For the first time in two decades, the Africana Collection of the late Joseph Murumbi (1911-1990) former Kenyan vice-president and Pan Africanist, can be viewed in public. Unveiled recently in Nairobi, the Murumbi Gallery is the latest addition to the Kenyan capital’s artistic attractions and significantly, it marks the coming to full circle of this African art collector. Murumbi’s collection has been described as “Africa's best-known collection of priceless heritage and artifact. For over twenty years, Murumbi spearheaded a campaign seeking to cajole the Kenyan government into establishing an art gallery in Nairobi’s central business district. His vision was captured in a speech made on 31 January 1973, at the opening of the now defunct African Heritage gallery. Perhaps ahead of his time, it is from this speech that the quotation above emanates.

Kenya ably pitched herself as a preferred travel destination at the recently concluded World Travel Market held in London. The annual exhibition which brings together over 40,000 participants under one roof saw participation increase by 4% this year. The forum provides an opportunity for the whole global travel trade industry to meet, network, and negotiate. "This is one of the biggest exhibitions in the industry and it gives us the opportunity to showcase our products as well as reach out to the world," the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Nabutolla said.

Over 30 participants, drawn from the public and private sectors, attended the fair. They included hotel representatives, tour operators, Utalii College, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Tourist Board, and Kenya Airways, among others. Participants also got to attend forums that address issues that affect the sector. By participating in such forums the country is able to market itself, helping to grow the sector even further. Currently, the sector is looking to earn Sh62bn this year. The country's stand gained popularity due to its products and most importantly its DAWA, a mixture of Vodka, honey and sugar on ice. Students from Utali College accompanied the exhibitors in a bid to showcase the best of Kenya's tastes and talent in the hospitality industry.

It's the question all safari guides dread the most: 'Where's the best place to go on safari in Africa?' Is it the rolling savannas of East Africa or the tangled bushveld of southern Africa? Africa is the birthplace of safari destinations such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Masai Mara and Kruger National Park. These names may certainly fill the mind with visions of an Africa that no longer exists, where herds roam unhindered on the plains. But which African destination is the best for your once-in-a-lifetime experience?

Kenya, particularly the Masai Mara, is renowned for its open savannas stretching to the horizon, but there's much more to the country. The idea of vast rolling plains has been imprinted in our minds through articles and television programmes depicting the great wildebeest migration. The growth in tourism to Africa has made Kenya to expand its safari offerings to include the lesser-known regions in the north and south-west. One of Kenya's most impressive reserves is the Samburu National Reserve, situated in the arid northern part of the country.

The Ewaso Nyiro River draws wildlife during the dry season and here, among the lion and elephant, you'll find curious species such as the dramatically patterned reticulated giraffe, the long-necked gerenuk antelope and the strange-looking vulturine guinea fowl. Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks lie in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, where the postcard view of elephants walking against a backdrop of Africa's most famous mountain was formed. Tsavo is also famous for the man-eating lions that preyed on railway workers during the building of the line between Mombasa and Nairobi. The Hollywood movie 'The Ghost and the Darkness' portrays the 'man-eaters' of Tsavo - well, the man-eaters are happily long gone but travellers can still experience the excitement of yesteryear in what is the country's most underrated reserve. At the end of the day, each country in Africa has something unique and exciting to offer - it all depends with your safari objective!

Starting out as a new traveler can be intimidating. How do you jump into the gigantic travel fray and survive? How can you learn to love delays and long lines? Get prepared.

What exactly does that mean? It means being confident in what you are doing, where you are going and how you are getting there. Basically, it means being comfortable with yourself when you leave home. How do you do that? Follow these quick tips:

Tip #1	Know your destination. Do some kind of reading before you go. Know how long it’s going to take to get there, and the time zone. Understand how the currency converts and get a handle on local customs.
Tip #2	Be prepared before you leave home. Make sure you have the essentials you will need, especially for a safe trip. This includes a hideaway money belt, copies of your passport, one credit card, debit card, ATM card and traveler’s checks. Take no more than $500 cash. Make sure someone has your itinerary in case of an emergency.
Tip #3	Travel light. Pack for only five days. Carry one bag. Your bag should be a soft sided, durable carry bag of ballistic nylon. It needs to have a padded carry strap to sling it over your shoulder.
Tip #4	Leave early. Wherever you are headed, no matter what type of transportation, leave early for you departure terminal. It means less stress for you . . . a lot less stress for you.
Tip #5	Look like you have traveled all your life. Appearance matters. If you do the above tips you will look and feel like a veteran traveler. Veteran travel pros DO get a higher level of treatment and service from people who work within the travel industry.
Tip #6	Expect things to go wrong. Most things run pretty well in the travel industry. There are inevitable delays and cancellations. After all, it’s a dynamic industry and getting the mind boggling number of pieces to work all in sync is a real juggling act. If you expect delays you are better prepared to deal with them. If things go well, and they usually do, you get a nice mental lift as you travel. The more travel experience you get the better you get at knowing where delays usually occur and can either plan for them or try to avoid them.
Tip #7	Be polite. This follows Tip #5 and #6. While it is your hard earned money that is paying for your travel you are one of thousands of travelers a day moving around the globe. Almost three-fourths of these people are inexperienced travelers. Many are stressed out, tired, cranky and rude. If you are polite you will feel better and get better treatment.

