The stunning blue water and golden sands of the Bahamas are captured beautifully in its national flag. The aquamarine and yellow tones of the flag of the Bahamas conjure up images of the stunning seascapes and beaches for which the country is famous.

Flag facts

Adopted: 1973
Design: Aquamarine blue horizontal bands with a yellow band in the middle. A black triangle on the left.
Usage: National
Ratio: 1:2

What does the Bahamas flag mean?

The blue bands represent the Caribbean Sea. The yellow band represents sandy beaches. The black triangle represents the strength and determination of the people of the Bahamas.

The history of the Bahamas flag

The 700 islands of the Bahamas were once the haunt of pirates. They were taken over by the British in 1783 and became independent in 1973. They are famous for their beaches and sparkling sea, reflected in the flag.

The Bahamas flag facts

●    The flag of the Bahamas was officially hoisted on 10 July, 1973, the date the country gained independence from the UK.
●    Many ships and yachts are registered in the Bahamas. They fly the civil ensign, with the national flag in the corner of a red-and-white flag.
●    If the black triangle on the flag is displayed pointing upwards or from the viewer’s right, it is a sign of distress.

Each flag you see is a picture that has a meaning and sends a message to everyone who sees it. Every country in the world has a flag that represents it and announces to the world that they are proud of our country. Regions and cities often have flags, too. To explore more about the amazing world of flags, check out Lonely Planet’s The Flag Book.

You might also like:

● The Bahamas’ 10 best beaches
● Why Long Island should be your next Bahamas vacation
● Celebrate Christmas in the Caribbean at these 5 destinations

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Introducing the flag of the Bahamas 

Welcome to Kenya. Vast savannahs peppered with immense herds of wildlife. Snow-capped equatorial mountains. Traditional peoples who bring soul and colour to the earth. The national flag of Kenya represents the country’s heritage and beautiful land.

Kenya’s flag is a horizontal tricolour and honours the country’s struggle for independence.

Flag facts

Adopted: 1963
Design: A traditional African shield and two spears in the centre, in the colours of red, black, and white. A background of three horizontal bands of black, red, and green, separated by white borders.
Usage: National and civil
Ratio: 2:3

What does the Kenya flag mean?

Red, black, green, and white represent the colours of Kenya African National Union (KANU), the party that fought for the country’s independence. The colours also represent the fight for independence (red), African heritage (black), and the land (green). The shield comes from Kenya’s coat of arms.

The history of the Kenya flag

The shield and crossed spears on Kenya’s flag represent both the country’s heritage and the defence of its freedom. It is a shield used by the Maasai, a semi-nomadic people who herd cattle in Kenya and Tanzania. The white stripes are symbolic of peace. The flag was adopted after Kenya gained independence.

Kenya flag facts

• The flag of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) was similar to the national flag, but it had an arrow and spear instead of two spears.
• The patterns on Maasai shields, like the one featured on Kenya’s flag, traditionally use red, black, and white.
• Like Kenya, Eswatini is another African country that features a shield and spears on its flag.

Each flag you see is a picture that has a meaning and sends a message to everyone who sees it. Every country in the world has a flag that represents it and announces to the world that they are proud of our country. Regions and cities often have flags, too. To explore more about the amazing world of flags, check out Lonely Planet’s The Flag Book.

You might also like:
Climbing, trekking, kitesurfing, mountain biking and more: Kenya beyond safaris
Are you ready for a self-drive safari in Africa?
Safari animals: the story of lions (and the best places to see them)

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Introducing the flag of Kenya

Few countries in Africa can match Namibia's sheer natural beauty. The desert landscapes here are unmatched, and the northern part of the country is one of the best places to watch wildlife.

The colours of Namibia’s national flag reflect the country’s people and landscape and represent its major political parties.

Flag facts

Adopted: 1990
Design: A diagonal red band with white borders, across triangles of green and blue. A yellow sun symbol on the blue triangle.
Usage: National and civil
Ratio: 2:3

What does the Namibia flag mean?

White, blue, and red are colours of a former political party, the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance. Blue, green, and red are colours of Namibia’s ruling political party, SWAPO (South West African People’s Organisation). The sun represents life and energy.

