Safaris from Mombasa Safaris From Nairobi
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.
Kenya Safaris start from two main points, Mombasa and
Nairobi.
Please choose from the link below where you would like to
start your safari.
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Kenya Travelers Map
Kenya is notable for its' geographical variety. The
low-lying, fertile coastal region, fringed with coral
reefs and islands, is back by a gradually rising coastal
plain, a dry region covered with savanna and thorn bush.
At an altitude of about 1,524 m and 300 miles inland,
the plain gives way in the southwest to a high plateau,
rising in parts to 3,048 m, in which about 85% of the
population and the majority of economic enterprise are
concentrated. The northern section of Kenya, forming
three-fifths of the whole territory, is arid and of semi
desert character, as is the bulk of the southeastern
quarter. In the high plateau area, known as the Kenya
Highlands, lie Mt. Kenya (5,200 m), Mt Elgon (4,322m)
and the Aberdare Ranger (rising to over 3,963 m). The
plateau is bisected from north to south by the Rift
Valley, part of the great geological fracture that can
be traced from Syria through the Red Sea and East Africa
to Mozambique. In the north of Kenya, the valley is
broad and shallow, embracing Lake Turkana (160 miles
long), while further south it narrows and deepens and is
walled by escarpments 610 to 930 meters high. West of
the Rift Valley, the plateau descends to the plains that
border Lake Victoria. The principal rivers are the Tana
and the Athi, flowing southeast to the Indian Ocean, the
Ewaso Ngiro flowing northeast to the swamps of the
Lorian Plain, and the Nzoia, Yala and Gori, which drain
eastward into Lake Victoria. Low plains rise to central
highlands, divided by the Great African Rift Valley.
THE RIFT VALLEY
The Great Africa Rift Valleys runs from North to
South through the whole of Kenya. The Kenyan Rift Valley
is a section of 6 000 km rift system which stretches
from the Dead Sea in the Middle East, south through the
Red Sea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and into
Mozambique. Its' narrowest point is just north of
Nairobi and the whole area contains several lakes,
extinct volcanos and small game parks. Major geological
upheavals caused a series of lakes in Kenya, some of
which (Turkana, Naivasha and Baringo) are freshwater,
but the others are soda lakes, with a high saline
content. These are rich in algae and tiny crustaceans,
which are the main food sources for the millions of
flamingos gracing the lakes.
The upheavals also resulted in the sprouting of volcanic
mountains, including Longonot and Mt Kenya. The scenery
in the Rift Valley is breathtaking and particularly at
the viewing points just north of Limuru and Naivasha and
from the top of the Mau escarpment on the Kericho road.
The approach, via road or rail, from Nairobi will take
you up gently through the highlands and bring you
suddenly to the edge of the Rift valley, which drops
away to a ribbon of green in the valley floor below.
Mount Kenya
In the Central highlands a couple of hundred
kilometers north of the equator lays Mt Kenya an extinct
volcano, Africa's second highest mountain at 5,199mtrs.
Mt Kenya is located 180km north of Nairobi. It's
snow-capped peaks; Batain and Nelion are in view for
miles around on the clear day. These peaks are regularly
scaled by experience climbers, though few make it to the
very top. Lenana, the third peak, is the most popular
for climbing as it is relatively easy. The scenery is
stunning and quite breathtaking. It is also a botanist's
paradise, with a wide variation in flora as the altitude
changes.
Hells Gate
Situated in the environs of Lake Naivasha, about 90
km from Nairobi is Hell's Gate National Park, which
covers an area of 68.25 km2. The park is situated 14 km
after the turnoff from the old Nairobi-Naivasha highway.
The National Park covers a small area, but the landscape
is impressive and can be explored on foot. Hell's Gate
is characterized by diverse topography and geological
scenery and is famous for its natural geysers, eagle and
vulture breeding grounds. Two extinct volcanoes; Olkaria
and Hobley's are located here. The entrance to the gorge
is marked by Fischer's Tower, a 25m tall volcanic
pinnacle. Animals like Giraffe, hartebeest, zebra,
Thomson's gazelle, buffalo, eland and impala can be seen
grazing on the grasslands.
