Kenya Guide A safari and Guide to Kenya, Map of Kenya , Things to see and do, hotels, attractions and other useful information by Vacation Safaris.

THE COUNTRY
Kenya lies astride the equator on the eastern coast of Africa. Kenya is bordered in the north by Sudan and Ethiopia, in the east by Somalia, on the southeast by the Indian Ocean, on the southwest by Tanzania and to the west by Lake Victoria and Uganda.

CLIMATE
With the Equator traversing the country, there are no  four seasons as in Europe or North America, but two rainy seasons at almost the same time of the year.The long rain from July to October. sunshine is experienced through most days of the year, although it becomes cooler during the months of June, July and August. Nairobi, the capital city, referred as the city in the sun,  has an average daily temp. of  21 degrees Celsius (70F) and the coastal region a little higher, this is a super place to get a tan, particularly in Mombassa.

PEOPLE
Kenya people are among the friendliest people in the world which is easy reflected by the way of traditional  greetings; "Jambo na Karibu" meaning Hello and welcome, and which you have to shake hands to show love, respects and appreciation.
Kenya has  48 different ethics groups referred as tribes, Arabs trader intermarry with East African natives in coast  and gave birth to a mixed Arab-African tribe-the Waswahili, whose language Swahili,  is today spoken over nearly half the African Continent. Apart from the Arabs and the Waswahili, there the Mijikenda along the Kenya Coast, Kikuyu in Central Kenya, in the environs of Mt. Kenya. 

Extra ordinary tribal customs and traditions of  the famous Masai (in Masai Mara), Turkana and Samburu, who remain unaffected by the unstopped tide of evolution, they remain intact and barely touched by modern world, they leave in series of circular huts with doomed roofs. A thick frame of curved braches is covered in mud dried in the sun and reinforced with cow dung and stretched animals skins
other tribes include Kalenjin, Gusii, Luhya, Luo, Boran and Somali.

 

ATTRACTION

NAIROBI

Nairobi, the capital city of  Kenya has grown from simple Uganda Railway construction camp named "enairobe" in Masai Language (meaning a place of cold water in reference to the cold waters of  Nairobi River) to the modern center of commercial, financial, manufacturing and tourist destination in eastern Africa. Today the city population stands over 2 million. Both the Great North Road (Cairo to Cape town) and the Tran-African highway (Mombassa to Lagos) pass through the city. It's mean annual temperature is 62 degree Fahrenheit (17 degree Celsius
Most tourist to Kenya only spend one or two nights in Nairobi, time which often spent in shopping, searching out Kenya mementoes and gift to take home
attractive place to visit include- Bomas of Kenya with exhibitors of African traditional dances, Karen Blixen Museum, the house where Karen Blixen lived from the "Out of Africa" fame; National Museum, famous for Leakey pre-history discoveries and tribal artifacts, Utamaduni, an up market craft center, others are Kazuri Beads, original ceramic in Karen, Craft market and Undugu Co-op in the Westland.

Other unsurpassed attraction here  includes  Nairobi Mamba Village, famous for Crocodile which the name 'Mamba' is derived';- its a Swahili word meaning crocodile.  click here to learn more about Mamba Village

NAIROBI  NATIONAL  PARK
Located only Six miles (10 Km) south-west of Nairobi city center, its great variety of habitants offer a suitable living conditions to the great number of different animals. All the big-five, leopard, lion, buffalo and rhino, except elephant are represented. The population of the many grazers especially wildebeest, Coke's hartebeest (Kongoni), eland and Zebra occasionally followed by lion and hyena undergo seasonal migration southward through the Kitengela Game Conversation
The park is rich with resident population of buffalo, Masai giraffe, Black rhino, eland, impala, gazelle, common and Defassa waterbuck, hippo, Olive baboon, Monkeys and the attendant carnivores- lion, spotted hyena, cheetah, jackals, bat-eared fox and many smaller carnivores. Birds are plentiful.
A self guided nature trail along the Athi River which forms the southern Park boundary, provides visitors with an opportunity to watch hippo, crocodile, monkey and a great variety of birds.
No where else in the world where a visitor may see a such a great variety of mammals and birds existing in the wild so close to a large city

