General Kenya Facts
WELCOME ‘KARIBU’ KENYA
Welcome to the home of safari, the magical land whose beauty surpasses human understanding. Kenya is a land of contrast, with unrivalled wildlife, birdlife, culture and scenic beauty. Kenya is one of the most interesting natural and human environments on earth. The difference in climate, in smells, in sensations, in cultures, and landscape make it an exciting and always new adventure even for the most expert traveler. Experience the magic of the Maasai mara savannah plains, where every July, millions of wildebeest and zebra, cross borders (Tanzania/Kenya) on their annual migration encouraging an entourage of the ferocious predators-cheetah, lion, leopard, hyena; the tropical rain forest of the misty Mount Kenya, on to the semi-arid home of the Samburu.
Curt through the longest fault in the world-the Great Rift Valley where millions of flamingoes bath in soda lakes, to the tropical rain forest of Kakamega in western Kenya. Dance with the Samburu, walk with the Maasai and tread Mt. Kenya, the home of Ngai – the god of the Kikuyu. Walk along-side zebra, gazelles, impala, giraffe, warthog at Hell’s Gate; see the home of the Man-eating lions of Tsavo; witness large herds of elephants roam the savanna grasslands of Amboseli, with the shaft of sun beams, dropping just behind the snow-capped Kilimanjaro, bath with flamingoes in the hot springs of Bogoria, and lie on the pristine sand of the sunkissed beaches of the Kenya coast. All this is Kenya! Who ever you are, you will find paradise in Kenya.
KARIBU KENYA
GENERAL KENYA FACTS AND INFORMATION
Area: 580,000 sq km
(224,000 sq miles)
Population: (1999 est.): 30,500,000
Population Density: 50 per sq. km
Geography
Located in the Heart of Africa, Kenya shares borders with Ethiopia in the north, Sudan in the Northwest, Uganda in the West and Tanzania in the south. The Indian Ocean lies to the East. The Rift Valley runs through the country north to south. There are four primary regions: The northern deserts, including Lake Turkana and the Laikipia Plateau. The southern savannah, including the Masai Mara and the Great Rift Valley. The coastal lowlands, including Mombasa and Lamu. The highlands, including Nairobi and Mount Kenya.
Language
English is the official language, and is widely spoken in commercial areas. Kiswahili is the unofficial language, used throughout the country. In remote areas, the majority of people will speak some Kiswahili and their tribal language.
Getting to Kenya
Kenya is well served by major international airlines, which fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi) or Moi International Airport (Mombasa). Some Commonwealth citizens do not require visas. We strongly recommend you check with the nearest Kenya Embassy or Tourist Office to ensure you have the most up to date visa information. Yellow Fever and Cholera vaccinations are required only for visitors arriving from countries where these diseases are endemic. Check with your Embassy and/or local heath office for more details.
Leaving Kenya
An airport departure tax normally payable when leaving Kenya. This fee is often included in your international airfare, unless stated otherwise. Please check with your agent when purchasing your international tickets. A local departure tax is also payable for internal flights within Kenya.
Climate
Kenya offers warm days with cool early mornings and evenings throughout most of the country. At altitude the temperatures are moderate. The Coast is often humid and tropical. There are two primary rainy seasons: the long rains roughly from April to June and the short rains during October and November.
Clothing
Informal, lightweight clothing is recommended. Mornings and evenings can be cool at altitude, so bring a sweater or cardigan. A hat is highly recommended due to the sun. On the Kenya coast or during village visits in, ladies are expected to dress modestly in public. To be nude or topless is not only illegal, but also affects the sensibilities of the Muslim community and the village people.
Communications
Telephone, fax and some email services are available, though prone to difficulties in some areas. Most lodges and camps will have at least a radio link with their primary Kenyan offices. In the major towns and at the Coast, international direct dialing should be available, if a little costly.
Currency
The Kenya shilling is freely exchangeable. Most major facilities accept major credit cards; Visa and Master Card are the most widely accepted. Note that Check cards are not accepted in Kenya, and most banks will need receipts for traveler’s checks.
Driving
Kenyans drive on the left hand side of the road. It is recommended that you travel with an international driving license if you plan to drive in Kenya.
