happiness" and the
"Intuition" as well as marketing and intercultural
competence. She gained her
extensive psychological knowledge at the
Humboldt University. She currently divides
her time between Berlin and Mombasa.
The non-fiction book "Denk dich glücklich"
is written by author Heike Hodl and was
published from the Schwedhelm publisher
on April 15, 2015. The cheerful author
brings vividly together the very old
African knowledge, about the satisfaction
and happiness of African Wise Women, to
the modern happiness research from Europe
and the USA, as well as the concept
of happiness of old philosophers. Already
with her first book "Die Buschfrau" Heike
Hodl knows how to put her love for
Africa into words successfully, which has
been also published by the ‘Schwedhelm’
publisher in February 2012. Her understanding
for the African tribal languages,
the gestures and culture of ythe people,
makes her a credible and very understanding
African Specialist. She has lived
on the African continent for twelve years
and when she talks about that time, the
reader will feel like a walk in the clouds!
VISITORS Event Tip:
book reading on 07th November 2015 in
POSTEL in Wolgast. For more information
check with visitors@smaartcom.de
Der Löwe ist stets der Platzhirsch im Tierreich. -BQ ©VISITORS-
"To see is different than being told." says
a Kenyan proverb.
That is exactly what makes travelling in
Africa worth it – to see, to taste, to touch,
to hear, to admire and to be surprised. Immerse
into different vegetation. Discover
the kingdom of the wild animals and the
king of the kingdom - the lions. To observe
them from a distance and sometimes close
by, zebras next to gnus, cheerfully jumping
antelopes, giraffes nibbling on trees,
grey elephants who parent their young babies
and a rhino – who keeps one’s guard
up. We feel mother nature, who has styled
herself into the last angel of it’s soul.
Kenya- the country at the tip of East Africa,
beautiful beaches, the endless expanse of
the Savannah: sun, beaches, warm water
from the Indian Ocean, which is rumoured
to have healing effects. "THALASSO
pur" .The country with Red Earth is 530
367 square kilometres, by comparison;
the size of Germany is 357 340 square
kilometres. Kenya has 45 million inhabitants
(2014), Germany, however, has 82
Million (2014). On December 12th, 1963
Kenya became independent. Kenya has
never been involved in a war. They love
the cosiness, because "peace is strength"
as the Kenyans say. Many tourists know
the speech "pole, pole" or - to quote a
line from the "Lion King". „It means no
worries for the rest of your day, with
Peace and serenity."
Tourism suffers from insecurity
Kenya, a melting pot of the nations, peaceful
friendly people, all skin colours in
a pleasant coexistence, Recently in Kenya
there have been a number of attacks by
extremists not just the locals have been
targeted but also foreign nationals. This
has been due to Kenyas involvement in
operations in Somalia against terrorism.
Tourists have not yet been killed however
growing insecurity in the region means
many Europeans have been put off visiting
the country and as a result had damaged
the economy as numbers of tourists
visiting had started to decrease in 2008.
But Kenya does not give up. The Kenyans,
friendly and confident believe in themselves
and their country. They want the tourists
come back and they will come! Despite
recent events many German nationals
are starting to visit Kenya once more.
The economy is growing
The Kenyan economy has grown strongly
in Africa in recent years. With 5.7 percent
growth - a dream rate. Roses, coffee and
tea as well as some rare earths are exported
in abundance. The construction
industry is growing, many new jobs have
been created in recent years. On the other
hand the tourist industry lost many jobs
in the same period. Due to recent events
It is not surprising that Kenya still has an
unemployment rate of 36 percent. Social
systems like those we have in Germany
do not exist there. But there is family
support, friendships and above all, tribal
affiliation and therefore obligations.
This means, for example, if a member
of the family has a job, then normally
he provides for seven tribal members.
The family concept is interpreted a little
more generous in Kenya. The Kenyans often
referred to the neighbours of the same
age as brother, sister, cousins. The older
ones become aunts and uncles. There are
also the tribal older ones, who are treated
with great respect and esteem. A beautiful
Kenyan proverb puts it like this: „It takes
a village to educate a child!“ Social bonds
are very important in Kenya. Every human
being has in his tribe a very unique place,
in according to its soft skills and hands on
experiences, his desires and his knowledge.
This reinforces and gives strength.
If the individual violates the unwritten
laws of the tribe, then he will
get expelled - the highest penalty.
This is how intact tribal structure
also leads to parenting and education.
Education is the key to happiness.
The colonial school system was repla
ced by Euro-Centric content. This means,
eight years primary school, four years
high school, and if desired a further four
years of college as well. The training
usually takes two to three years.
"Education is the key to happiness" – The
family Schulte has put this also on the
banner. They run the hotel "Severin Sea
Lodge" in Kenya since 1972 on the scenic
beach Bamburi (Kenya / North Coast),
about 14 km from the airport away. A nice
little hotel with 188 rooms surrounded by
a palm grove directly at the Indian Ocean.
Now there has "Integration in practice."
"Skills for Kenya eV - Education, Technology,
Future" have their special attention
on socially deprived and disadvantaged
children or young people, which living
conditions and family situations don’t
provide financial resources for
apprenticeships and trainings.
The family Schulte have chosen the dual
educational system of Germany as an
example and train young Africans in the
hotel and catering industry and in seven
other artisanal professions. The highlight
is, that the best of these young
people will do a ten-month internship
at one of the two German partner hotels
in ‘Sauerland’ in the "Sunderland Hotel"
or at the hotel "Seehof" in ‘Sundern’.
VISITORS recommends Kenya- the land
of passions. A popular holiday destination
for European royals and many celebrities.
Certain travel agencies, such as
"Severin Travel Africa" ​attract with great
deals and special providers such as ‘Reisekontor
Schmidt’, relies on group tours.
From October there will be flights from
Frankfurt to Nairobi by Lufthansa again.
Please note: Since the first September
2015 an e-visa applies to all EU citizens
who wish to travel to Kenya. This visa
can only be applied for Kenya Tourists
on the internet at: www.ecitizen.go.ke
VISITORS | Die Tourismuszeitung von Touristikern für Touristen | 4. Quartal 2015 7