The history of the Namibia flag

Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990, and its major political parties at that time are reflected in the colours of its flag. Blue symbolises the sky, the sea, and water. Red is for the people and their determination. White is a symbol of peace and unity. Green is for the land and crops.

Namibia flag facts

• The design of the national flag of Namibia was based on three flag designs shortlisted from over 800 entries.
• The golden colour of the sun on Namibia’s flag also represents the Namib desert, after which the country is named.
• Namibia’s coat of arms has a shield which is a reproduction of the national flag. It also includes oryx and a fish eagle, both found in the country.

Each flag you see is a picture that has a meaning and sends a message to everyone who sees it. Every country in the world has a flag that represents it and announces to the world that they are proud of our country. Regions and cities often have flags, too. To explore more about the amazing world of flags, check out Lonely Planet’s The Flag Book.

You might also like:
The sound of silence: where to go for peace and quiet
Dune boarding, climbing, surfing and more: finding adventure in Namibia
Safari animals: the story of rhinos (and the best places to see them)

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Introducing the flag of Namibia

With hardly-touched 'best-in-the-world' reefs to dive, dugongs to spot, mountains to climb, and ancient traditions that have survived the ravages of war, Asia’s newest country offers some of the world’s last great off-the-beaten-track adventures.

Oppression and hope, both find motifs on the flag of Timor-Leste. The country may have had a troubled birth but is on a new progressive path now.

Flag facts

Adopted: 2002
Design: A black triangle far left, containing a five-pointed white star. A yellow V-shape behind it. A red back-ground on the right.
Usage: National and civil
Ratio: 1:2

What does the Timor-Leste flag mean?

Since the country has a torrid past and rule, its struggle has been captured on the flag as well. Black represents oppression of the past. Red symbolises the country’s struggle for independence and yellow is for prosperity in the future. There is a white star that signifies hope.

The history of the Timor-Leste flag

Timor-Leste (East Timor) was once ruled by Portugal, then invaded by Indonesia, and its troubled violent birth is represented on its flag. The design is similar to that used by the Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor (Fretilin), who opposed Indonesia’s rule. The white star signifies hope for the future.

Timor-Leste’s flag facts

• The flag now is the same one that was originally adopted when the country declared its independence from Portugal in 1975. Only, nine days later it was invaded by Indonesia.
• During the first East Timorese National Convention held in April 1998 in Portugal, Timorese political parties and organisations had suggested an alternative flag.
• All the symbols and smaller colour blocks are placed on the hoist side, while most of the flag is red in colour.

Each flag you see is a picture that has a meaning and sends a message to everyone who sees it. Every country in the world has a flag that represents it and announces to the world that they are proud of our country. Regions and cities often have flags, too. To explore more about the amazing world of flags, check out Lonely Planet’s The Flag Book.

You might also like:
Top things to do in Timor-Leste
Explore Dili
Top activities in Timor-Leste

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Introducing the flag of Timor-Leste

Last month we published The Plastic Problem, a book to help your family cut plastic out of their lives. We were lucky enough to speak to its author, Aubre Andrus, about what she learnt through writing the book. Take it away Aubre!

“Writing this book changed my life. It made me re-examine a lot of the ‘auto-pilot’ actions I take on a daily basis, like grabbing a lid or a straw when I don’t need it. I became much more aware of how much plastic pollution my daily routine created, and I immediately tried to change that. I’m still working on cutting out plastic from my life, but every time I do it makes me feel really good!

When it comes to saving the planet, many people are taught 'reduce, reuse, recycle' but the mantra should actually be 'reduce, refuse, recycle'. With that in mind here are some extra ideas to get your family started as 'plastic patrollers'" :

Take a check-list of your waste

"How many bags of rubbish and recycling does your family create each week? Each month? Don’t forget about small waste bins in the bathroom or bedrooms. Keep a tally of how many bags or bins you fill up then make it a fun family challenge to reduce that amount next month and so on".

Focus on one room at a time

"There are so many ways to cut plastic out of your life, which is great - but it’s also overwhelming! Try focusing on one room like the kitchen or the bathroom first. For the next month, make small changes that reduce waste in that room specifically".

Declare a plastic-free shopping week

"Take a trip to the shop and attempt to fulfill your needs with the least amount of plastic possible. This is called ‘pre-cycling’. Ask your kids for help finding these solutions".

