FESTIVALS IN KENYA
Kenya officially the Republic of Kenya, is a sovereign state in East Africa. The capital and largest city is Nairobi. Kenya lies on the equator with the Indian Ocean to the south-east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north-east. Kenya covers 581,309 km2 (224,445 sq mi) and has a population of about 44 million in July 2012.The country is named after Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa.
The country has a warm and humid climate along its Indian Ocean coastline, with wildlife-rich savannah grasslands inland towards the capital. Kenya is famous for its safaris and diverse wildlife reserves and national parks.
Kenya's climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate inland to arid in the north and northeast parts of the country. The area receives a great deal of sunshine every month, and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. 

Ostrich Racing
Ostrich racing has become Kenya's latest phenomenon, with an increasing number of Kenyans and tourists taking part.
Spurred by growing interest in the huge birds, enhanced by rising demand for their protein-rich, low-cholesterol meat, increasing numbers of Kenyans and tourists are overcoming anxiety about the temperamental beasts to ride them.
Many are afraid; they fear the ostrich .That fear is well-placed. Notoriously nasty ostriches can and have torn humans in two with a single well-placed blow from one of the razor-sharp talons that protrude menacingly from each of their feet. But with ostrich awareness on the rise amid a spike in the popularity of the meat, Kenya has seen a surge in riding and racing of the birds despite their reputation for belligerent behavior, including hissing and spitting.
KWS estimates there are at least 1 500 ostriches in the wild in Kenya, equal to the number raised by the country's two largest breeders.
Maasai Ostrich Park located in Kitengela it is 45km from Nairobi on the Athi River/ Kitengela Plains and 30 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where Ostrich races are held at the farm on Sundays and occasionally at the Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi

Donkey Racing in Lamu Kenya
Among some of the quirkier attractions that Kenya has to offer is the Lamu Donkey Tour. Lamu sets the scene for this delightful activity, and is a place of off-beat beauty and serenity. Lamu is the oldest town in Kenya, on an island just off the Kenyan coast; it is pervaded by a relaxed insider culture that is a fusion of Arabic and Swahili culture. The narrow streets are punctuated by small children playing and people going about their daily business. Various customs should be observed to respect the local Arab culture such as avoiding excessive public drinking.

Within Lamu, visitors will find the donkey sanctuary, an animal sanctuary that caters specifically for donkeys in need of homes. Go on the Lamu Donkey Tour to donkey-ride through the streets on a guided tour of the island of Lamu, seeing its ancient sites and experiencing its warm local culture. Various attractions are found along the way, including the Lamu Museum, where you will gain insight into Lamu's origins as a town, a fascinating visit. The Swahili House Museum documents some of Swahili culture's defining moments and houses some important Swahili cultural artifacts.
During your Lamu Donkey Tour you will be immersed in Lamu's bustling streets as you tour through them donkey-back style. Ancient buildings, monuments and shops line the streets. The Lamu Fort and the Takwa Ruins are places of great historical interest.
Lamu Donkey Racing takes place in Kenya May every year along the waterfront, running the entire length of the old town.

Bull Fighting Events in Kakamega Kenya
Set near the beautiful Kakamega Forest, the bull fighting events of Kakamega are a curious aspect of Luhya culture that happens several times a year, forming a crucial aspect of Luhya culture. Deep in the Kakamega rain forest, the calls of primates are heard. Snakes slither by in sauntering slyness, while butterflies make their journeys beneath the forest roof in droves, forming beautiful clouds of multiple colors. Kakamega Forest is a pristine area of lush rain forest in Kenya, a remnant forest of the great forests of old in the Congo. Rare species of primates, including the red tailed monkey, butterflies and chameleons and bird life such as the Blue Turaco, snakes and reptiles make their homes beneath the verdant canopy of the rainforests. Nearby, the sounds of an excited crowd are heard: the bull fighting event of Kakamega is about to begin.
The bull fighting events of Kakamega happen in Sigalagala, which the local Luhya people call home. A roar of noise is heard from the gathering crowd of locals as they jeer and blow traditional horns. Two different villages are leading their bulls to an open field, with an Efi kuti bullfighting dance – drums and singers egg the bulls on down a dusty road to the open field where they will meet in battle. The two bulls, each representing a village, are fed traditional beer before being pitted against each other to battle it out for the pride of the two opposing villages.