Health
Anti-malarial prophylactics should be taken before, during and after your visit to Kenya, especially if you visit the Coast. Good medical facilities are available in the major cities. Membership with groups such as the Flying Doctors is also recommended; Eco-resorts include Flying Doctor emergency evacuation coverage in all of our safaris, unless otherwise stated. Hotels, camps and lodges should provide either bottled water, or filtered water for drinking. Please do not drink the tap water.
Local time
GMT plus 3
Safety precautions
Common sense precautions should be taken at all times. Please check the travel advisories from your foreign offices.
Electricity
220 / 240 volts AC. Plugs are the UK-type, round 2-pin or flat 3 pin.
Mt. Kenya National Park
Established in 1949, this park covers an area of 588sq km, the boundary being the 3,364m contour. This is where you find Mt. Kenya, the highest mountain in the country and the second highest in Africa. This is also the seat of Ngai, the god of the Kikuyu. At 5199m, this massive stand has amazed most hikers being the only snow-caped mountain in the world that straddles the equator. The mountain is among the most beautiful volcanic mountains with eye-catching undulating and ewe-inspiring scenery. The gigantic peaks, picturesque valleys and crystal clear streams cascading from the glaciers which seem to meet at the major peaks add elegance to this majestic stand.
Mt. Kenya’s highest peaks, Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5188m) can only be reached by mountaineers with technical skills. However, Point Lenana (4985m), the third highest peak can be reached by trekkers and is the usual goal for most people, offering a fantastic experience without the risks of real climbing.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve, now the Seventh wonder of the modern world, is an extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti ecosystem. Established in 1961 and covering a surface area of 1,812sq km, this reserve represents the wild savannah, ecosystem that has been greatly popularized in many documentary films. This reserve is divided into two – the inner reserve of 518sq km which has been developed as a national park with no intrusion allowed, while the outer remains an undeveloped area where local Maasai are permitted to pasture their cattle but which is otherwise undisturbed.
This is a country of breathtaking vistas, vast rolling plains and rounded hills, acacia woodlands, dense thickets of scrub. The whole bisected by the Mara River and its tributaries margined with luxuriant riverine forests. Its vast plains teem with endless herds of game together with the 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. Here, you find the largest population of lions in Kenya, seen in their natural setting and the impressive herds of elephants. Other animals include buffaloes, hartebeest, wildebeest, topi, eland, impala, gazelles, black rhino (very rare), giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, hippopotamus, crocodile, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackals, among others. Bird species include eagles, vultures, marabou, ostrich, touracos, guinea fowls, bastards, cranes, and many more.
Perhaps the most intriguing phenomenon in Mara is the Wildebeest migration that occurs between the months of July and October. Every July and October, millions of wildebeest and zebra pass through southern Kenya on their annual migration, attracting an entourage of cheetahs, lions and other predators.
Samburu National Reserve
This reserve covers an area of 104sq km on the northern bank of the Ewaso Ngiro River, being the most accessible Northern Reserve in the northern region of Kenya. This park represents the semi-arid ecosystem of northern Kenya, displaying some of the most beautiful wild game in Kenya. Some of the animals, typical of semi-arid ecosystems are the reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk, Oryx, Somali ostrich, and Gravy’s zebra. Many visitors to this reserve are amazed at the large herds of elephants that roam this area. Other animals include lions, cheetahs, leopards, buffaloes, impalas, elands, crocodiles, and hippopotamus, among others. Bird life is most abundant in this reserve with some of the most beautiful birds.
Lake Naivasha
L. Naivasha is one of the freshwater lakes in the Great Rift Valley. In Kenya we have only two of these lakes i.e. L. Naivasha and L. Baringo. Its home to an incredible variety of bird species, hippos, fish and various aquatic plants. The fresh water from this lake is used to irrigate flowers and fresh vegetables grown in this area. Most of the vegetables sold in Nairobi come from L. Naivasha. Some of the vegetables and flowers are exported.
Hell’s Gate National Park
Cleft deep into the floor of the Rift Valley, Hell’s Gate provides endless bio-diversity. The towering cliffs and undulating grasslands provide one of the few remaining places where you can walk alongside herds of Zebra, eland, hartebeest, gazelles, giraffes and buffaloes. Its spectacular scenery including the towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub-clad volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal steam make it one of the most atmospheric parks in Africa. It is a perfect place for walkers and cyclists. A day trip to this wonder land can easily be organised from Nairobi or Naivasha.
