Kenya

Kenya is situated on the east side of the continent of Africa. The central line of the equator runs right through the country, so most of the people think that it has an uncomfortable heat climate. No, due to the high altitude, this beautiful country has one of the most perfect climates in the world. There are nice beaches at the coast of the blue Indian Ocean where nearly always blows a nice cool breeze. Mountain climbing and rambling over the Mount Kenya and other mountainous area's are for the more active tourists. But the greatest thrill of all is Kenyans's unique wildlife. This heritage is being protected to the utmost by the Government of Kenya. Vast areas, many thousands of square kilometers in extent, have been allocated to the animals. Game parks and reserves, where you can see the greatest variety of wild life in the world, are situated in different climatic regions, so all creatures, great and small, are given a safe home

Nairobi Nairobi means {the place of cool waters} in the Masai language. The city is build on a plateau 1660 meters above sea level and 140 km south of the Equator, started in 1899 as railway station , is now the capital of the country. Nairobi is a modern city with many big buildings. At your visit you could stay at the New Stanley Hotel, well known by the Thorn Tree, a terrace around a big Acacia tree. In the early days the hunters used this tree as a bulletin board. Today it is still in use for tourists exchanging messages. Other hotels in Nairobi to use are the Nairobi Safari Club and Nairobi intercontinental. General the first game drive is in the Nairobi National Park wich is very close to the city with a lunch in the Carnivore Restaurant. In this restaurant they will serve you a great variety of meat, you don't need strong teeth anymore because the meat nowedays is quit soft. At least the last time i checked (2003-2004). The restaurant is very nice. Nairobi National Park,117 square km, is unique. Nowhere you will find so many wild animals so close to a big city. The entrance is 10 km from the city. Except the Elephant all well known big East African Savanna Animals are here. The Animal Orphanage is situated close to the entrance of the park, it is build in 1960 with the help of donations from Dutch school Children. The intention was a hospital for sick animals but it looks more like a zoo.

Lion's The Bomas of Kenya, started in 1975, is a cultural entertainment center about 1 km past the entrance of the Animal Orphanage They will display different aspects of Kenyans Culture living styles, crafts, music and dancing. The Bomas Harambee Dancers perform daily in a circular theater or in open air. Outside they will guide you the traditional villages and the rural Kenya life style and social settings. Amboseli is the next most popular park after Masai Mara, mainly because of the spectacular backdrop of Africa's highest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro, which broods on the southern boundary of the park. At 392 square km Amboseli National Park is not a large park and it certainly doesn't have the profusion of game which you find in Masai Mara but the game here is easy to spot. The western section of the park is the dry bed of lake Amboseli, and although it is occasionally flooded in the wet season, for the majority of the time it is dry. The marshland, fed by melt water of mount Kilimanjaro, is special in the dry season very attractive for many animals and birds. Overnight stay is possible at the Amboseli Lodge and may wel also be used as a base for several game drives. Close by, and a lot less expensive, but certainly very good for your out of africa feeling, one could overnight with a tent on the campsite. Do bring a tent ! Mind you elephants often wander through day and night, as so do hyena's, but that just adds on to your experience. Most of the lodges in the middle of nowhere are luxuries and complete self supporting for electricity, warm and cold water etc.

Tsavo west National Park, 8399 square km, a very big area well known by the quantity of Elephants which live over here. Careful though. Elephant's in Tsavo are e lot less "friendly" than the old nestor's and cows of Amboseli. A big part of the park consist of grass and bush savanna, in the north above the Tsavo river it is more mountainous. Here are the Mzima springs, a big basin full of crystal clear water which gives home to some Hippo's and Crocodiles. Mzima springs provide Mombasa by a pipeline of drink water and it is permitted to walk around but be carefully special at the waterline! Not so much the Crocodile but more the Hippo is known to be very dangerous if it charge's you. And they run faster than you do !! Other interesting places are the lava flows of Chyulu Hills and Chaimu Vulcan, look here for Rock Badgers. We stay here in the Ngulia Lodge, a very good place located on the top of a cliff with a beautiful view over 2 water hole's. If you want to watch animals the whole night they can serve you coffee the whole night.

Mombasa located on a island of 13 square km and is a mix-up of African, Arabic, European and Asiatic cultures. Special the old town around Fort Jesus is interesting. Fort Jesus build in the 16 th century by the Portuguese was a strategical point to protect the harbor against British and Arabic attacks, and you are properly obliged to visit it. In the north and the south of Mombasa you will find long beaches with white sand, we stay there in hotel White Sands a typical beach hotel but with a beautiful garden and nice places under the palm trees. If you want to swim then you have to go by boat about 2 km out of the coast just before the coral banks, there the water is not too hot, just deep enough to swim and full of colorful coral and fish. Please do not step on the coral !!! You kill it by doing so! After a peaceful safari, the rest at the beach is very welcome as long as you avoid the city and souvernir boys.

