Kenya: Nanyuki, Naivasha, Nairobi, Kilifi, Watamu

Kenya Designer Collective - this is a mini, three-day, pop-up market, happening nearly each month, offering a curated selection of small-scale, enterprising creatives, and a vibrant social scene.

Look out for the Nairobi Design Week (NDW), usually in the second week of March. With alternated venues, my favorite being Opportunity Factory in Karen. This event is a splendid way to meet a curated variety of artisans.

Kenya Polo Association's Tournament (KPA) - A polo tournament that spans roughly six months in a year, with tickets usually being within the approximate range of 1,000 kshs to 2,000 kshs. Venues are usually Nairobi Polo Club, North Kenya Polo Club, Manyatta Polo Club, and Timau Sports Club.

The Box Kenya - Often organised bi-annually, one in each half of the year. It's a market day focused on the array of artisans curated by the organisers, who exhibit their products, often discounted on that day. Offers a splendid way to meet and engage with the artisans. It's strategic to browse the organiser's instagram page before attending, to spot which stalls will be present.

Nairobi is an incredibly event-y city, with events nearly every day. Ensure to keep an eye on the instagram page named "in.nairobi" and that named "eventguide_nairobi", to identify those you're keen on.

Spring Valley Coffee - With eight branches in Nairobi and an enthusiastic owner, Ritesh Doshi, Spring valley coffee offers a wide selection of carefully-selected speciality coffee sourced from an array of farmers within Kenya. The branch in Karen, within Sandstorm's premises, offers an outdoorsy ambience with cosy greenery and shade.

The Fat Italian - A small enterprise, serving in small batches, an array of frozen, hand-made pastas. The tagliatelle and ravioli are splendid, and are usually in huge portions.

For your gelato fix, look for Non-Solo Gelato - which also has a remarkable ambience, in the evenings, at their village market branch. Their Blueberry, Vanilla, and Rocher flavours are splendid. You might as well choose to skip the solid intake and request a shake using any flavours of your choice.

Shawarma House - This place, in Mombasa, offered one of the nicest shawarmas I've had. And it seems to be open twenty four hours. I forget the price, but if I remember correctly, it was cheap.

At this point my recommendations get muddy, but all I'll say is we paced down the winding paths of Old-Town Mombasa in search of this restaurant that had no name, and had been lauded by my colleague for having splendid food. I forget the name of the meal we had. Below is an image of the entire meal we shared. I'll simply say, skip the juice and get the food if you're to go looking for it. The entire meal-beef, rice, potatoes, salads-including two big mugs of juice, went for 800 kshs.

Spice market in Mombasa is also a place to be checked out. Some of the spices here are splendid. The black pepper and salt mix was nice. Partake in some spice shopping if you're into that sort of thing. I'd personally only go there for the spices.

Taji Eats in Kisumu is the restaurant in Kenya where I have had really remarkable sweet managu, wet-fry beef, ugali, and millet paste.

For splendid views in Nairobi, there's a resto-bar called the Unseen Bar. If you visit on uncrowded days, you'll able to get a remarkable laptop space, an un-emcumbered sunset, and some tasty craft beers.

I'll only offer three beach recommendations. For one without crowds, clear waters, and that which you'll currently nearly have all to yourself, visit Vipingo a small distance outside Kilifi town. And while in Vipingo, look for a beach called Kuruwitu. While in Watamu, for a splendid public beach, visit Garoda, and for a private one visit Hemingways.

The AirBnBs I would recommend are the cottages owned, designed, and managed by Bella Kaigwa in Garden Estate. The environment is green, serene, secure, and quiet. Nightly stay here is about 20 to 25 dollars. Bella ensures the sanitation is splendid, and she leaves you your privacy. You'll spot the occasional monkeys, and if you wake early for a run in the neighbourhood, you'll hardly be disturbed by cars. You're both able to take a nice walk to the main road, from within the estate, to get your means of transportation, and to hail an uber to your doorstep.

Malu Lodge - A group of cottages tucked away in a forest reserve, in Naivasha, sitting on an approximate 1500 acres. A visit here makes for a splendid road-trip for those travelling from Nairobi. One might plan forest walks, sundowners, and swimming in the streams.

Mukima Manor House - Lodging tucked away in Laikipia, on a forest reserve and sitting on an acreage of 300 acres. Offering you mount climbing, fishing, forest walks, sundowners, and array of safari options-if you're into that sort of thing-by being situated next to a number of conservancies for instance: Lewa, Ol Pejeta, Samburu, and more. Mukima is situated a few minutes away from Nanyuki airport, so getting there is doable by road or flight, whichever you choose.

Everything Altitude Farm - While in Nanyuki, I'd recommend visiting John Mugambi's, Everything Altitude Farm. The enthusiastic John will not only offer you accommodation with a splendid view of Mountain Kenya, you'll be presented with activities such as forest walks, trekking the remote region on horseback, horseback safaris, sharing in home-made meals with John's family, and more. Everything Altitude Farm is also situated near a number of conservancies such as: Lloldaiga, Ol Pejeta, and more.

If you're looking for a hostely kind of arrangement, a non-eventy option that is usually uncrowded, with cheap laundry, splendid cleanliness, is The Library Hostel in Kileleshwa near QuickMart.

