On The Run in Kenya

Kenya is happy to host people who dream of life in the fast lane.

The Kenya Tourism Board held a Toronto reception yesterday (Nov. 25) during which the board’s Susan Webb said that a country best known for its wildlife safaris also welcomes non-Kenyans who dream of training with elite runners in the world’s foremost running powerhouse.

“You go and learn to run with the [world-class] runners and train with them,” she said of training opportunities in a country that dominates the international marathon scene and has a staggering 3,000 people who have turned in times that could qualify them for the Kenyan Olympic marathon team.

Among those on hand for the event were Kenyans Ephraim Mwaura and Eliud Lagat, who now live in the Toronto area and work with the Toronto-based CanKen Sports Club, which provides coaching to Canadian runners.

“We try to train Canadians in Kenyan style,” said Lagat, whose marathon times include a blisteringly fast two hours and seven minutes, a time that earned him a second-place finish in Paris’ marathon.

Meanwhile, Webb praised wildlife-viewing opportunities in Kenya, recounting her own recent visit. “Within five minutes of landing, we saw a leopard in a tree, went a little farther and saw a cheetah and then went five minutes more and saw a pride of lions and I wasn’t even at my camp yet,” she said.

Webb said her lodging included Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri safari camp, which won’t host more than 24 guests. Those guests stay in “top of the line” tented accommodations, dine at a communal table and won’t encounter people from other lodges while on safari in the remote area, she added.

Another non-mainstream lodging option is Giraffe Manor, located next to a wildlife sanctuary. Visitors may find that “giraffes put their heads in [through Giraffe Manor windows] and you can feed them,” Webb reported.

She said Kenya is also great for bird watching, with one part of the country being home to 11% of the world’s flamingos, which create a “sea of pink.”

Kenya has 59 national parks and game reserves and six World Heritage Sites.

Vehicles, camels, bikes and horses are among safari options.
Webb also praised the country’s cultural diversity, shown in part through the country’s different languages and varied cuisine.

Kenya visas are available on-line or on arrival.

Pictured are Lagat; Mwaura; Monica Czorny of the Rotary Club of Mississauga Airport, who works with CanKen Sports Club; Flora Hyslop of Journey the Globe; and Sally Mikhail of GM Tours.