"Love! She's not here!": Female sex tourism in Kenya

In Kenya, the so — called "romantic tourism" is widespread-when elderly European women pay young Kenyans for escorts... and other services.

In 2009, Sophie Amali Klugart went to the Kenyan capital Mombasa as part of the non-profit organization ActionAid. Its main task was to highlight the problem of poverty in this African country. And in the evenings and on weekends, admiring Kenya, Klugarth traveled in search of interesting stories. 

Once, when she was on the beach, the photographer was amazed that elderly European women were flirting with local young people here. When she talked to one of the tourists, she learned that this is called "romantic tourism" - single men and women arrive in poor countries in search of companions among local residents who are willing to voluntarily become "subordinates" for these people in exchange for gifts, free lunches, and sometimes just cash.

Klugarth first learned about "romantic tourism" while walking on the beaches of Mombasa. There she saw many elderly white women surrounded by young Kenyans.

The hotels in Mombasa were full of European tourists - both men and women who came to rest here alone. Everyone at the hotel — from the administrators to the staff-knew about the relationship between tourists and locals.

The photographer met her first "object" — Louise-on the beach. She told Louise that she was filming a love story. Louise laughed and said: "Love! Louise was in a relationship with two Kenyan men and introduced Klugarth to many other women in the area.

Louise started living in Kenya in 1997, when she got a job as a guide here. At work, she saw that many tourists here start love relationships with local people, and vowed that she would never become one of such women.

However, shortly after that, Louise began dating a Kenyan man and became pregnant. The three of them moved to France, but Louise kicked out her lover when she found out that he was cheating on her. She returned to Kenya so that her son Joshua could be closer to his roots.

Often, women start dating Kenyans because of loneliness. And local men usually live in terrible poverty, so they are absolutely not against such a pastime. If the Kenyan "plays along", he is guaranteed a comfortable bed, as well as dinners and gifts from women that he can keep or sell…

Most of these tourists come from Germany, Switzerland, Eastern Europe and Britain. Usually they are rich, fat and elderly women.

In many cases, money is not mentioned once again, so that women can preserve the illusion of romance. Although sometimes women pay men right after sex.

A lady whom Klugart met comes to Kenya from Germany twice a year and stays at the resort for three weeks each time. Every time she goes to the same man.

When she arrives, she gives him enough money to pay for everything while she is resting, so as not to look like a "mom". When she leaves, she also leaves him money.

In many cases, men are looking for a way to move from Kenya to Europe with the help of their "companions".

Sometimes such novels can develop into serious relationships that blur the line between reality and fantasy.

Many women fall into the captivity of fantasies, so when they realize that they were just used, they begin to suffer or feel anger.

But in most cases, women are well aware that in this holiday romance, two people are just using each other. One — for the sake of the company, the second-for the sake of money.

For example, one woman whom Klugarth met works in the hotel industry in Europe and comes to Kenya every year to escape from reality. Her husband died of cancer 20 years ago, and she does not want a new father for her children — she just needs a companion who is always ready to listen to her.

Klugart learned that this is not only happening in Kenya. This is quite common in many holiday destinations, especially in the Caribbean.