Despite this, it's one of only two freshwater lakes in Kenya (it is, in fact, slightly saline, but not enough to bother the crocs, hippos or people who swim in it). The lake is not officially ranked as a protected area, but it is a shelter for more than 450 bird species, which attracts bird watchers from across the globe. While you're unlikely to see all 470 species in a short visit, there are plenty of birds to be seen even by novice birders.

The pale and dark phase gabar goshawk, paradise flycatcher, African fish eagle, marabou stork, hikra and white-faced scops owl are among some of the regular sightings, while some the less common birds that can be seen there include Hemprich's hornbill, the African darter and the African skimmer. The lake is well-stocked with fish, thus attracting many pelicans, cormorants and fish eagles. The lake is also home to a large population of crocodiles, which have the unusual habit (according to local sources) of never attacking people.

warbler, spectacled weaver, brimstone canary and red-billed firefinch. All told, the area has over 350 species.

There are great day trips to do from here, including visiting Elsamere, home of Joy Adamson. You can visit Hells Gate National Park, which is famous for its birds of prey and unique flora that thrives on volcanic soil, gorges, cliffs, caves and towers. The setting is one of intense, recent volcanic activity where hot springs, steam jets and fumaroles are common.

A visit to Crescent Island should not be missed. It is one of the few places in Africa where you can wander on foot among zebra, wildebeest, gazelle and giraffe. Continuing on South Lake Road past Elsamere, look out for emerald coloured Crater Lake. This is one of the best places in the area to see black and white colobus monkeys, and there is also fantastic swimming

intense evaporation has led to high levels of salt and minerals. As a result, it has no fish but is rich in blue-green algae, which the flamingos love. Spectacular congregations of near threatened lesser flamingoes estimated at up to 2 million birds occur at times, and several hundred thousand birds are often present.

The lake is still volcanically active, and the western shore is lined with spouting geysers, rising steam and bubbling geothermal pools. Because of the extreme temperatures, you need to be cautious-- don't be tempted to put your hands into the water if you are at all fond of your skin!

Bogoria National Reserve is also home to Africa’s most magnificent antelope--the greater kudu and a host of other savannah wildlife including the zebra, impala, Grant’s gazelle, klipspringer, buffalo, dikdik and patas monkey among others. Predators include the leopard, cheetah, hyena, mongoose, jackal and occasional sightings of karakul. About 30 mammal species abound in the reserve. It is also rich in birdlife.

At least 45 species are to be found only in here. The forest also hosts about 160 tree and shrub species, many of Congolean lowland forest affinities, including a number of endemic plant species, mostly ferns and orchids.

Except for the monkeys and squirrels, large mammals are not much in evidence. Only smaller antelope and bush pig are present. Small carnivores, such as the Egyptian mongoose, African civet, palm civet, serval and genet are common; some larger carnivores, including jackals, spotted hyenas, and leopards may occasionally occur there.

There are walking safaris through the forest, led by excellent local guides. Night game viewing is also very interesting.

snorkeling and scuba diving. Kisite is also home for dolphins and humpback whales. The variety and abundance of fish is astounding.
Blue striped snappers, Ehrenburg snappers and sweet lips with their prominent yellow coloring can be seen, along with families of up to eighty parrot fis,h in these shallow, clear waters. Kisite Marine National Park is easily accessed by special tourist dhows from Wasini Island or nearby Shimoni.

make way for bush and grassland. The abundance of water and excellent availability of food are the reasons why Masai Mara, which is a continuance of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, has the greatest population of wild animals in the whole of Africa. Here the herds of elephants browse among rich, tree studded grasslands. Thompson's gazelles, zebra, eland and many more species of Savannah game offer rich prey fpr the park’s many lions, cheetahs and leopards.

The richness of the fauna and flora and the untouched life of Africa, continuing as it has for thousands of years, is secondary to the Mara's annual migration of wildebeest. The spectacle of more than a million of these creatures moving as a great mass across the Savannah is one of the most breathtaking sights in nature. The actual migration does not last very long, and its start is impossible to predict accurately.
Nevertheless, visitors to Masai Mara in August through September are certain to see great herds of wildebeest and zebra. However, all year round, the Mara is rich in resident wildlife, and the combination of its gentle climate with its scenic splendor and unbelievable wildlife make it Kenya's most popular game reserve. The Maasai people live on the reserve's fringes and are co-owners of the reserve, sharing in revenues from tourism.

