Tourists Flight To Rift Valley Province National Parks & Game Reserves In Kenya

Tourists Flight To Rift Valley Province National Parks & Game Reserves In Kenya

Rift Valley province in Kenya is where the famous and "seven wonders of the world" Maasai Mara is situated and below find the national parks, game reserves and towns.

The Great Rift Valley is the continuous geographic trough, about 6,000 km long, that cuts through Africa and runs from Syria in North West Asia to Mozambique in East Africa. The name was given by the late 19th century explorer John Gregory.

Scientists say that the Rift Valley was formed about 20 million years ago when the earths crust weakened and tore itself apart creating the jagged rift across the African continent. During this phenomenon, great volcanic mountains were formed by eruptions on either side of the valley, while the valley floor gradually sank into the flat plain as it is known today.

The Great Rift Valley divides Kenya down the length of the country. The width varies from about 100km to its narrowest width of about 45km just north of Nairobi. The depth of the valley floor also varies, being at the lowest near the Lake Turkana.

The Rift Valley is still active today as is evidenced by some active volcanoes and hot springs, geisers and alkaline lakes along its length.

The alkaline lakes include Lake Baringo, Bogoria, Elementaita, Magadi, Naivasha and Nakuru; they have high concentrations of sodium carbonate that are good breeding grounds for algae, resulting in the abundance of millions of birds. Lake Nakuru is known for its large flocks of flamingoes that are a sight to behold.

The Rift Valley is also characterized by desert, farmland, flat arid plains and steep escarpments. As a result, it is home to large kingdoms of lions, the cradle of mankind and home of the Maasai people, the nine Kalenjin tribes and the Turkana, the oldest tribal society in the world. It offers picturesque views of gorges, lakes, and volcanic mountains. This is where you will find the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Africa's greatest wildlife reserve where the great migration miracle occurs every year.

The inhabitants of this vast land make beautiful artifacts, including batiks, beaded ornaments, necklaces, bangles, anklets, and metal jewellery. Also on sale are traditional milk gourds, weaponry (spears, knives, arrows and shields), leather items, and pottery.

The means of transport is by air, rail and road. By air it takes 40 minutes in a Cessna c-172/c-182 3 seater and 25 minutes in a Cessna caravan 13 seater aircraft to Nakuru the headquarters of the Rift Valley Province. The furthest is Lokichogio and it takes 2 hours 45 minutes in a Cessna caravan 13 seater and 3 hours 25 minutes in a Cessna c-172/c-182 3 seater aircraft. There are scheduled flights only to Lokichogio, Masaai Mara and Lodwar and to the rest of the province you will have to take a private charter flight which are available in all capacities ranging from 3 to 37 seater but note also some of the airstrips are tidy and rough thus the need to inquire from the charter companies the type of aircraft which can land there before arranging for your journey. There also private charter companies out of Nanyuki, Lamu, Mombasa and Malindi airport which you can hire a private charter.

When in Rift Valley province you can visit Kenya's Maasai Mara which was in November 2006 named as the 8th Wonders of the World because of what the experts termed as "the uniqueness of the area and the preservation it provides to so many species living in harmony". The Maasai Mara National Reserve is 270 km from Nairobi, a five hour drive or 45 minutes flight by air. The National Reserve was the shooting location for the film Out Of Africa and remains the location for the British Broadcasting Corporations Big Cat Diary wildlife series. Although it is a resting place of the big five, the reserves major attraction is the great wildebeests and Zebras migration from Serengeti in Tanzania to the Mara that happens between July and September. This annual migration is the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth. Game drives are only conducted during the day by organized game drives or once in the early morning through the balloon safari.

Hells Gate National Park is located off Nairobi-Nakuru highway, and is an ideal place to get away from town life because of its close proximity to Nairobi. At the national park, you will have an opportunity to see geysers, gorges, wildlife and birdlife. The place has three towers for viewing the Rift Valley and its wildlife.

Within Mount Longonot National Park lies the young dormant Mt. Longonot volcano rising 2,776 metres above sea level. The park is 90 km from Nairobi and offers visitors the opportunity to view the Longonot volcano and crater, the Naivasha basin and a splendid view of the Rift Valley.

Olorgesailie Prehistoric site is located on the edge of a vanished lake 60 km from Nairobi, past Ngong Hills. About half a million years ago, Olorgesailie was a hunter's camp. Archaeologists have excavated the site and a tour of the place will bring you closer to the roots of mankind. There is a small museum within the site, where visitors have the opportunity to see fossils of prehistoric creatures, their tools and hunting weapons in their undisturbed state.

Kabarnet Museum in Baringo town was previously the house of the District Commissioner. The main attractions in the museum are the material culture of the local Rift Valley people (the Kipsigis, the Nandi, the Pokot, the Keiyo/Marakwet, and the Samburu), Lake Baringo and the environment, and archaeological sites. Kabarnet is also surrounded by beautiful scenery of the Lake Bogoria, Lake Baringo, Kerio Game Reserve and Park, and the Tugen Hills.

Hyrax Museum is about 4km from Nakuru town. It got its name from the abundance of hyraxes that lived in the rocks. Hyrax Museum was established 1965 because of its significance as an area that had prehistoric settlement dating back 3,000 years. Among the main attractions are exhibits of the culture of the Rift Valley people and excavations from the archaeological sites.

