KENYA TOURIST GUIDE

Lake Turkana

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Lake Turkana

At

Kenya

’s far Northern frontier lies one of the natural wonders of the world. Lake Turkana is a massive inland sea, the largest desert lake in the world. This single body of water is over 250 kilometres long- longer than the entire Kenyan coast.

It is widely known as the Jade Sea, because of the remarkable, almost incandescent, colour of its waters. After a long journey through the sweltering deserts and lava flows of Northern Kenya, the sight of this vast body of bright turquoise water comes as an unearthly, ethereal vision.

The Lake is a source of life for some of Kenya’s most remote tribes. The Turkana, with ancestral ties to Uganda, live a semi-nomadic existence around the Lake. The country’s smallest tribe, the El Molo, live a hunter-gatherer existence on the shores, in villages of distinctive rounded reed huts.

Turkana has one of the longest living histories on earth, and recent fossil evidence unearthed at Koobi Fora has led to the Lake being referred to as ‘The Cradle of Mankind’. The site lies at the heart of the Sibiloi National Park, a place of stark beauty and prehistoric petrified forests.

The Lake itself is a natural treasure, with the world’s single largest crocodile population. In Turkana these reptiles grow to record size, with some of the largest specimens found on remote windswept Central Island. Lake Turkana is Kenya’s most remote destination, but one that repays the intrepid traveller with rich rewards.

Our culture

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Our Culture

Kenya has a culture born of countless sources. This region has been crossed by the
paths of a long and complex history. From the prehistoric records of early man to
the present day, Kenya has been a land of unending change, contrasts and diversity.
The early tribal states saw cycles of migration and shifting power, with Kenya as a
meeting place for peoples from the plainlands of the south, the forests of the West
and the deserts of the North.

The sea brought influences from the outside world, and the passage of the spice
trade created the unique coastal culture, where lines between Africa and
Arabia blurred. The open coast brought European influences into this world of
change and began a turbulent struggle for control whose exotic history lingers today.

The first explorers discovered a land of great peril and greater beauty, and
their great adventures created the most unique colony in the British Empire.
This was a meeting place of cultures, where adventurers and soldiers of
fortune mingled with a complex tribal society, and the arrival of labourers
and merchants from India brought new and pervasive influences.

The colonial legacy lives on in the traditions of the great safari, and the pursuit
of adventure and freedom.

Kenya has drawn on all of these influences to develop its own unique culture.
This is the nations greatest strength- the ability to blend the best of many
worlds into a strong, singular identity.

Today, Kenya welcomes the world to its shores and continues to evolve a
modern culture that is born of endless variety, and yet purely, proudly Kenyan.

Art & Theatre

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Art

Kenya’s culture exemplifies the art of adornment and decoration, and history shows
that this has been a long and influential tradition. Throughout the country,
there are many examples of rock art and cave painting by early man, and of
similar designs and motifs carried through recent centuries.

Many Kenyan traditional societies placed great significance on decoration of both
functional and ritual objects, and the body. In tribes such as the Kuria and the Samburu,
this was raised to the form of high art. The Samburu place great significance on
physical beauty and adornment, especially among warriors, who take great care with
their physical appearance, using hair styling and ochre body painting to create an
impression of great delicacy. It was this trait that earned them their name
Samburu- Butterflies, given to them by other tribes.

Many Northern nomadic tribes such as the Boran, Oromo and Gabbra extensively
decorate functional items, including water gourds, stools and neck pillows.
The Turkana people, who live in one of Kenya’s harshest environments, still afford
great care and attention to decoration of the body and objects such as ostrich
egg waterholders, wrist knives and clubs.

For the Maasai, the use of decorative beading is extremely significant,
and jewellrey is used to emphasize social status and to signify stages of
initiation and passage. Modern forms of art came to Kenya progressively.
The art of carving was practiced throughout Kenya to produce both functional
and decorative items.

The Kamba people are considered the best Kenyan carvers, and have long been
known as skilled woodworkers. Carving on the coast was centred on the island of
Lamu, where the local Bajun tribe is believed to have influenced Arab craftsmen
to create a unique hybrid of styles.

The Kisii of Western Kenya are also well known for their carving in stone, using a
locally quarried soapstone. They use a locally quarried soapstone to produce a
range of carvings. The most popular items are small animals, chess pieces based
on traditional African designs and more functional items such as egg cups,
soap dishes, coasters and ash trays.

The soapstone here varies in colour from white (the easiest to carve) through
various shades of pink to a deep lustrous red (the most difficult to carve).
The tourist trade has certainly had great influence over Kenyan carving,
but many traditional designs have survived, and often new and interesting carving styles.

Graphical art in Kenya has a much less defined history. There are certain
traditions in design and representation derived from rock art patterns,
but also considerable influence from the coast. Textile design and decorative
art throughout the coast created strong Swahili designs from Middle Eastern roots.

Painting and drawing in the formal European sense was introduced by colonialism.
There were several European artists in colonial Kenya, the best known being Joy Adamson.
Although better known for her conservation work and writing, she was also an
accomplished artist. Her botanical paintings were used as a base for Kenya’s original

textbooks on plants, and her huge collection of tribal portraits remain a body of work of great anthropological importance.

Kenyan painting has gradually developed incorporating traditional designs with modern technique. One of Kenya’s best known painters, who has achieved international fame and recognition, is Joel Oswago. Joel is from Western Kenya, and his brilliant paint work depicts scenes of Luo life both traditional and modern.

His style is difficult to describe or define. He paints his subjects in an intense defined manner, emphasizing bodily and facial features with sharply contrasting primary colours. This can create an impression of harshness, but also of great physical vulnerability. His scenes of village life are usually structured in a tableau to suggest an immediate social or domestic situation. His art can be remarkably funny, terribly sad or often a combination of both.

Kenya has developed a name as a home for bohemian expatriate artists, and there are many international artists living and working in the country. Probably the best known of these is Peter Beard, an American photographer. Beard spent many years living and working in Kenya, and has became internationally famous for his photographic record of his life in the bush.

His work is mostly expressed in a series of journals, in which photographs, news cuttings, mud, blood and objects are plastered across the pages. These images have been exhibited internationally and converted into several books. While some consider his work ego-driven and overly avant garde, the heart of his collection is a deep passion for Kenya and strong but well founded concerns for its future.

At the National Museum an independent trust, called the Kuona Trust, has been established to foster and encourage Kenyan artists. The Trust has set up an artists residence by the shores of Lake Naivasha, where a space and accommodation for artists is available. This program is bearing great fruit, and the centre located directly beside the Museum, is open to the public. There are displays of modern art here in all media. Promising artists include Michael Wambua Soi and Rochard Kimathi Wamae.

There are several other private galleries in Nairobi city.

Theatre

Theatre in the traditional sense is very popular in Nairobi. There is a National Theatre, and also several small dramatic companies. Probably the best known are the Phoenix Players. In Kenya, theatre is commonly used as a form of social education.

Short dramatic presentations are often used in schools and public meetings to give meaning to lessons, campaigns and rallies. Plays tend to be local production of foreign plays, and there is a definite tendency towards broad comedy. Locally written plays are becoming more and more common, often social or political satires or domestic farces.

Kenyans are great fans of satire and broad comedy. Stand up comedy, often in the form of group sketches or parodies, are very popular. An extremely popular comedy group, called Redykyulass became extremely popular, and appeared in a weekly television program performing a mixture of social and political satire.

Modern Culture

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Modern Culture

Kenyan Modern Culture was born of myriad sources and influences both new and old.
Despite the many and varied influences that have shaped Kenyan society, the culture in Kenya has become truly and purely Kenyan.

If any one thing of Kenya speaks of this unique character, it is the modern melding of traditional societies and culture. In Kenya it is possible to leave Nairobi, a city with a thriving business heart powered by the latest information technology, and drive in just a few hours to a place where life is lived in accordance to tradition and custom, where warriors armed with spears drive cattle into thorn brush enclosures to protect them from lions at night.

In Kenya the modern and the traditional live side by side, and at times the lines blur. For many visitors to Kenya, this is evident within minutes of arrival. Among the busy urban traffic, the median strips of fresh grass along the airport road are a popular place for Maasai herdsmen to graze their cattle.

Some people lament the gradual change in lifestyles, and loss of many customs and traditions in deference to modern life and values. But much more than any other country on earth Kenya has maintained many of its traditional cultures. Indeed, in Kenya tradition and custom is not seen as being linked to the past, but as being an amorphous and evolving part of everyday life.