Many of the means of transportation in Nairobi are much cheaper than many in Kampala. The Standard Gauge Railway, if you take the economy option by simply booking via the Madaraka portal, is one way to hit the long distances, for cheap. For instance, in the not so recent past, I've paid roughly 1,500 kshs for an economy-seat journey from Nairobi to Mombasa. The domestic flights on Jambojet portal are also quite cheap, for instance, a one-way domestic flight from Mombasa to Nairobi will at times go for as low as 8,300 kshs. The flights are neatly orchestrated and the service is splendid. Many of the uber trips I've taken in Nairobi are also cheaper than many I've taken in Kampala. An uber contact with splendid service, conversation, and timeliness that I've used each time I've been to Kenya and would readily recommend is Dennis. Go ahead and poke him about Kenya, and he'll indulge you in some fascinating opinions. Finally, if you're looking to have private air safaris, you have Tropic Air at your disposal.

The boda bodas are a convenient way to visit the country. I'd recommend using them safely.

Inter-city travel can also be approached with shuttles (like Guardian), buses (like Tahmeed), and "small" cars at low prices.

Chamber Music Kenya - For live performances by both local and international guests, usually playing any of the instruments in the string quartet, and more, for a tiny audience, at a cheap price. Usually at Kenton College or Muthaiga Country Club.

To get in a splendid dance (not that techno stuff), find a remarkable bar with a splendid deejay. If looking for one with a usual playing of splendid danceable music, visit the bar on the 8th-odd floor in Lavington Mall. I forget its name, but the music was nice.

There are also splendid orchestral music live performances and other chamber music performances unassociated with Chamber Music Kenya - if you dig deep enough. I'll leave it at that.

Sandstorm - They hand-make bags out of leather and canvas. They also make car-seat covers. I'll say their canvas bags are splendid. I bought a backpack from them, and it's been awesome using it across my various adventures. They have seven-odd branches across Nairobi, and I've visited two of these.

Siafu Home - With the aid of handlooms, they make tableware, robes, upholstery. I'm much more fascinated by some of their chairs. They now have a physical outlet at village market, which also happens to be my favorite mall in Kenya.

The Chocolate Bar - which is a charming mini chocolaterie that produces chocolate of varying flavours, in small batches, in Kenya, with the cocoa mainly sourced from the neighbouring Uganda. The price point is a bit steep per ~100g bar. The taste, however, is exceptional - especially for the dark chocolates. They're accessible at their main outlet at the village market mall.

Street vendors in Kilifi selling creative artisanal snacks: viazzi, bajiya, kaimati, mahamri, mbaazi, vitumbuwa, mitai, samosas, roast maize with chilli, and more.

The Good Grain - an artisanal bakery, located in Westlands along Old Waiyaki way, with unmatched creativity in the pastries field and in the pizzas domain. The tahini, babka, saffron, and chai masala buns are remarkable, the rye and chocolate banana bread as well, especially when paired with chai masala. The margherita pizza is wonderful, and both their usual mushroom pizzas are splendid.

Bahari Rum - a splendid one made in Kenya.

KO beers, Hopsmith beer, Manyatta beer, Capitan beer, Bila Shaka beers, etc - craft beers made in Kenya. Look for some KOs, and thank me later.

Leleshwa Wine - with wonderful Chenin and Sauvignon produced in Kenya, at Morendat Farm in Naivasha.

Coconut Wine - at a sketchy bar along the coast. Undocumented alcohol percentages, but usually strong, with a tough smell when consumed unrefrigerated.

Roho Agave - a wonderful agave spirit produced in Kilifi, Kenya.

Mama Kuku Artisanal Mom-And-Pop - This makes artisanal meals, in Watamu, in small batches, direct from the charcoal stove. I would highly recommend the coconut fish, coconut chicken, chapati, white rice, and skuma wiki.

Solo Grano - Providing splendid artisanal pizza and pasta. This is located in Gigiri, within Gigiri Courtyard. I would highly recommend the tagliatelle with beef.

For splendid butter chicken, chicken masala, and garlic naan, visit Haandi in Westlands. That will be the pricey option, but for a cheaper mom-and-pop option, visit Dilly's in Parklands.

For splendid tuna pasta, visit Hosteria Romana in Watamu.

For remarkable mom-and-pop injera and beef tibs, visit a building, in Kilimani, that I would assume is called 611.

For nice and cheap ugali, wet-fry fish, and greens, visit any of the QuickMarts.

For splendid cheap pilau, beef, and greens there is this place in Kilifi called Village Dishes.

For cheap breakfast in Malindi, there is a random shop with splendid snacks, tea, and service, along the road B8, a few meters from the nearby MoneyGram.

Kakuzi Farm produces some splendid avocado oil and beef at their farm. One is able to buy some of their products at the supermarket or at their newly constructed farm market. The farm market, along Nairobi-Nyeri highway, is paired with a restaurant called Boran Barn-which serves as a place to taste a number of their products prepared by their chefs. Kakuzi has more to offer than meets the eye if you dig deep enough.

The teas at Williamson Tea are splendid and remain some of the nicest in Kenya. Williamson tea, as well, has more to offer than meets the eye if you dig deep enough. I'll leave it at that.

Konza Technopolis, Tatu City, Boma Yangu, the new tax-financed housing currently under construction in Kibera, among others, are both splendid visits for those looking to attain a glimpse at how urban planning and new housing is being constructed by some within and neighbouring Nairobi.

Ngong Hills is a splendid visit, for a hike slightly outside Nairobi and for a view of the rift valley region, also glimpsing some of the initiatives Kenya has taken on its geothermal energy plan. I'd recommend carrying some binoculars for a fruitful visit. For an inquisitive chat into the geothermal initiatives, KenGen offices are nearby with doors wide open.

The Karen Blixen Museum, albeit filled with a lot of "sugarcoating", is a splendid visit to attain a glimpse of the homestead (and the environs surrounding the homestead) occupied by one of the former colonialists - albeit with mainly remakes of the initial items since she sold many of the items due to financial strain. The fee to visit is low, and the venue is also quite splendid for some measured drawings and research on some of the architectural elements.