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru, a small shallow alkaline lake (it
varies from 5 to 30 sq km) on the edge of the town of
Nakuru lies about 160 km north of Nairobi. The lake is
world famous as the location of the greatest bird
spectacle on earth - serving as the congregation point
for a roseatte mass of some 100,000 to 2 million
flamingos and over 450 other species of birds - a
spectacle of immense beauty. Lake Nakuru National Park
is also the first rhino sanctuary in Kenya, which has
recently been enlarged partly to provide a sanctuary for
black rhino. The park is unquestionably "the greatest
ornithological spectacle on earth." Other wildlife to be
seen in the park are waterbuck, reedbuck, zebra, impala,
Gazelle, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo, and rhino,
especially in the olive tree forest to the south west.
Lake Naivasha
Situated on the floor of the great Rift Valley is
Lake Naivasha, a spectacular freshwater lake some 50
miles south of Lake Nakuru. Surrounded by mountains,
Lake Naivasha boasts good bass fishing, bird watching,
and easy walking on Crescent Island covering 170 sq kms.
This beautiful freshwater lake surrounded by rolling
hills and extinct volcanoes is home to over 450 species
of birds. The lake's water is used to irrigate the
bountiful agriculture, part of Kenya's massive
horticultural export industry. A visit to these farms,
for those interested in agriculture, is well worthwhile.
Strawberries, flowers, asparagus and numerous other
crops are grown for domestic consumptions and export.
Black bass and tilapia make for entertaining fishing and
a delicious meal.
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between
Somalia and Tanzania
TSAVO NATIONAL PARK.
The Tsavo National Park, a vast arid region of 20,807sq
km (8,034sq miles), is Kenya’s largest wildlife
stronghold. The Park comprises a diversity of habitats,
open plains alternating with savannah bush and
semi-desert scrub; acacia woodlands; rocky ridges and
outcrops, and more extensive ranges and isolated hills;
belts of riverine vegetation; palm thickets; and on the
Chyulu Hills extension area, mountain forest. Asection
of Lake Jipe is included in the extreme south-west of
the Park, an extremely rich bird locality where Pygmy
Geese and Black Heron are common.
The Park which lies roughly half-way between the coast
and Nairobi, is bisected by the main Nairobi-Mombasa
road and railway. This is designated as the Tsavo Road
and Railway National Reserve. That portion lying north
and east of the road is designated Tsavo Park East; that
to the south and west, Tsavo Park West. The Park is
watered by two permanent rivers, the Tsavo River which
flows through Tsavo Park West and the Athi River which
crosses a corner of Tsavo Park East. The two unite above
Lugard Falls to become the Galana River. The Voi River,
to the south, is not permanent.
Mainly on account of the difficult waterless nature of
much of the terrain, parts of the Park have not yet been
developed for visitors. These include the uninhabited
scrub desert north of the Galana River.
Most of the Park is made up of basement gneisses and
schists, but part of the western sector is of recent
volcanic origin, including the Chyulu Hills extension.
Here may be seen many lava flows and cones, such as
Shetani, near Kilaguni Lodge, which is a perfect example
of a recent volcano. This volcanic zone also contains
the famous Mzima Springs, where some 50 million gallons
of sparkling crystal-clear water gush out daily from
below a lava ridge. Hippopotamus and shoals of Barbel
live in the springs and provide a dramatic spectacle.
The water is so clear that every action of these huge
aquatic beasts under the water, and of their attendant
piscine scavengers, may be watched from the lookouts or
through the plate-glass windows of the submerged
observation chamber.
Downstream from the springs is a dense and luxuriant
stand of wild date palms and Raphia palms, the latter
with immense fronds of up to 9m (30ft) long. It is not
unusual to spot the rare and elusive African Finfoot
swimming between the fronds where these touch the water.
One of the other great spectacles of Tsavo Park, perhaps
it’s greatest , is Mudanda Rock between Voi and Manyani.
