Visitors praise Kenya's beauty

source: Daily Nation 9/1/2006

Commonwealth Parliamentary Speakers praised Kenya as a leading tourist destination in Africa.

They said the country had the potential to be a leader in the multi-billion shilling industry, after visiting tourist attractions in Mombasa at the weekend.

The Lord Chancellor of Britain Charles Falconer feeds a giraffe at the Haller Park Nature Trail during the Commonwealth Parliament Speakers retreat in Mombasa at the weekend. The visitors also toured Ngomongo Village. Photo/Gideon Maundu

They toured the Ngomongo Theme Park at the north coast, where they were treated to traditional dances and a display of traditional artefacts. The park – a cultural centre – showcases various traditions from Kenyan communities. 

Young hippo

They concluded their trip with a tour of the Haller Park in Bamburi, where they saw the relationship between one of the world’s oldest tortoise, Mzee, and the adopted young hippo, Owen, which was rescued by Kenya Wildlife Service officers from the 2004 tsunami waves in Malindi.

Both the Ngomongo village and the Haller Park were transformed into nature trails from quarries.

The British Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Falconer, described the attractions as "extremely unique and attractive" and praised the Government's efforts to preserve them. 

Lord Falconer said the tour had given them a better impression of what Kenya could offer, far from what they had learnt through the media.

"It is thrilling to learn how the two sites were transformed from disused quarries to very attractive tourist sites. This has given me a beautiful impression of Kenya that people back home should take advantage of," he said.

National Assembly Speaker Francis ole Kaparo asked the Government and investors to turn similar sites to tourist attractions.

The retreat was also an eye opener to us on what Kenyans can do in terms of harnessing nature to economic development, Mr Kaparo said