The result is a completely unique culture, in which it is possible to see a Maasai walking across the plains using his distended earlobes to support walkman headphones, a group of urban Kikuyu joining in a traditional wedding ritual in which a bride is sung out of her house by the grooms family, or a Samburu Business man with a traditionally beaded mobile phone cover.

The ease with which Kenyans adopt and adapt to new cultural influences has a long history. Kenyan culture is built on the acceptance and absorption of new and varied cultures, whether it was migrant nomads or sea borne traders.

The end result is a culture of endless influence and yet one completely uniquely Kenyan in character.

Music & Dance

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Music & Dance

Traditionally, Kenyan music originates from several sources. Many of the Nomadic tribes of this region share some common ground in the use of songs and chants, particularly among Maa speaking groups. Maa song has always played a large role in ceremonial life, and continues to. One of the best known Maasai ceremonial songs is the Engilakinoto, sung after a victorious lion hunt.

Structured around a deep rhythmic chant it is accompanied by a spectacular dance in which warriors display their strength and prowess by leaping directly and vertically into the air. Elsewhere, the use of drums became widespread and central to elaborate traditional dances. The word Ngoma (drum) is still used to describe most forms of traditional music and dance.

A variety of drums were used throughout the country. The Luhya of Western Kenya developed a very distinctive dance style called Sikuti after the local name for a drum. This extremely energetic dance is usually performed by paired male and female dancers, and accompanied by several drums, bells, long horns and whistles.

The Kamba and Chuka people both developed a distinctive drumming style, in which a long drum is leant forward and clasped between the thighs. The Kamba were well known for their athletic, almost acrobatic dancing.

Other instruments were developed, including reed flutes and basic stringed instruments. One of the finer of these was the Nyatiti, similar to the medieval lyre. The Nyatiti is commonly played throughout Kenya’s West. It has a gentle, relaxing sound, and is usually played solo with a single singer, and sometimes accompanied by light percussion or bells.

Ayub Ogada is a modern master Nyatiti player from Kenya, who has become internationally famous. His first album En Maana Kuoyo is an excellent introduction to the sound of the Nyatiti. On the coast, the growth of Swahili culture saw the growth of a unique style of music, called Taarab. Combining elements of African percussion with Arabic rhythms, Taarab become a popular form of music that remains a coastal favourite today.

Traditional Taarab music used large numbers of musicians and Arab instruments such as the Oud, combined with violins and several vocalists. Modern Taarab continues to evolve, and is adopting some rhythms and grooves from Hindi film music and bhangra. But at the heart of Taarab remains a core of very rhythmic, poetic Swahili lyrics. One of the better known Kenyan exponents is Juma Balo.

Inland, the colonial period gave rise to Beni singing, a group folk song that contained strong elements of social commentary and political criticism. Beni songs were always very long and were sung in the form of a narrative story.

The 1960’s saw the arrival of both Independence and the electric guitar, and the birth of modern Kenyan popular music. There were two definite influences: From the South, South African Jazz and Zimbabwean ‘highlife’ guitar work, and much more significantly, from the West, the distinctive rumba rhythm of Congolese pop.

A hybridized form of music evolved- widely known as Benga, and usually rather tribally targeted. Singers sung in their own tribal language, resulting in strong ethnic followings. Many of these artists remain popular today, such as Luo musician DO Misiani , late great Luhya legend Daudi Kibaka and venerated Kikuyu singer Kamaru, and his subsequent imitators such as One Man Guitar.

The rise of Christianity greatly increased the popularity of gospel music in general and choral music in particular. Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s Nairobi became a popular crossroads for African musicians, and many Zairean rumba bands either made Kenya their home or a frequent stopover concert venue.

Their influence on Kenyan music was considerable, and much of popular Kenyan music derives its central rhythms and guitar lines from Congolese pop. Even today Lingala and Congolese music is extremely popular throughout Kenya. There was some influence from the coast, using more Swahili and Asian based styles, resulting in a short lived wave of Kenyan pop, spearheaded by Them Mushrooms from Mombasa.

The 90’s and the 21st Century have seen a great deal more Western influence, and the adoption of reggae, rap, rhythm and blues and swing into Kenyan music. A new wave of popular musicians is creating a form of Kenyan music which fuses traditional elements with the many external influences to produce something new and very interesting.

Two young Kenyan musicians, Joseph Ogidi and Jahd Adonijah began performing and recording their own compositions in 1999. They called themselves Gidi Gidi Maji Maji, and had a surprise runaway hit with ‘Ting Badi Malo’ an infectious pop song built around a blend of Swahili and Sheng rap. After taking a break to attend Uiveristy, they returned with a vengeance to release 'Unbwogable' a danceable and politcally flamable song that became an anthem for opposition politics and reached its peak with the 2003 change of Government in Kenya.

One of Kenya’s most inspiring stories is that of Mighty King Kong, an Afro-reggae singer from Western Kenya. Born in Siaya District, he was afflicted with polio at a young age, badly withering one of his legs. When his father died, his family moved to Kisumu, where he ran away from home.

He lived for 6 years on the streets of Kisumu, during which time he made money by busking. His singing and dancing earned him local fame, and his new name ‘The Mighty King Kong’. Eventually he made his way to Mombasa, where he began to get work as a DJ in several nightclubs, before finally taking to the stage with his own act performing reggae in Luo, Swahili and English.

He was an immediate hit with crowds in the clubs, and was soon playing to packed houses across the country. His first album Ladies Choice sold well throughout Kenya. He has recently released a follow up album Cinderella, an appropriate title given his own real-life rags to riches story.

From a very different background is Eric Wainaina, a young classically trained musician. His musical style is a blend of very African guitar riffs with a commercial Western feel. His first album, Sawa Sawa was a hit, mainly through the success of the single Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo, a satirical political song with a highly danceable melody.

Rap has become increasingly popular among young Kenyans, and there are several Kenya based rap acts. While the sounds of groups like Kalamashaka or Necessary Noize are virtually indistinguishable from US based rappers, the lyrics are most definitely Kenyan and have much to say about life in modern Kenya. One of the more popular Kenyan rappers is Poxie Presha, whose well cut album Total Ballaa was a massive hit.

Ragga has also become popular, with blends of Afro-reggae and rap. One of the better known Kenyan Ragga artists is Nazizi the female vocalist from rap group Necessary Noize also known for her solo ragga work.

The formation of a loose alliance of Kenyan Hip Hop artists as Ogopa DJs created a nonstop hit factory that sent tune after tune to the top of the Kenyan charts. By 2002, formerly idolized Western artists were wiped out of radio airplay by Kenyans such as Nameless- who had a huge hit withNinanoki and went on to record the bestselling album On Fire.

His collaboration with a young artist E-Sir was a track called Boomba Train, that also dominated dancefloors and clubs across the country. E-Sirs career was tragically cut short by a road accident in 2003.

The Ogopa group produced many other young stars, including Mr Googz and Vinnie Banton a talented duo of singer-songwriters whose hip hop song about life in the outer Nairobi suburb of Githuraibecame anthemic throughout the city.

Redsan, a singer as well known for his looks as his music has kept Kenya's female population enthralled with hits such as Julie and Raha- a track whose hip hop overtones are underscored with coastal taarab sounds.

As the current trend for fusion of world and western styles grows, many Kenyan artists are exploring this new realm of musical possibility. One of the most popular up and coming artists is Mercy Myra who combines traditional and modern, African and Western styles.

The arrival of better and more easily accessible instrumentation and recording facilities is continuing to strengthen and diversify the Kenyan music scene. Quality CDs of Kenyan music are widely available in Nairobi, and can be found internationally in some specialist music stores.

As music in Kenya continues to grow and evolve, and opportunities for young talented Kenyans increase, the future sounds great…

THE BIG 5 GAME

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The phrase big 5 game was coined by big game hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. I'm sure you have come across this term many times. And I'm also sure some of you thought they are the biggest( in size) et al.............The collection consists of the lion, the african elephant, the african buffalo, the leopard and the rhinoceros. The members of the big 5 were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and not their size, which is why the leopard is included and say, the formidable hippo is not. The big five are also the most dangerous mammals on earth. All exist within numerous Kenyan National Parks and Reserves.

The Lion (Panthera Leo)

The lion is a large carnivorous feline of Africa and Northwest India and has a short tawny coat, a tufted tail, and, in the male, a heavy mane around the neck and shoulders

The African Buffalo/Cape Buffalo(Syncerus Caffer)

The Cape Buffalo is a large horned bovid. ( Im also sure you dont know what 'bovid' is..... wikipedia is always available!!) It is the most dangerous of the five( believe it or not) reportedly causing the most hunter deaths.