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
About 170 miles (275 Km) west of Nairobi, Masai Mara is part of the Serengeti ecosystem in the Northern Tanzania.
The great variety of nearly all plains game offer a side choice of food for plenty of predatory lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild-dog, jackals and thousand's of  other lover carnivores. Its a self contained world where survival of the fittest is the order of the day. Mara River which is frequently flooded during the rains houses schools of hippo and large colonies of crocodiles.
But all these reaches of fauna and unspoilt life of Africa, decorated by the culturally rich Masai people, is secondary to the Mara's major attraction- the world famous and most spectacular annual animal mass migration of nearly 2 million wildebeest and Zebra from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Reserve ( July to September) and back to Serengeti in  January/February. Every year, the herd's bull leaders taste the wild at the beginning of the long rains and they decide to lead their herds towards Lake Victoria
The migrating animals are followed by their attendants predators, hyena, lion, wild dog and vultures. Thousand of them fall prey to the predators while many of them die in the Mara floods while crossing the river. Visitors to Mara in August through September will certainly see the Splendor of this natural phenomena happening as it were hundred years ago. Apart from the migratory animals Masai Mara is rich in resident game with over 95 species recorded in the Reserve. birds are plentiful with over 480 birds species, commonest include;- Secretary bird, Vultures, Eagles, Guinea fowls, Ground hornbill, Bustards, Somalia ostrich,  Herons, Ibis, ducks, geese, plovers, sand grouse, rollers, kingfisher and many more
Visit to this Park is a must for any game Safari  in East Africa

AMBOSELI  NATIONAL PARK
The central pillar of life in Amboseli are the two large swampy areas-Enkongo Narok and Ol Okenya, at the south and south-eastern corners of the park. They receive water from the snow capped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. the rest of the park is either a dry plain, yellow-barked acacia woodland, or rocky lava strew thorn-bush country with several hills dotting the landscape. Hemingsway described this area as "essence of  Africa" covering nearly 400 Sq.Kms (154 sq.miles)

 the most striking feature is the ever-present views of the snow capped Mt.Kilimanjaro.
Amboseli supports one of the most varied Wildlife species in the world ranging from the grounds squirrels to dik dik, zebra, eland, wildebeest, black rhino, Masai giraffe, the famous black-maned Amboseli lions, elephants, grant's and Thompson's gazelle, cheetah, gerenuk, impala, leopard, water-buck, fringe-earid Oryx, yellow baboon, jackals and spotted hyena.

MOUNT KENYA
It is the second highest mountain in Africa and the only spot in the world where snow is found on the Equator. The park protects and preserve large sections of the mountain forests and bamboo thickets with their varied wildlife and alpine moorlands, glaciers, tarns and glacial moraines. 
To climb to the highest peaks (Batania and Nelion) one requires ropes, ice-axes, and other specialized climbing gear found at base( hotel supplies these). The two peaks can be attempted by experienced climbers. Non- experienced climbers can manage to climb to reach Point Lenana 4,970 meters ( 16,300 ft.) commonly the "Tourist Peak." Its a stunning and challenging destination for both climbers and trekkers.
At the base eland and zebra may be seen, while in the moorland, lion, Cape buffalo and elephant roam. In forested areas there are black and white Columbus monkey, leopard and suni antelope while birdlike are abundant in the forest.

