For those who intend to visit Kenya for a lengthy period of time, getting adequate accommodation is an engaging endeavour as the choices are usually limited to lonesome hotels, teeming hostels, lacklustre apartments and enriching homestays. Below are five reasons why homestays will make your time in East Africa delightful.

1. Kenyan Homestays...Holidays in Themselves

With Kenyan homestays, everyday is an adventure as you settle into the rhythm of your host family, trick your way around the traffic jam in Nairobi, get hit on by all sorts of random people in the streets as you absorb the new sights and sounds. And don't forget to bring your headphones with you as everyone seems to be plugged into their own world in Nairobi. Back home, return to the aroma of a home-cooked meal and sit around a telly with good company as you laugh at the gags in the local comedy shows.

2. Learn Swahili and l don't just mean Jambo & Asante

A short snippet about myself; l was born and bred in Mombasa (sounds like one of those Made in Country labels) and one of the advantages is that Swahili rolls of my tongue with the full accent and every now and then, l get gasps of admiration (okay, it's more like faint interest) from upcountry folk who notice the accent and batter me with stories about the beach and blistering heat down at the Coast. To most Kenyans, going to Mombasa is the ultimate holiday as they get to taste some salty water and soak in our Lingua Franca Kiswahili.

If you have more than a passing interest in Swahili, spare a few days and stay with a Mombasa host family and get to absorb the language at its best. Seeing as Mombasa is the birthplace of the language, you can't go wrong with homestay accommodation in Mombasa.

3. Prepare and enjoy locally cooked scrumptious meals with your host

If l might just digress and make a small confession, this is usually one of my top 3 activities when visiting a new location (and No, l won't go into the other two) as it helps one familiarise themselves with the local cuisine.

But in all honesty, it's a complete waste if you switch continents or countries and still eat the same mediocre grub that is present everywhere. Be a little adventurous and try a dish with a peculiar name like Mukimo...and if you do not like it, take heart since that is what trying out new foods is all about.

4. Explore Kenya in Homestays

Depending on the home and location, activities and jaunts offered usually vary in a few aspects or in entirety. Mombasa is well-known for its Swahili dishes and laid-back attitude of its dwellers who believe they have all the time in the world which is probably what makes it a great holiday destination. Should you travel to Narok, you definitely have to pass by the Maasai Mara to see the wildlife. If you decide to stop over in Kericho, one will be able to visit a tea plantation and see how the whole tea harvesting process is usually managed depending on the period. I could go on but Kenya is too diverse to note down all the unique interests but staying in a homestay will definitely bring you up to speed.

Bonus benefit, you have willing participants to include in your photos and theirs no need to tap strangers to help snap a photo of yourself next to the giraffes.

5. Ensures you safe accommodation during your next stay

And after your stay is complete, your bags are packed and you're seated at the table after tucking in another delicious dish, this is the time to deliver your heartfelt thanks to your surrogate family, extend an invitation to also visit you when they have the time and promise to visit them when you're in Kenya again...all in Swahili. I concur, they won't forget you too.

In my head, that's how the drama usually unfolds as everyone tries to hold back their tears since the inevitable parting is finally here but don't fret, am sure a normal Goodbye with a few hugs after a hearty meal will do as well. Should you visit Kenya in the near future, then you are assured of awesome accommodation.

In any setting that crops up, l believe homestays will always come up on top in regards to accommodation as the experience delivered is wholesome.

Article Source: Ezine Articles