Set in 2.5 acres of lush gardens in the peaceful suburb of Karen, named after the Danish Baroness, Karen Blixen, is the House of Waine, a serene getaway, worlds apart from the hustle and bustle of central Nairobi. An air of colonial elegance runs through the hotel, reflected in the décor and service. You can enjoy high tea, with freshly baked cakes and pastries, before freshening up prior to pre-dinner drinks in the large and comfortable lounge.

Following a delectable dinner you can choose to return to the lounge or retire to your room. Activities in the area include excursions to Nairobi National Park, a round or 2 of golf and cultural tours in the local area. Location House of Waine is situated in the leafy suburb of Karen, in Nairobi, Kenya. House of Waine provides sumptuous accommodation in 11 individually styled and decorated rooms. Thanks to the large windows, the spacious rooms are light and airy, even the en suite bathrooms with their roomy marble tubs benefit from the natural light flooding in. Each room is equipped with satellite TV, air-conditioning, internet connection and tea/ coffee making facilities.

On a Kenya safari, one will notice that Kenya's extremely diverse landscape creates numerous habitats for birds and this country is a bird-watcher's paradise - from the forested Central Highlands to the eastern lakes like Lake Nakuru. Aberdare National Park in Southern Kenya has hundreds of bird species in this forested mountain park. Amboseli National Park in Northern Kenya is home to over 400 bird species, including bee-eaters, kingfishers, African fish eagle, marital eagle and pygmy falcon.

In Lake Baringo in the Rift Valley, more than 450 of Kenya's 1,200 different species of birds have been sighted here. The lake is the bird-watching centre of the country and it is possible to go on bird-watching walks with a resident ornithologist. Lake Nakuru in Western Kenya is another bird watchers' site. The soda lake attracts millions of flamingos; though numbers have decreased over recent years, it is hoped they will increase again. Recently, Lake Bogoria has become the place to view flamingos in East Africa - where the population is around one to two million birds, mostly staying around the southern end of the lake. Mount Kenya and Meru National Park in the Central Highlands offer excellent opportunities for spotting both forest and moorland-dwelling birds. Kakamega Forest Reserve on the other hand has over 330 bird species. It is also home to a number of primates.

Delegates to the World Travel Market held at ExCeL London from November 12 to 15 2008 can offset the carbon emitted from travelling to and from the event with ABTA’s Reduce My Footprint initiative. ABTA launched the initiative to reduce carbon emissions within the travel trade in October. ABTA companies use Reduce My Footprint to make use of a carbon calculator that works out carbon emissions for flights, car use and domestic or office energy use.

Funds raised are used for a range of schemes and charities, including the Travel Foundation, an independent UK charity that helps the outbound travel industry manage tourism more sustainably. Contributions are divided between energy reduction programmes in tourism destinations in the UK and overseas, including solar power in Maasai Villages in Kenya, and renewable energy through the installation of a wind farm in Tamil Nadu, southern India. The project adds up to a brighter future for travellers, by showing that the world can still be explored without damaging the environment, as long as you take measures to protect it.

What is so special about a Kenya honeymoon? Long hailed as Africa's big attraction, Kenya is a land of beauty and raw wilderness; an unmistakable atmosphere pervades Kenya - the distinct feeling that this is timeless Africa, as ageless as romance itself.

A Kenya honeymoon is set in a land of sweeping passionate abandon - and is full of surprises. Accommodation ranges from luxury safari tents to classic colonial lodges. Breathtaking wildlife, idyllic beaches, astounding scenery, a variety of activities for two and luxurious surroundings make romantic forays into Kenya an excellent choice for an African honeymoon.

Land of the great migration, of the Masai Mara plains and the Maasai people, Kenya is the dramatic starting point for most safari adventures into East Africa. Culture, the Big 5 and remote wilderness areas mix in a rich tapestry - a Kenyan honeymoon is as exciting and colourful as you could imagine it to be.