The bulls are provoked by the crowd and lock horns in fierce battle to the cries and of the jeers of the Luhya, until one finally flees and the victorious village is brought together in a victory lap of heightened celebration. The owner of the winning bull takes the prize money. Lasting anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, the bull fighting events in Kakamega occur several times a year and form a crucial aspect of the Luhya culture, reinforcing clan loyalty and communal pride.
It is an age-old tradition. Bulls are a vital aspect of Luhya culture, and prize-fighters are highly respected in the village, pampered and showered with adoration and affection by the locals in preparation for the all-important show-down. The bullfights are followed by communal celebrations. This unusual activity is an extremely vibrant and interesting cultural spectacle that anyone will enjoy.
The best time to visit this place is the month of January, February and July to August.

Maralal Camel Derby
The Maralal Camel Derby is an annual event, held midyear just outside of Maralal town. This is Kenya's best known and most prestigious camel race, attracting both local and international competitors. The event is a major draw for spectators as well as racers, and the competition is fierce.
It is considered as one of the highest honours in camel racing, many professional camel racers come to compete each year. Some of the finest specimens of racing camels are seen in town during the race period. The race is a great social event, and the major event on the Maralal Calendar.
Both competitors and visitors to Maralal join in the festivities in and around town. The atmosphere in town on race day is electric and entertaining. The race begins in the centre of town, where a throng of camels at the at the start line.
The Maralal Camel derby is more than just a race. It is an entertaining festival of fun and local competition that brings this small desert town to life.

The competition provides a useful way to promote awareness of increasing desertification: the rapid spread of deserts inland, eroding arable lands, occurring as a result of increasing industrial pollution and climate change. Two events take place over a number of days, making The Maralal International Camel Derby, a great festive few days of superb spectacle. The elite race is 42 kilometers, passing through the Maralal Township and semi-desert environments. Enter the Maralal International Camel Derby to discover just how versatile these creatures of the desert are. Finely tuned to withstand the most arid of conditions, camels will amaze you at how far they can go; their bodies have adapted to desert conditions, making them the ultimate vessels that glide effortlessly through the desert.

Horse Racing In Kenya
The shimmer of light off brown coats that glisten in the sunlight, and the meters of unspoiled that track lay open, awaiting the heavy pounding of hooves. These are the precursors to a horse race in Kenya. Time slows to a halt. In the stands men in immaculately tailored suits stand near the railing of the track, papers in hand, anxiously awaiting their fate, having danced with the numbers and chosen their favourites. There are women in finery; cheering, smoking and socialising.
The gates are opened, and a forest of limbs and hooves rushes out. Above this frenzy of hooves, as if suspended on clouds that glide, jockeys pour out their efforts, streamlining their bodies. Lasting all but a few vibrant moments, a cheer goes up as the horses set out, matching each other stride for stride, tearing up the green run way and flying at a blistering pace around the race track. This is horse-racing, also known as the Sport of Kings.

Throngs of punters gather here for spectacular events. The thrill of the exhilaration, combined with the added incentive of money-making, brings enthusiasts back over and over again. Horse racing in Kenya is one of the more enjoyable vestiges of colonial rule in Kenya. The locals also find a voice at the race track.
Owners, technicians, and jockeys gather at sunrise to prepare their beasts for a scintillating day of races. The track may be entered for a small fee, and races usually take place on Sundays. For a fusion of a rustic and upmarket experience, visit the race track at Ngong Road to place your bets. Bet also on a superb experience that complements your safaris holiday. The race is mainly held in the month of September.