Narok Museum at the entrance of Narok Town is one of the newest museums in Kenya. It contains artifacts and exhibits of the Maasai people, who are renowned for the maintenance of their rich tradition and culture. There are also exhibits of the culture of other Maa speakers in Kenya who include the Njemps, the Ndorobos, and the Samburu.

Kariandusi Museum site was found in 1928 and is believed to date back about one million years. It is located along Nairobi to Nakuru highway about 2km east of Lake Elementaita.Kariandusi is known for its diatomite mining; this mining activity unveiled vital archaeological materials. Among the exhibits are hand axes and cleavers, tools made from the black volcanic rock that is found in lava flows, and the excavation pits left behind by archaeological excavators.

Koobi Fora is located east of Lake Turkana and is a world leading prehistoric site. The Museum has exhibits of fossils dating back beyond 1 million years. The site of the Museum has minimum human activity except for limited nomadic Gabbra tribe, but visitors can see several wildlife species like the Somali ostrich, the Grevys Zebra, gerenuk, and the Oryx.

Sibiloi National Park is East Africa's best-kept secret. Located in the north east of Kenya, it is unique in that it combines wildlife and pre-history. It contains some of the most important paleontological and archaeological sites in the world, as well as stunningly beautiful and interesting wildlife areas.

Lake Magadi is 120km from Nairobi. Temperatures here are very high and from a distance you can see the evaporation of water from the lake that leaves a crust of sodium carbonate that is mined and exported. At Magadi, you will also have the opportunity to see birdlife that comes to feed on the algae found in the mounds near the lake. Also, the Maasai people living there will tell you about their culture.

Lake Nakuru National Park is located 160 km northwest of Nairobi and only 4km from Nakuru town. It is home to millions of fuchsia pink flamingos, the fish eating pelicans as well as over 450 other species of birds. It is also a good location for game viewing of the black rhino, the lion, the waterbuck and antelopes. It is one of the best places to see the leopard as well as the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. The national park was gazette to protect the flamingos and also provide sanctuary to endangered species like the Rhino.

The Menengai Crater is a breathtaking marvel and a scenic beauty to behold. The locals have nicknamed it Kirima kya ngoma (the place of devils) due to the legendary tales about its origin. The place has peace and tranquility that attracts many Christians to seek prayer and fellowship with God. Although the volcano is dormant, there are still hot spots at the floor and streams of vapour can be seen coming from the crater. The Rotary Club has erected a signpost at the highest point showing directions and the respective distances to several places in the world.

Lake Logipe is one of the lesser known Rift Valley lakes located south of the Lake Turkana.

Lake Elementaita is about 30km from Lake Nakuru.The lake is rich with abundant bird life and visitors will also get a splendid view of the vast Rift Valley. View of Lake Elementaita from Naivasha/Nakuru road.

Lake Naivasha is the highest of the Rift Valley lakes, at 1880 meters above sea level. It is a fresh water lake and home to over 450 species of birds including the African Fish Eagle.

Lake Baringo is a 130 sq km fresh Water Lake located in the semi-desert Baringo district. Aboat trip across the lake gives opportunity to see birdlife, crocodiles and hippos. Visitors can also enjoy fishing and water sports. There is also a snake park in the area where you can have a closer look at the reptiles. Nearby is a village of the Njemp community where one can experience the culture of the people living around the lake.

Lake Bogoria is in the Ngendelel escarpment. Visitors to the lake get an opportunity to marvel at the hot water springs and even get to boil eggs or maize, and also see plenty of birdlife and game, including the Greater Kudu. A nearby campsite with plenty of fig trees offers a shade away from the scorching sun.

Lake Turkana is the largest of Rift Valley lakes covering an area of 6,405 sq km. The lake is located in the north-western part of Kenya about 650 km from Nairobi. It was originally known as Lake Rudolf, a name given by the first Europeans who saw it in 1888. It acquired its current name (Lake Turkana) in 1975.The lake is also prehistoric site and a good place to find out about the history of man.

Kerio Valley is a 1,219m deep bio-diversity area where you will find rare plant species. To get there from Nairobi, take the Nairobi-Nakuru road (Great North Road) and divert to the Kabarnet road and go past Eldama Ravine. The scenery is beautiful as you drive down the winding road.

Nandi Hills are located in the Rift Valley highlands and is a rich agricultural land where tea grows in abundance. From a distance, the massive acres of land look like carpeted fields, a truly amazing view!

West Pokot in the expansive Rift Valley province, is an untapped tourism potential and has an almost virgin Kenya.It is inhabited mainly by the Pokots, whose main daily activity is nomadic cattle keeping. The region is mainly arid with minimal rainfall. The Pokot people are friendly and willing to share their traditional lifestyles, observing traditional ceremonies like circumcision and weddings. The cultural singing and dancing are done very enthusiastically. The main tourist attractions are the Turk well Dam (Kenya's largest hydro power plant) seker hills, traditional village visits, kerio valley, and the Kapenguria Museum, the place where the first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, was tried by the colonial government.

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