Nakuru (Kenya) > Reviews > Nakuru - Behind the Rhino, The real resort!

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money	Average
Shopping	Average
Nightlife	Terrible
Ease of getting around	Excellent
Family Friendly	Excellent

Advantages:	Great Parks
Disadvantages:	Niave Tourists

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Nakuru, Kenya, a place of magical beauty, where hotel prices range from £2 per night to £2000.

An absolute contrast, but Im not going to talk about the national parks, they are beautiful, and I was fortunate enough to live in one for several weeks on a construction task for the Kenyan Wildlife protection folks.

Im going to push my thoughts onto Nakuru itself, the city of Nakuru.

Here we have a city trying to play big, in the day time, it beholds street sellers and street children alike, at night, it beholds night clubs / brothels and again, street children.

I would rather divert my thoughts onto things that matter, rather than those that dont.

There is a large community of children who live on the streets all over Kenya, and Nakuru has its fair share. These children make a living by sellinf whatever they can, including their bodies for money, and sometimes food, which is rather appauling.

My Kenyan guide explained to me that these children were unwanted by their families so ran away so they diddnt need to go to school anymore, well, it must be the childrens fault, here lies the first problem, the Kenyan Niavety, obviously this isnt the whole population.

Lacking from adequate sewage disposal, the streets are littered with extrement, and the smell that accompanies it is foul. The corruption that surrounds Kenya is clear, one the one side is the wealth that affords the town mayor a large house, new cars and maids, and then on the street lies a paralised man with a facial deformity, simply rotting his existence away.

The main streets are the golden highway, you will find nice hotels, one of which had a picture of the group Earth Wind and Fire on the wall, to set the scene, the road sides are green with trees dashing all the way down.

This is because this is where the tourists go, and this is the image that the average tourist wants.

Children run everywhere, and when you stop your vehicle they all call out \"Mr Mr, you give me Shilling!\" It such a regular occurance, it almost becomes cute, but they make a tidy profit from the hearts of visitors, and even earn more than their parents would in full time employment.

As you turn off for one of the Luxurious parks, which could set you back £200 -£2000 per night, it would be apt to remember that the people who serve you earn about £2 per week, which shows the extreme profit someone is making on their behalf.

My only advice for a visitor would be to, yes, stay in the parks, and enjoy your holiday, but take time out, just for a day, to experience the back streets, visit an orphanage, and play football with the kids. Money cant buy this satisfaction.