2. WILD SOMAK
KENYA
Kenya is situated in East Africa from latitude 4 North to 4 South, longitudes 34 East and 41 East. The country is bisected from North to South by the Great Rift Valley and from East to West by the Equator.
The Kenyan landscape covers a great range of terrain stretching from the sea level to at the coast up to 5199m on the snow capped peak of Mount Kenya. This is one of the most geographically diverse countries on earth, with vast expanses of savannah, highland ranges, equatorial rainforests, extinct volcanoes, a series of fresh water and soda lakes, alpine glaciers, arid deserts and tropical beaches, all within the borders of a single country.
The great diversity of habitat is equaled by a remarkable variety of flora and fauna. These include large grazing herds of wildebeests, zebra and gazelle, large mammals such as elephants, buffalo and rhinoceros, and a range of predators including lion, leopard and cheetah. Kenya’s world famous wildlife is protected in 48 national parks, reserves and marine parks, as well as many private sanctuaries and game ranches.
Kenya’s fascinating cultural history stretches back over 4.5 million years, with some of the earliest know evidence of early man uncovered on the shores of Lake Turkana. Over 42 individual cultures now call Kenya home, including a wide range of nomadic and sedentary tribal groups. The Kenyan coast has long been a centre for trade, and the blend of African and Arab cultures created its own unique culture the Swahili. From the 16th century the island city of Mombasa became the centre of a 400 year battle between Arab and Portuguese forces for control of the coastline. At the end of the 19th century Kenya was settled by the British, who built a railway 1000 kms into the wilderness from the coast to the waters of Lake Victoria. Completed in 1901, the railway was an epic undertaking. It became a lifeline, bringing the new capital Nairobi and lakeside port of Kisumu to life.
Kenya became an independent republic in 1963. Today this is a peaceful, magical destination offering the visitor an unparalleled variety of travel options. No other country on earth can offer the visitor as much as Kenya can.
Nairobi National Park
One of Kenya's original National Parks established in 1948, it features
117 sq kms of pristine savannah and yet is only 8 kms from the city centre.
Large populations of Giraffe, Wildebeest, Eland and gazelle dominate the
plains. Of the big five only the Elephant has not been spotted. Prides
of Lions appear at the entrance to Mbagathi Gorge. This park, so convenient
to the Business traveler also offers the spectacle of a Nairobi silhouette
on the near horizon. Bounded by the Athi River to the south with its Hippo
pools, here there are two animal orphanages including Daphne Sheldrick's
Home for Orphaned Elephants and Rhinos. Tsavo National Parks: At 20,807
square kilometres, Tsavo is larger than Wales and Jamaica. The Park lies
midway between Nairobi and Mombasa. Its red earth characterises its rivers
and Elephants. A safari here will turn your hair red! The Chyulu Hills
feed Mzima Springs with 20 million litres of crystal clear water daily.
A remarkable oasis supporting Hippo, Crocs, Gazelle, Zebra, Giraffe and
thick Acacia forests filled with chattering Birds and Monkeys. Outstanding
vantage points include Ngulia Escarpment and Voi out in the east. The
Chyulu Hills out west, and the outstanding lava flows/ cones as at Shetani
(near Kilaguni Lodge) are a fascination unequalled to many geologists.
ACCOMMODATION: Salt Lick/Taita Hills Ngulia Safari Lodge Finch Hatton
Camp Voi Safari Lodge Lake Jipe Lodge
Voi Wildlife Lodge
Galdessa Camp
Ol Donyo Wuas
Campi Ya Kanzi
Voyager Safari Camp
Patterson’s Camp
Kilalinda
Satao Camp
Severin Safari Camp
Kilaguni Serena Lodge Tarhi Camp
Ngutuni Lodge
Tsavo Lodge
Ndololo Safari Camp
Lion Rock
Ngulia Safari Camp
Amboseli National Park One of the most popular National Parks right on
the Tanzanian border, offering a unique spectacle - the backdrop is snow-capped
Mount Kilimanjaro. Location: 165 kms S.E. of Nairobi and encompassing
392 sq kms, the park is entered from the North via Namanga. You can expect
to see a proliferation of Giraffe and Elephant. The 56 species here includes
Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Lion, Cheetah, Rhino, Zebra, Wildebeest and Grant's
gazelle. With a seasonal lake that attracts Flamingo, birdlife spotted
in this region includes the Taveta Golden Weaver and the Malachite Kingfisher.
