The UP Nairobi Reader’s Tips Competition – terms and conditions
The UPNairobi Weekend Getaway Competition aims to get Readers to send in suggestions, in no more than 50 words, for great weekend trips that are accessible from Nairobi by car in under two hours.
The winning tip will be extracted at random. The winner will be rewarded with one night for two in a banda at Fisherman’s camp, Naivasha (national holidays and events excluded) with a complimentary dinner and breakfast (alcoholic beverages excluded).
Keep your tips descriptive and colourful (50 words) for your chance to be included on the pages of UP Magazine!
We will be announcing the winners on the 20rd of June and the top five will be included in our July Travel Supplement.
Logon to see us as we extract the winning tip from a hat!
Send you tips to: content@mondeas.com
Alessandra Argenti says:
My suggestion for the “Weekend Getaway Competition” is a responsible tourism and eco-sustainable initiative, in order to support a local community which is trying its best to offer a unique experience to its guests.
This option will benefit local people instead of already rich lodge owners, and it’s suitable for singles, couples and even families.
The place is called KIGIO CAMP inside Kigio wildlife Conservancy (near Gilgil, between Nakuru and Naivasha - max 2 hours drive from Nairobi).
The rate is around 70$ per person per night and it’s a totally different concept of Safari since you won’t be locked inside a car, but you’ll be living in a real farm surrounded by wild animals. You can even ride a horse and have an amazing experience walking around the hills: you alone with the wild animals.
It measures approximately 3,500-acres of protected land. It was originally a cattle ranch owned by a colonial settler family. It was sold by the family to the local community who after a few years decided to forgo cattle ranching in favor of wildlife conservation. The community now receives a regular income and the conservancy fee each visitor pays towards the maintenance of the conservancy. The conservancy has wide ranging habitats, from riverine and euphorbia woodlands to short grass and Leleshwa shrub, and hosts a variety of wildlife including the endangered Rothschild Giraffe, herds of buffalo, zebra, waterbuck, impala, Grants and Thomsons gazelle, eland, hyena, leopard, hippopotamus and over 200 bird species. It is protected by an electric fence on three sides and the Malewa River on the other. In addition, the conservancy is at the forefront of protecting nearly 100 species of indigenous plant species which are being destroyed rapidly outside the conservancy.
A part from environmental conservation, sustainability and community support, visitors are also taken to visit Langa- Langa a local community; where they get a chance to purchase curios and beads. Also, guests can visit a group of women who craft baskets and another group that makes beads from paper waste.
Finally, Kigio is also a nursery for the future generations and has hosted several field trips for children from the local communities and schools in our endeavor to spread the word about environmental conservation. They are taught about utilization and conservation of natural resources, use of solar as a source of energy, water conservation and recycling. Hopefully, several seeds have been planted and many of the keen participants will grow into committed conservationists.
It’s the best, nearest place to Nairobi, where you can go for a romantic weekend or for the funniest experience with your children!