Tsavo east National park, 12.500 square km. The biggest part of the park is closed for the public, but the remaining part 4000 square km is still great enough. Mainly it consist of flat grass and bush savanna the Elephants and bush fire destroyed all the Acacia trees. Along the Voi river and at the slope of the Mudanda Rock you will meet a great variety of animals. We stay here in Voi Safari Lodge a nice place with a great overlook of the savanna and a water hole. Around the lodge lives a big Baboon family, be careful, before you known they have stolen your pocket camera, film rolls, hat or your cup of coffee and you don't get it back. Also a family Rock Badgers lives in the garden and have a habbit for occupying just the chair you wanted and they know they have right of way, not you!

Masai Masai Mara Game Reserve, 1680 square km, is divided in two parts a so called inner reserve and a outer reserve, In the outer reserve may live the Masai with their cattle but not in the inner reserve. The reserve consist mainly of shelving grass savanna traversed by rivers. Along de rivers there is some densely bush. All times we have been in Masai Mara we overnight in the Mara Sopa Lodge. The lodge is build on the slope of a hill and from distance it's look like a Kikuju village, round huts with roofs of grass. Inside you will find comfortable seats a shower a fireplace and of course goods beds. The first time we have been there a armed Masai warrior escorted us every time to our room. In the evening and during the night the Hyena's and Jackals walk in front of your door. Later times the Masai warrior was dressed like an European. Masai Mara is a very good place for game drive sometime you will see very much Lions and you are able to observe an attack and other time thousands of Gnoe and zebra's are walking around also many Elephants can be observed. And when you are not lucky you will see nothing or during raining you'll fighting the hole day to put the car out of the mud. If it raining or not you will be dirty. If there is a possibility don't miss a visit to a Masai village, that is really an experience.

Lake Nakuru National Park, 230 square km, Lake Nakuru a salt/soda lake is one of world famous bird sanctuaries and noted for its huge connection of Flamingo. The first time we have been there the lake was covered with the pink color of a enormous quantity of Flamingo's more close to the waterline you will see also many groups of Pelicans hunting for food. Along the lake you will see many different Water bocks, Giraffe, Impala's, Warthogs and of course Baboons. An other year we found the lake empty and complete dry without any bird, the reason why it dry up is unknown. We overnight all times in the Lake Nakura Lodge with small cottages situated in a pretty garden. The quality of this lodge is extreme decreased, dirty and hot. And the entertainment (pop songs) during the evening is beyond the scoop.

Just north of Isiole are three national reserves, Samburo Nat. Reserve 225 square km, Buffalo Springs 339 square km and Shaba Nat Reserve 200 square km all of them along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro river. They are mainly scrub desert and open savanna plain, broken here and there by small rugged hills. The river, however, which is permanent, supports a wide variety of game. At the end of the dry season many animals migrate from the savanna to this river. In this area you will find Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra and Generouks. It is a beautiful area with pretty forest on the river banks. We stay there in Sarova Shaba lodge a very good place just on the river bank.

Lake Bogoria National reserve, 107 square km, is one of the little salt/soda lakes in the great rift valley, but the surrounding landscape is very impressive, the east wall rose sheer for 800 meters. along the lake are a lot of geysers blowing hot water and steam up to 2 meters. In spit of the very hot water in the lake thousands of Flamingo's looking for food. The best way to visit this lake is via the small village Maji ya Moto and you will have a beautiful panoramic view over the lake. Along the lake you can observe a lot of animals and if you are lucky the rare Big Koodoo.

Lake Baringo is a fresh water lake where you don't meet so much birds as with the salt water lakes, but by Lake Baringo you will see a lot of smaller and different birds coming from Ethiopia. We overnight here in Lake Baringo Club, An excellent place with a very pretty garden and a swimming pool, During the evening the Hippo's coming out of the lake and walking around in the garden. Don't miss a visit to the Lake Masai and buy some souvenirs over there. If you go outside during the evening use Mosquito repellant to protect yourself.

Mount Kenya National Park, 715 square km, on the slope of the Mount Kenya at 2195 meters. The Kenyans build high on the tree branches a lot of rooms and balcony's with a view on a big water hole with mineral soil. The rooms are connected together with corridors and stairways. A tunnel is going underground close to the water hole. On de roof there is a terrace. This place is called the Mountain Lodge, everything is cracking, peeping and moving but it's very good place to observe animals on your own balcony. Elephants, Buffalo's, Warthogs and a lot of other animals are joining the pool for drinks of minerals. During the night the hotel people wake you up if there is some special to see ...Knock knock on the door --Rhino! The Green Long Tailed Monkey's which are hanging around are very impudent, be attentive they don't come inside the room otherwise your bed will be full of flea's.

Kentimere Club close to Limuru between coffee and tea plantages is normally the place for leave taking of your driver and to hand over a tip for good service. It's also a place to enjoy a very good lunch.