Model eco-friendly behaviors for your kid(s)

"As parents, we know that kids are more likely to pick up on a habit that they see us doing ourselves, like grabbing a piece of fruit instead of crisps for a snack. Start modelling low-waste behaviours for your kids like saying no to plastic cutlery, straws and bags and using fabric napkins and dish cloths instead of paper ones".

Challenge your family to pack a waste-free lunch for a day

"Our daily lunch routines often create a lot of plastic waste. There are many simple solutions kids and adults can take such as buying snack items in bulk and portioning them out in reusable bags, or packing reusable silverware and cups as well as fabric napkins”.

Thanks Aubre for all of that useful info! Since its release, both kids and adults alike have been flicking through the pages of The Plastic Problem. Here’s what Annabelle, 8 years old, had to say about it:

“ I like this book because it gives me ideas about how to help the environment. The book talked about how lots of plastic ends up in the ocean, how there's plastic in your clothes, and how plastic heats up the earth. I also learned that a plastic water bottle can take 450-1,000 years to break down. That's not good! This book is important because it helps to solve the plastic problem. I would recommend this book to anyone - young or old ”.

The reviews have also started to come in on the children’s book review site, Toppsta. Here’s what Kate-jw, who has been reading it to her class, has said:
" My class loved this and were all eager to get a chance to read it! Some great ideas in here on how to reduce our plastic usage, which they are all pledging to do!"

If your kids would like to explore more about becoming a ‘plastic patroller’, get them to take the ‘plastic patroller pledge’ from our activity sheet here. To pick up a copy of The Plastic Problem, head to our online shop.

Want to investigate even more ways on how to help save the environment and the planet? Read an account of one of our families doing a beach-clean on Chesil Beach here. For tips on how families can travel more sustainably, read our blog here.

Spotlight on: The Plastic Problem

Bored of being stuck indoors at home? Are you looking to join intergalactic explorers and discover somewhere completely out-of-this-world? Well then; it’s time to take your imagination to space and become an astronaut with our Cardboard Box Creations!

Rockets and space shuttles are used to take people and robots all the way up to space, launching from sites in Florida, Russia and other places all around the world. Build your own personal spacecraft, blast off from a launch pad in your own home and imagine a world of planets, asteroids, aliens and much more. To infinity and beyond!

Remember – cutting into cardboard can be tricky and dangerous. Ask a grown-up to help or supervise.

You will need:

- A very large box or multiple smaller boxes
- Sticky tape
- Extra cardboard
- Foil or silver paint
- Felt-tip pens or paint
- PVA glue
- Scissors

Step one

From a very large cardboard box or smaller box, cut four panels in the shape above. Cut one shape from each side of your box, or use more than one box if one side isn’t big enough. These will form the body of the space rocket, and you want to be able to fit inside it!

Step two

Lay the shapes flat on the floor next to each other, with the tall sides touching each other. Tape the pieces together along these seams.

Step three

Stand the pieces upright and wrap them around so that the open edges touch. Tape together this last side. Fold all the pointed tops in towards each other and tape in place.

Step four

From the cardboard, cut four identical shapes into fins, as shown. Make each one about half the height of the rocket. Cover them in foil or paint them silver to make them look like real rockets!

Step five

Tape one fin to each corner of the rocket body, at a height so that the fin sits a few centimetres above the floor. Use tape on both sides of the fins to hold them securely in place.

Step six

Ask a grown-up to help cut a door on one side of the spacecraft, as shown, as well as a handle in the door and a round window on each of the other three side panels so you can look out and enjoy the view! Then; it’s time for blast-off!

Step seven

Cut a rectangular piece of cardboard and bend in the bottom edge, as shown. Draw a screen, then glue on circles cut from cardboard to make buttons. Tape the control panel to the inside of the rocket. Decorate your rocket with moons, stars and planets – or your own unique design!

If you’ve enjoyed escaping home during this activity, make sure you pick up a copy of The Daredevil’s Guide to Outer Space for more rip-roaring space adventures!

Buckle up, space cadets! For more space-themed activities, why not design your own planet with our fun-filled activity sheet, in association with How to be a Space Explorer? Your cosmic adventure awaits...