The Rhinoceros

The rhinoceros is a large, thick skinned herbivore having one/two upright horns on the snout. In Africa, there are two distinct species of rhinoceros; the black rhinoceros(diceros bicornis) and the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Both of these, as you can see from the pictures have two upright horns on the snout. Sadly, both are endangered.

The African Elephant

The African Elephant is a very large herbivore that has thick, almost hairless skin, a long, flexible, prehensile trunk, upper incisors forming long curved tusks of ivory and large, fan shaped ears.

There are two distict species of African elephants, which are the African Forest Elephant(loxodonta cyclotis) and the African Bush Elephant( loxodonta africana)

The Leopard (Panthera Pardus)

The leopard is a large, carnivore feline either with tawny fur with dark rosette-like markings or black fur. Leopards , amongst the 5, are the most difficult to acquire hunting licences for and are often difficult to hunt due to their behaviour and their nocturnal feeding habits. Leopards hunting usually overlaps several weeks of baiting.

WHEN YOU VISIT KENYA........................

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KEY EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN KENYA

FEBRUARY
Mountain Biking

There is a common misconception amongst tourists and visitors to Kenya that the blessed 254 can only be viewed from vehicles and by air. This, however, can't be further from the truth. In fact, if you really want to experience Kenya, especially its nature, it is through cycling. Kenyan Mountain Biking really does coin the phrase, 'being one with nature.' Biking is done as far as possible from the larger and busy roads.

You will experience Kenya like most never do, from visiting local villages and traditional tribesmen to the breathtaking scenery and landscape as well as wildlife grazing on the plains. This event is a challenge that one should look into while visiting.

White Shark Diving
I dont think this beast of the sea needs much introduction or education. If some of you need information on the white shark diving, revolves around the migratory habits and patterns, in the deep sea, that often ends up venturing on coastlines around the world. Until recently, Kenya was not one of this coastlines. There has been an increase in whale shark population at Malindi, Diani and Watamu during this time. (I kid you not). The incredible occassion is a unique opportunity as it offers you the chance to get up, close and personal with this amazing and gigantic but elusive fish.

MARCH TO OCTOBER
Quattro Charge

This is an event that takes place every year where the big boys and the big girls get the big toys (4by 4 vehicles) and participate in obstacle challenges in extremely difficult terrain. The challenge similar to the rhino charge in June,without the distance, with shorter obstacles and a bit less vigorous. Many serious fanatics of the 'sport' gauge the performance of their vehicles before the rhino charge. Spectators can try attempting this challenge but its advisable not to use your office car for this. hahaha. And don't worry there will be plenty of opportunity to mess up in front of a big crowd.

APRIL
Kenya Open Golf

The Kenya Open Golf Championship is an annual golf tournament held in Kenya, that makes up part of the PGA European Challenge Tour. About 150 participants used to compete at Muthaiga Golf Club. However, in recent years, it has been held at Karen Country Club.

MAY
Sawa Sawa festival

The annual Sawa Sawa Festival is held at the Sakarasi Dome in Ngara, Nairobi, (5 minute drive from the city center) a recently renovated complex. This is a three day festival that showcases various musicians both local and international.

JUNE
Lewa Marathon

The annual Lewa Marathon is perfect for any runner in quest of adventure. It is also the only race of its kind that runs within a game reserve. The marathon is held across the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy next to Mt. Kenya, true to its motto, ''Run Wild''. The animals are however kept at a safe distance by a large team of armed rangers, a helicopter and two light aircraft. Approximately 1000 runners from across the world participate in the marathon.

Established in 2000, the marathon chief sponsor, Safaricom has raised more than $1,000,000 ( approximately 75 million kenya shillings) for conservation and community developments around the country. For those who love running, the Safaricom / Lewa marathon offers a stimulating challenge and unforgettable sporting experience. Due to the heat and altitude, the marathon is considered to be one of the toughest marathons in the world today.

RHINO CHARGE

Rhino charge has got to be one of the best ideas in the history of ideas and fund raising. To participate, all one needs is a vehicle, a crew of 6, a map and a large expanse of unspoilt Africa for them to be let loose on. The event is limited to a maximum of 60 vehicles only. The competing vehicles are provided with a simple map the night before the event, where the location of the Guard Posts has been plotted.

After 10 hours of boulder bashing, bush pushing, lugga lurching, swamp sucking and cliff hanging under the hot African sun, the results show that the teams have made it all the way round the course. The winner is not determined by the speed at which they are travelling at, but completion of this gruelling course with the least distance covered. sounds simple huh?

Safari Sevens Rugby

The safari sevens rugby tournament is an iconic event held every year at the Kenya Rugby Union Football Club(K.R.F.U.) located within Nairobi. It is a major international competition, in which teams from the around the world vie to participate in to compete in. It is one of the most popular tournaments. Since it was established in 1996, the Sevens tournament has continually and steadily developed. It is a must attend if you are within the country in June.

KAKAMEGA NATIONAL RESERVE

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The only remnant in Kenya of the once great tropical rainforest that stretched across Central Africa. As a relic of this equitorial jungle, it is now famous globally for being home to several hundereds species of bird, snakes,monkeys and other mammals as well as countless tree species. A choice of walking trails,view points and guided tours enable you to experience some of this fascinating, beautiful and unique forest first hand. Amongst the ancient trees, awesome in size, you will find gurgling streams, vibrant coloured butterflies, chattering monkeys and a rich variety of birds.

For a superb view of the forest to the South and the Nandi Hills, a short climb up Buyangu Hill is well worthwhile. Its easily accessible and worth a visit. Other interesting spots include Lirhanda Hill, Isiukhu water falls.

27 species of snake live within the forest. True to the continental origins, the snakes of Kakamega are mainly from West Africa. Some of these West African residents include the Forest Cobra, the Bush Viper, Rhinoceros-horned Viper and The Gaboon Viper. Our reptile friends do have their cousins living in the forest as well, the most common of which is the terrestrial lizard, Agama, Peter's Long-tailed Skink(hahahaha, seriously where do they get this names).In addition to the cold blooded fauna, we have mammals known to dwell in the forest are the Bush Pig, Duickers, Bushback, Clawless otter,mongoose,porcupine, bats and of course primates( Black and White Collobus Monkey,Red-Tailed Monkey, Poto and Olive Baboons) amongst many others.

In as far as bird conservation is concerened, this forest is one of the most important bird areas(iba) in Kenya with a prolific 330 species recorded to date. Birds such as Turner's Eremomela, Blue Headed Bee Eater, Ansorge's Greenbul birds, Black-billed Turaco,Red-billed Paradise Flycatcher, White tailed Ant-Thrush,Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, Southern Hyliota,African Shrike Fkycatcher, Petit's Cuckoo-Shrike and Cassins Honeyguide are unique to the Kakamega forest and neighbouring South Nandi Forest in the whole of East Africa.

THINGS TO DO

Forest walking and hiking. This is a must do for all you nature lovers. Kakamega Forest is penetrated by a network of trails. A walk through the high-canopied forest, its silence broken only by bird calls and chattering monkeys and occasional gurgle of a nearby stream. It is a simple and refreshing delight. All this can be possible in a days trip through the Reserves trails that include Busambuli trail, Iiukhu trail, Buyangu trail, Falls trails, Mukamgu trail, Colobus trail and Litali trail
Bird watching. Kakamega Reserve is familiar to every bird enthusist in Kenya and the forest is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area. The best time of the year to go bird watching is between June and August after the heavy rains as most of the birds are in breeding plumage as well as in October when up to 30 species of migrants arrive at the forest. Birds at the forest are best seen at mid morning and in the late afternoon.

Primate watching. It is the home of several species of primates. They become active and more easily located once the day starts to warm up(in the morning), and then again before sunset

Butterfly watching. all nine African butterfly families are represented in the forest and species diversity is high(400 species recorded). The best time for butterfly watching is in August and September after the heavy rains.

TRIBES AND PEOPLE OF KENYA-PART II

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THE MASSAI
For many, the Maasai are the 'definitive form of 'tribal' Kenya. With an sometimes over-exaggerated fearsome reputation and proud demeanour, the tribe of Nilotic origin has manage to largely stay outside the mainstream development of Kenya while still maintaining large herds of cattle along the Kenya-Tanzania border.The Masai initially migrated to Kenya's central regions from what is current day Sudan. Tragedy would befall the fascinating tribe in the late 19th century as their numbers were greatly reduced owing to famine and disease. Too add to this, the things they held most dear, cattle, were not spared either; rinderpest killed a significant number of their cattle.In the 1960s, the Great Masai Mara was Gazetted by the British into the National Reserve it is today. However, this has not been seen as a blessing but as a curse by the Masai because their were slowly annexed from their traditional lands.
Subsequent efforts by the government to resettle them and offer some kind of compensation has yielded little fruit as they despise agriculture and land ownership; which is the compensation being introduced.. There is a taboo about piercing the soil and as a result they leave their dead behind to be consumed by wild animals .( imagine that!!)

