Kenya marks World War One centenary – more battlefield tourism offerings

To commemorate 100 years since the first shots were fired, signalling the start of World War One, the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has partnered with Taita Taveta County to launch a number of battlefield tourism experiences.

The events that led to the declaration of the four-year conflict began with the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June, 1914. On 4 August, 1914 Britain declared war on Germany and nine days later, the first shots were fired between German troops from Tanganyika (modern day Tanzania) and the British, in what became known the East Africa Campaign.

Majority of the fighting between the Germans and the British took place in Taita Taveta County, south west of Tsavo West National Park, near the Tanzania boarder.   

Visitors can participate in extensive tours of the battlefield, including the Commonwealth War Graves, where Indian and imperial troops were laid to rest; the police post building, where the first shots were fired; the grave of the first casualty of the war; and the trenches and outposts which were occupied by soldiers from both sides.

National Park’s including Tsavo East and Tsavo West are also easily accessible and rich in wildlife, including the famous ‘Red Elephants’, providing the option to combine a battlefield tour with a safari experience.  

In addition to this, Kenya will host a number of diverse events from now until August 2018, creating four years of tributes to honour the four years of war.  An official website (http://100.taitataveta.go.ke/) has been launched to help visitors specifically wanted to incorporate these events and experiences into their trip.

Kenya Tourism Board, managing director Muriithi Ndegwa said, “this is an important milestone in our history and it is important that we respect and reflect on it appropriately”.

“This also has presented us with an opportunity for the destination to evolve its niche offerings, combining the increasingly more popular battlefield tourism with Kenya’s world renowned safari experiences,” Mr Ndegwa said.

Adventure World is marking the World War One commemorations by offering a six day/ five night battlefields of Kenya trip to learn about the history and visit the historical sites, memorials and war graves of Kenya’s Taita Taveta County. Game drives in the wildlife parks of Amboseli, Taita Hills and Tsavo East are also included. The land cost starts from AUS$2,559 per person twin share for travel between 01 November to 15 December, 2014. To book call 1300 363 055 or visit www.adventureworld.com.
 

KTB is currently running a social media campaign, encouraging people to post images of #WhyILoveKenya and including the handle @MagicalKenya. Kenya lovers can also keep up to date via the following social media platforms:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KenyaTourism?ref=ts&fref=ts

Twitter – https://twitter.com/MagicalKenya

Instagram – http://instagram.com/magicalkenya