Besides the normal safari activities, it is also possible to go hot-air ballooning and do walking safari in some areas, one of the finest ways to see Africa's wildlife.

After initially resisting the attack, the citizens were finally forced to give in after a tribe of cannibals, the Zimba, gained entrance to the city by posing as anti-Portuguese mercenaries and then commencing to eat the local population.

Mombasa became Portugal’s main trading centre along the East Coast of Africa. This led to the construction of a monumental fort that still stands today known as Fort Jesus. The fort served as the main hub for trading goods, a prison for slaves, and most importantly, protecting the Portuguese from conflicts with locals and threatening foreign battalions. Slavery was the major activity that took place at that time, where local slaves were exchanged for goods from visiting ships that often came from European countries.

The trading of spices, cotton and coffee, which were cultivated and grown in the rich fertile soils of the town’s farms, is one of the reasons Mombasa was a popular destination for seafarers at the time. Captured slaves were forced to work on these farms in extremely harsh and inhumane conditions. Remnants of the slave trade can still be seen today around the town. Fort Jesus still contains cells where the slaves were held, and various artifacts from that era can be found in the museum at the fort.

Portugal’s reign over Mombasa lasted for approximately 200 years, after which they were overthrown by the Omani Arabs, who themselves would be forced to give up Mombasa to its final captors: the British. The British ruled Kenya from 1888-1963 when Kenya finally gained its hard-fought independence on the 12th December, 1963. Not surprisingly, there is a strong sense of history in this languid tropical town. A great place to begin your exploring is Old Town. Mombasa also has shops, banks, travel agencies, restaurants and hotels, so you can get your business done here before moving on.

The beaches south of Mombasa are referred to as the "South Coast," while those stretching from Mombasa north to Kilifi are referred to as the "North Coast". Further north lie the old and colourful towns of Malindi and Lamu, the latter being situated on a small island not far from the mainland. Most marine activities are available along the Kenya coast. These include water skiing, windsurfing, scuba driving, snorkeling and big game fishing.

The entire mountain above the 3200m contour forms a national park. In fact, the mountain consists of three principal zones; the rocky peak area, with its cloak of glaciers and snowfields; the alpine zone with its distinctive giant vegetation; and the vast gentle slopes drenched in mountain forest and bamboo jungle.
Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano, 50 km in diameter at the base that was built up by intermittent volcanic eruptions 3.1 to 2.6 million years ago. What remains now as the central peaks was the core of the volcano, all the crater rim having been eroded away. Originally the summit of Mount Kenya must have reached well over 6,500 meters.

There are three different walking routes to the peak areas of Mt. Kenya:
Chogoria Route- from the road, the fastest and most spectacular route to approach Point Lenana Naro Moru Route- the most popular and quickest route to the south side of the mountain Sirimon Route- offers some of the best forest walking on Mt.Kenya.

In our itinerary we use the Sirimon Route. This route provides the easiest and most scenic access to the northern side of the central peaks, which include Batian, Nelion and Lenana. The track is 15 km from Nanyuki town heading towards Meru. This route has a lot of advantages that makes it more favorable and comfortable. Accommodation on the mountain is in roomy, two man double wall tents. You will require a sleeping bag and mat. Warm water for washing is provided at all campsites. A cook will prepare all meals, and these always include fresh vegetables and fruits.

Omo River of Ethiopia evaporates at an amazing 3-4 meters (over 10 feet) per year. The landscape is rough, and the lake's waters can go from smooth as glass to extremely rough in a matter of minutes.

Turkana's fish are legendary in Kenya, with its Nile perch reaching weights of over 800 kilograms (over 360 pounds). Tilapia is also common, as are tiger fish, which are small puffer fish similar to those found on coral reefs.
It also has 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. 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 in villages of distinctive rounded reed huts on the shores of the lake.