Masai women are famous for their vast plate like necklaces, while it is typical for the men to dress in red checked Masai blanket known as 'shuka' and carry a distinctive club. The mainstay of the masai drink is blood and milk which is supplemented by a drink called mursik ( made from milk fermented with cow urine, and ashes). It is shown to lower cholesterol!!!

At 14 years of age, boys graduate to become 'el-moran'(warriors), and are required to be a small livestock farm following their circumcision ceremony known as manyatta. Once built, they live in solitude in their 'fortitude' for a period of up to 8 years after which they return to the village in search of a bride.

The Masai have benefited as a result of the tourism sector as they find jobs quite easily in regards to such jobs as being a tour guide or an askari. Other sources of income would be engaging in retail of spears, clubs et al, or quite simply posing for photographs and/dancing. Though this developments are encouraging, they are not widespread.

THE RENDILLE

The tribe of Cushitic origin known as the Rendille live in small communities in rocky Kasuit Desert located in Kenya's north east region. They hold very strong links with another nomadic tribe, the Samburu and heavily rely on camel to meet many of their daily needs, including the three basics, and run trade as well provide transport.

Rendille society is strongly bound by family ties, and these center around monogamous couples. The Camel are bled by opening a vein in the neck using a blunt arrow or a blunt knife. The blood is then drunk on its own/mixed with milk.

The eldest sons of the families inherit all family possessions from parents. Women especially Mothers to be exact are highly regarded within the community and enjoy a high status within the community. One social thing that stands out about the Rendille is that it is considered dishonorable for any of its son to refuse a loan. This practice ensures that even the poorest man in the community has a claim to a few head of cattle.

THE SAMBURU
Occupying the arid region directly north of Kenya's highest Mountain, Mount Kenya, the Samburu are a tribe who not only share the same language with the Masai, but are also very closely related to them. So much is their similarity that it is the general belief that, they were just one community. On leaving Sudan, when their more famous cousins, the Masai continued South. The Samburu forged their way east and settled in the region they are in today.As is with the Rendille and Masai, the Samburu die their hair red to create a sort of visor which shields their eyes away from the sun.

For the Samburu, age is an integral part in determing one's social status within the community. For example, a man, after undergoing several stages in his life rises to become a powerful and influential leader of the community in his mid 30's.Livestock are kept within the perimeter fences made of acacia thorns and are used for milk more than they are used for meat.

THE TURKANA

I bet most of you did not know that a tribe like this exists. Not much is said about them, but they inhabit the area believed to be the biblical 'Garden of Eden, the cradle of Mankind' . Of all the tribes and peoples of Kenya, the Turkana are amongst the most colorful and the most warlike. They are Kenya's very own true Desert tribe.Originally from Karamanjong in North Eastern Uganda,the Turkana's entire population comes to about 250,000.
They, are linked,linguistically with the Masai and Samburu as well as practice pastoralism like their more famous cousins. However, in the recent past, some have resorted to fishing on Lake Turkana while others have began small scale farming. They are the only tribe as well to abandon the circumcision ceremony (of women) temporarily amongst the tribes which practise.

KENYAN TRIBES AND PEOPLE- PART 1

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THE KIKUYU
The Kikuyu/Agikuyu are of Bantu origins and make up the country's largest tribal group and their heartland surrounds Mt. Kenya. The ''first'' Agikuyu were thought to have migrated into the area from the east and north-east from the north-east from the 16th century onwards. Famously warlike, the Kikuyu overran the lands of the Athi and Gumba tribes, becoming hugely populous in the process. Today, 24% of Kenyans are of the Kikuyu tribe. The Kikuyu also fiercely resisted the British, and spearheaded the Mau Mau rebellion in the 1950s that was a major catalyst for the eventual end of British rule.

The Kikuyu territory borders that of the famous Masai tribe, and inter tribal raids on property and cattle were once common. Despite this, intermarriage between the tribes occurred, and there are numerous cultural similarities between the two tribes today. The Kikuyu are the best represented tribe in Kenya in political spheres thanks to the influence of Kenya's first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, who was a Kikuyu himself. Initiation rites for both boys and girls ( although F.G.M, is being done away with) are very important ceremonies and consist of ritual circumcision for boys and girls. Each group of youths of the same age belongs to a 'riika' (age-set) and passes through stages of life, and their associated rituals together. Sub-groups of the Kikuyu include the Embu, Ndia and Mbeere.

THE LUHYA
Like the Kikuyu, the Luhya are of the Bantu origin and are made of 17 groups. They are the second largest group in Kenya, but occupy a relatively small area in Western Kenya centered in Kakamega, where they settled around the 14th century. Population densities in their region is incredibly high.

In times past, the Luhya were skilled metal workers,forging knives and tools that were traded with other groups.Today, most Luhya are agriculturalists, farming groundnouts,sesame and maize. Small holders also grow large ammounts of cash crops such as cotton and sugar cane. Many Luhya still have a strong and powerful belief of withcraft and superstition, although, to the passing traveller and visitor, this is rarely obvious. Traditional costume and rituals are becoming less common, due to the pressures of the soaring Luhya population.

THE KALENJIN
The rough translation of the word Kalenjin is ''I tell you.'' Believed to have migrated from Sudan nearly 2000 years ago, these people consist of an estimated 3 million souls in Kenya. Most of these people live in the Great Rift Valley, in Western Kenya.

Traditional clothing consisted of animal skins. Either of domesticated animals or wild animals. Heavy brass coins were used as earrings, which stretched the earlobe almost to the shoulder. It is also this tribe and region that produces most if not all of the athletic world champions.

LUO (JALUO/JOLUO)
The Luo are an ethnic group in Kenya, eastern Uganda and Northern Tanzania. They were also formerly known as the now-absolute classification, Nilotic Kavirondo. They are part of a larger kin of Luo peoples who inhabit an area including southern Sudan, Northern and Eastern Uganda, Western Kenya, and Northern Tanzania. The Luo are the third largest group in Kenya behind the Kikuyu, Luhya and Kalenjin. The Luo, alongside the Kikuyu, inherited the bulk of political power in the first years following Kenya's independence in 1963
The primary Luo livelihood is fishing. Outside Luoland, the Luo work throughout Eastern Africa as tenant fishermen, small scale farmers, and urban workers.
They speak the Dholuo Language, which belongs to the Western Nilotic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family, spoken by other Luo-speakong peoples such as the Lango,Acholi,Padhola and Alur. Kenya's first and current Prime Minister resides from here. The most powerful man in the world, the President of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, traced his roots back to his father , a member of the Dholuo tribe.( They are rumored to be distant cousins).

THE AKAMBA

The Akamba can also be referred to as just Kamba. These are the people who reside in the semi-arid areas of Eastern Province of Kenya.They form the 5th largest tribe in Kenya. Anthropologists believe that the Kamba are a mixture of several East African people. A large number of them are pastrologists.

more

A WORLD HERITAGE SITE: FORT JESUS

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On the 24th October 1958, Fort Jesus was declared a National Park in the custody of the Trustees of the Kenya National Parks. Excavation was carried out and the Fort became a Museum in 1962. The Fort is now an important historical landmark in the East African region.

Fort Jesus is located in Mombasa Island which is in the Coast province of Kenya. It lies a distance of about 490-km from Nairobi city. Fort Jesus is a remarkable piece of architecture designed by Italian architect and engineer, Joao Batista Cairato, was built back in 1593 on a coral ridge at the entrance to the Mombasa harbor The main purpose of the Fort was to secure the safety of the Portuguese who were living on the East African coast at the time. With time, the Fort became the focal point of the island. It is a fact that few, if any Forts on the African continent have such a turbulent and interesting history similar to the one that Fort Jesus has. The Fort has changed nine times from its 'birth.

In 1631, the towns' people revolted and killed every Portuguese on the island. However, the Sultan of Mombasa at the time had no real support and the Portuguese quickly reoccupied the Fort and consolidated their control. This was just the first time this happened. A little later( 1696-1698), Omani Arabs( or just the omanis), who had been steadily growing in strength, took control of the town and laid seige to Fort Jesus.

