KENYA

MASAI MARA * ABERDARES * SAMBURU * BUFFALO SPRINGS * TSAVO  * AMBOSELLI * MT KENYA * LAKE NAKURU *

It would be a hard task to place Kenya's attractions in order of merit. The country's appeal lies in its unique combination of wildlife sanctuaries, glorious beaches, breathtaking scenery, agreeable climate and good accommodation, all welded together by a hospitable and friendly people. There is hardly anywhere else on earth which offers such variety of attractions.

Kenya occupies a total area of 582 644 square kilometres astride the Equator, roughly the size of France. Within its borders lies a world in microcosm, containing almost every known land form from true glacial ice to arid desert, mountain massifs to rich savannahs, large lakes and dense forests. Variations in altitude are extreme and so are the contrast in climate.

However, Kenyas climate as a whole is superb. In the most popular upcountry areas it is neither too hot nor too cold with long sun filled days. Because of its proximity to the Equator, day and night in Kenya are almost equal all year round with sunrise between 5.45 am and 6.15 am and sundown between 6.30 and 7.00 pm.

There are two rainy seasons. The short rains normally towards the end of the year, late October through to November, and the long rains normally from late March to early June. Rain usually falls in the late afternoon preceded by bright, sunny and fresh days. The rains do not resemble the textbook monsoons of endless torrents and dripping vegetation.

There are over 40 tribes in Kenya representing a melting pot of cultures quite unrivaled in any other country. Paradoxically this kaleidoscope has forged a nation with its own ideals, its own ambitions and its own goals. In the midst of all this, visitors are more than welcome.

  GAME RESERVES

MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Maasai Mara is justly one of the best known wildlife areas in Kenya. Here the herds of elephants browse among rich, tree-studded grasslands. Thompson's gazelles, zebra, eland and many more species of savannah game offer a rich choice for the predatory lions, leopards and cheetahs which hunt in the reserve and the adjoining areas. But even this richness of fauna and the untouched life of Africa; continues as it has for thousands of years, is secondary to the Mara's annual migration of wildebeest. 

The spectacle of more than a million of these creatures moving as a great mass across the savanna, is one of the most breathtaking sights in nature. The actual migration does not last very long and its start is impossible to predict accurately. Nevertheless visitors to the Maasai Mara in August through September are certain to see the great herds of wildebeest and zebra.  

However, all year round, Maasai Mara is rich in resident wildlife, and the combination of gentle climate with scenic splendour and unbelievable wildlife makes it Kenya's most popular game reserve.

These three adjoining reserves lie 325km from Nairobi in the hot and arid fringes of the vast northern region of Kenya. The reserves are within the lands of the colourful Samburu tribe, relatives of the famous Maasai. Furthermore, they are home to wildlife species rarely found elsewhere, including Grevy's zebra, gerenuk gazelle, oryx, reticulated giraffe and the somali ostrich. Some of these species are so well adapted to the dry area, that they can go for long periods of time without water, surviving only on moisture obtained through their food. Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and the more common Savannah game are also abundant here.

One of the main features in the area is the life-giving Uaso Nyiro river, broad and often sluggish with a large population of crocodile seen frequently at almost every meandering bend. Along the river banks clusters of palm and riverine forest add shade and contrast to the surrounding country side and provide a habitat for a variety of many primate species. Elephant roam the hills which punctuate the scrubland and often seek solace and contentment in the shallow waters of the river. It is a nearly daily occurrence to find herds drinking and bathing.

TSAVO NATIONAL PARK

 The combined area of Tsavo East and West National Parks makes Tsavo one of the world's largest game sanctuaries, covering an area of more than 20 000 sq km.  

Tsavo West has more than 2 000 km of well maintained roads, leading from one natural wonder to another. Chief among these is the marvel of Mzima Springs, replenished with twenty million litres of crystal-clear water a day from underground streams of the nearby Chyulu Hills. The springs form a haven for many different animal species. Tiptoeing across the bottom, apparently weightless, we find the ponderous but surprisingly lightfooted hippo. Crocodiles bask in the heat of the day, taking an occasional swirl in the water while gazelle, giraffe and zebra wander around the banks through thick acacia amongst hundreds of chattering birds.

Among the less common animals to be found in Tsavo are the fringe eared oryx, the gerenuk and Hunter's hartebeest. In addition to lion, leopard and cheetah, caracal and hyena are also to be found.

MOUNT KENYA

 Mount Kenya is the country's highest mountain. Sitting astride the equator its icy summit rises to a height of 5 199m. All above the 3 200m contour forms a national park. In fact, the mountain consists of three principal zones/ the rocky peak area, with its cloak of glaciers and snowfields; the alpine zone, with distinctive giant vegetation; and the vast gentle sloped drenched in mountain forest and bamboo jungle. Due to its unique vegetation, Unesco has declared Mount Kenya a biosphere reserve. Most visitors are content to marvel at the mountains beauty from a distance. For the more adventurous, the lesser peaks of the mountain can be conquered without much difficulty. However this does require a certain degree of fitness as the air towards the top is quite thin. It would be advisable to consult your physician beforehand. An attempt to reach the summit is only recommended to seasoned climbers.

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK.

 Lake Nakuru, an alkaline lake, part of the Great Rift Valley, has earned its fame as the home of the greatest bird spectacle in the world.  A myriad of more than a million pink flamingo, which seasonally use its waters to feed on the abundant algae which thrive in its warm waters. Lake Nakuru has a great deal to offer beside its magnificent bird life; here you will also find lion, leopard, buffalo, and other savanna and forest game which makes game viewing well worth while.

 AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

 Amboseli National Park, at the foot of Africa's highest mountain Kilimanjaro lies some 240km south-east of Nairobi. The snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro rising above a saucer of clouds, dominates every aspect of Amboseli, and forms a backdrop to an impressive display of wildlife with its population of lion, elephant, leopard, cheetah, buffalo and other savannah game. A photographer's paradise.

 LAKE ELMENTAITA

 Not far from Lake Nakuru, surrounded by private ranching land, lies Lake Elmentaita, another alkaline lake also renowned for its flamingo population. On a gentle slope overlooking the lake lies Delamere Camp which specialises in game walks conducted by knowledgeable guides. The camp also offers night game viewing, where sightings of leopards are common