For the visitor nurtured on the writings of Rider Haggard, Ernest Hemingway, Karen Blixen, Elspeth Huxley, Robert Ruark, Jim Corbett, Baden-Powell, Joy Adamson And the celluloid epics of the golden years of Hollywood, Kenya has always exerted a magic spell.
This nation at the heart of a great continent has remained a more powerful magnet for safari tourist from the western world than any other country in Black Africa. And its easy to se why. Kenya is scenically magnificent; 583,644 square kilometers (224,335 square miles) much of it dramatic wilderness unsurpassed anywhere in the world.
Straddling the equator and riven down its middle by the great Rift valley, Kenya’s landscapes are varied and beautiful opposites-from snow-capped mountain peak to blazing desert from rain-soaked timber forest to glistening white beaches. And studded throughout the land are more than 40 wildlife national parks and game reserves which contain some of the world’s most interesting wildlife species. Kenya is also exceptional in other ways than the ageless wonder of scenery and wildlife .The country history since 1963, when independence was won from the British, under the leadership of freedom fighter “Mzee” Jomo Kenyatta, is one of remarkable social and economic advances. Symbolic of Kenya’s success in merging traditional Africa tribal society with modern technological society is the imposing Kenyatta international conference centre in the heart of Nairobi. The Center’s 30story tower is one of Kenya’s most imposing buildings; the cone-shaped roof of its amphitheatre inspired by traditional African round hut.A statue of Kenya’s founding father, Jomo Kenyatta who died in 1978, stands in the center’s foremost court.
KENYA IN BRIEF
Kenya: Attained independence as a member of the commonwealth on 12 December 1963 after six months of self-government and declared itself a republic on12 December 1964.
Nairobi: the capital was incorporated as a city on 30th March 1950 by royal Letters of patent presented by Duke of Gloucester the population is about 3 million
People of Kenya: The 2002 census recorded a national population of 30.3 million mainly African. Half of the population is under the age of 30.
Cities and Towns: Mombasa is the oldest town dating to a 2nd-century settlement, is the second largest town in Kenya with a population approaching 1.5 million. Kisumu on the shore of Lake Victoria is the third with a population of about 800,000.
Faith in Kenya: The Major religions are Christianity, Islam and Hindu
Main Kenya Rivers: Tana; Athi-Galana-Sabaki; Ewaso Ngiro; Kerio; Mara; Nzoia; Turkwel; and voi-Goshi-Rare.
Language: Swahili is the lingua franca and the national language although English is widely used in business, teaching and government. About 75 different languages are in use including Kikuyu and Dholuo
Entry point by Land: Malaba and Busia (from Uganda); Lungalunga, Taveta, Loitokitok and Namanga (from Tanzania); Moyale and Todenyang (from Ethiopia); Kolbio (from Somalia; and Lokichogio (from Sudan)
Entry point by Water: Lamu, Malindi, Kilifi, Momabsa, Kisumu, Homabay
Entry point by Air: Jomo Kenyatta international airport, Nairobi; Moi International Airport, Mombasa; Kisumu and Wilson Airport, Nairobi.
Lakes Of Kenya: Victoria (63,000 square kilometers); Turkana (6,500 square kilometers); Baringo; Bogoria; Nakuru; Elmentaita; Ol bollosatt; Naivasha; Magadi; Chala; and Lake Jipe
Mountains of Kenya: Mount Kenya (17,058feet); Mount Elgon (14,178 feet) The Aberdares (ol Doinyo Lesatiama 13,120 feet); and the Cheranganis (11,055 feet)
African Kenya Safari Planners
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Masai Mara Game reserve safari
For a long list of reasons Masai Mara is the best animal reserve in Kenya. The panorama sometimes resembles one of those wild animals’ wall charts, where groups of unlikely looking animals’ companions are forced into the artist’s frame. You can see a dozen different species or more at one time: gazelle, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, topi, kongoni, wildebeest, eland elephant hyena, jackals, ostrich and pride of lions waiting for a chance. When the reserve was created however the scene looked very different.
Traditionally the Masai lived in some harmony with wildlife, hunting only lions and in times of famine eland and buffalo the “wild cattle”. Only the Okiek people (the “Dorobo in maa” meaning “people without cattle”) hunted for a living. When the first European hunting safari made Masai Mara world-famous in the early years of last century, they were ransacking a region recently deserted by the Masai. Communities and rinderpest had torn through their cattle herds. By 1961 the white hunters had succeeded in bringing the Mara’s lion population to nine and Masai Mara was created as a game sanctuary- and a tourist attraction to be administered by the Masai District council Narok.
Nearly 2000m above sea level the Masai Mara reserve is a great wedge of undulating grassland in the remote sparsely inhabited southwest part of the country snuggled up against the border and indeed an extension of the even bigger Serengeti plains in Tanzania. this is a land of short grasses where the wind plays with dust devils from the baked surface Masai Mara climate is predictable with ample rain and the new grass supports an annual wildebeest migration of up to one and half million animals from the dry plains o Tanzania .
To travel through the Masai Mara game reserve in August or September, while the wildebeest are in possessing is a staggering experience like being caught up in the momentum of phenomenal historic event. Whether you’re watching this or a pride of lions hunting a herb of elephants grazing in the marsh or hyenas squabbling with vultures over the carcass of the buffalo you are conscious all the time of being in a realm apart. There are few places on earth where animals hold such dazzling sway it’s as if you had found yourself in the New York of the natural world.
