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She’s part of an army of android ambassador who will field visitors’ frequently asked questions, tell stories, play games, and, of course, pose for selfies.

From Bali to Texas, these new canvas lodgings prove that the glamping trend is here to stay.

Enrich your visit by setting aside time to connect with Kenyan locals and experience their way of life first-hand. Here’s how.

A tale of melting glaciers, erratic rainfall, and the people at the heart of this dramatic landscape

The highest mountain in Africa may be a popular hiking destination, but it’s no walk in the park. Here’s how to prepare for a successful summit bid.

In the modern age of culturally conscious travelers, one writer questions whether it’s truly possible to have the experience of a lifetime on safari in Africa—and banish the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt.

Overview

Far above the plains where lions roam, there’s another Kenya, where life moves slowly and the people run fast. Writer Matt Gross tries to keep up.

Discover what makes Zanzibar’s capital a destination worth visiting.

AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent comedian Jorma Taccone on a spontaneous journey to Nairobi, Kenya.

Overview

If you step off the ferry in Stone Town and don’t know anything about Zanzibar, the House of Wonders (or Beit al-Ajab, as it’s also known) has you covered. Just a few steps away from the ferry terminal, you’ll get a crash course in Swahili history. The House was built by Sultan Barghash bin Said in 1883 and now that he’s gone, it houses the Museum of History & Culture of Zanzibar & the Swahili Coast. The inner courtyard is the unlikely home to a huge Swahili sailing vessel and an old car that belonged Zanzibar’s first president (didn’t know Zanzibar had a president, other than the Tanzanian president? Yeah, neither did I. This is why you’re in the right place to learn about these things.) Despite the many cool - even, I daresay, wondrous - items in the museum, it was actually known as the House of Wonders because it was the first building in Zanzibar to boast electricity and the first building in East Africa to have an elevator. Now that those things have become commonplace and boring, you can do a scavenger hunt through the building to find other wonders. Search for David Livingstone’s medicine chest (let me just say - I do not think he ventured into central Africa adequately prepared), a Christmas-themed kanga, and a centuries-old charm that reportedly contains the nose of a dog. As if that weren’t enough, the gift shop is pretty well-stocked with interesting curios, too.

The wooden doors of Mombasa’s Old Town are famous for their intricate designs: laboriously carved and painstakingly detailed. They’re a testament to the rich tastes of the Swahili sultanate that once controlled the ports along the East African coast, and controlled access to the resources (including ivory and slaves) just beyond. This door - right in the middle of Old Town, on a street lined with carved wooden door after carved wooden door - is a testament to a different kind of taste. We might even consider it garish among the atmospheric, dilapidated lanes of Old Town Mombasa, but who knows. Back during the era of the Swahili empire, neighbors might have found the latest wooden carvings and entrance adornments just as over-the-top. To reach the entrance to Old Town (and come across this shop, in case you’re looking for soda, film or cell phone credit as opposed to souvenirs), take a taxi to Fort Jesus and take a left down Sir Mbarak Hinawy Road. The shop is nestled among centuries-old mosques, dwellings, and yes, beautifully carved doors.

The crumbling architecture of Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the town’s carved doors are one of its most recognizable features. I spent a lot of time searching for the door of Swahili merchant Tippu Tip, a notorious 19th-century slave and ivory trader who grew fabulously wealthy from his exploits in the interior of Africa. He showcased his wealth by slapping Stone Town’s most elaborately carved door on the front of his mansion in the mysteriously named Suicide Alley. If you can find Suicide Alley (it’s unmarked, near the Shangani Post Office in Stown Town), keep your eyes on the ground: the alternating black-and-white tiles of Tippu Tip’s front stoop might be the first thing you see. The house is now inhabited by several families, so be respectful when taking pictures and exploring the area.

You can’t go to Kenya and not try the nyama choma or kuku choma - the grilled street meat. We found this place off the “main street” in the swahili part of town. The meat was marinated in some amazing spice combination and you have a choice of chapati or chips (“fries” in American). The beef kabobs are a mere 25 shillings (around 30 cents) and the chicken is a bit more at 200 shillings. You can’t beat a meal that costs you less than $5 for two people.