ACCOMMODATION: Amboseli Lodge Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Porini Camp
Ol Kanjau
Kibo Safari Camp
Amboseli Serena Lodge Kilimanjaro Safari Lodge Ol Tukai Lodge Tortilis
Tented Camp Masai Mara Game Reserve The Mara's gentle fertile climate
bounded by The Rift, offers perhaps the richest stocked reserve set within
some 1672 sq kms - an unlimited spectacle of wildlife. Location: 268 kms
west of Nairobi, the emphasis here is on game. Herds of immense Elephants,
browse among Lion, Buffalo, Thompson's Gazelle, Zebra and Topi. You may
occasionally sight a Rhino or Leopard. In the Mara River Hippos play and
Crocodiles bask on the banks. The annual migration of a million Wildebeest
follows the rains north.
ACCOMMODATION: Governor's Camps (Main, Little, Il Moran) Kichwa Tembo
Camp
Bateleur Camp Mara Intrepids Club
Mara Explorer
Sala’s Camp
Saruni Camp
Offbeat Mara Camp
Olonana Camp
Kicheche Mara Camp
Ol Seki Mara Camp
Rekero Camp
Cottar’s 1920
Richards Camp
Elephant Pepper Camp
Ilkeliani
Fig Tree Camp
Mara Siria
Mpata Safari Club
Shompole Mara Camp (Naibor Camp)
Mara Serena Lodge Mara Sarova Camp Mara Simba Lodge Mara Sopa Lodge Mara
Safari Club Keekorok Lodge Siana Springs Intrepids
Mara Hippo Tented Camp
Sekenani Camp
Mara Springs Safari Camp
Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba Game Reserves
A getaway delight for the connoisseur who may well chance upon a Leopard.
Dramatically hot under the harsh equatorial sun, watered by the Ewaso
Nyiro River, rich in huge Nile Crocodile & Hippo, Samburu is some
340 Kms North of Nairobi and set within the lands of the colourful Samburu
Pastoralists. The reserve contains rarely found species including Reticulated
Giraffe, Blue legged Somali Ostrich, Grevys Zebra and the long-necked
Gerenuk (Antelope Giraffe). Within Shaba we have the sharp contrast of
riverine forest around the four springs within its rugged wilderness.
ACCOMMODATION: Samburu Serena Lodge Shaba Sarova Lodge Samburu Game Lodge
Samburu Sopa Lodge
Larsens Camp Samburu Intrepids Club Joys Camp
Mount Kenya National Park Aquafresh mountain air, the glorious views,
peace and tranquility. This, the country's highest mountain sits astride
the Equator. This National Park skirts the 10,500 feet contour and encompasses
three principal zones upwards. First, bamboo jungle and thick mountain
forests dress the vast gentle slopes; then the alpine zone with its giant
vegetation, including the Giant Groundsel, towering some 18 feet in height.
Finally the rock peaks perpetually clad in glaciers and snowfields. Game
is best spotted below the park boundary in and around the forest from
the Mountain Lodge. ACCOMMODATION: Sweetwaters Tented Camp Ol Pejeta Ranch
House
Mount Kenya Safari Club Naro Moru River Lodge Mountain Lodge Mountain
Rock Bantu Lodge
Aberdare National Park In this range of mountains everything is on a grand
scale. The highest is 13,120 feet. Mutant Alpine plants include the 18
feet high Seneccio - flowering only once in 20 years! Huge trees cover
the lower foothills. This fairyland of awesome majesty and beauty - a
unique ecosystem is fuelled by the perpetual and sometimes heavy rains.