Lake Nakuru National Park
At only 4kms from Nakuru town and covering an area of 180sq kms LAKE NAKURU is a world famous bird and rhino sanctuary. The park encompasses LAKE NAKURU, a rift valley soda lake, and two forests – acacia and euphorbia forests. Millions of flamingoes paint this park with its shimmering pink color. Other birds include pelicans, ostrich, marabou, ibis, eagles, vultures, woodpeckers, touracos, barbets, among others. Apart from the bird life, LAKE NAKURU is abundant with wild game including lions, leopard, rhinos, impalas, gazelles, eland, zebra, buffalo, and giraffe.
Amboseli National Park
Just at the foot of Kilimanjaro (5,894m), Africa’s highest summit, Amboseli is one of the most beautiful parks in Africa. This park is famous for its big game – elephants, giraffe, buffalo, lions, and cheetahs – and for its great scenic beauty. It is hard to beat the sight of wild elephants in front of Africa’s most famous mountain, Kilimanjaro. The 3,810sq km of this National park and game reserve encompasses various ecological zones of dry lake bed, acacia woodland, rocky lava strewn, thorn bushes, swamps and mashes and the massif of Oldoinyo Orok rising to over 2,760m. Sun rises and sunsets are romantic with the backdrop of the snow-caped Kilimanjaro.
Tsavo National Park
This is the largest wildlife stronghold in Kenya, covering a vast arid region of 20,807sq km. This park comprises of a diversity of habitats including open plains, savannah bushland, semi-arid scrub, acacia woodland, rocky ridges and outcrops, extensive ranges of isolated hills, belts of riverine vegetation, palm thickets and mountain forest on the Chyulu hills extension. The extensive Shetani Lava is a clear example of a recent volcano. This volcanic zone also contains the famous Mzima springs, where hippopotamus and barbel live in springs and provide a dramatic spectacle.
Tsavo-referred to by the locals as the place of slaughter-is the home of the famous early 19th Century’s man-eating lions of Tsavo. In 1898, work came to a standstill when these notorious predators went on a killing spree, preying on the Indian road-workers. Although these man-eating lions are long extinct, you can easily spot a lion in this park. Large herds of elephants are another attraction in Tsavo. Other animals include Lesser Kudu, Waterbuck, Eland, Buffalo, Gerenuk, Oryx, Impala, Giraffe, Black rhino and many more. Birdlife is legion in the Park and the visitor is constantly meeting with new species.
Aberdare National Park
Established in 1950, this park comprises an area of 590sq km. This park hosts the third highest mountain range in Kenya, rising up to 4001m above sea level. With its spectacular waterfalls, lichen-hung forests, churning pools and trout-filled streams, this park is a haven for wild lovers, hikers, mountain climbers, walkers and anglers alike. To appreciate the full glory of this park, camping is recommended at one of the several approved sites. This is where elephants roam through lichen-hung forests. Other animals that have been recorded are buffalo, giant forest hog, duiker, bushbuck, black rhino, leopard, serval, among others. Eland occur on the open moorlands. Bird life is abundant and varied.
Lake Bogoria National Reserve
This is the most scenic park in the rift valley with steep hills descending abruptly to the lakeshore, which are punctuated with a series of spectacular Hot Springs. The reserve – 114sq km - comprises the entire lake and its immediate surrounds. This place is well known for its Greater Kudu, and very large concentrations of Lesser and Greater flamingoes. The steaming jets of hot springs that shoot from underground make this park a real spectacle. The high sulphur concentrated steams & hot springs are aesthetically healthy being medicine to skin diseases and many visitors have revisited this magical park both for physical and spiritual healing.
Lake Baringo
This is one of the freshwater lakes in the Great Rift Valley. In Kenya we have only two of these; L. Baringo and L. Naivasha. L. Baringo with its islands (two of them inhabited) and encircling mountains is a spectacular sight and a bird watching paradise. Local communities have myths of one of the islands ‘the Devils Island’ which they say is haunted. They can take you there during the day but at night they fear this island saying you can see flames and hear people screaming even though no one lives on the island.
Kakamega Forest National Park
Kakamega forest in western Kenya is the largest remaining eastern African representative of the original Guineo-Congolean lowland tropical rainforest. The virgin forest has plenty of hard-wood indigenous tree species such as Elgon teak, Ficus, Cordia etc, some of which are as old as 200 years. Kakamega forest hosts large populations of primates such as the blue monkey, red-tailed monkey, De brazza and black and white colobus monkeys and a sizeable number of duikers.