This 11/2km-long outcrop is a water catchment area which
supplies a natural dam at it’s base. In the dry season,
hundreds of elephants come to drink and bathe. From a
safe vantage point just above the water visitors may
have the luck to sit and watch the activities of great
beasts below them. A similar elephant spectacle may also
be observed at Aruba Dam.
The Lugard Falls on the Galana River, 40km (25 miles)
from Voi, are remarkable for the fantastic shapes of the
water-worn rocks. The river disappears into a rocky
gorge so narrow in one part that it is possible to stand
astride the cleft with the Falls immediately below.
At present there is a network of over 800km (500 miles)
of roadways in the Tsavo Park, passing through much of
the best game viewing areas and following the rivers
where there is the greatest concentration of game during
the dry season. Specially rewarding circuits are those
along the Galana River from Lugard Falls to Sobo,
southwards to Aruba and then north-west to Mudanda Rock;
and from Kilaguni Lodge to Tsavo Gate, along a stretch
of the Tsavo River.
Elephants in large herds are the number one attraction
in Tsavo. For those who like to indulge in game watching
without effort, what could be pleasanter than to recline
in a comfortable chair on the veranda of Kilaguni Lodge,
a cold drink at hand, and watch the elephants take their
refreshment from the waterhole 90m (100yd) or so away.
Tsavo is also a good place to see one of our most
beautiful antelopes, the Lesser Kudu with spiral horns
and white striped coat. Whilst you may come across these
graceful animals almost anywhere, the dry bush along the
Galana River is their favourite haunt. Other animals
likely to be encountered are Buffalo, Common Waterbuck,
Eland, Gerenuk, Fringe-eared Oryx, Impala and Masai
Giraffe. Black Rhinoceros, once numerous, are now less
frequently seen.
Birdlife is legion in the Park and the visitor is
constantly meeting with new species. One of the most
conspicuous is the White-headed Buffalo Weaver,
brownish-black and white with a startling vivid red rump
when it flies. Starlings are numerous, including the
brilliantly plumaged Golden-breasted Starling and the
rare but duller Fischer’s Starling. Hornbills are
another prevalent group of birds, eight species occur in
the Park. Birds of prey, Bustards, Sunbirds and
Weaver-birds are other families well represented.
Hole-nesting birds – Starlings, Parrots, Barbets and
Rollers – are often associated with the thick trunked
Baobab trees which are such a feature of the landscape.
Accommodation in the Tsavo National Park includes
Kilaguni Lodge, 35km (22 miles) from Mtito Andei, with
full catering facilities and amenities. Some 32km (20
miles) from Kilaguni, at the end of the Ngulia Valley is
the Ngulia Safari Lodge, also with all facilities.
Nearby mist-netting is used to catch palearctic migrant
birds for ringing. Just outside the southern boundary of
the Park, south of the Taita Hills, are the Taita Hills
Lodge and the nearby Salt Lick Lodge from which one can
sometimes watch an elephant display at the water-holes
there. One of Africa’s rarest birds, the Taita Falcon,
sometimes visits these water-holes whilst hunting it’s
avian prey.
Voi Safari Lodge, sited on top of one of the hills near
the main entrance gate to Tsavo East AT Voi, also offers
full amenities. Further west there is a luxury camp
operated by Tsavo Safaris on the Athi River, with an
access road from Mtito Andei.
Self-service accommodation is available at Kitani Lodge,
Ngulia Self-service bandas and Murka Lodge in Tsavo
West, and at Aruba Lodge in Tsavo East, 35km (22 miles)
from Voi. There are bandas and a camp site with water at
Lake Jipe, where a boat is also available. In addition
there are camp sites with showers, toilets and drinking
water at Tsavo East and West, Mtito Andei Gate, Chyulu
Gate, Voi Gate and Buchuma Gate. They are sometimes used
by film companies and booking is recommended. Outside
the Park accommodation is available at hotels at Mtito
Andei and at Voi. Main roads connect Tsavo National Park
with Nairobi and Mombasa, and for those who travel by
air there are landing fields at Kilaguni Lodge, Aruba
and elsewhere.
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Amboseli is justly famous for it’s big game – elephants,
lions and cheetahs are the main attractions – and for
it’s great scenic beauty.
