Kenya is an intensely beautiful land, with varied landscapes and wildlife showcased in its famous national parks. However the real Kenya is very different to the Kenya seen by tourists who only visit for safaris.
Kenya is a modern nation, yet it has a colonial history that’s still evident, often painfully so. The rapid growth and dynamic nature of Nairobi contrasts with the reality for most of the population, who live in isolated rural areas or small townships, where life is dominated by tradition and religion. The Islamic Swahili culture of the coast is distinct from the Christian majority of the interior.
80% of the population live below the international poverty line, on less than $1 per day. At the school I worked at, it was the norm not to have enough to eat, even for some of the teachers.
I worked in Kenya as a volunteer teacher after graduating from university. I lived with a local family in a rural town, and taught in a nearby school. After my teaching placement, I travelled independently throughout Kenya by public transport, from Uganda to the coast and the Tanzanian border. You can read about my adventures in Kenya in the posts below.