Teeming with fish, crystal clear streams feed icy rivers which plunge
in glorious waterfalls, the grandest acquiring its name from Thompson
who explored the area in 1883. At its east lies The Ark and Treetops on
the Elephant migration trek to Mount Kenya. You may also see Rhino. ACCOMMODATION:
The Ark Outspan Hotel Treetops Lodge Aberdare Country Club
Lake Nakuru National Park Nakuru and nearby (about 12km) Elementaita,
playing host also to Cormorants, Pelicans, Black Winged Stilts, Avocets
and in winter a mass of Ruffs. Just north is the Menengai Crater (85 sq.
km). This protected habitat also supports a few Lion and Buffalo. Forest
game includes an occasional Leopard or Black Rhino.
Close by is Lake Elementaita.
ACCOMMODATION:
Lake Nakuru Lodge
Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Flamingo Hill Camp
Lake Elementaita Lodge
Meru
Best remembered as the setting where Elsa, Joy Adamson’s lioness
was returned to the wild, Meru provides a stunning combination of diverse
habitats, on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya, that remain an unspoilt
wilderness. Dense riverine forests attract Leopard, and a full complement
of ‘the big five’ including Black Rhino, in a dramatic setting
adorned with doum palms. Over 300 species of birdlife have also been recorded.
Wooded thornbush and grasslands in volcanic rock, give way to open red
soil grasslands over in the east. Highlights include Mulika Swamp and
the noisy Adamson’s Falls where the Rojweru & Tana rivers converge.
ACCOMMODATION:
Leopard Rock Lodge
Elsa’s Kopje
Offbeat Meru Camp
Mwaluganje
Just north-west of Shimba Hills lies Mwaluganje, watered by the Manolo
River, a favourite haunt of big tusker male Elephants, and where they
take their entertaining mud baths. The area with its surrounding thick
forest became a reserve to open up a connecting corridor for the elephant
trek south en-route to Shimba Hills. The conservation area is recognised
for its role in the development of young independent male Elephants for
their demanding life ahead. The terrain is diverse, riverine forest gives
way to deciduous woodlands and dry baobab bushland, here the rare Sokoke
Scops Owl can be sighted.
ACCOMMODATION:
Mwaluganje Elephant Camp
Shimba Hills
This relatively compact game sanctuary of 192 sq kms is just 30 kms from
Mombasa and comprises rainforest, which opens out into gentle hills, rolling
savannah and riverine forest. Sea breezes maintain a cool climate. Here
Elephants can be seen trailing their young, the graceful Giraffe, numerous
species of Antelope and on occasion the proud and magnificent Lion.
ACCOMMODATION:
Shimba Hills Lodge
Mukurumuji Tented Camp
Lake Bogoria
Bogoria really is untamed beauty - a co-ordinated sea of blue and vivid
pink, set dramatically at the foot of Laikipia Escarpment - right in the
sweltering deserts north of Nakuru, at an altitude above 1,000m. Apart
from its superb geographic location, outstanding features include its
famous geasers - spectacular displays of super-heated water, bubbling
up out of its natural underground rock cauldrons, and its shoreline which
plays host to countless thousands of flocks of shocking pink flamingoes.
The surrounding national park is also the perfect habitat to an unusual
handsome antelope - herds of Greater Kudu.
ACCOMMODATION:
Lake Bogoria Spa Resort
Lake Naivasha
The highest and purest of the Great Rift’s Lakes, this shimmering
pearl, is best appreciated whilst en-route, before descending the Rift’s
eastern escarpment. It sits in the shadow of volcanic cones, Mounts Longonot
and Suswa and is immense - being almost 13 kms in length and covering
some 110 sq km. During the 30’s and 40’s the Lake and it’s
hotel were an early ‘Nairobi BOAC airbase’ for the flying
boats. Today upwards of 500 species can be appreciated in the serenity
of this lake with take-offs rather more glorious. Along its shoreline
are Waterbuck, Gazelle and Hippo. The deepest part of the lake is framed
by Crescent Island, a game sanctuary.
