No other country on earth can offer the visitor as much to see and do. Within the borders of a single country, you will find savannahs rich with big game, timeless cultures unchanged by the modern world, pristine beaches, coral reefs, equatorial forests and mighty snow–capped mountains, searing deserts and cool highland retreats offering you endless opportunities for adventure, discovery and relaxation – more than you would ever expect.
The Great Rift Valley
The spectacular Rift Valley, a 3,500 mile trough in the earth’s crust that stretches from Palestine to Mozambique, is the most outstanding geological feature of its kind on earth. Even now the forces that shaped the Great Rift Valley and its branches, sometimes up to 65 Kilometres wide and as much as 609 metres deep, are not fully understood.
This area is also referred to as “the cradle of mankind” since in the walls of its great scarps and just beneath its floor lies evidence of mankind’s beginnings.
Landscapes
Often dubbed “All of Africa in one country” certainly Kenya’s landscape is among the most scenically diverse and dramatic on the African continent. With ecosystems ranging from Afro-alpine moorland, indigenous forest, wetland and savannah to the expansive desert scapes of the north and the coral gardens of the Indian Ocean, this has to be true.
Mountains
Kenya’s highest mountain and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, Mount Kenya is the second highest on the African continent at an altitude of 5,199 meters above sea-level. Despite its location astride the Equator it is perennially snow capped and is the only place in the world where snow is found on the equator. The lower slopes are covered in afro-alpine moorland and dotted with mountain lakes.
Mount Elgon, Kenya’s second highest mountain with distinctive flat top stands at 4,310 metres above sea-level and straddles the Kenyan/Ugandan border.
Mount Longonot stands over the shores of Lake Naivasha at 2,886 meters. This massive dormant volcano dominates the landscape for miles around.
Other isolated hills and mountains include Mount Kulal, Mount Nyiru and Mount Marsabit in the north of the country, and the Taita and Chyulu Hills in the south. The latter being one of the region’s most recent volcanic formations.
Great Lakes
Kenya has nine lakes of particular interest and significance, some freshwater and some soda based. Six of these appear on the map as part of a connected chain and are located in the Rift Valley.
Lake Victoria, located on the Western borders of Kenya, is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. It is also the source of the River Nile.
Lake Turkana at 6,405 square kilometres in size is the largest desert lake in the world. Located in the north of Kenya its location is remote and wild. It is interesting to note that the lake is home to the world’s largest crocodile population.
Creatures Great & Small
Kenya is home to Africa’s largest mammals and on an organised safari our qualified guides will be able not only to identify the species but give interesting information on their behaviour. Kenya differs from much of Africa in its sheer variety and numbers of wildlife. In addition it is unique in East Africa for its endemic northern species of wildlife.
The best time to see wildlife is either in the early morning or late afternoon. During the heat of the day many species lie up in the shade making them more difficult to see.
Bird Watchers Paradise
Kenya is one of the top ten birding countries of the world and boasts over one thousand different species. It is not impossible for a visitor to record 500 – 600 species in the space of two to three weeks and all areas of the country are home to over 300 varieties.
Safari Parks
Tsavo East and West.
Distance from Nairobi 200km.
Tsavo is Kenya’s largest National Park and their combined area is the size of Wales.
Well known for its large herds of elephants and other big game. Famous for the account of the man-eating lions of Tsavo that terrified the work force constructing the Kenya – Uganda railway.
Amboselli
Distance from Nairobi 240km
Famous for its incredible scenic beauty with Mount Kilimanjaro (the highest mountain in Africa) dominating the landscape. Game viewing is excellent as is bird watching (with over 400 recorded species).
Shimba Hills
Distance from Nairobi 540kms
Last breeding herd of Sable Antelope in Kenya. Exceptional bird viewing, elephant sanctuary and a wide variety of rare orchids and cycads. Panoramic views of the Indian Ocean to the East and the mountains of Usumbara and Pare to the south-east in Tanzania.
Nairobi National Park
Distance from Nairobi 10km
Concentration of game during the dry season (January – March) with more than 100 different mammal species including four of the Big Five and over 500 bird species.
Sibiloi National Park
Distance from Nairobi 960km
Most remote Park in Kenya located on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana (“The Jade Sea”). Greatest concentration of crocodiles in the world (approximately 12,000 Nile Crocodiles inhabit the lake). This area is also referred to as “The Cradle of Mankind” and is an important archaeological region. Sports fishing on the lake for Nile Perch (up to 400lbs) and Tiger Fish are also possible.
Lake Nakuru
Distance from Nairobi 170km
A major wetland of international importance, vast flocks of flamingos which gather on the lake creating the greatest bird spectacle in the world – a resident population of over one million. In addition good game viewing of Leopard, White and Black Rhino and Rothschild Giraffe, plus over 450 other bird species.