Elephant FeedingWatching baby elephants trot along with floppy trunks and ears as they get fed, it’s like watching a playground full of kids, chasing each other, tearing, arguing, and even standing or just sulking.
This is a must do in Nairobi and experience the feeling of being close to one of the big five. The elephant orphanage is on the edge of Nairobi National Park in Langata. (West of Nairobi)
The baby elephants are fed with a combination of milk powder designed for premature human babies, coconut, vegetable oils and cereals. It has proved to be instrumental in the survival of Kenya’s vulnerable milk dependent calves, as a calf under two years old will die within 24 hours of becoming orphaned without milk.
Visitors can watch feeding and bath time each morning in the orphanage at Daphne’s house. It’s not easy to hand-rear an elephant; they are complex feeders and it’s difficult to duplicate a natural mother’s nurturing and support in captivity. Elephants need to be taught, and it takes endless patience from the orphanage’s trained keepers to teach a baby to suckle (the very young ones need to suckle every 12 minutes), use their trunks and ears, roll in the dust, and bathe. The keepers become the elephants' substitute mothers and bottle-feed on demand, providing a back or arm for the baby to rest its trunk on while feeding. They give them shade and the odd slathering of suntan cream; in the wild a calf will stand under its mother’s belly in intense sun. After this you will believe the fact that, it’s true that an elephant never forgets.
Opening time is 1100hrs and closing time is 1200hrs.

Annual Nairobi Marathon
“See it, feel it, be it” - this is the slogan for the Annual Nairobi Marathon, a joint-crunching, heart-pumping and agonizingly spirited 42 kilometers of foot-slogging – all of which is made to look easy by the world-class line up that turns up for this spectacular even that attracts over 15,000 participants annually. Meandering through the city, the Nairobi Marathon is not only for elite athletes; it attracts runners of all shapes and sizes both locally and internationally, providing all runners with a scenic route to slog and jog their way to an extremely rewarding finish-line.
The spectacle of elite runners battling it out over two hours in the ultimate test of muscle-wrenching agony and mental fortitude provides an amazing spectacle for the massive crowds that turn out to witness the event, as the streets are transformed into rivers of spectators cheering their favorites .Finishing in the packed stadium is like coming home after a long winter spent out in the cold; you are welcomed and cheered in your final steps towards the finish line.
The race begins on the Mombasa road and athletes complete two laps. There is also a 21 kilometer, 3 kilometer fun run and a 10 kilometer corporate event. Much of the money raised by the event is donated to charity and uplifting the local communities. The Annual Nairobi Marathon is one way of discovering the beauty of an unspoiled country. The marathon is a great way to enjoy a vacation in Kenya. It is usually held in the month of October.

Ndakaini Half Marathon
The Ndakaini Marathon started in 2004 under the auspices of the Ndakaini Dam Environmental conservation Association (NDEKA).The mission of NDEKA is to support sustainable supply of safe water to the Ndakaini Dam through conservation of the catchment area and the empowerment of the local community to develop viable social economic enterprises associated with the dam. Participation is open to people of all ages who wish to prove that they can handle the challenging 21km course around the scenic Ndakaini Dam (Altitude 2040m).The sponsorship opportunities are structured in a way that will allow our partners’ brands to engage even more actively with the participating athletes, and spectators.
Ndakaini dam lies about 80km north of Nairobi, and 40 km west of Thika town on the slopes of the Aberdares at an altitude of 2040 meters above sea level. The dam is approximately 60 metres deep, covers a surface area of approximately 3 sq km, has a 1.3 megawatt power generation facility and provides significant opportunities for community investment.
Ndakaini Half Marathon is usually held sometime around Mid September around Ndakaini Dam course. Ndakaini Half Marathon aim is to raise funds towards conservation of Ndakaini Dam catchments area.

Masai Mara Half-Marathon
This unique marathon takes place in Lemek Conservancy within the environs of Fairmont Mara Safari Club.
Masai Mara Half-Marathon aims to raise funds that are channeled towards conservation of the Mara ecosystem and raise awareness of the plight of the stakeholders within the ecosystem. People living in the Ecosystem are in dire need of clean water, proper sanitation, healthcare, food security and education. It is held in the month of November.