Escaping Planet Earth: how to build a space rocket

Plastic is everywhere - in your shoes, pens, car, toys, TV, water bottles, food packaging...it’s almost impossible to get through a day without using it, and it’s creating major problems for our planet. Scarily, by 2050 it’s estimated that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Our latest release, The Plastic Problem, gives kids and adults alike 60 ways to cut plastic out of their lives and become ‘plastic patrollers’ rather than polluters.

Do your kids want to change your family's approach to plastics? We’re here to help you do just that!

To tie in with this latest release and to celebrate this week's Global Recycling Day on March 18th, we’ve decided to ask one of our LP Kids’ readers, Karen, about how she and her daughter Lily got involved in a beach clean-up last summer, and the importance of being  a ‘plastic patroller’ and sustainable travellers. Take it away Karen!

What made you decide on doing a beach clean-up whilst you were on Chesil Beach?

We were visiting family in Dorset, as we like to stay in a caravan there when we can and to enjoy the beaches with Lily. I know they are doing so much down in Dorset to ensure the beaches are as clean as possible, whether that be the beautiful sandy beaches in Weymouth or the stunning pebble beach at Chesil Beach. We did the two-minute beach clean by the Chesil Beach centre, which is a lovely place to view the birds in the wetlands, as well as to learn about the history of the beach itself in the little museum. I used to love walks along Chesil Beach with my family when I was younger too and have amazing memories of it, so it's special to take Lily along with me now.

Why do you think it's important for Lily to become a 'plastic patroller’?

I want her to grow up appreciating the beach, nature, and our planet, and doing the beach clean was a fun and active way we could learn about it together. It was shortly before her fourth birthday, so it was a great way to help her learn about saving the planet in a practical way.

Did Lily enjoy it and if so what did she learn from doing it?

She loved it! It was like a little challenge for her to find things we could pick up. We mainly found beer cans, single-use coffee cups, a discarded BBQ, and a few broken plastic buckets and spades that clearly weren’t strong enough to carry pebbles, as well as a few other bits of rubbish from picnics. I wouldn’t let her pick things up herself as she was still quite little, but she would point them out to me and was challenging herself to find even more!

It turned into a game for us both, one that lasted much longer than two minutes. Even though she really enjoyed it, I also talked about what might happen to these items if no-one picked them up, so she could see there was a more serious side to it. We talked about them ending up in the sea, what lived in the sea, and what the impact on those creatures could be. It may have been fun spotting things but, in reality, we'd rather not be finding anything. We’ve done a similar one since in the local park and she now always says how ‘naughty’ it is when people have dropped rubbish.

I want to keep doing these kinds of things with Lily; she is, after all, part of the next generation and this is going to be increasingly essential to safeguard the planet for the future.

Thanks so much Karen and Lily for all of your input! You can read Karen's blog at The3amDiary.  A free activity sheet to help your family become plastic patrollers rather than plastic polluters is available here. The Plastic Problem is available to order online from our shop or from all good bookstores.

The Plastic Problem: beach clean-ups for Global Recycling Day

This month our family travel snap carries us to the splendour of a marble-clad mosque in Abu Dhabi, with Lonely Planet magazine editor Peter Grunert and his family.

What’s the story behind this photo?

Here’s my daughter Savithri, aged seven, along with her mum Sharmila. They are pausing for a rest and learning from a guide whilst on a tour of the marvellous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Savithri is a well-travelled little girl but has never seen a building as intricate or spectacular as this one. In fact, neither have her parents!

Completed in 2007, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was the creation of designers, engineers and artisans from countries as diverse as the UAE, UK, China, India, Iran, Morocco, Italy and Germany. Our guide Fatima did such a fantastic job of revealing the mosque’s wonders in a way Savithri could relate to: the floral designs in semi-precious stones that swirl around the pillars of its central courtyard; a 15.5-metre-high chandelier in the form of a bejewelled date palm; the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet in the main prayer hall.

We wanted Savithri to have the chance to learn all about another culture and religion in a memorable way, ahead of the swimming, shopping and fun times in the desert that would follow on this trip. I was pleased (and a little surprised) to notice that on the flight home, she chose to switch from watching cartoons to an episode of the TV series Megastructures, about the drama behind the construction of this immense, incredibly ambitious monument.

