MASAI
MARA GAME RESERVE
One of the most famous Game
Reserves in Africa, its dominant feature are the great
rolling plains of Savana grasslands, which sustians the
greatest variety of wildlife in Africa an indeed in the
world. The concentration of the game is at its highest
from July through October when the Mara is host to the
annual migration of more than a million wildbeest. The
sight of this mass exodus is awe-aspiring. The warning
of the visitors' arrival is a deep vibration as millions
of hoofs pound the earth when the herds sweep across the
plains. Many do not survive this trip as they expire from
exhaustion and injury or fall prey to hungry crocodile
in the struggle to cross the Talek and Mara Rivers. As
the migration unfolds, the wildbeest, zebra, and gazelle
are trailed by the pradetors; lion, leopard, cheetah,
hyena and scavenger birds.
Hovewer, game viewing is excellent year round with giraffe,
buffalo, zebra, eland , hartebeest and Thomson's gazelle
offering a rich choice for the predators lion, leopard
and cheeteah. It should be noted, however, that during
the rainy seasons, the grass is fairly tall in some areas,
which may affect visibilty and restrict game drives slightly.
The Maasai people, after whom the park is named , are
nomadic. While on the game drives, you will often notice
young tribesmen herding their cattle amongst the plains
game. They are colourfully attired, usually wrapped in
bright red cloths, armed with spears.
ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
Occupying 767 sq. kms. of the Aberdare Range, its' diverse
ecosytem is a major attraction. These mountian ranges
and peaks stand at about 14,000ft. The parks offers a
variety of fauna, flora and scenery as well as the dramatic
Gura Falls that drops 300m. The higher slopes support
the Kenyan versions of exotic, giant alpine vegetation.
rainforests, bamboo forest, moorlands, waterfalls and
rivers, well stocked with trout, make up the rest of the
spectacular landscape. Game viewing is excellent: giant
forest hog, rare black rhino, lion, leopard, elephant,
both spotted and melanistic serval cat, colobus and sykes
monkey. Additional attractions are the more 250 species
of birds including the African Goshawk and Jackson's Francolin.
LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
The famous of the Great Rift Valley Lakes, Lake Nakuru
is renowned magificient birdlife, especially the flamingoes
which seasonally flock there in their thousands. This
188 sq. kms. park is a paradise for those who are particularly
interested in ornithology and also offers the opportunity
of seeing white Rhino, the rare Rothchild's giraffe, large
herds of buffalo and abudance of various plains game.
Sightings of the leopard resting in the branches of acacia
trees are very common.
The 40 sq. kms alkaline Lake Nakuru lies within the park
and has been given the conservation world's Ramsar Site
designation. As you move further a field into the woods,
you find black and white colobus monkey and closer to
the escarpment walls and rocky ridges, mountain reedbuck,
dik dik, rock hyrax and klipspringer, making game viewing
well worth while.
MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK
This 715 sq. kms. park is named after Kenya's highest
mountain, said to be home of the Kikuyu God, "Ngai".
Mount Kenya rises to a height of 5199m and above the 3200
contour it forms a biosphere reserve. The mountain consists
of three principle zones: the rocky peak with its crown
of glaciers, tarns and snowfields; the alphine zone with
a distinctive giant vegetation; and the vast gentle slopes
covered in upland forest and bamboo jungle, fed by natural
mineral springs. the Tana River, largest and longest in
Kenya, begins its journey here meandering eastwards for
hundreds of kilometres before spilling into the Indian
Ocean. The forest belt is teeming with plants and animals
including 11 unique species. Suni antelope, Mount Kenya
mole, rat, montane viper, black fronted duikers, giant
forest hog, and genet cat are some of the animals on the
list. For seasoned and physically fit climber, the trek
to the peaks is a little difficult and one is advised
to spend some days getting acclimatised before making
that journey. The climb itself is well worth the effort,
seeing the different birds and animals , vegetation, and
the changing landscape up close.
TSAVO NATIONAL PARK
Considered one of the world's biggest biodiversity microcosms,
Tsavo is the largest park in Kenya and for administrative
purposes, the park has been divided into Tsavo East covering
11,747 sq. kms. and Tsavo West covering 9065 sq. kms.
The park is mainly arid with two permanent rivers, the
Tsavo and Athi rivers. The alternately hilly, rocky and
flat landscape is dotted with giant baobab trees and the
desert rose. Along the river banks you find a thriving
animal population in and around the acacias and raffia
palms. Within the park, many natural wonders which inlude
the Lugard falls on Galana River with its incredible water
eroded rocks; Mzima springs with an underwater viewing
hide to look at hippo trapsing, apparently weightless,
along the river bed, and giant crocodiles taking a dip;
the world largest lava flow, the Yatta Plateau and exceptional
views of Kilimanjaro.
Game here is diverse with ostrich, gazelle, giraffe and
zebra accompanied by the predatory cats. Some of the largest
herds of elephant in the country are found in Tsavo ,
often having red colouring from the soil they use to dust
and bathe. About 500 bird species , both migratory and
resident, can be spotted in the various localities. Among
the less common animals , you will find fringe-eared orynx,
gerenuk, and Hunter's hartebeest in this park.
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
The Amboseli National Park is an International Biospere
Reserve, 392sq. kms in area. within easy access to Nairobi,
Amboseli is one of the most popular National Parks in
Kenya. The flat dry plains lie at the foot of Kilimanjaro
whose towering presence can be sensed even when covered
by clouds. On clear days the snow capped peak forms a
picturesque backdrop to large resident herds of elephants
and in the dry season, thousands of plains game congregate
at the edge of the swamps, that are fed by snow melt and
rainfall from the mountain. Although primarily known for
its prolific elephant population, the amount and choice
of other game is generous. Lion, leopard, zebra, wildbeest,
buffalo and other savannah game roam the plains. For bird
watrchers, there is plenty to see including martial eagle,
pygmy falcon, pelican. |
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Migration
at Masai Mara |
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Flamingoes
at Lk. Nakuru National Park |
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Elephants
in Amboseli |
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Zebras
found in many Parks |
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The
Red Rhino in Tsavo |
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Cheetah
in Masai Mara |
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Giraffe
in many Parks |
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The
Wonderful Baboon |
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