Lewa Marathon
The Lewa Marathon is an annual fund raising event held at Lewa Downs, about 140 miles (230 km) north of Nairobi, Kenya. It is held in the month of June.
One of the more notable characteristics of the Lewa Marathon is the setting in which it takes place. The race takes place on the Lewa wildlife conservancy, a game park that is home a variety of large African wildlife to include lions, elephants, rhinoceros, and the greatly feared cape buffalo. There are no physical barriers separating the runners from the wildlife, making Lewa a unique experience in the running world.
The average elevation of the course is 5,500 feet (1,700 m) above sea level. Located within one hundred miles of the equator, the sun can bring afternoon temperature as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. Its main purpose is to support wildlife conservation. Funds raised from the marathon help support a staff of over 140 armed rangers that protect the animal residents of the Lewa Conservancy.

Blankets & Wine
Blankets & Wine is the premier afro-based picnic styled music festival in East Africa designed to showcase genres of afrocentric music.
It is held every first Sunday of the month, audiences are actively encouraged to drive down to the venue with a Maasai shuka, blanket or kikoys; a picnic chair; some wine; a picnic basket and their preferred company and proceed to share in this music and lifestyle experience.
Started in November 2008, the event has grown steadily to become one of the most highly anticipated music events in Nairobi and beyond. Currently in its fifth year of operation, Blankets & Wine in 2012 ventured into new territories within the wider East Africa region.
 The Objectives

•      To create a platform for artists to share their skills and art in a relaxed and receptive atmosphere.
•      To provide numbers for key lifestyle brands.
•      To encourage domestic consumption of world class afro-based music, created and performed by        African musicians or those of African descent.
•      To solidify the culture of live music consumption and a correlated lifestyle represented by key           brand partners.
•      To increase awareness and visibility of afro-based fusion music, musicians and genres related to          afro expression.
•      To develop and contribute to the urban tourist industry by sharing the music and venues of East        Africa with domestic and non-domestic tourists travelling to or through the region for business or           leisure.

Kenya Tourism Week
 This is one of the best times for tourists to visit the country. Kenya mainly starts its tourism week from September 21 to 27, which is World Tourism Day. The official launch of this festival is mostly announced at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos every year. Throughout this week-long celebration, tourists can explore the various attractions in the area. The most popular events include culture, art, music and cuisine exhibitions. Kenya Tourism Week allows tourists to travel around regions that are less popular, making it a good strategy to promote local tourism.

Art Festivals
Kenya’s National Museums hold an Art Festival called the East African Art Festival every year in Nairobi. This is a 3-day event which draws exhibitors from all over the East African region. Exhibitors display paintings, traditional architectural designs, artifacts and other art works at this festival. The national museums

in Kenya also help to organize the release of songs, skits and plays and film screenings before major Kenyan festivals and holidays. All these help to commemorate important national days and spread the awareness of art in Kenya.

 Mombasa Carnival
This is probably the most popular festival in Kenya which celebrates the traditions and ethnicity of the African culture. This vibrant festival is held in November in Mombasa, a city that has been influenced by African and Arabic customs. For this reason, it portrays African and Arabian cultures exceptionally well. The main features of the Mombasa Carnival are multinational floats and colorful parades. Dance and music are also integral parts of this festival. You will find many people strolling through the streets in unusual costumes all day long. Stalls that sell a wide range of goods and special Kenyan dishes are also set up everywhere in the city during the Mombasa Carnival.

Kenyan Safari Rally
 July is the time for car buffs of all types in Kenya. Mid - July sees the Kenyan Safari Rally. This is a fast paced race through the wilderness of Kenya where drivers do not only have to negotiate rough terrain but also assortments of wildlife. The 2 - day rally finishes in Nairobi to a chaotic climax.

Rhino Charge
This is an off-road rally which features dozens of four-wheel drive vehicles attempting to traverse difficult terrain between twelve guard posts in the shortest time possible. The money raised goes to help protect Aberdare National Park. Usually held annually in the month of May to June.


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