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You will have a lot of fun, guaranteed. Peaceforhumans made me a little annoyed with her comments that I felt to be patronising, but I'm sure YOU are aware people in any culture will warm to you if you are respectful and friendly (no dollars involved). ps the embassy bombing was in 1998! 8 years ago...

The others have mentioned the tourist places, which you can get from any travel website, so let me try and give you more options...

If youre going to be in Kisumu, then you are probably going to visit the Sunset hotel which has a deck with a great view over Lake Victoria (source of the Nile), especially at sunset. But I know more about Nairobi...

The Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi is always amazing, they serve exotic game meat, so you can taste gazelle and crocodile! Its also close to the Nairobi national park so you can combine the two places in one day trip.

Maasai market in Nairobi is the best place to buy souvenirs if you have time and want to avoid the tourist shops. Market day is Tuesday and you should go with someone who speaks Swahili otherwise you'll end up paying more than you should.

Wherever you are, you should try some of the local food. You wont like some of it, but you have to love Chapati ( a flat bread kind of like what you find in Indian restaurants only MUCH better) . If youve lived in the West all your life, it'll amaze you how good the fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs etc taste.

Have fun!

Kenya is a beautiful country and the people are always smiling and so welcoming. It's landscape is incredibly diverse - from snow-capped mountains to lush-green forests on the coast. You will need to travel far to experience all this, but really it's worth it. Also, a trip to Kenya would not be complete without spending at least a couple of days observing the rich wildlife of the Masai Mara. To see cheetahs and lions with their cubs and watch a leopard carry an impala up a tree and have elephants lean on your jeep is just exhilarating and unmissable. Numerous wildlife documentaries have been filmed there, (including the BBC's annual Big Cat Diary) because of the abundance of wildlife and high probability of 'big five' sightings. There is loads of information and a comparison of Kenya's national parks and game reserves here http://kenya-safari-wildlife.blogspot.com/2006/03/... which shows their locations, in relation to Nairobi, type of landscape, climate, special features etc to help you decide which to visit.

You must also try to visit the coast - it is paradise! The south coast, such as Diani Beach, has more going on than the north coast, esp. restaurants and nightlife. If you like spicy food, try the 'African Pot' in Diani Beach (we went there 3 nights running!) But the best feature is the endless white, powdery beach, fringed with palm trees and water that feels like you're stepping into a bath! It's marine life is stunning too so try to do some scuba diving or snorkelling - there's a reef and a sand bank which makes it safe swimming. You'll have a wonderful time - bon voyage!

Congratulations on having such a fantastic opportunity. Kenya is a beautiful country with friendly people and so many amazing things to see. The game parks are incredible. Be smart while you are there - don't ride in a vehicle with windows open in the city, keep your passport and money in a safe hidden place (money belt), don't go out after dark in the city, don't drink the water, don't get in fresh water... I would bring little gifts to give to new friends - toys, bracelets, photographs, postcards, pens, stickers. Take lots of pictures and take down addresses and mail copies of the pictures when you get home. Speak a little slower while you're there and learn a bit of Swahili before you go. I hope that you have a great time!

Be careful in Nairobi, especially at night. Kisumu is great, my wifes village is very close to there. Go and see the Hippos in Lake Victoria, and you must go to the main park and eat lake fish (tilapia) with Ugali. Kenya is a wonderful place, just be on your guard.

First of all, you do know there is a travel advisory for Kenya, right? After the bombing of the embassy in 2003 (I think that date is correct...) the US has placed a security advisory against travel to Kenya.

But, assuming you knew that and are choosing to go anyway...

Try to see Mount Kenya. It is amazing! And then just hang out with locals. Nothing introduces you to pure African culture than the Africans themselves! And most of them LOVE Americans! (Especially if you give them a dollar or two!)

Have a great time! But be safe and keep your guard up!

How exciting! Good luck in your travels. I recommend these sites:

For straightforward info (non-touristy, just facts), go here:

http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos...

For great tourism advice, go here:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destination...

The "must see" sites in Kenya are:

Amboseli National Park

Lamu (Kenya's oldest living city that is like stepping back into the middle ages)

Gede Ruins

Hell's Gate National Park (granted, not the best name, but it's a wildlife park--incredible!)

Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site

Kakamega Forest Reserve

Happy journeys!