Kenya Safari Guidebook

Geosafaris Safaris Guide Kenya Guide The most spectacular geological feature in Africa is the Great Rift Valley, a fault in the earth's surface which is at its most prominent when it passes through Kenya. Dramatic cliffs, towering volcanoes and a series of seven lakes are the hallmark of this geological wonder. Lake Turkana (the Jade Sea) is its most northerly feature. Best known for the anthropological treasures found near its shores by the Leakey family, Lake Turkana is the most rugged embodiment of the Rift Valley - crocodiles roam its banks, fringed by volcanoes and arid hills. It is inhospitable country, but the Turkana tribe has managed to adapt to its characteristics and is able to eke out a nomadic living from the area through fishing and raising livestock. The most southerly body of water in Kenya's Rift Valley is Lake Magadi, a desolate soda lake where it is hot, arid and incredibly scenic. Few tourists venture into Magadi. Their loss is your gain. In between, five smaller lakes - Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru, Elmenteita, and Naivasha, are clustered a hundred miles on either side of the equator. All are ornithological paradises, with the flamingo concentrations of Nakuru and Bogoria regarded as one of the greatest wonders of nature in the world. Lake Baringo holds the world record for the largest number of bird species seen in a 24 hour period. It is also renowned for its hippos and crocodiles. For the intrepid, the water skiing is excellent there. The birdlife around the Rift Valley lakes is one of the bonuses of your African safari. The Rift Valley can turn any visitor into a lifelong bird lover. During your visit to the Rift Valley, several choices of unique accommodations are on offer - the remote yet luxurious Baringo Island Camp, the scenic Lion Hill Camp at Lake Nakuru National Park, a luxury private villa at Lake Naivasha (where Hell's Gate National Park is well worth a visit) or Naivasha Crater Camp, a unique luxury tented camp set on a small lake within a crater.