Kenya
KENYA: “the perfect holiday destination”
Arguably the original home of SAFARI, its landscape is extraordinary; grassy rolling plains, thorny scrubland, rock strewn deserts, extinct and active volcanoes, fresh and saltwater lakes, forested mountains, palm fringed white beaches and coral reefs.
Its world famous wildlife reserves are home to fantastic big game mammals including the large cats. The brilliant plumage of hundreds of species of Birds and the extraordinary marine life all roaming free in their natural habitats add to the spectacle.
Kenya has long been held as the cradle of Humankind and with good reason. Important Hominid fossils have been discovered around Lake Turkana and various pre-historic settlements in Kenya continue to help unravel the story of human evolution.The friendly people are sure to leave an indelible impression on visitors who have been privileged to get a close-up glimpse of their fascinating cultures and colorful regalia.
Nairobi, the “Safari Capital” and Mecca for Adventurers and Travelers from all over the world, has since the advent of African wildlife adventures, been the starting point. All areas of interest are a short flight away by light aircraft. It’s a major African hub for most International Airlines.
The city has not lost its sense of the past as is showcased in the Museum of Natural History. Kenya has long been considered as home of the ancient origin of human development and boasts some of the most significant fossil sites in the world. The museum is among the ten best in the world holding many of the most important hominid and hominoid fossils.
Spectacular Parks and Game Reserves.
Nairobi National Park “wildlife Capital of the world”
A 44 square miles, of plains, cliffs and forest all within the city boundaries, Nairobi National Park is home to large herds of Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Giraffe and more. Rhino, Cheetah, Leopard and a large number of Lions are all also found here, living free and wild within 20 minutes of the centre of town. At the main entrance, there is Animal Orphanage and the Nairobi Safari Walk for those with less time to explore.
KENYA COAST
The Kenyan Coast presents a harmonious blending of the great cultures of Africa, Asia and Europe. Its history dates back to 12th century.
Many of the old Swahili settlements are a maze of narrow roads slicing between tall white buildings with beautifully carved doors and elegantly styled balconies. Fort Jesus Museum, Vasco Da Gama Pillar and Chapel are 16th century relics of the Portuguese occupation of the Kenyan coast.
The Coastal area offers an incomparable holiday destination for both beach and nature lovers. The idyllic palm fringed beaches are protected by a coral reef. The marine park’s dazzling diversity of marine life and coral gardens are a magnet for travelers from all over the world. Not to be forgotten are the opportunities for unequaled deep-sea fishing and snorkeling experiences.
Useful Links
Serena Beach hotel - http://www.serenahotels.com/brochure/mombasa.pdf
Whitesands Beach Hotel - http://www.sarovahotels.com/whitesands/.pdf
Tamarind Dhow Restaurant- http://www.tamarinddhow.com/
Tsavo National Parks. “Theatre of the Wild”
Tsavo, established in 1948, is the largest park in Kenya covering an area of 21,812 km2. It’s composed of diverse habitats: bush land, open savanna, ash cones and lava flows some of which are quite recent. Diverse wildlife is found here including zebras, wildebeests, kudus and predators like leopard, cheetah and the man-eating lions made famous in the movie "The Ghost and the Darkness". The eye will be delighted by Red Elephants colored by the soil and the brilliant plumage of over 400 species of birds.
Natural attractions include a recent lava flow (Shetani) and a lava ridge where filtered water gushes out in a series of clear pools. There is a glass underwater observation pool for Hippo, crocodile and variety of fish species. On a game drive, you can enjoy magnificent views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Others unique attractions include: the world’s longest Lava flow (290 km) Lugard falls (a series of rapids), Mudanda rock and Aruba Dam.
Useful links:
Ol Donyo Wuas - www.oldonyowuas.com
Kilaguni Serena Lodge - http://www.serenahotels.com/brochure/kilaguni.pdf
Voi Safari lodge - http://www.safari-hotels.com/voisafari/index.php?flag=vsl
Ngulia Saf. Lodge - http://www.safari-hotels.com/nguliasafari/index.php?flag=nsl
Finch Hatton - http://www.finchhattons.com/
Amboseli National Park “The essence of Africa”
Nestled at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is a place of rugged beauty and best known for its unrivalled views of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The Park is set like an oasis surrounded by savannah scrub with life revolving around the 2 swamps fed by the melting snows of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Without question, its 1,500 strong Elephant population is the most remarkable and most studied group of elephants on the planet. Elephants and other plains animals are found submerged or along the swamp edges feeding and drinking. Packs of hyenas abound as well as lions, leopards and cheetah. Amboseli is well liked for the ease in spotting wildlife that it offers and for the colorful Maasai people living around it.