With its plentiful vegetation and wildlife the Masai Mara game reserve’s ecology appears at first sight to be relatively resilient to the effect of huge number of tourist who visit it every year. However, the Masai Mara is the most visited park in Africa .On entering the reserve you will be handed a copy of the relevant bylaws and rules which should be strictly adhered to.
The vast majority of visitors to Masai Mara come on prebooked safari packages which invariably work out cheaper than under your own steam. Travelers on a budget aren’t well catered for in Masai Mara if you can’t afford the more expensive lodges and luxury tented camps there are very few alternatives to do it your self camping.
Masai Mara safari: exclusive luxury Kenya Masai Mara safari and adventure vacation safaris Budget Camping safari in Masai Mara Kenya and Wildlife Kenya safari adventures. Masai Mara is the most visited game reserve in Kenya and is the finest animal kingdom around Africa. Best Animal safari .The Masai Mara is also th most popular wildlife park in Africa
Traditionally the Masai lived in some harmony with wildlife, hunting only lions and in times of famine eland and buffalo the “wild cattle”. Only the Okiek people (the “Dorobo in maa” meaning “people without cattle”) hunted for a living. When the first European hunting safari made Masai Mara world-famous in the early years of last century, they were ransacking a region recently deserted by the Masai. Communities and rinderpest had torn through their cattle herds. By 1961 the white hunters had succeeded in bringing the Mara’s lion population to nine and Masai Mara was created as a game sanctuary- and a tourist attraction to be administered by the Masai District council Narok.
Nearly 2000m above sea level the Masai Mara reserve is a great wedge of undulating grassland in the remote sparsely inhabited southwest part of the country snuggled up against the border and indeed an extension of the even bigger Serengeti plains in Tanzania. this is a land of short grasses where the wind plays with dust devils from the baked surface Masai Mara climate is predictable with ample rain and the new grass supports an annual wildebeest migration of up to one and half million animals from the dry plains o Tanzania .
To travel through the Masai Mara game reserve in August or September, while the wildebeest are in possessing is a staggering experience like being caught up in the momentum of phenomenal historic event. Whether you’re watching this or a pride of lions hunting a herb of elephants grazing in the marsh or hyenas squabbling with vultures over the carcass of the buffalo you are conscious all the time of being in a realm apart. There are few places on earth where animals hold such dazzling sway it’s as if you had found yourself in the New York of the natural world.
With its plentiful vegetation and wildlife the Masai Mara game reserve’s ecology appears at first sight to be relatively resilient to the effect of huge number of tourist who visit it every year. However, the Masai Mara is the most visited park in Africa .On entering the reserve you will be handed a copy of the relevant bylaws and rules which should be strictly adhered to.
The vast majority of visitors to Masai Mara come on prebooked safari packages which invariably work out cheaper than under your own steam. Travelers on a budget aren’t well catered for in Masai Mara if you can’t afford the more expensive lodges and luxury tented camps there are very few alternatives to do it your self camping.
Masai Mara safari: exclusive luxury Kenya Masai Mara safari and adventure vacation safaris Budget Camping safari in Masai Mara Kenya and Wildlife Kenya safari adventures. Masai Mara is the most visited game reserve in Kenya and is the finest animal kingdom around Africa. Best Animal safari .The Masai Mara is also th most popular wildlife park in Africa
African kenya night game viewing lodges
Treetops, Aberdare
Located just inside the gates of the Aberdere national park, Treetops overlooks waterholes and a saltlick. The lodge rises straight and stark on stilts and is solely dedicated to game viewing. Climbing the narrow open stairs, you commit yourself to a night of close quarters and cold decks.The possibility of seeing wild animals close has created the Treetops tradition.
The lounge is friendly, with big picture windows and warm wood, and there is a roof deck with open viewing in all directions.The narrow, dark paneled dinning room features long communal tables and bench seating. The guest rooms called "nests" are tiny bed closets with dark wood paneling, small windows, and no bathrooms.Small communal shower bathrooms are down the hall or sometimes downstairs.
Set in the heart of the
Resembling and named after Noah's
Before embarking on the half-hour drive to The Ark, lunch is served at the charming Aberdare Country Club.Dinner and breakfast are served "On Board".
Located at 7200 FT (2195M) on the slopes of the snow-capped mount Kenya, Serena Mountain Lodge is the most luxurious tree lodge in
The elephant, Rhino, several species of antelopes including the bongo and occasionally, both leopard and the lion are frequent visitors at the illuminated water hole which is connected to the lodge by a short tunnel to a specially constructed bunker affording a close up view of the game.
For the ornithologists, over 200 species of birds have been identified while the indigenous tropical rain forest vegetation is of special interest to the botanists. The most rewarding experience is a clear early morning or afternoon view of the rocky peaks on
Sabuk Lodge is a stunning wilderness destination, perched on the high banks of the
The lodge has 5 rondavels (open sided cottages) with veranda, shower and toilet, each with its own fabulous view. Sabuk was fashioned out of the local landscape, built with local materials, the hillside, and flora, twisted wood and stone boulders incorporated into the architecture. Open walls and private verandas face out over the river gorge 150 feet below. This hilly area with dense acacia bush is host to a lot of game.
African Kenya Vacation planners
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