The Santo Antanio de Tanna sank in 1697 in its attempts to finally map out an end to the siege that the Fort had come under.( the museum holds numerous relics recovered from the ship!!!) Eventually, the Fort would change hand after approximately close to three years, with most of the Portuguese left to defend it having died from starvation or disease.

The omani's held Fort Jesus for decades that followed, until the Portuguese briefly recaptured their jewel in 1728, which they only managed to hold on to for a year.

Approximately a century later(1837), the Fort was now changed and exclusively used as a barracks for soldiers until 1895 when the British declared a protectorate and the once mighty Fort became a prison.( The huts were removed and cells were built.)

RUMA NATIONAL PARK

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Lake Retreat of the Roan Antelope

Ruma National Park lies in Western Kenya, close to the shores of Lake Victoria. An island of wilderness in sea of intensive cultivation, the park is situated in one of the most productive and populous regions in Kenya, and is one of the country's rewarding but less well known Parks. A mosaic of landscapes, ranging from the riverine woodland and rolling Savannah to magnificent escarpments and towering cliffs, Ruma National Park promises undiscovered wildlife treasures and undisturbed peace. It is also Kenya's last remaining sanctuary for the endangered Roan Antelope.

The Park was initially established as the Lambwe Valley Game Reserve to protect its indigenous population of Rare Roan Antelope, which only exists at the park. Nowhere else in Kenya, will you find it.
Ruma lies on the flat floor of the seasonally watered Lambwe River Valley. Bordered by the Kanyamwa Escarpment to the South -East, and by the volcanic plugs of the Ruri Hills to the north, the park is a long, narrow corridor of land contained on a fist- shaped peninsula extending into lake Victoria. The terrain is mainly rolling grassland with tracts of open woodland thickets while the soils are largely black cotton clay.

Apart from one of the rarest and third largest of Kenya's antelope's, the Roan( or Korongo as it is known in Swahili), the small and graceful oribi antelope( known as a Taya in Swahili) has a conspicuous bare glandular patch below the ears, a short black tipped tail and black knee tufts, also call the park home. Living in strongly bonded pairs or small groups, Oribi inhabit grassland and dense undergrowth.

Ruma, like all other National Parks and Reserves in Kenya, offers visitors an opportunity to see various wildlife species including the Rothschild's giraffe, serval cat, hyena, impala, vervet monkey, bohor reedbuck, leopard, buffalo and Jackson's Hartebeest.

It is not known to many that the National Park offers the best views of Roan Antelope, Oribi and Jackson's hartebeest then anywhere else in Kenya, the Maasai mara included.

It does not stop there. There is more. Ruma's birdlife is exceptional. The park is also the only protected area in Kenya where the globally threatened blue swallow( there is an illustration of how it looks just above. I dont know anyone with a picture of it, because it is endangered!!!!!! so forgive my antics..........), a scarse intra- African migrant. Blue swallows which depend upon moist grassland for both feeding and roosting, arrive in Kenya from their breeding grounds in Southern Tanzania around April and depart again in September.
Ruma also has an exceptional snake population. Easily spotted species include the African Spitting cobra, forest cobra, eastern green mamba, black mouthed mamba and puff adder. Moreover, numerous lizard, skink and gecko can also be found here.

KIUNGA MARINE NATIONAL PARK

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AN ENCHANTED UNDERWATER WORLD

A Pristine string of rugged coral isles, ringed by rainbow coral reefs, the reserve offers living coral gardens,sculpted coves, wheeling sea birds,rare turtles,magical dugongs and an underwater world of unbelievable colour, discovery and vibrancy. The reserve is part of the Lamu archipelago, a cluster of low lying desert islands that run for some 60 km parallel to the coast line of northern Kenya. The last survivor of thousand year civilization, Lamu was founded by the Arabs in the 7th century and traded for centuries thereafter in ivory,rhino horn and slaves. Today, it offers a unique showcase for traditional Swahili culture, a bustling historical town with some of the best pristine beaches in Africa.

The Kiunga Marine National Park is made up of a chain of 51 coral islands lying some 2 km offshore, but inshore of the fringing reef. They run adjascent to the mainland's Dodori and Boni National Reserves. Varying in size, the islands are composed of old,eroded coral and shelter less kudu, bushbuck,monkey,porcupine and wild pig.
Coral reefs are one of the most fascinating ecosystems on earth, sheltering nearly one million different types of marine life. Forming only in warm seas, coral are made by battalions of tiny polyps, miniscule sea anemone-like creatures that live together in colonies. Some create a hard skeleton outside their bodies which eventually forms into stony coral. Corals come in many shapes, sizes and colours including the open-branched stag' shorn coral, the picushion-like acropora coral, the wavy-branched plate-like pavona coral, the pincushion solid favia coral and the convoluted brain coral.

The besttime for snorkelling over the reef is two hours either side of low tide, which is the time when the greatest ammount of marine life is revealed. Kenya's coastal waters are warm year round so diving without a wet suit is also rewarding. a ashifting rainbow of small fish, worms, shrimps, octopus and clams hide in the gaps while blue and yellow parrot fish use their hard beaks to chew of lumps of coral. Snappers,zebra fish, butterfly fish are some of the fish found here while hunting sharks, rays,turtle and starfish prowl the reef in search of prey. Fierce moray eels hide in holes, while small crabs, wrasses( long,spiny-finned fish) and sharks lurk in the caves, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars and numerous species of mollusk feed on the algae.The reserves creeks and inlets also serve as a substantial breeding ground for the rare mermaid like creature called the dungong.

The Dungong, a completely aquatic, warm blooded animal, the dungong have an average length of 2.5-3.2 meters, may way anything from 140 to 170 kgs and live on the marine grasses growing in the shallower waters of the Reserve.

Kiwayu Island is the only inhabited island to be included in the Kiunga Marine National Park. There are two luxury lodges in Kiwayu which are the Munira Island Camp and Kiwayu Safari Village.

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK.

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KILIMANJARO'S ROYAL COURT

Amboseli National Park lies North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. It was established as a Reserve in 1968 and Gazetted as a National Park in 1974. The Park covers an area of 390.26 sq. km, and forms part of the much larger 3000 sq. km, Amboseli ecosystem. Large cncentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. It is surrounded by 6 communally owned group ranches.

The National Park embodies 5 main wildlife habitats (open plains,acacia woodland, rocky thorn bushland, swamps and marshland) and covers part of the pleistocene lake basin, now dry.Within this basin is a temporary lake, Lake Amboseli, that floods during years of heavy rainfall. Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenic beauty-the landscape is dominated by Mount Kilimanjaro and 'floating' elephants within the swamps

There is so much to see at the Amboseli. The fantastic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest Mountain in Africa rising to 5896m above sea level. Its snow capped summit dominates the landscape and on a clear day visible during early morning and late afternoon. It is a superb backdrop for wildlife photographers. The park provides a unique habitat for approximately one thousand elephants. Few visitors will go home without superb elephant images beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The Enkongo Narok swamp and other permanent swamps, which divide the grey landscapes into broad green swatches, are favourd resorts for buffalo hippo and elephants. Close by, groups of grazing zebra,wildebeest and impala as well as numerous birds feed,breed and nest in the lush vegetation. Look out for graceful Crowned Cranes, the Long Necked Africa's Darter and Kingfisher. Egyptian geese are almost certain to be the variety of ducks and plovers.

From the observation hill, there is a panoramic view of most of the park and the short climb is worth the effort in the end. It was inhabited many years ago by the hunter-gatherer people-the Ndorobo. Signs and traces of their pottery and implements have been found here giving rise to the Maasai name 'nomatior', the place of pottery. The heart of Amboseli woodland of 'yellow fever trees' and the doum palm known as 'Ol' Tukai ' by the Maasai and 'Makindu' by the Swahili.A cool oasis of tree, Ol Tukai is a retreat for wildlife and greatly favoured by elephants.

RULES AND GUIDE LINES WHEN VISITING KENYAN NATIONAL PARKS

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There are different rules and regulation for the parks. therefore depending on the park that you are in you should observe these rules and regulations.I have listed below some of the rules and regulations to be observed accross the board. It is of the utmost importance that you follow this not only to maintain conservation efforts, it just could make the difference of having a fabulous safari experience or a disastrous one, cut short by failure to observe these rules. The most common rules and regulations are :

Respect the privacy of their wildlife, this is their habitat

Beware of the animals, they are wild and can be unpredictable

Don't crowd the animals or make sudden noises or movements

Don't feed the animals, it upsets their diet and leads to Human dependence

Keep quiet,noise disturbs the wildlife and may antagonise your fellow visitors

Stay in your vehicle at all times, except at designated picnic or walking areas

Keep below the maximum speed limit ( 40kph/25mph)

Never drive off-road, this severely damages the habitat.

