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Annual Events |
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The Mombasa carnival |
Each year, Mombasa celebrates it's great wealth of
cultural resources with a Cultural Carnival. Held in
November, the carnival is a good chance to see
artists and musicians from all over Kenya. The
Mombasa carnival features parades and floats from
every imaginable cultural and religious group in
Kenya, the two main parades converge onto Moi
Avenue.
The main arena features local bands and dancers,
with the smaller stages showcasing local traditional
Kenyan dances. There are numerous stalls promoting
arts and crafts and for additional entertainment a
sailing regatta is held along the seafront. |
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The Kijani Festival |
The Kijani Festival attracts world-renowned artist
to venues in Nairobi and around the country,
including the Carnivore Restaurant, Nairobi
Arboretum, Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Hell's Gate in
Naivasha and the Mt Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki.
Arranged each year by the Kijani Kenya Trust, the
festival has marveled thousands of people and raised
considerable amounts for charitable projects since
its initiation in 2004. In later years it expanded
its repertoire to include Jazz in the Park,
performances by the Royal Ballet Company and a
production of Gershwin's' classic Porgy & Bess.
The Trust was initiated with the aim of bringing
internationally celebrated music and cultural events
to Kenya and to educate and raise funds to support
Conservation and HIV/AIDS projects in the country. |
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The Kwani Literary Festival |
“Kenya has never been more relevant to global
development than today,” notes Binyavanga Wainaina,
founding editor of Kwani? Magazine and contributor
to Vanity Fair, National Geographic, Granta, to name
but a few publications. “For the best writers on the
continent to gather in a setting that embodies
Africa’s greatest hopes and deepest fears is an
extraordinary opportunity.”
The Kwani Literary Festival showcase a diversity of
interactive events and forums, including creative
writing workshops, panel discussions, lectures, book
signings and readings taking place at various venues
in Nairobi.
The event yearly attracts the best novelists,
authors, journalists and publishers from around
Kenya and the continent. Workshops, dinners and
symposiums feature on a programme that also includes
literary safaris and sailboat excursions. |
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Concours d'Elegance |
Each year numerous classic cars and motorcycles
compete in the Concours d'Elegance at Nairobi Race
Course. Kenyan and overseas competitors exhibit
everything from Volvos and Volkswagens to Porsches
and Alfa Romeos.
There are ten different categories for cars and six
for motorcycles. Judges thoroughly scrutinize each
vehicle and no detail is overlooked. At the close of
the show a procession of all the cars around the
course is held the being the pre-1940s vehicles. An
event not to be missed as there is plenty of
entertainment for spectators, including parachute
jumps, fly-bys, a motor sale and a comedy show. |
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Wildebeest Migration |
Wildebeest best characterize the struggle for
survival in the harsh environment of the great
African plains. Pursued by hungry predators they
migrate clockwise from the Serengeti to the Mara in
a never-ending quest for fresh pastures. The Grand
Masai Mara National Reserve is where much of the
battle takes place.
Between the months of July and October these
magnificent animals leave the withering plains of
the Serengeti in favour of the lush green grass of
the Mara. They arrive in July and August, barging
spectacularly across the Sand River and into the
eastern side of the reserve around Keekorok, where
they graze their way westwards in unsettled mass,
eventually completing there journey in October.
Followed closely by relentless predators, lion hunt
the weak or unwary in prides while the spotted
hyenas pick them off in packs. Boisterous zebras
break the pattern of endless black and brown as
fellow travelers during this spectacular event. |
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Whale Shark Diving |
February in Kenya hails the opening of the Whale
Shark season. Dive sites near Diani, Malindi and
Watumu offer an exclusive opportunity to see these
magnificent creatures, renowned as the world's
largest shark.
An effortless surface drift dive offers a personal
encounter with these imposing giants. Named Papa
Shillingi by the locals ("the shark covered in
shillings"), whale sharks can be measure in length
close to 18 metres with a mass of 20 tonnes. In
spite of their monstrous size, they feed only on
plankton and are harmless. |
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Rhino Charge |
The event an annual 4WD rally race held in the
Kenyan bush raises money for Rhino Ark, who is
instrumental in the protection of Kenya's Aberdare
National Park. Located within the Aberdare mountain
range, this unique park is one of Kenya's largest
forest and mountain ecosystems and protects one of
its largest black rhino populations.
The Rhino Charge has developed into a sporting event
off note, and attracts competitors from around the
world. Teams brings there own 4WD vehicles and the
night before the event are briefed on the locations
of "guard posts" in the bush.
Many teams fall victim to the many natural obstacles
along the way. The most coveted prize after overall
winner is the Victor Ludorum, which goes to the
competitor who raises the most money and achieves
the highest positioning in the competition. |
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