ACCOMMODATION:
Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Lake Naivasha Country Club
Great Rift Valley Lodge
Loldia House
Crater Lake Camp
Hippo Point
Longonot Ranch House
Olerai House
Chui Lodge
Kiangazi House
Lake Baringo
Of all the lakes in the Great Rift only two are freshwater and Baringo’s
climate - being furthest north, is extremely hot and arid. But for the
ornithologists, Baringo is a dream come true - with perhaps the highest
tally of species sighted in Kenya. Included is Verreaux’s Eagle,
the rare Bristle-crowned Starling and Hemprich’s Hornbill, but the
list is too numerous to do it justice here. The central island is also
home to the largest nesting colony of Goliath Herons in East Africa.
ACCOMMODATION:
Lake Baringo Lodge
Soi Safari Lodge
Island Camp
Samatian Island
Lake Turkana
Known alternatively as the Jade Sea, the blue-green waters of this enormous
185 mile long soda lake support huge numbers of giant Nile Perch, the
ferocious Tiger Fish, and the largest community of Nile Crocodiles - around
12,000 on Central Island. Over 350 species of birdlife have been sighted
and include numbers of Flamingo and Pelican. From its eastern shores the
grassy plains of Sibiloi National Park support Zebra, Gazelle, Topi, Oryx
and Hartebeest. Lion and Cheetah are also found here. Higher ground provides
sanctuary for Elephant and Greater Kudu. Close by is Leakey’s palaeontological
site and a museum displaying the remains of pre-historic Elephants. To
the south east lies Mount Kulal (2,164m). Here knife edge lava wastes
and petrified forests have preserved fossils discovered by Leakey which
show that this barren wind blown wasteland, was once meadow and woodlands.
Turkana is home to some of the most venomous reptiles: Cobras, Puff Adders
and Saw Scaled Vipers.
ACCOMMODATION:
Lake Turkana Fishing Lodge
Eliye Springs Lodge
Lake Turkana El Molo Lodge
El Molo Camp
Oasis Lodge
Lake Victoria
Olambwe Valley Game Reserve skirts the eastern end of Lake Victoria at
Homa Bay. This reserve of just 194 sq km comprising rolling savannah and
open woodland was created to preserve the Roan Antelope. Other mammals
include Jackson’s Hartebeest and Oribi. Some rare bird species also
frequent the area.
TANZANIA
Tanzania is situated in East Africa from latitude 1 South to 11 South of the Equator. Covering over 937,000 sq kms it borders Kenya and Uganda in the north; Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi in the west and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique in the South.
Tanzania is made up of mainland Tanganyika and the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia which occupy over 2600 sq kms in the Indian Ocean. The mainland has a coastline of over 800 kms of beaches, most of them palm-fringed. The topography ranges from 5895 m at the peak of Africa’s highest mountain to the depth within the Great Rift Valley of Lake Tanganyika, 772 m deep, the worlds second deepest lake.
The country roles from forested mountains in the north and south through the great central plateau of rich brown savanna grass and bush, down to the tropical coastline.
The history of Tanzania goes back over one and half million years ago. At Ol Duvai gorge the remains of the earliest known mankind were discovered here in 1959 by Dr Louis Leakey. Likewise, relics of long extinct birds and animals have also been uncovered. Excavations have also revealed roman coins and Chinese pottery. Between the 11th and 16th century, there was also a considerable development along the coast, during which time the Kiswahili language evolved, being a derivative of African, Persian and Arab languages.
Zanzibar was once the trading centre for the whole of East Africa as well as the source for the slave trade. In the early 19th century, the sultan of Oman introduced clove plantations for which Zanzibar is still famous today.