When viewing wildlife keep to a minimum distance of 20 meters and pull to the side of the road so as to allow other visitors to pass

Leave no litter and never and never leave fires unattended or discard burning objects.

Respect the cultural heritage of Kenya, never take pictures of the local people or their habitat without asking for their permission first. Respect the cultural traditions of Kenya and always dress with decorum

Stay or leave before dusk, visitors must vacate the Park between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless they are camping overnight. Night game driving is not allowed

I BET YOU DID NOT KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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There are many facts about Kenya that I bet you did not know. Here are just a few:

That Sibiloi National Park in Kenya is believed to be the cradle of mankind and the biblical ''Garden of Eden"

The official color of the maasai - the indigenous semi-nomadic tribe located in Kenya and Nothern Tanzania - is red? They will always be wearing something of this color no matter how little.

The world's oldest primary school pupil is Kimani Nganga Maruge and he's 88 years old? Mr. Maruge, who was deprived the opportunity of going to school as a child, begun school in January 2004 when primary education was declared free in Kenya. He attends Kapkenduiya Primary School in Eldoret, which two of his grand children also attend.

Tigers are Lions are close relatives. Without their coats, lion and tiger bodies are so similar that only experts can tell them apart?

Sidney Pollaks 'OUT OF AFRICA' starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford was filmed partly in the Maasai National Reserve?

That in November 2006, the annual migration of the wildebeests was named as the seventh wonder of the world?

Meru is where the world famous lioness, Elsa, of BORN FREE fame was returned to the world in 1950?

One of the world's rarest sights is the equatorial snow located at the peak of Mt. Kenya?

Henry Rider Haggard's well known novel 'Kings Solomon's Mines' was inspired by the Mt. Elgon Caves, located in Mount Elgon in Western Kenya?

Mount Kenya was the second highest peak in Africa to be discovered by Europeans. It was first seen by Dr. Ludwig Krapf.

Kenya's main port is situated at Mombasa, an island that shelters the deepest natural harbour in Africa, and is the best equipped and most modern port on the East African Coast?

That Kenya's Mombasa port facilities are important not only to the county's own economy but also to landlocked Uganda,Rwanda, Burundi, and to Eastern Zaire and Southern Sudan, whose freight trade uses the port?

SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK, ''THE CRADLE OF MANKIN,GARDEN OF EDEN''

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Shimmering like a mirage in the harshly beautiful desert landscape of northern Kenya lies the blue-green waters of Lake Turkana. On its shores lies one of the world's greatest treasures, the 3 million year Koobi Fora a paleontological site. First discovered by Dr. Richard Leakey and his tem in 1972, Sibloi is now universally recognized as the ''cradle of mankind'' and is most likely the biblical Garden Of Eden.

Sibiloi National Park was created to protect the sites of the many remarkable fossils revealed by its searing winds. The Park yielded its most striking treasure in 1972 when a 2 million year old fossilized skull was discovered by eminent palaeontologist Dr. Richard Leakey and his team. The almost complete skull ( labeled '1470' by the National Museum of Kenya) confirmed the existence of a sophisticated evolutionary hominid named HOMO HABILIS , the direct ancestor of HOMO SAPIENS. Evidence of HOMO ERECTUS was also unearthed along with 160 additional finds relating to the early hominids.

Although all Koobi Fora's human fossils are now housed at the Nairobi National Museum, you can still view the fossils of a 3 million year old giant tortoise, an ancient species of crocodile and a 1.5 million year old behemoth on site. It goes without saying that you should not touch/remove any of these fossil remains from the sites as they may compromise the future research.

The Tenpestuous 'jade sea' is the largest permanent desert lake in the world. Lake Turkana is an isolated chloro-carbon-carbonate alkine giant covering 6400 sq km. Its mercurial blue-green colour earned it the name, 'the Jade Sea'.

Survivors of an epoch long before mankind, Lake Turkana's estimated 12,000 crocodiles have not changed in 130 million years!!! Despite their monstrous size and formidable appearance they are generally inoffensive creatures living in perfect harmony with their environment and feeding on the lake's prolific fish. Moreover, Sibloi has a veriety of birdlife which include the somali ostrich,kori and heglin's bustard,northern carmine and somali bee-eater,chestnut-bellied sand grouse and fox kestrel. The park is also famous sor the European migrants that sweep across the skies between March and May.

The park is accessible year round.

A word of advice is that you should if possible carry ALL oyur supplies especially fuel,food and water. Other useful items include camping equipment, breakdown equipmant and medical kit as well as binoculours, camera,hat,sunglasses and guidebooks.

the are lodges where you can find accommodation within the park which are oasis lodge( located towards the southern end of the lake) and Lobolo Tented Camp( located on the western shore of the lake).

OL-DONYO SABUK NATIONAL PARK

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It is dubbed the ultimate panoramic experience/ the mountain of the buffalo. The National Park is a rugged, hump-backed outcrop of ancient rock jutting high above the Athi plains and hazily visible from Nairobi. Ol Donyo Sabuk is a densely forested mountain known to the local Kikuyu as 'the mountain of the buffalo', and to the Masai as the 'Big Mountain'. Just one road leads to the summit, which offers magnificent 360' panoramas over the river Athi, the pineapple fields of Thika and the snow capped peaks of both Mount Kilimanjaro(africa highest mountain) and Mount Kenya( africa's second highest mountain). Within easy reach of Nairobi, the lush vegetation and cool air of this compact and scenic National Park make for an ideal day trip or a camping weekend.

The park is essentially compromised of the mountain's slopes and ravines and is entirely forested except for a small area at the top. Within the halo of primal forest at the summit you may also find some of the giant plants more commonly associated with Afro-alpine zones of Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon) particularly giant lobella). The park's one road leads directly to the summit (4WDrequired all year round), a flat open glade marked by a large survey beacon. The summit is the focus of the park and offers breathtaking views, especially in December and January when the air is particularly clear

Walking to the summit has been long prohibited for security reasons. The 9 km walk from the main gate(where 2 WD vehicles may be left) to the summit is now possible as long as you take an armed KWS ranger along with you. The walk to the summit will take you around 3 hours. KWS rangers must be booked through the warden and a small fee paid for their services9 it is for your own good). Along the road to the summit lies the grave of Sir William Northup McMillan, a wealthy American farmer whose intended place on the mountain had to be abandoned when the clutches of vehicles accompanying his hearse burned out on the steep slope. His wife also rest at his side and so does the maid and the family dog. 9 which is unusual to the say the list).
As its name suggests, buffalo are the dominant animals in the park( the saltlick below the summit often attracts them), bushbuck are also easily spotted. Leopard and porcupine are also in reidence, but prove more difficult to spot in the thick bush.there is also an abundance of forest birds within the park. Easily spotted specied include: white browed sparrow weaver, grey headed sparrow, grey tit, augar buzzard, purple breasted sunbird, superb starling, bateluer, great sparrow hawk, African Hawk Eagle, mourning dove, African Pied wagtail, ring-necked dove, bronxe sunbird and much more.

Ol' Donyo Sabuk is remnant of Africa's oldest erosion surface, generally regarded as late Jurassic. A residual hump of metamorphic rock, the mountain is surrounded by the monotonous lava plateau of the Athi Plains, which formed around the mountain when lava( molten rock) escaped from fissures in the earth's crust, gradually filling the valleys and smoothing the contours of the original landscape. The fourteen Falls while en-route to the park is also an attraction.

MOUNT LONGONOT NATIONAL PARK

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Mount Longonot National Park was formed around Mount Longonot, a young dormant volcano. It was created during the volcanic eruptions that formed the Great Rift Valley. T he name Longonot is Derived from the Masai word Oloonong'ot meaning mountains of many spurs/steep ridges. Longonot park covers 52 km most of being occupied by the mountain itself. The sides of the mountain have beautiful V-shaped valleys and ridges. The stony soils have little vegetation, but the crater has an impenetrable forest.

Visitors can travel to the rim of the crater or inside to the bottom. As you climb, you will pass herds of grazing wildlife or watch buffalo and other animals as they cross the crater floor.Activities within Mountain Longonot National Park including hiking, rock climbing,biking and observing birds and wildlife. Views of Lake Naivasha and the valley itself are not to be missed. Hot Springs and steam seep through the vents in the solid lava.

The climate at the park is hot and dry and it stands at an altitude of 2524/3630 meters above sea level. The wildlife in the park include giraffe,zebra,leopard,Impala and grants.

