By now, it is even nauseating to repeat how much Italians miss Kenya.
There are thousands of tourists, occasional or regular visitors, who have not been able to return to Kenya for almost two years, and to them are added the other thousands who were already dreaming of an African vacation and, thanks in part to the "power" of social media, would be very well prepared on the subject, but know that virtual reality remains a nice onanistic game that can never come close to the fullness of the emotions that travel will give.
Even for the portal of Italians in Kenya, life has changed since the beginning of the pandemic: one of the aspects of our work has been dedicated to trying not to make people miss these extraordinary, controversial, unique places. In a nutshell, alleviating the so-called "Africa sickness". After creating reports, music, entertainment and information of all kinds, a few days ago we launched a survey to ask you what you miss most about Kenya and what is the main reason that would make you return.
Here are the reasons in full.
To sum up, the 7 items were: Safari, Sea, People, Climate, Nature, Partners and Solidarity,
Well, from the dozens of emails, messages and posts on our social pages, for Italians without its people Kenya would not be the same.
Among the things that may be missing the most (and many, for example, have mentioned the climate, which is not only a fairly subjective aspect, but makes it clear that they are "seasonal" visitors, that is, they come to Kenya more or less during the African summer, from November to March, also because I would like to see these people magnify the climate of Nairobi from June to September), human relations seem to prevail, or at least feeling at ease with others.
We can think that the isolation and the aridity of relationships created during the pandemic may have played a role in this choice: we have gone from smiles, cheerfulness and helpfulness of many Kenyans, to mental closures, polemics, differences, suspicion of others that is not so much of a place or a people, but of a historical period that is not so good.
However, there is no doubt that the Kenyan people (especially but not only those of the coast) have the charm of simplicity, of taking life as it comes and the sense of welcome that has always attracted the Italians who, often now unfortunately only at an unconscious level, realize that they have a little 'the same afflatus in their DNA.
Long live the Kenyan people, then, without forgetting that in Kenya you go to the warmth and the sea (third choice) but also in the savannah (fourth).
Curious final note: the last item, and also by detachment, concerns those who would return to Kenya especially for their partner, whether permanent or occasional. Those who answered almost boasted of their sincerity and we, who by "mission" listen to you, the readers of the portal, must admit that instead in this period we have received many private messages asking how to "reunite".
On the one hand there is always a bit of shame in confessing one's priorities, on the other hand there is still the joy and luck of preferring a sentimental adventure in Kenya, rather than in Latvia.