The forest is listed among the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of the world, and for good reason, as the warm and moist forest environment supports over 300 species of birds including the Great blue turaco. Butterfly collectors will find this an interesting area for their type of activity given the fact that over 400 species of butterfly have been recorded in the forest.
The best way to learn about the forest is do a nature walk, and there are numerous well maintained trails radiating from the Reserve headquarters in the north and the Rondo Retreat in the south. We hire local guides who understand the trails very well. Through the guides you can also learn about local culture.
Mt. Elgon National Park
Beyond the largest water basin in Africa (L. Victoria) rises this impressively craggy extinct Volcano of Elgon. From the jungles that border Uganda and rising up to 4321m, this mountain harbors the largest caldera in Africa. Its impenetrable rain forest where elephants roam fearlessly, its unique flora and fauna and the haunting silence of its caves leaves its hikers with memories that haunt them all their lives.
The most famous cave of all is Kitum, where each night Elephant herds gather and begin a slow procession deep into the mountain. The elephants make their way through the caves, following well worn paths made by generations before them. Deep in the cave, they use their tusks to excavate the walls, seeking the natural salt which they lick from the scarred rock.
Witnessing this incredible sight is just one of the many wonders of Elgon.
Loita Hills
Spreading from 2200m to 2400m above sea level, Loita Hills, is one of Kenya’s last remaining ‘true wilderness’ area harboring some of the most exotic and endemic plant species in the world. This is the one place that wild game gracefully wonders the savannah grasslands elephants roam silently the misty montane forests, eagles perch peacefully, and cool streams cascade the majestically standing hills of this remote region. As you walk its moist and springy ground with slowly decaying vegetation in these forests where trees, bushes, lichens and mosses flourish, you can’t help the feeling of the true jungle of Africa.
Loroghi hills
Stretching across the semi-desert scrubland of the sprawling Samburu plains, these spectacular hills rise up through a series of escarpments to a peak of 2580 metres. From the top of the hills the ground drops sharply. The plains below are dotted with the local Samburu herdsmen adorned in their characteristic red blankets and shukas. The views from the edge of the Lesiolo escarpment are especially astonishing; the Rift Valley floor stretches out before you and merges with a distant horizon. Exploring the hills takes the trekker through deep forested valleys and across high open plains, rich with bird and animal life.
The real beauty of this region though, is the opportunity to meet and spend time with the Samburu people, for whom these hills are home. Traveling with a Samburu guide helps you to get to know both the land and its people, making your trek more than just a walk. Moreover, you can combine trekking in the Loroghi hills with a camel safari at Maralal or a visit to Samburu National Reserve, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria.
Cherengani Hills
North of Kitale, the Cherangani Hills rise up to a height of 3,581m and form a barrier between the fertile highlands surrounding the town, and a barren stretch of desert to the north. The hills are home to the Marakwet people, who migrated here from the north, and are dotted with small towns, although none of them offer accommodation. Offering geographic diversity, a myriad of dirt roads and some dramatic peaks, the highest and most remote to the north, the Cheranganis are great for hikers who are happy to rough it.
Kisii
This is where Kisii soapstone, a major raw material for many souvenirs come from. This is however not sold here because the town is not popularly touristic. Kisii is the main center of the region known as the Gusii, numbering around one million Bantu-speaking people in the middle of a non-Bantu area. The Maasai to the south, the Luo to the west and north and Kipsigis to the east. 4hr trek to the top brings you to Mangu ridge from which the views especially over Lake Victoria are magnificent. From here you can see Kisumu in the distance and tea plantations at Kericho behind. A visit to Tabaka village gives you a close-up to the Kisii soapstone quarry and carvings.
Mt. Longonot National Park
Standing over the shores of Lake Naivasha, at 2886 metres this massive dormant volcano dominates the landscape for miles around. The brooding hulk of the Mountain is lined with spectacular fissures and Laval canyons. As you climb these slopes, you pass through herds of grazing game as spectacular views of the Rift Valley and Naivasha unfold below. Its vast crater is an awesome sight, the jagged edge surrounding a broad expanse of vegetation. Geothermal steam trickles upwards from the walls, while buffalo and other game make their way across the crater floor.
A climb up Mount Longonot is an ideal day trip from either Nairobi or Naivasha.