With the return of tourism and the attention paid by Italian operators to Kenya, which regains positions in the proposal among long-haul destinations, the impression returns that the coastal tourist destination has (as it has always had in the past, and it has been the 'secret' of its success many times) several solutions and attractions for more or less all types of tourists and the kinds of expectations that those who want to go on holiday expect to find and from which to choose.

Let us see in a nutshell what and how many alternatives one can count on when choosing Kenya, also considering that many of these can also be combined.

SEA-ONLY HOLIDAY
In this possibility, there is the classic of one of the most popular solutions for Italians who in winter want to 'emigrate' from the cold and find satisfaction and relaxation in countries with climates that are still summery or at least temperate (the case of the cheap Egyptian Riviera, for example).
In this sense, the Kenyan coast and Zanzibar, as well as for a richer tourism Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar, are in the front row. A week or even two in Watamu or Diani promise white beaches and crystal-clear sea, sea excursions and fresh fish, swimming pools and other 'facilities' that resorts designed for seaside stays, in this case the Indian Ocean, can offer. The return of charter flights has strongly re-proposed Kenya as one of the best 'value-for-money' destinations, a dream location that can be reached with just over seven hours' flight time and can be experienced in as little as seven days.

SAFARI HOLIDAY
The love for animals and their evolutions in the natural habitat in which they move, is back in the limelight with the revival of holidays in Kenya: the only country that can offer at an affordable price in a few days the sea and a full safari, counting on the fact that in an hour and a half from the village, resort or even bed & breakfast where you are staying, you can reach the Tsavo East, a park renowned for the quantity of animals and for its variety. Families of lions, herds of elephants, herbivores of all kinds are "available" to tourists' photographic shots, for an unforgettable experience that also includes incredible landscapes with expanses of savannah and equatorial skies as far as the eye can see.

EMOTIONAL STAYS
Experience Africa for what it is, with experiences that are not just limited to the classic sea-safari combination. This is the intent of many 'niche' and intelligent tour operators, but also of conscious hospitality treasure chests that seek to involve the traveller by letting him or her experience the many facets of this country that start from places little frequented by 'mass' tourism and penetrate into local communities and cultures, into the gastronomic routes of local traditions and into the most interesting aspects given by the many contaminations of the Swahili coast, which over the centuries has absorbed different western and eastern cultures, mixing them with the suggestions of nature and local resources. In this sense, being able to enjoy, during a short holiday, an adventure in the forest, or a day in a mijikenda 'kaya' (the sacred places of the local tribes, with unique dances and rituals) certainly enriches one inside and leaves one wanting to return to this land again. Without forgetting solidarity, which, as we often say, 'is as good for those who receive it as it is for those who give it'. Without relying on those who profit from it and from Italy promise you 'solidarity trips' and direct you only where it suits them, it is easy to find situations where you can see the work of Italian and local organisations that really do good to the local population, and that refresh the soul of goodness and fundamental values for which human beings should live.

DAILY LIFE AND CONSCIENCE

Kenya is one of the few international destinations, for Italians, where one can decide to stay for a few months without the fear of feeling foreign and of not being able to find harmony with the place one has chosen as a 'second home'. This is demonstrated by the thousands of compatriots who over the years have chosen the Kenyan coast, from Diani to Lamu depending on the type of traveller, as their 'buen retiro' where they spend a few months of the year, particularly the Italian winter season. The propensity of the local population to take care of tourists (remember the lyrics of the popular song 'Jambo bwana' written 50 years ago? "Tourist you are welcome, here in Kenya no problem"), their ability (which we, frankly speaking, do not have) to learn foreign languages and to make themselves available (always at their own pace, craft and inclinations...) to the 'mzungu' are hardly matched in other countries, even East African ones like Tanzania and Uganda, is priceless. So particularly the pensioners, in Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi and Diani, find their ideal environment to relax, to be able to move around safely (consciously, of course, because in the end, as in any foreign country, one has to immerse oneself in the pros and cons of that reality) and enjoy a holiday worthy of the name.