The 3810sqkm (1,259sq miles) of this National Park and
Game Reserve embody five main wildlife habitats, plus a
generally dry lake-bed, Lake Amboseli, from which it
takes it’s name. These are open plains; extensive stands
of yellow-barked acacia woodland; rocky, lava strewn
thorn-bush country; swamps and marshes; and at the
western end of the Reserve, above Namanga, the massif of
Oldoinyo Orok rising to over 2,760 (8,300ft) and still
for the most part zoologically unexplored.
The landscape is everywhere dominated by the glistening,
majestic snow-cap of Kilimanjaro immediately to the
south – Africa’s highest mountain (5,894m-19,340ft) – a
fitting back-drop to a wild region where the pastoral
Masai and their cattle have lived in harmony with wild
creatures for many a century.
Amboseli may be reached from Nairobi by two main routes.
The first is to Athi River and thence along the main
Kajiado-Namanga-Arusha road, turning left through the
National Park main gate at Namanga to Ol Tukai Lodge,
75km (47 miles) on. Total distance from Nairobi is 240km
(150 miles). The second route is from Nairobi along the
main Mombasa Road to some 16km (10 miles) past Emali,
then branching right and following the main Loitokitok
road: approximately 64km (40 miles) along this road it
forks right and the Lodge is 32km(20 miles) farther on.
Total mileage from Nairobi is 228km (142 miles).
Accommodation is available at Amboseli New Lodge, Ol
Tukai Lodge, Serena Lodge, Ol Tukai Tented Camp and the
Namanga Hotel. Camp sites are also available.
The main game-viewing area of Amboseli lies in the
eastern half of the Park, in the vicinity of Ol Tukai
Lodge and Lakes Engoni Naibor and Loginya. Here a
network of roads and tracks opens up a wild life
paradise.
Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Masai Giraffe and
Buffalo may all be encountered during a single morning’s
drive of about 90km (50-60 miles), together with plains
game such as Common Zebra, Eland, Coke’s Hartebeest,
White-bearded Gnu, Common Waterbuck, Thompson’s and
Grant’s Gazelle and Impala. Black Rhino can still be
seen occasionally although they are now rare due to
poaching in the mid-1970’s.
In the dry bush country towards Namanga, and in the arid
area en route to Emali, two especially interesting
antelopes may be found: the long-necked Gerenuk – often
called the `Giraffe-necked Antelope’ –and the
Fringe-eared Oryx. Smaller mammals always in evidence
include Black-faced Vervet Monkey and Yellow Baboon,
Black-headed Jackals, Spotted Hyaena and Bat-eared
Foxes. The last may often be seen basking in the sun
outside their dens or in the open plains.
Bird life is equally abundant, especially in the
vicinity of the lakes and swamps where a great variety
of water birds may be seen. That rarity in East Africa,
the Madagascar Squacco Heron, turns up at fairly regular
intervals and the plover with the habits of a
lily-trotter, the Long-toed Lapwing, is a resident in
small numbers. Sandgrouse of three species,
Yellow-throated, Chestnut-bellied and Black-faced, water
in their hundreds during the dry season, announcing
their arrival at their favourite drinking place with
far-carrying gutteral sounding flock calls.
Birds of prey are verywell represented. Including the
six species of vultures no less than 47 different kinds
have been recorded from Amboseli, amongst which are two
great rarities, The Taita Falcon and the Southern Banded
Harrier Eagle.
Around the lodges and tented camp, visitors will see
flocks of a yellow weaver-bird with a patch of chestnut
on the nape. This is the extremely local Taveta Golden
Weaver, which outside of Amboseli may lightly be
considered a rare bird. But the bird which quickly draws
attention to itself on account of it’s brilliant plumage
and fearless behaviour – it will alight on your table
and partake of bread and cake crumbs – is the Superb
Starling.
MAASAI MARA GAME RESERVE.
The Mara Game Reserve, as it was originally known,
an area of some 1,812 sq km (700 sq miles), was
established in 1961. it’s southern boundary is
contiguous with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, and
it is divided into two sections. The inner reserve of
518sq km (200sq miles) has been developed on the lines
of a National Park, no intrusion of human settlement
being allowed, while the outer remains an undeveloped
area where local Masai are permitted to pasture their
cattle but which is otherwise undisturbed.