SAMBURU/BUFFALO SPRING/SHABA  NATIONAL PARK
The three reserves lie about 201 miles (324 Km) from Nairobi with the first two reserve transverse by the Uaso Nyiro river which is adequately augmented by crystal clear spring and swamps providing surface water for dry land animals and home for crocodiles and hippos. The beautiful scenery along the Uaso Nyiro river is one of the great attraction of these reserve, with a strip of riverine forest and thicket where many animals are found during the heat of the day
 The reserves are famous for their great concentration of the rare species of animals found in northern Kenya- such as Gravy Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Reticulated giraffe and the Blue-necked Somalia ostrich.  The reserve are also home to the graceful Gerenuk, along necked gazelle found only found in dry areas. Other animals commonly seen include:- elephant, buffalo, cheetah, lion, impala, grant's, gazelle, spotted hyena and leopard.    
Samburu tribe leave around here and they are nomadic, they are close relative to the famous Masai tribe

THE COAST
For many centuries the Kenya Coast has been known as the land of pleasure and recreation, the coastal belt possesses a unique type of climate, people and cultural history, In addition to the coastal beaches, picturesque coconut palms, mangrove swamps, coral reefs strew with thousands of coral fish species make the coast, from Lamu to Shimoni 297 miles (480 Km) one of the unrivaled tourist attraction and world's greatest holiday resort.

A significant landmark in Mombasa is the "Mombassa tusks" built in 1952 to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth. The town offers various night entertainment facilities, night clubs and bars, casinos and cinemas
 From Mombassa visitor can make a short trips to many of the nearby beach resorts
The beach resorts south of Mombassa town are dominated by a calm blue ocean, Jadini forest adjoining the beach is a favorite haunt for leopard, colombus monkey, baboons, and great variety of forest birds. Recreational activities includes:- water skiing, wind-surfing, scuba diving, goggling, and deep sea fishing.
Other attractive beaches, island and Parks in the coast are:_ Shimoni and  Likoni beach, Wasini island, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park, Nyali beach, Kilifi, Gede village, Malindi  town and Marine National Park, and lastly Lamu- one of the very few towns in Africa that have kept their original town plan so intact

TSAVO EAST &  TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK
This is Kenya's largest national park and one of the largest protected wilderness areas in the world, Lying half way between Nairobi and Mombasa the area covers 21,000 sq.km (8,060)  when combined with Chyulu hills National Park.
Much of the landscape is arid, a flat plain of bush and baobab trees. In the west are the Mzima springs, whose clear water attract hippos and crocodiles. During the short rains, in November, millions of migrating birds congregate. the elusive leopard can be seen, while mammals big and small are attracted to the waterholes, elephant in particular.
Tsavo West National Park is made of recent volcano lava flows, the lava mantles absorbs rain water which flows underground down lava ridge for 40 Km (24 miles) to emerge as the crystal-clear Mzima Springs. The famous stream is home to thousands of aquatic animals especially hippos.
Tsavo-East is recommended for Photographers with its fabulous light and unbelievable views, in particular the Mudanda Rock and the Yatta Plateau, the world's largest lava flow. Favorite adventures you do want to miss here includes camel riding and nature study..

 

 

ABERDARES NATIONAL PARK
This National Pak, covering more than 289 sq miles (750 sq Km) and boasting one of the Kenya's largest forested reserves, is perhaps best know as the place where Queen Elizabeth learned of the death of her father.
The rare, shy and elusive Bongo inhabits the higher bamboo zone and the hyperacid scrubs between the thick forest and the moorlands. Common forest zone animals species includes:  Elephant, Buffalo, Giant Forest Hog, Leopard, Spotted hyena.
In the moorland are found: Eland, Bush duiker, black fronted red duiker, Rhino, Silver-backed and Side-stipend jackal, Impala and Lion. Its the best area to see Black melanistic leopard, Black serval cat and Black genet. Birds are also plentiful.

