New Horizons - Morocco and Kenya, 1970

for most people Africa is still the unknown country an immense landmass the home of many peoples of many civilizations the north of the continent is rich in Arab culture customs architecture traditions and for the people of a race who laid the foundations for Western civilization life in rebec capital city of Morocco is distinctively a blend of ancient and mine both forming a fascinating partnership which cannot fail to impress even 20th century explorers today Africa need no longer remain the unknown continent jet travel is a key for almost everywhere in the world is only a matter of hours before the traveler is tired across the invisible jet bridge from the normality of home to the unexpected wonders of this not-so-distant left and the welcome waiting seven ancient Arab saying speak for itself traveller if you visit us you shall be master of the house we shall be your guests they still mean it incidentally don't let the French names fool you we're still in Rebecca but the French influence is still strong here most for orphans are bilingual but the hospitality of mint to you straight out of the Arabian Nights aromatic refreshing and invitation for one's taste buds to get up and go that's traditional mint tea a very good tradition like most other customs in present-day Morocco though rooted in ancient times they're very much an integral part of today's life example the proud horsemanship and skill of the tribe to perform this ritual charge the location is managed care it's an exciting spectacle but for the riders it's a demonstration of their ability as warriors as would be expected camels figure importantly in the lives of villages and small trades people that the early morning camel market in Marrakech should also be a popular tourist attraction is not surprising no it's not difficult to look in on the past in this country it's everywhere in the present like to buy a new carpet this is the place from raw wool to the finished article and no middleman to worry about no gimmicks no synthetics just good carpets like they've always made just step around the corner and there's modern Morocco luxury hotels with all the trappings of 20th century casa d explorers don't have to rough it these days but let's move on travel north through this country where every mile exposes more contrast between yesterday and today we're signpost point the way to places whose names conjure up the romance of the fastest fair's most ancient of the Imperial City is founded near the end of the 8th century and even today the intellectual capital of the kingdom a place equally famous however for its superb leather goods here again the ancient proven ways are still considered the best the quality of the leather we're made here endorses the Sun this of the old methods will travel on again to Tangier where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean the place chosen by King Hassan the second as his summer capital it's bright and vibrant a place which boasts excellent hotels and is rapidly becoming one of North Africa's leading resorts the quaint narrow back streets and bazaars make it a tourist paradise the flavor of its internationalism has remained even though it's returned to Moroccan sovereignty in 1957 if you want something this is the place to get it Tangier is West and East combined in an exciting match when the Sun sets Tangier stops to live all over again night life without dove is certainly swinging Casablanca a name which breathes romance and intrigue both are still here one wants them but basically it's just a beautiful place another example of our Muslim life has united with the French influence to produce the best of both worlds Casablanca ranks as the economic capital of the kingdom but it's much more than that it's bustling and exciting strange and familiar expanding at a tremendous rate a seaside city which works as hard as it plays its expansion has included some of the finest hotels to be found anywhere yes Casablanca is quite a place a place in which to look out across the Atlantic rollers and see the sunset as an everyday spectacular but the jet bridge doesn't end here the travelers course is charted to other faraway places which swiftly become not so far away the jetliner wings its way east to where flamingos life from the exotic Arab north south east across the African continent it takes only a few short hours the prize is to be in big game country Kenya these days distance is no hardship flying no adventure the adventure starts when you land at Nairobi and you place new people new things to see and do the fulfillment of an explorer's ambition to come from the modern cities of another country to an equally new-looking metropolis they make it seem all too familiar don't let it tall buildings with their shiny glass and colorful facades don't make a country just a few miles away is one of the best game parks in the world the pleasure is that the good life is also never far away there's pleasure also and knowing that the wood carvings are genuine native art and skill at its best no mass production here this is the Intercontinental Hotel it makes a luxury base camp Dalton it's one of Nairobi's finest hotels with everything to make even the most seasoned traveler feel at home it's possible to stay here and still enjoy the excitement of the big outdoors with its teeming wild life and return each night to excellent food and a comfortable bed that's having your cake and eating it as the signs show there's no lack of advice and what to do and where to do it plenty of experts around to ensure that nobody leaves for home without seeing what they came to see mark you it wouldn't do to go on safari in city slicker closed blessing the part of the white hunter is all part of the game the camera is about the only special equipment anybody needs and there's a big choice of them at the local shops it's well worth buying a good one who'd want to miss pictures like these it's quite incredible when one realizes that all this wildlife is only five miles from the center of Nairobi the only discomfort tourists may suffer isn't occasional bump as their Safari wagon takes them to the animals lion is a must of course but Kenya's equatorial Coast can be just as much a magnet as big game this is mombassa largest part of East Africa and consequently one of the most cosmopolitan of the cosna one of my basses most important historical monuments is for Jesus it was built by the Portuguese to protect him from the text present-day mombassa however welcomes foreigners then those how to look after them with a cool drink a hot Sun of the warm ocean only a few yards away this could be paradise big game hunting can take on a fishy form in this part of the world the deep sea angler takes his pic from Marlon shark sailfish and Tully more tranquil fishing is offered at Lake Naivasha it's also a birdwatchers heaven with more than 360 different species to be seen in their natural environment a gentle boat trip round the lakes finds nature at peace here it's quiet gentle restaurant the water lilies grudgingly move aside kilaguni lodges probably the finest game lodge in Africa situated in the heart of the 8,000 square-mile Tsavo National Park the lodge overlooks a waterhole it's a rare place where the animals actually come to the gas for fight fans here's the heavyweight contest to end them all Kenya is a country of wonderful scenery Thompson Falls provides a rare feast for the eye a spectacular cascade of cool clear water at MC me strings there's the chance to see hippos as they really are charming Drake beasts only too pleased to give a wide grin for the camera of course one of the most famous of all hotels or lodges in Kenya is the treetops in avid airs National Park it's one of the most unique buildings in the world here guests can observe all wild game virtually from the comfort and security of their rooms it's a place to get really close to nature without sacrificing one's creature comforts but even treetops is not the boom proof it doubtful if anywhere is somehow they always find a way to get where the pickings are best so this is kenya a wild and gentle land where big game and wildlife about where flora and fauna are at the most beautiful and there where the lion is king of the beasts but doesn't press the pond it's all here everything one could wish for excitement adventure for tranquility just hours away from home