Aberdare National Park
Distance from Nairobi 100km
Famous for the Lodge “Treetops” where Princes Elizabeth was proclaimed Queen of England during her stay here in 1952, following the death of her Father.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Distance from Nairobi 275km
Largest population of lion in Kenya and the film location of the BBC’s “Big Cat Diary”. View the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth, the Migration when over 1.3 million wildebeest gather together into a single massive herd that moves across the border into Tanzania in search of lush pastures. This is also the location to experience hot air ballooning, visit Masai villages or fly up to Lake Victoria for a day’s fishing. Or why not fly off from here to Uganda/Rwanda to visit the Silverbacks (Gorillas). Anything is possible in Magical Kenya.
Meru National Park
Distance for Nairobi 370km
Once home to the famous Elsa (the lioness in Joy Adamson’s book “Born Free”).
Excellent for guided walking safaris. Oryx, Grevy’s Zebra, Lion, White Rhino and Cheetah abound.
Samburu National Reserve
Distance from Nairobi 314km
The most easily accessible of the northern frontier sanctuaries. Game to be encountered includes Somali Ostrich, Beisa Oryx, Zebra, and long necked antelope, the Gerenuk. Large hippo and crocodile populations.
Shaba National Reserve
Distance from Nairobi 325km
This area has been used for a number of film locations including Born Free, Out of Africa and Survivor 3. Stark and beautiful scenery with Shaba Hill that’s surrounded by steep ravines, a favourite haunt for leopard.
Private Ranches, Homesteads and Eco-Tourism Projects.
Today’s emerging product is conservation projects where mankind is sharing the land with the wildlife and livestock, with a strong emphasis on involvement of traditional people and cultures. These destinations offer really personal service and give the opportunity to experience the true “safari” away from the crowds. Interestingly,70% of Kenya’s wildlife lives outside its National Parks and Reserves on group ranches and privately owned land.
Kenya’s Magical Coast
Kenya boasts an idyllic coastline – a magnet for visitors from all over the world. With 480km of tropical beaches on the Indian Ocean, white sand, whispering palms, sea breezes and transparent turquoise waters sheltered by spectacular coral reefs close to the shore, the Kenya coast really has got something for everyone.
The coastline stretches the length of the country’s eastern boundary with unique habitats both marine and terrestrial. The coral reefs are impressive (Kenya is regarded by divers as one of the world’s top three dive destinations) and there are numerous idyllic off-shore islands from Manda and Lamu in the North to Funzi and Wasini in the south. For the non experienced, Kenya offers the opportunity of learning to Scuba Dive through accredited PADI centres or simply enjoy the corals and fish in the marine parks with a mask and snorkel off one of the many “Dhows” in operation.
Big Game Fishing in Kenya is rightly regarded as offering some of the best available in the world, especially in the fabled waters of the Pemba Channel in the south and to the north off Watamu. The prime season is from August through until March, although good fishing is available all year.
Depending upon the time of the year, you can expect to catch Yellowfin Tuna, Sailfish, Blue, Black and Striped Marlin, plus numerous other smaller game fish including Barracuda, Dorado and Wahoo. Large sharks such as Mako and Tiger are also to be found. A policy of “Tag and Release” is encouraged by most game fishing operations.
In addition you can take trips out to spot Dolphin or Whale Shark or enjoy romantic sunset “Dhow” cruises.
Many of the top coastal hotels offer tennis facilities with professional coaches and there are superb championship golf courses both north and south of Mombasa, (bunker shots with the resident puff adder or spitting cobra in attendance can add a little spice to the round).
Eating out along the coast is excellent with several top class restaurants offering first class cuisine featuring mainly seafood, including crabs, lobsters, prawns and oysters.
And finally
A note on the local beer which is world class. Once you have sampled “Tusker” or “White Cap” you will never want to try another brand of beer. Although relatively unknown in Europe, the Nairobi based brewery is held in high esteem throughout the world and holds many awards for its products.
Kenya is not a wine producing area and so most wines are imported from South Africa, and are of a very good quality and good value for money.
In terms of agriculture, Kenya is very rich indeed. Its tea and coffee plantations are up there with the best and Kenya is a major exporter to the world’s markets, along with cashew nuts.
The “Haricot Vert” is best known these days as “Kenyan Beans” and a little known fact is that Kenya is one of the world’s top rose producers, with daily shipments to the main European wholesale flower markets.
And, of course, its people are the most welcoming you will find anywhere. They are rightly proud of their country and will do their best to ensure that you enjoy your stay with them and will look forward to your return.
Contact information – Michael McInnes, Kenya Safaris. Marbella, Spain.
Tel: +34 951 317985 Mobile: +34 647 583498 Skype: kenya_safaris
E-mail: mike@safarikenya.eu Web: www.safarikenya.eu
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