Kid's perspective

We stopped by a shop selling dates and tried the many different varieties grown locally in Abu Dhabi in dried and fresh-off-the-palm-tree form. As this photo was taken, Savithri said: 'These fresh dates are so sweet and juicy! Where can we find them back home in London?'

Peter's tips for visiting Abu Dhabi with kids

1) The beautiful, horizon-to-horizon sand dunes of the Rub’ al Khali – also known as the Empty Quarter – are an easy one-and-a-half-hour drive from where most people live and stay in Abu Dhabi. With kids, be sure to avoid the vicious heat of summer. We found opportunities to stroll, cycle, drive in a Land Cruiser and even sand board in the desert, plus a first for all three of us: to ride a camel. Our camel handler shared the tip that parents should trust their kids to keep hold of the handles on a camel’s saddle; it’s always the parents sat behind who forget to hold on and slide off the back while trying to grapple with their kids.

2) It’s taken me a while to appreciate that well-organised family resorts can provide the best foundation for stretching young kids’ boundaries. At the clean and extremely welcoming Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas on Saadiyat Island, Savithri played on a beach visited by wild bottlenose dolphins, enjoyed topping up her swimming skills and – at her own pace – got to try several delicious Emirati and Indian dishes from the buffet each evening.

Where’s next on your family travel bucket list?

We have our eyes on a farm stay in north Cornwall, England – one where our miniature poodle Kitty will be welcome too.

Lastly, complete the sentence:

When we shut the front door ready to go and travel as a family, we always make sure we have… …several food bags in our pockets. They’re ideal for collecting together the treats and tiny souvenirs kids love finding along the way, and to have just in case car sickness strikes halfway through a drive over rolling sand dunes!

You can follow Peter on Twitter and sign-up for more family travel inspiration with our monthly newsletter and in our new Family Travel Handbook.

Family travel snap: adventures in Abu Dhabi

Our children are all too aware of the importance of living an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, and travelling certainly contributes to our carbon footprint. However, for many of us travel is key to ensuring our children understand and appreciate the wider world, so how do our community of family travellers balance these two concerns? We asked them for their tips on how families can travel more sustainably.

The expert view

It's important to consider your whole life, not just your vacation, in your bid to make your family's travel more sustainable. If you have low-waste, low-energy and low-animal-product consumption at home it goes a long way towards offsetting your travel footprint.

Obviously minimise your flights and travel by bus or train if you can. If flying is your only option, pick the shortest route and try to travel with an airline which offsets and is as plastic-free as possible. On the road do everything you can to minimise plastics. Take your own, refillable water bottles and use them. There’s even an app ReFillMyBottle to help you. Choose your accommodation carefully: avoid huge resorts with constant aircon and large golf courses and swimming pools, say no to a daily room clean and boycott buffets. The waste generated by buffets is off-the-scale and often it is the expensive, high-footprint products going to the trash.

Nobody is perfect, but millions of small steps go a long way towards decreasing total consumption.

- Alyson Long, from World Travel Family

Our Twitter community says

Our Facebook fans say

The above comments and more family travel tips can be found on our Facebook feed.

Want to investigate further? Try these helpful extra resources:

1) World Travel Family has ways to be a more eco-friendly traveller.

2) Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2020 has this list of the 10 best sustainable trips for families.

3) If you want to join a beach clean , this list of clean-ups around the world on Lonely Planet is a good place to start.

4) Our latest title The Plastic Problem will give your kids loads of ideas for how they can reduce their plastic consumption.

Kids Blog Posts

Introducing the flag of the Bahamas

Introducing the flag of Kenya

Introducing the flag of Namibia

Introducing the flag of Timor-Leste

Spotlight on: The Plastic Problem

Escaping Planet Earth: how to build a space rocket

The Plastic Problem: beach clean-ups for Global Recycling Day

Family travel snap: adventures in Abu Dhabi

Ask Lonely Planet Kids: how can families travel more sustainably?

Featured in Best in Travel 2021

South Carolina

USA

Region

County Clare

Ireland

Region

Medellín

Colombia

City

Canary Islands

Spain

Region