• The exhibition dubbed “Mt. Kenya Photography exhibition” will allow the public to interact and purchase amazing pictures of the incongruous Mount Kenya topography.
• Tourism CS Najib Balala invited all and sundry to sample the captivating scenes captured by eminent photographers.
Image: FILE
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has launched a month-long photo exhibition at the National Museum of Kenya aimed at showcasing Mt Kenya as a prime adventure tourism destination.
The exhibition dubbed “Mt Kenya Photography exhibition” will allow the public to interact and purchase amazing pictures of Mount Kenya all through August.
They will also showcase adventurers scaling the mountain’s rough terrain.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa who was the chief guest at the opening of the exhibition said the concept makes it possible for individuals and organizations to participate in the conservation of the Mt Kenya ecosystem.
"Each piece purchased will enable you to enjoy one of the many scenic views of the mountain but more importantly, it will touch the lives of dozen individuals in decades to come," he said.
"I therefore encourage everyone to walk around the exhibition and equally bring a friend or business partner so we can all be part of this noble initiative and more importantly climb the beautiful Mt Kenya."
Ndegwa noted that Kenya has some of the best hospitality infrastructure, saying it is possible to make hiking at Mt Kenya “a 5-star experience”.
“I have gone around the world through various destinations for holidays and there is a lot more we can do to be able to add value to the assets, in order to attract more tourists," Ndegwa said.
In a speech read on his behalf by KWS Director for Partnership and Enterprise Edwin Wanyonyi, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala said there is a big potential for more visitors to tour the iconic Mt Kenya.
He said this will give rise to the need for continued harnessing of resources to improve the visitor experience and to appeal to more adventure seekers and mountain climbers.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife through the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Tourism Board and other partners have put together this exhibition so that we can arouse the interest of Kenyans and other travelers to visit this iconic landmark," Balala said.
"Through this exhibition, we shall also be raising funds geared towards improving the visitor experience for adventure lovers at the Mountain."
Balala invited all and sundry to sample the captivating scenes captured by eminent photographers.
He noted the pictures capture breath-taking scenes and rough terrain which offer excellent opportunities to unwind and good for health.
Earlier in May, Balala alongside KWS Director General Brigadier John Waweru participated in an expedition of scaling up the mountain to showcase the exciting and immense potential of this gem.
The exhibition is a continuation of the exercise to raise more funds to make the mountain a prime spot for adventure tourism activities and hiking.
At 5,199 meters, Mt Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa and is one of the key adventure tourism destinations in the continent.
Some of the known attractions at the mountain include the three peaks namely Lenana, Nelion and Batian, lakes which include Alice, Michaelson, Ellis and the diverse vegetation and wildlife.
In addition to Mt Kenya, there are many other hiking trails that form excellent practice for those who plan to summit.
These include Elephant hill, Rurumeria, Ole Satima, Mt Longonot, Table Mountain and seven ponds which provide an opportunity for acclimatization and building of body strength.