There are also 100 recorded species of bird in the area. The park is accessible via tarmac road from Nairobi(90 km). From Naivasha town, take the lower(old) Nairobi-Naivasha road towards the direction of Nairobi until you reach the Longonot Railway crossing. Turn right after the crossing and follow the track for 4 km to the Park Gate.It is open daily between 6 am and 7 pm, including public holidays. It is good for you to know that entry to the park is allowed on foot but visitors will not be allowed entry after 6.15 p.m.

MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK

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Mount Kenya is africa's second highest mountain. It is located in central province of kenya. approximately a 2 hour trip(175 kilometers) from the capital city, Nairobi. It is a haven for Mountain climbers, tekkers,adventurers etc. Mt. Kenya's two highest Peaks, nellion and batain can only be reached by technical climbers, but no worries for the rest of us. Pt. Lenana, the third highest peak, is easily accesible to hikers. it is one of the few places that you will come into contact with snow while standing right on the equator. a rare experience indeed!

Should you decide to visit Mount Kenya, you will be experiencing one of the most unique environments in the world-an area so special that in 1997 UNESCO inscribed Mount kenya A world heritage site as ''ane of the most impressive landscapes in Eat Africa with its rugged glacier-clad summits, Afro-alpine moorlands and diverse forests that illustrate outstanding ecological processes.
Since 1978, the area is also an international Biosphere Reserve. Mt. Kenya, an extinct volcano that last erupted between 2.8-3.2 million years ago, was gazzetted a National Park in 1949 and a National Reserve in 2000 and is managed by Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS).
In the 2800sq kilometer National Park and Reserve, there are over 800 recorded plant species with 81 of them being endemic to MT. Kenya;there is also a wide variety of wildlife such as elephant,buffalo,eland, bushback, waterbuck, zebra, hyena,colobus monkey,white throated guegonon and common at higher altitudes, the ubiquitous Mt. Kenya rock hyrax. Animals rarely seen include leopard,bongo,giant forest hog and rhino.Wild animals often come into contacts with hikerand because of the dense forest most species are rarely seen( i came into contact with a buffalo on my trail back in 2001, that was barely 50 meters away!!!). If surprised or provoked, particularly the Cape Buffalo and elephant, they may attack!Talking, frequently clapping or making hooting sounds while hiking below the moorland warns animals you are approaching and they should move away from you. DO NOT under any circumstances approach the animal/proceed along the trail if it fails to move away. Consider backtracking away from these two in particular. Feeding wild animals disrupts their behaviour which includes monkeys, hyrax and birds, You may also be attacked if the animal is aggressive, so excercise caution and leave the animals alone.

Their are over 130 species of birds that have been recorded at the park. you may encounter the white headed wood hoopes probing the cracks of the gnarled forest trees for insects, or the cinamon-chested bee eaters which snap up their parey from exposed branches. The park also hosts two species of francolin, the Jackson's francolin and the scaly francolin, both of which will scurry into the undergrowth as your approach. Mackinder's eagle owl is frequently seen in the upper valleys of the mountain near the peaks, while high above the craigs cruise the mighty lammergeyers.

The elevation range is approximately 2200 metres to 5200 metres and includes several distinct vegetation zones: Mixed broad-leaf forest, Gallery Forest,Bamboo,Giant Health and Hageina,Moorland tussock grasses and Labeila-and, at the uppermost elevation,rock and ice.
To the Embu,Meru and Kikuyu tribes that dwell around the mountainMt. Kenya is the home of their traditional God,Ngai, and the location of their creation mythology. It is therefore a place to be treated with respectand reverance by the more than 30000 people who visit the mountain each and every year.
So, Out of respect for Mt. Kenya, for those who hold its sacred and those who wish to enjoy its wonders-it is encouraged that you leave no trace of your visit. Remember that mountains' high elevation on the equator has created a unique 'island environment' that is especially sensitive to human impact.
Thus,all visitors have an obligation to protect this ever so fragile ecology. The rules and regulations established by KWS are clearly posted at each gate as well as in this brochure, in guide books and websites. Failure to observe them may lead to a fine and or being asked to leave the Park/reserve. It is therefore summed up in one sentence,''the mountain can change you-DO NOT change THE MOUNTAIN!!!!!!!!!
a few things you should know before you tackle the mountain:

There are numerous camping site at the mountain where you can stay. The entrance gates to these campsites are in the forest zone at an average altitude of 2500 meters. They are located at Naru Moru, Sirimon And Chogoria Gates. Picnic tables, water as well as pit latrines are provided. If it is your wish to have a camp fire in accordance with rules and regulations that govern the park, then, you must bring your own firewood.
There are also Roadhead public campsites which are predominantly found in the upper forest and heath zones at an average altitude of 3000 meters. They are located at the Met Station( naru Moru Route), Judmaier/Old Moses( Sirimon Route) and Chogoria roadhead(Chogoria Route), At these camps, water and pit latrines are provided. Campfires are permitted but, yes, you guessed it, you must bring your own firewood.
The trailhead public campsites are in thealpine zone at an average altitude of 4000 meters. They are located at macckinders camp( naru moru route), shiptons camp9 sirimon route) and mintos hut( chogoria route). at these camps water and pit latrines are provided and campfires are strictly prohibited as you are now in the alpine zone.
The last set of camps are found in the peak zone)which is about 4600 meters above sea level!). They are located at Austrian Hut and Top Hut, and Kami and Two Tarn campsites. water and pit latrines are provided and campfires are prohibited in the area.

Dress right,eat right and drink right( it may just save your life) entremes of heat,cold,wind and sun can adversely affect visitors. Hypothermia is life hreatening as it lowers the body temperature significantly. Signs/symptons include clumsiness,stumbling,apathy,lethargy,loss of enthusiasm & thinking ability,disorientation and unconsciousness. Treatment requires early recognition and aggressive steps to warm the hypothermic person. Find shelter!Remove wet clothing. Create a warm and dry environment for the victim. Put the victim in a sleeping bag with one/two other people stripped to the underclothes9 very important. Depending on if the victim is able, drinking warm high caloric fluids like cocoa will help. the victim will also require rest and should be taken off the mountain as soon as possible.
The combination of strong equitorial sun and thin air makes sumburn and snow blinding very common. Protect your skin and eyes from the sun. Dehydration predisposes hypothermia and altitude illness.
Drink 4-6 liters of fluids a day. a adiet high in cabohydrates supplemented by other foods will best prepare your body for the challenging environment
as for dress, garments of wool and synthetic insulated materials are far preferable to cotton/down.
when hiking with a guide/porters/companions, be sure to keep adequate gear in your rucksack so that you have what you need should you ever be seperated( God forbid!). such materials include a map, compass, food,water,first aid kit, warm and waterproof compass, clothing, a signalling mirror, matches/lighter and a flashlight are all of vital importance.

when it comes to health, here are a few ways to recognise altitude related sicknesses such as AMS ( acute mountain sickness,HAPE( high altitude pulmonary edema and HACE( high altitude cerebral edema)

in the case of AMS, symptoms include headaches, nausea,fatigue,malaise,loss of appetite and difficulty in sleeping.Treatment to AMS is to slow down, stay in camp, drink plenty of fluids and rest while body adjusts to the altitude. If the symptoms persist after 48 hours, descend the mountain
In the case of HAPE, the symptoms include shortness of breath during exercise progressing to shortness of breath at rest, a dry cough deterioraying to a frothy sptutm audible gurgling(rales) from the chest are heard, increased heart and breathing rate. Treatment to this is to immediately descend and seek immediate attention. actually, descending is the best treatment available. This is because HAPE can progress quickly to a point where the victim is unable to walk! HAPE does not improve with rest at the same altitude.
HACE-they are symptoms of AMS that quickly progress into severe headaches, slurred speech, loss of co-ordination, irrigational behavior, coma and lastly death. the treatment to HACE is IMMEDIATE DESCENT!!!!!!!!!HACE, like HAPE, quickly progresses into the lethal stage.

You can minimize your impact when trekking the mountain by:

Staying on the trails as they exist. Doing so protects the surrounding vegetation and prevents soil erosion. If you happen to be hiking where no trails are in existance, spread the impact so that you do not create new trails. When taking breaks choose areas that will not show much human impact such as rock/bare ground. Sitiing on the vegetation leads to its destruction.
In areas where previous campsites are not obvious, camp on durable surfaces such as rock/bareground, never vegetation.
Camping at least 50 meters from water helps prevent contamination of the water by human waste. In all acases try to leave the camping area in better condition than you found it.
campfires are not permitted above the forest edge in Mt. Kenya National Park. While, there may be appear to be wood for fire, the small amount present is an important source of nutrients for the soil and future plant growth. Plan on carrying a camp stove.