Useful links:
Oltukai lodge - http://www.oltukailodge.com/ol_frame_page.htm
Amboseli Serena - http://www.serenahotels.com/brochure/amboseli.pdf
Tortilis Camp - http://www.tortiliscamp.com/
Mt. Kenya National park. “God’s Abode”
Mt Kenya is an extinct volcano standing astride the equator and dominating the Kenyan highlands. Local people around the Mountain believed it to be God’s Abode and prayed and worshipped facing the mountain.
Its main peaks are Batian ( 5200m) and Nellion (5188m). The slopes are covered in forests, bamboo, scrub and moorland which give way to rock, ice and snow on the high central peaks. It's one of the main water towers in Kenya providing over 90% of hydro power.
The park's main attractions include pristine wilderness, glaciers and peaks of great beauty. Unique montane and alpine vegetation have produced high altitude adapted plains game and rare and endangered species of animals. Night game viewing is available at the Mountain Lodge and luxurious accommodations are the hallmark of Mount Kenya Safari Club.
Useful links:
Mount Kenya Safari Club - www.fairmont.com/kenyasafariclub
Serena Mountain Lodge - http://www.serenahotels.com/brochure/mountain-lodge.pdf
Olpejeta Private Wildlife Sanctuary.
This 90,000 acre wildlife conservancy is situated between the foot hills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snowcapped Mount Kenya. The conservancy offers an unforgettable safari experience due to its combination of amazing wildlife including rescued chimpanzees and its magnificent views of snowcapped Mount Kenya.
Useful links:
Sweet Waters Camp - http://www.serenahotels.com/Kenya/sweetwaters/home.asp
Ol Pejeta House-http://www.serenahotels.com/kenya/sweetwaters/olpejetahouse.asp
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp - http://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/safari/ol_pejeta_bush_camp
Aberdares National Park.
The Aberdares is an isolated volcanic range that forms the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley. The topography is diverse with deep ravines cutting through forested eastern and western slopes that contain many clear streams and waterfalls.
The Tree Tops Tree Lodge of the Aberdares has historic significance. It was during her stay at the Lodge that the Queen of England became queen.
The unusual vegetation, rugged terrain, streams and waterfalls combine to create an area of great scenic beauty. Major attractions include; a walk on the moorland, Twin Hills, Table Mountain and Elephant Hills. The Park is home to the largest populations of Black Rhino and Elephants and rare and endangered animal species such as bongos and bush pigs. Hyenas and leopards also abound. Tree Hotels (Ark and Tree Tops) offer night game viewing at their floodlit waterhole cum saltlick.
Useful Links:
Tree Top Lodge - http://www.aberdaresafarihotels.com/soft5.php?id=20
The Ark Forest Lodge - http://www.fairmont.com/Ark/
Lake Nakuru. “Ornithologists' Paradise”
Lake Nakuru is a shallow, strongly alkaline lake surrounded by areas of marsh and grassland alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides covered with euphorbia forest.
The foundation of the park's food chain is the blue-green algae which supports huge populations of the lesser flamingo. The tiny fish, tilapia grahamii, introduced in the 1950’s to control mosquito now supports a huge variety of fish eating birds. Over 450 species of birds are found here. The game park area around the lake is now a rhino sanctuary supporting large populations of both black and white rhinos. Buffaloes, waterbucks, baboons and other plains game abound. Lion, leopards and hyena are some of the predators found here.
Useful Link:
Lion Hill Lodge - http://www.sarovahotels.com/lionhill/index.php
Meru National Park. “Complete Wilderness”
Meru is located on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya astride the equator. It has unique wilderness characteristics and pristine environmental qualities hard to find in other conservation areas. Meru National Park is former home to Joy and George Adamson, best known through the book and the Academy Award winning film “BORN FREE”, which depicts the story of Elsa, an orphaned lioness cub they raised and later released into the park.
Other attractions include a varied kaleidoscope of endemic and threatened northern wildlife species like the Grevy zebra, Somali ostrich, and recently discovered naked mole rat. It is home to Africa's big five: elephants, lions, leopard, rhino and buffalo. It also offers a very rich diversity of birdlife, rocky outcrops, 14 permanent rivers, and Adamson’s Falls.
Useful Links:
Meru Elsa Kopje - www.elsaskopje.com
Leopard Rock Lodge - www.leopardmico.com
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a catalyst for the conservation of wildlife and its habitat. This is accomplished through the protection and management of wildlife species and gaining support of conservation by the local community. Lewa conducts conservation and development programs and educates those in the neighboring areas about the value of wildlife
Useful Links;
Lewa Wilderness Trails - http://www.lewa.org/wilderness_trails.php
Lewa House - http://www.lewa.org/lewa_house.php
Kifaru House - http://www.lewa.org/kifaru_house.php
Samburu/Shaba/Buffalo Springs Game Reserves.
This area is the dry, semi-desert scrubland of isolated hills rising sheer and dry river beds known as Luggas. The Reserve derives its name from the colorful Samburu people living around the park and as the setting for such television programs like “Survivor Africa” and the film “To Walk with Lions” depicting the life of George Adamson husband to Joy Adamson best known through the book and the Academy Award winning film “BORN FREE”.