The Mara country is world famous for it’s vast
assemblages of plains game together with their
associated predators. It is perhaps the only region left
in Kenya where the visitor may see animals in the same
super-abundance as existed a century ago. The Reserve
extends from the edge of the Loita Hills in the east to
the Mara Triangle and the base of the Siria Escarpment
in the west. The inner section, with it’s network of
roads specially connected for game watching, embraces
the area around the Keekorok Lodge and westwards to the
Mara River.
Everything is big in Mara. It is a country of
breath-taking vistas, a panorama of vast rolling plains
and rounded hills, of intermittent groves of acacia
woodlands and dense thickets of scrub. The whole is
bisected by the Mara River and it’s tributaries which
are margined by luxuriant riverine forest. And in every
direction, there are the seemingly endless herds of game
animals.
Mara possesses the largest population of
lions to be found in Kenya, although poisoning by
farmers along the western border has reduced the number
of Black-maned Lions. It also boasts large herds of Topi
and a small population of Roan Antelope, animals not
found in many other Kenya National Parks or Reserves
(although more common in Lambwe Valley and the Shimba
Hills). Elephants are fairly common and the traveler may
sometimes be held up by `elephants on the road’.
Among the great variety of large beasts are Buffalo,
Black Rhino (which may be seen more easily than at
Amboseli or Tsavo), and Hippopotamus. The hippo-viewing
platform on the Mara River near the Mara Serena Lodge is
probably the best place in Kenya for seeing hippo. Other
mammals include Leopard, Cheetah, Common Zebra, Coke’s
Hartebeest, White- bearded Gnu, Oribi, Warthog, and
Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles.
The bird life of Mara is as profuse as it’s mammalian
fauna. The red-winged Schalow’s Turaco with it’s
attenuated white-tipped crest is common along the
numerous wooded watercourses, and in the more extensive
riverine forest there is also Ross’ Turaco. The Mara
River is also the home of the great orange-buff Pel’s
Fishing Owl and of flocks of wary Crested Guinea-fowl.
On the open plains, there is a variety of bustards
including the large Jackson’s Bustard and the
black-bellied Hartlaub’s Bustard. The latter during
nuptial display soars high in the air, then with rigid
wings descends slowly to earth like a pricked balloon.
Ground Hornbills are one of the most spectacular birds
of the open plains and more easily seen in the Mara than
elsewhere in Kenya.
Birds of prey are abundant, and no less than 53
different species have so far been recorded. Secretary
Birds are a common sight as they stalk sedately over the
grasslands, and in the sky there are always vultures and
that effortless flier the Bateleur.
Accommodation in Masai Mara National Reserve is at
Keekorok Lodge, which is 265km (165 miles) from Nairobi
on a road quite negotiable by saloon cars. The route is
via the Nairobi-Naivasha road, turning left at 56km (35
miles); thence to Narok, 103km (64 miles), and then
106km (66 miles)to the lodge through some of the best
game country in Kenya. In the undeveloped part of the
Reserve a limited number of camp sites are available,
but the numbers of campers allowed onto the reserve is
strictly limited to avoid disturbance to the game, and
there are tented camps near the eastern entrance and
elsewhere.
In addition there is the Mara Serena Lodge, sited on
high ground in the west of the Park overlooking the Mara
River and two luxury camps sited on the eastern bank of
the Mara River. These are the East African Wildlife
Safari Camp near the old Mara bridge and the Governor’s
Camp some miles further downstream.
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 38 00 E
Area total:
582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of
Nevada
Land boundaries
total: 3,446 km
border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan
232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline 536 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
territorial sea: 12nm
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in
interior
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected
by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199m
Natural resources:
gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies,
fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower
Land use arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 37%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: Recurring drought in northern and
eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons
Environment - Current issues water pollution from urban
and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from
increased use of pesticides and fertilizers;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
Environment - International agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands and Whaling