In 1890, the coastal region was acquired by Germans after payment of pounds 200,000.00 to the Sultan of Zanzibar. The mainland territory then became a German protectorate and Zanzibar became a British protectorate. The Germans were replaced at the end of the First World War by the British who received a mandate over most of the German East Africa and rename it Tanganyika.
Tanganyika attained independence on 9th December 1961 and a year later the country became a republic within the commonwealth. Zanzibar became independent on 11th December 1963, but only a month later a popular movement deposed the sultan and brought into being republic. On April 26th 1964 the two sovereign states united to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar and on October 29th 1964 it became the United Republic of Tanzania.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Africa’s highest mountain stands a proud 5,895m and is surrounded
by a national park of 756 sq km. All routes lead to the summit circuit
and twin peaks Kibo and Mawenzi (5,149 m), which are connected by an 11
km saddle. The collapsed peak Shira (3,962m) has become a crater. Many
attempt the climb but only 20-50% complete the top.
Arusha
Located 25 km east of the town - included in the National Park are the
Momella Lakes (1,524m) and Mount Meru (4,572m) - hence Arusha offers a
variety of landscapes and ecosystems including dense forests. The visitor
can expect to see Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe, Hippo and an assortment
of ‘Buck’; Water, Reed and Bush Buck. Arusha claims the highest
proliferation of Giraffes in the world. The 3 day hike around Mount Meru
is popular with overnights at two mountain huts.
ACCOMMODATION:
Hatari Lodge
Momella Wildlife Lodge
Serengeti National Park
The ‘endless plains’, named Siringet by the wandering Masai,
is a fitting title for these 114,763 sq km, that support 3 million mammals,
upwards of 2 million of whom annually migrate in concentrated herds north
across the Mara River. This ‘the last great spectacle of nature’
has a cast that includes around 1.3M Wildebeest, 300,000 Thompson’s
Gazelle and 200,000 Zebra. It begins in June with the return leg in October/November.
The Serengeti centers on acacia savannah, with dry grasslands to the south,
a western corridor of wooded highland that fronts Lake Victoria and north,
the wooded grasslands along the Grumeti and Mara Rivers. Around 3,000
Lion and upwards of 500 Cheetah inhabit these enormous sanctuary.
ACCOMMODATION:
Kirawira Tented Camp
Grumeti River Camp
Kleins Camp
Lobo Wildlife Lodge
Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Kusini Camp
Migration Camp
Serengeti Tented Camp
Mbalageti Camp
Ngorongoro Crater Area
Ngorongoro lies just 60 kms NW of Lake Manyara, 190 km W of Arusha and
145 km SE of The Serengeti. At the heart of this huge and diverse conservation
area (8,288 sq km) lies the incomparable crater, once a young volcano
that eventually collapsed leaving a perfect caldera 18 kms across and
1 km deep - the largest in the world. At the craters edge is a fantastic
panorama. You enter by descending the thickly wooded rim, a mixture of
Strangler Fig, Red Thorn Acacias and Ruby Vines, attracting a variety
of birdlife, on to the crater floor with its prominent soda lake, Magadi.
The stage is set which includes Seneto Springs, Gorigor Swamps, Lerai
Forest and the Gol Mountains. This microcosm supports some 30,000 large
mammals, including Plains Game, Lion, Leopard and Buffalo. Clambering
in the trees are, Olive Baboons, Blue Monkeys and Bushbabies. Ol Duvai
is famed for its fossil finds - about 150 species of prehistoric mammals
including the Leakey’s discovery of 400 fragments of a skull. Discovery
here began by accident back in 1911. A small museum displays a number
of copies of the finds. Ol Duvai gains its name from the Masai word for
the wild sisal that is prolific here.