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK- THE GREATEST ORNITHOLOGICAL SPECTACE ON EARTH-FLAMINGOS.
It is the first bird sanctuary established in 1960.  The combination of sunshine and alkaline water creates ideal conditions for the growth of microscopic blue algae, which is the first link in food chain  and which forms food for one to two million lesser flamingos, making the lake the greatest bird spectacle on earth where flocks of about 300,00 birds can be seen at one sighting. 
The population of these birds undergo great fluctuations from year to year when some migrate up or down Rify valley visiting other lakes like Lake Natron in Tanzania, Magadi,  Elementaita, Bogoria or Lake Turkana depending on whichever lake produces the best  food for the given time
The lake shores and hinterland abound with forest and plains games, Among the mammals, Waterbuck are most numerous while leopard and rhino are the most exciting. There is special sanctuary where over 36 black rhinos and about 11 white rhinos have been placed behind electric fencing and safe from poaches and they cotinue to multiply. Rothchilds giraffe is another unique and park has it fair share of the buffalo, leopard, wild dod, zebra, Eland, Waterbuck and territorial lion.

LAKE  NAIVASHA
About an hours drive form Nairobi, and between Nakuru and Nairobi is Lake Naivasha, the "Sunshine Lake". It is a strangely fresh water lake on the floor of the Rift Valley with no outlets, but believed to have an underground seepage flow.
The lake views are dominated by the shadow of Mt.Longonot  9,109 ft (2,777 meters) a partly extinct volcano which has recently declared a national park and whose fantastic views can be obtained from the eastern escarpment on the scenic highway to the region.

LAKE  BOGORIA  NATIONAL  RESERVE
About 50 miles (80 Kms) north of Nakuru town is the Great Rift Valley is a soda impregnated shallow lake, Lake Bogoria (66 sq miles or 107 sq.Kms in sizes, 2 meters deep or 6.56 ft). Its one of the most beautiful and spectacular of Kenya's Rift Valley lakes.  In 1892  the Great geologist J.W.Gregory descried the lake as " the most beautiful view in Africa"
Today, the view has not changed. Its exciting steam jets with boiling geysers and fumaroles strongly  indicating  the volcanic activities which resulted in the creation of the Rift Valley, is a geological no one can afford to miss. Thousand of both lesser and Great flamingoes migrate to the lake from Lake Nakuru  when the water levels  in the Latter becomes low. It is Kenya's best place to see Greater Kudu, which are readily seen on the eastern shores of the lake.

LAKE TURKANA- "The Jade Sea" AND SIBILOI  NATIONAL PARK
Lake Turkana is the largest lake in Kenya on the floor of the Great rift valley, to the eastern shore is Sibiloi National Park, the remotest park in Kenya about 596 miles (960 Km) from Nairobi via Marsabit.
The jade sea was established in 1973 for the preservation of the valuable archeological site found there and protection of the greatest concentration of crocodiles in the world, found in the lake. It is rich in fossils and human being bearing clues of the origins of the modern man and his predecessors dating back nearly 3 million years and has consequently named the "Crandle of Mankind". Koobi Fora is the name given to the 1,000 sq.miles (2,600 sq Kms) fossils rich region where fossils remain of extinct elephant and footprints of Homo Erectus- Our closest ancestors, have been discovered.
    Four particular treasures are:-the shells of a giant tortoise shell dating back 3 million years, a set of jaws over 45 ft in length and extinct Behemoth, forbear of Elephant with massive tusks, both dating back 1.5 million years and the hominid (early man) finds.
    It is an environment of sand and rock where little grows and very few. It is in this region where you would see Turkana people, who  have extraordinary customs and traditions . They  remain intact and remarkably, barely touched by the modern world. They choose to live a life solidly buried in a distant and untapped past. battling instead with land tortured by poverty and migrating with the rhymes of rains. "They exist as if time has stood still in the hostile land"  Jim Derman an American tourist.
    To Turkana tribe traditional dress and ornaments is of vital importance, much emphasis being placed on adornment of both women and young Moranis (warriors) . Their neck is  hidden by brightly colored beads, any object, even the most simple and ordinary in western eye is greatly sought after as an ornament to increase there charm
    The region represent Africa in the past, an area unaffected by the unstopped tide of evolution. Its inhabitants remain some of the most courage's and fascinating in the world