The Vegetation is dry, thorny scrubland with a green belt only along the River Uaso Nyiro where animals such as buffalo, elephants and impalas congregate during the dry season. Also found here is a varied kaleidoscope of endemic and threatened northern wildlife species like the Grevy Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe and desert adapted species including the Gerenuk and the Beisa oryx. The big cats, namely lion, cheetah and leopard are easily seen as are many of the more than 300 bird species.
Useful Links
Samburu Serena - http://www.serenahotels.com/brochure/samburu.pdf
Sarova Shaba http://www.sarovahotels.com/shaba/index.php
Samburu Intrepids – http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com
Larsens Camp - http://www.wildernesslodges.co.ke/larsensCamp.html
Samburu Lodge - http://www.wildernesslodges.co.ke/wildernessLodges.html
Joys Camp - http://joyscamp.com/
Saruni Camp - http://www.sarunisamburu.com/
Marsabit National Reserve. “This Place is God’s Gift”
The Park consists of a forested mountain that rises like an oasis in the middle of the desert wilderness. It is the only source of permanent surface water in the region.
The reserve has three spectacular crater lakes that provide habitat for a variety of birdlife. One of the lakes, Lake Paradise, is most scenic and it is famous from the early films and writings of Martin Johnson and Vivien de Wattville.
Marsabit Reserve is known for large elephants like the famous Ahmed, an elephant that was provided with a 24 hour protection by a presidential order. Ahmed, who boasted some of the biggest tusks ever recorded, died at age 55, and his body was preserved and is now on display in Nairobi National Museum.
Marsabit presents a unique opportunity to explore the area's prisitine forests on a guided walk accompanied by a park ranger. The landscape includes crater lakes which take elephants a day to circumnavigate and it is spectacular. A cultural experience that is equally unique is a visit to the "Singing Wells of Marsabit"; it will be a highlight of your stay.
Accommodation: Marsabit Lodge.
Lake Turkana “Jade Sea”
This, the largest desert lake in the world, lies in the far north of Kenya. Also known as Jade Sea, it’s a place of unforgettable adventure and a journey one will not easily forget. The spectacular scenery is the result of the immense volcanic activity of the Great Rift Valley. Evening trips by boat offer wonderful sunsets.
This is where mankind was born and important hominid and hominoid fossils have been discovered on the shores of the lake. Sibiloi National park was partially established to protect the fossil remains found in the prehistoric archeological sites. However remote, it's one of the best places to find the Roan antelope, cheetahs and petrified wood.
At the southern tip of the Lake is a small settlement called Loiyangalani and nearby is a genuine oasis where fresh water gushes from the hot rocks and doum palms provide shade and comfort from the scorching sun. Nestled amongst the Doum Palms is Oasis Lodge, scene of the filming of The Constant Gardener.
There is a unique desert museum beautifully set on top of a hill overlooking the expansive Lake Turkana. It focuses on the lives of the 8 tribal communities living in the area and on the natural environment in this harsh part of the country. Evening trips by boat offer wonderful sunset views.
Useful links:
Oasis Lodge - www.oasis-lodge.com,
Desert Museum - http://www.museums.or.ke/content/blogcategory/43/66/
Koobi Fora - http://www.museums.or.ke/content/blogcategory/9/41/
Maasai Mara “Seventh Wonder of the Natural World”
Proclaimed as the finest wildlife area in all of Africa, this “New Seventh Wonder of the Natural World" forms the northern tip of the Serengeti National Park. This is where the word “Safari” comes in to its true light, meaning journey in Kiswahili, Kenya’s national language.
The Mara River, host to hundreds of crocodiles and innumerable hippos, snakes through the park and empties at Lake Victoria, the source of River Nile. The Park boasts breathtaking scenery and is part of Serengeti –Mara ecosystem which covers an area of 30,000 km2 spanning both Kenya and Tanzania. This unique eco-system protects the greatest and most varied collection of terrestrial wildlife on earth. It is the site of the most dramatic of all wildlife events: the annual migration of over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles. This is one of the last great migratory systems still in existence. Birdlife is as profuse as wildlife with over 500 species of birds recorded here.
Useful Links:
Mara Serena Lodge - http://www.serenahotels.com/brochure/mara.pdf
Mara Sarova Camp - http://www.sarovahotels.com/mara/index.php
Kichwa Tembo Camp - http://www.andbeyondafrica.com
Mara Intrepid Camp - http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/index.php?id=73
Little Governors Camp
http://www.governorscamp.com/property_descriptions_governors_camp_little_governors_home.php
Bateleur Camp - http://www.andbeyondafrica.com
Keekorok Lodge - http://www.wildernesslodges.co.ke/wildernessLodges.html
Mara Explorer - http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/index.php?id=74