ABERDARE NATIONAL PARKS

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Encircled by the wild and beautiful moorlands of the third highest mountain range in Kenya, this atmospheric Park offers a mist wreathed realm where elephants roam through lichen-hung forests, spectacular waterfalls plunge into churning pools, and trout-filled streams cascade through mossy dells. A haven for anglers, walkers and lovers of solitude alike, it also offers matchless views of the glittering coronet of Mount Kenya and sparkling lakes of the great Rift Valley.

The park is also famous for freedom fighters hideouts(the Mau Mau), where they are Mau Mau caves that were being used by field marshal General Dedan Kimathi and his Mau Mau prior to independence. The Kimathi ''post office'', where agents used to drop messages for Mau Mau fighters led by the legendary Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi in the Aberdare and Mt. Kenya forests.

Believed by the Kikuyu to be one of the homes of Ngai(God) and originally known as 'Nyandarua'( the dying hide) due to the distinctive folds of its silhouettes, the range was renamed in 1884 by the explorer, Joseph Thompson, after Lord Aberdare, the President of the Royal Geographical Society. Dubbed the 'White Highlands' because of the large numbers of Europeans who settled there in the 1920's, the area also achieved notoriety due to the decadent antics of the 'Happy Valley Set' of the Wanjohi Valley.

Also during the 1950's, the dense forests and bamboo thickets witnessed much of the action between the british forces and the Mau Mau freedom fighters. The original 'Treetops' hotel fell under the spotlight of the world when the young Princess Elizabeth descended its steps as Queen Elizabeth 2 of England in 1952.

The Park provides a unique habitat for approximately two thousand elephants, which roam the clouded hills and misty guides and provide endless atmospheric viewing opportunities. The Park is also renowned for its torrential waterfalls plunging from cloud-shrouded heights to spray-filled ravines.

They include the magnificent Karura Falls, which drop 300m, the impressive Gura Falls which torrent from the opposite side of the same gorge, the sheeer drop of the Chania Falls, and the enchanting Maruga Falls which cascade across the yawning mouth of the Queen's cave.

You don't have to be a mountaneer to climb the peaks of th aberdare, most of which can be conquered with little more than strainuous high altitude trekking. There is also countless panaromic moorland hikes and forest walks. Permission is required from the warden to walk, hike or climb in the park and you must be accompanied by an armed KWS Ranger,whose servicescan be booked by contacting the Warden, preferably in advance.
Both brown and rainbow trout is in plenty in the cool mountain streams and provide excellent angling.( A sports fishing liscense can be obtained at the Park Gates.

There are many places where you could find accomodation which are the Ark, the Aberdare Country Club and ofcourse the world famous tree house Lodge, TREETOPS. (You get to view wildlife from the comfort of the treetops balconies as there is a waterhole nearby. In fact the only thing that separates you from them is an electric fence!!!).

TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK

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Dubbed the Land of lava, springs and man-eaters, Tsavo West alongside Tsavo East national park forms one of the largest National Parks in the world. It covers a mind blowing 4% of Kenya's total land area!!! Being the more famous of the two, it lies west of the Nairobi-Mombasa highway right in the middle of both major cities. It is teeming with wildlife, liquid lava flows, palm fringed rivers,emerald hills and a canvas of endless African sky.

The lush hippo-heaving pools of mzima springs, fed daily by 250 million litres of water gushing from the chyulu hills provide an oasis of green, an underwater hippo viewing chamber( yes), two nature trails and very unique picnic spots.
However, the Park is most famous for the 'man eaters of tsavo', a pair of rogue man-eating lions which preyed gruesomely on the builders of the Uganda Railway. Today, the park is more famous for the numerous prides of maneless lions that patrol the plains and police the herbivore herds.

Apart from that very famous piece of history, 600 different species of birds has been recorded within the park. other wildlife to look out for while at the park are leopard,cheetah,buffalo,elephant,giraffe,zebra,lion,plains game,crocodile,mongoose,hyrax, dik dik,lesser kudu and the nocturnal porcupine. The park also features 100 plant species and a mixed habitat of bush, grassland and accacia woodlands dotted with baobab, ivory palm, saltbush,doum palm,tamarind and fig trees.

When visiting tsavo west, make sure you have drinking water( bottled), picnic items(you may never know) and camping equipment should you choose to stay at the various campsites within the park. other useful items include binoculars,camera, hat, sunsceen and guidebooks.

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

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Lake Nakuru National Park is located 140 kilometers from Nairobi and was gazetted in 1961 and is considered one of the most popular and visited parks in Kenya. The famous Lake Nakuru is found here, which is a shallow soda lake that provides the perfecting nesting grounds for millions of flamingo and the much needed support for the abundance of wildlife that live within the park. The main thing about this park is the pink flamingo that litterally turn the lake pink, and hence Lake Nakuru is sometimes reffere to as the pink lake. It is indeed the greatest ornithological spectacle on earth!!!!!

For bird lovers and bird watchers this is their paradise because in addition to the pink fellas, they are a recorded 450 other bird species that nest within the park!!

The park has been electrically fenced off by the Kenyan government in the hopes of protecting the wildlife from poachers, especially the black rhinos. Nakuru national park is now one of the most prime parks to re-introduced rare, endangered or once captive wildlife.

Other wildlife within the park include the thomson's and grants gazelle, lions,leopards, stripped hyena's,waterbuck,bat eared fox,wildcat,black and white rhino,reedbuck,golden cat,collubus monkey,long eared leaf nosed bats, rock hyrax and hippo.These are not the only attractions. Others include Malaika waterfall, 3 view points namely:lion hill,baboon cliffs and out of africa, the enasoit and honeymoon hills and much more!!
In regards to accommodation, there are campsites and lodges within the camp that offer you quality and comfort during your stay from you to choose from.

HELL'S GATE NATIONAL PARK

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Hells Gate National Park lies south of lake naivasha in kenya, north west of Nairobi. known for its wildlife and beautiful scenery, it also has the Fischers Tower and Central Tower columns as well as Hell's gate Gorge. The national park is also home to three geothrmal power stations at Olkaria.

Hells Gate National Park covers an area of 68.25 square kilometres and is situated in the environs of Lake Naivasha, approximately 90 kilometres from Nairobi. The park is situated 14 kilometres after the turn off from the old Nairobi-Naivasha Highway.It is diversed by diverse topological and geological scenery. It has historically been an important home for the rare lammergeyer., but it is now thought that the famous pair of birds may not have nested in the park for several years.

The park is popular due to its close proximity to Nairobi (one and half hour drive) and lowered park fees compared to other National parks. One is encouraged to hike and cycle within the park. This is a rarity in other Kenyan parks and is only made possible due to the lack of dangerous animals such as lions and elephants. However, there is a small number of cheetahs and African Buffalo.

The park is equipped with three campsites. There are also lodges around the vicinity if camping is not your cup of tea.

NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK

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7 Kilometres from Nairobi city center stands Nairobi National Park which holds the distinction of being the only national park within a Capital City on earth! it is considered to be the 'appetizer' of any safari package. Of all the national parks in Kenya, it is by far the most the accessible. The park was established in 1946. its uniqueness stems from the fact that it is a mixture of savannah and swampland with a backdrop of looming skyscrappers and airplanes en-route to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It is also the home of the largest concentration of black rhino in the world

It is also the site where Daniel arap Moi, Kenya's former president, burned ten tons of ivory in 1989 in protest of the international trade of ivory.

There is huge variety of wildlife in the national park such as gazelles,warthogs,lions,leopards,cheetahs( usain bolt just adopted a cub the other day) and buffaloes just to name but a few. And That's not all. 550 bird species also call this home.( to put that in perspective, that is more than the whole of U.K. combined.) making it a must visit for bird lovers and watcher's.

For the time being the park remains unfenced largely due to the efforts of Friends of Nairobi National Park Campaign. Why this is so important is because wildlife use a route connecting the park to the expansive Rift Valley and in so doing maintains ancient migratory routes. During the dry season, the concentration of wildlife is higher because animals migrate into the park where water is almost always available.

Attractions include the annual wildebeest and zebra migration(july to august), large predators such as cheetah,lion and leopards, viewpoints in the highlands over the plains, walking trail and hippo poll and the black rhinocerous in its natural habitat......
The Kenya Wildlife Service( K.W.S.) headquarters is at the entrance of the park with an office that sells and recharges smart cards as well as a small education center. A stones throw away, there is the Nairobi Safari Walk, a sort of zoo-meets-nature boardwalk for viewing birds and animals.