ACCOMMODATION:
Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Ngorongoro Farm House
Gibbs Farm
Ndutu Safari Lodge
Lake Manyara National Park
Close to Tarangire, 130 km W of Arusha, Manyara offers 325 sq km of incredible
beauty set in diverse terrain, which includes open grasslands, forests
and the dominant red western rift escarpment that provides a stunning
backdrop to the Lake itself. In Manyara can be found resident Baboons,
also Elephants, Hippo and ‘Plains Game’. This wonderland includes
something unique; tree climbing Lions. The lake attracts migratory Flamingoes
and over 300 different species of birdlife.
ACCOMMODATION:
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Lake Manyara Hotel
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Kirurumu Camp
E Unoto Retreat
Tarangire National Park
Part of a far larger migratory ecosystem (that includes Lake Manyara)
and dependant on the Tarangire River that flows through its centre, this
National Park covers an area of 2,600 sq km and is about 120 km from Arusha.
Larger mammals vacate Tarangire in a mass exodus during the annual October
and April rains, so the park is best visited once the grasses dry up,
from July to September and the river is again in demand. A truly diverse
species of birdlife - numbering in excess of 300 have been observed. With
an altitude of 1,110m, terrain consists of woodland, marked by several
hills, the grasslands of Kitibong and Gursi littered with Acacia trees
and the Larmakau ‘Hippo’ swamp to the South. Giraffe, Elephant,
Buffalo, Wildebeest, Zebra, Gazelles and Ostrich are all found here along
with the occasional Rhino and Leopard. There are freshwater pools at Mkungunero.
Be careful of the Tsetse Fly - endemic to the region.
ACCOMMODATION:
Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Tarangire Treetops
Swala Camp
Tarangire Safari Lodge
Naitolia Camp
Tarangire River Camp
Oliver’s Camp
Tamarind Camp
Selous Game Reserve
At twice the size of Denmark, Selous (55,000 sq km) is the second largest
‘park’ in the world, said to be home to over one million mammals.
Of this vast wilderness only the Beho Beho region, north of the Rufiji
River is open to tourists. The best time is July-October, though precaution
needs to be taken since the area is infected with the Tsetse. However
Selous was always renown for its large numbers of Elephant and Rhino,
which declined drastically in the 1980’s as a result of poaching,
yet now herds of Elephants are again on the increase. Some 400 species
of birdlife have been recorded including the elusive Eleonora’s
Falcon. The real showpiece of the park has to be the Rufiji which flows
through its heart and offers (time and again) the spectacle of large numbers
of Hippo’s galavanting about, whilst Crocodiles bask like discarded
rough boulders on its banks. The Rufiji and its dependants create the
largest river catchment in East Africa. Highlights include Stiegler’s
Gorge about 100m high, providing a dramatic river bottleneck and, 20 km
downstream the 5 swampy Lakes that this river system feeds before leaving
the reserve. Here a variety of ‘Plains Game’ including the
rare Sable Antelope, Greater Kudu and Waterbuck refresh themselves. Hot
Sulphur Springs bubble up at Maji Moto, near Beho Beho - some just cool
enough to swim in! Walking safaris are organized in this reserve, but
expect the wildlife to be shy. Hunting Dog, Spotted Hyena, Lion and Leopard
have been sighted along with Buffalo and Elephant.
ACCOMMODATION:
Rufiji River Camp
Selous Impala Camp
Sand Rivers
Ruaha National Park
Remote Ruaha, covering some 12,950 sq km, 625 kms from Dar es Salaam,
derives its name from the mighty Ruaha river that forms part of its South-eastern
boundary. Ruaha can only be visited in the dry season July-December. The
park’s altitude (750m - 1,900m) creates four different flora zones:
river valleys, savannahs, miombo woodland and undulating bush country.
Over 400 species of birdlife have been sighted and its proliferation of
large mammals includes Elephant, Giraffe, Buffalo, Zebra, numerous ‘Plains
Game’ Antelope, the occasional Leopard and Cheetah. The river is
rich in Hippo and Crocodile. Since the only lodge is unfenced, game roams
freely there at night.
ACCOMMODATION:
Ruaha River Camp
Mdonya Old River Camp
Mwagusi Safari Camp
Jongomero Camp