 The Masai Mara offers visitors unparallel quantity and variety of animals. There can be found the smallest antelope in the word – the dik-dik – to the biggest – the Eland. The dik-dik sticks to one partner for life and rarely leaves each other’s side. From the large herbivores like the Giraffee and the Hippopotamus, the Cheetah, which is the fastest land animal in the world, to the largest and heaviest bird, the Ostrich, all are found here. Between June and October each year, three million animals make an annual migration from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Masai Mara in Kenya, in search of fresh grass. If you are fortunate you will be able to see the Mara River crossing, where hundreds of Zebras and wildebeest cross the river simultaneously where Crocodiles await. A hot-air balloon ride is strongly recommended. There are several unpaved airstrips in Masai Mara on which small airplanes can land, although it can also be reached by land via the town of Narok.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is probably the most famous and most visited Reserve in Kenya. It offers breathtaking views (as seen in the film "Out of Africa", much of which was filmed here), an extraordinary density of animals including "the Big Five" (lions, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros) and may varieties of plains game.
An impressive feature is the annual migration of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles from the plains of the Serengeti that cross the Tanzanian border and rivers to reach the Mara's grasslands from late June, tracked by predators: lion, leopard, cheetah, and hyena, and circled by vultures as their journey unfolds. Their dramatic river crossings are a reality for tourists visiting in early July-August.
Apart from the seasonal migration, game viewing is excellent year round. Game includes elephant, black rhino, buffalo, plains zebra, hartebeest and big cats. The rivers are home to hippo and crocodiles. 452 species, 53 of which are raptors.
Accommodation ranges from stone built lodges to luxury tented camps. The area to the North owned by the Masai offers great game-viewing, game walks and night games. Safari operators set up private camps for small groups seeking exclusive and traditional safaris out of the Reserve. In the Reserve are tented camps and lodges.
- Altitude: 5,000 Ft
- Area: 1,510 Sq. Kms.
- Distance from Nairobi: 275 Kms.
- Opened November 1974
- Annual Migration
- Exceptional Game Viewing: Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant
- Mara River Hippo Pools
- Traditional Maasai Culture
- Views across the Plains and Rolling Hills
Samburu Game Reserve
 The Samburu Ecosystem
The reserve is essentially lava plain that features steep sided gullies and rounded hills wherein the 32-kilometre Uaso Nyiro River provides both the central feature of the landscape and the lifeblood of the ecosystem. The vegetation comprises predominantly acacia woodland interspersed with bush, grass
and scrubland, which is broken here and there by small rugged hills whilst the meandering loops of the river are bordered by a narrow gallery of riverine woodland in which acacia and doum palm flourish. This is a dry country ecosystem and is, therefore, prone to large variations in the animal populations as they move in search of water and pasture. And, whilst poaching has completely wiped out the rhino herds, lion are often seen while the burgeoning elephant herds are responsible for the ruination of several sections of riverside forests. The range of rare species also includes reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich and gerenuk whilst the bird life is diverse and prolific and includes marshal eagle, pygmy falcons, hornbills and Egyptian geese.
The People of Samburu
The Samburu Closely related to the Masai and speaking the same language it seems that when the Maasai migrated to the area from Sudan, some headed east and became the Samburu. Often strikingly tall and slender, swathed in brilliant red cloth ‘Shukas’, hung about with beads and metal jewellery, the young men (Moran) favour long, plaited, ochre-daubed hairstyles and have a formidable reputation for glamour, prowess and ferocity. Traditionally the Samburu live off the milk and blood of their beloved cattle and believe that all the world’s cattle are theirs by God-given right. Their nomadic and pastoral lifestyle, though historically based on the pursuit.
Lake Naivasha
This is the highest of the Rift Valley Lakes at an altitude of 1880 m. It is also the second largest freshwater lake in Kenya and is unusual that it has no known outlet, normally a requirement for a freshwater lake. The dense vegetation in the edge of the lake supports a thriving bird population – the area has a list of over 350 species. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game to these shores; Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkey swing in the treetops while the lake hippos sleep the day out in the shallows. Walking is permitted making it ideal for hiking, biking, and rock climbing. Boat trips on the lake are widely available, making it a great way to spend an afternoon or morning.
MERU NATIONAL PARK
Meru lies 350 kms northeast of Nairobi and is 870 square kms. Of all the parks in Kenya, Meru has the widest variety of landscapes and habitats.
Forest, swamp, and savannah are pierced by fifteen perennial rivers that begin on Mount Kenya and go into the Tana River, which forms the parks lower boundary. Wildlife is plentiful and varied.
LAKE TURKANA
Lake Turkana, formerly known as Lake Rudolph or the jade sea is situated 650 kms from Nairobi and it is 296 kms long and is one of the largest of the chain of Rift Valley Lakes. The shores are arid and wind blown but are home to a number of nomadic tribes and a surprising variety of wildlife, including about 12, 000 Crocodiles and an intense amount of birds.
Only four-wheel drive vehicles are the way to get there.
LAKE VICTORIA
Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water lake covering an area of 67,850 kms, about the size of the republic of Ireland and is the source of River Nile. Fishing and bird watching day trips can be arranged from by flying from the Masai Mara.
LAKE BARINGO AND BOGORIA
Lake Baringo is 280 kms northwest of Nairobi in the semi desert northern rift valley. Hippos and Crocodiles are plentiful in this fresh water lake but the major attraction is the multitude of birds of which 400 species have been identified here.
Lake Bogoria is a soda ash lake about 25 kms southeast of Baringo. Jets of steam and boiling water shoot out of geysers and when the water is low in Lake Nakuru, it is home to thousands of Flamingoes.
MOUNT ELGON
Mount Elgon, whose highest peak is 320 Meters, lies astride the Kenyan-Ugandan border, 365 kms northwest of Nairobi. There is permanent snow on the mountain but the peaks are surrounded with afro-alpine vegetation of the high mountain of the equator. At lower levels are thick mountain forests inhabited by Elephants and Buffalo.
Part of the eastern slopes is the national park in which the Elgon caves are situated. |
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