Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria covers an area of 26,828 square miles (69,472 sq km) and the largest fresh water lake in Africa and second largest in the world. It is a shallow water lake. Named after former British Queen Victoria, the lake known for its colorful fishing villages, papyrus lined shore, numerous bays and islands. At an elevation of 3,718 feet above sea level, the lake shares itself with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.  It is one of the major sources of the Nile River.

Rusinga Island along the Lake is the site of the famous 17 million year old fossil skull of  Proconsul  Africans’  found by  renowned anthropologist, Mary Leakey. Once, an important source for tilapia and ciclid fish species, the lake has experienced a dramatic decline in vital commercial fishing harvests. Over fishing and the ill advised introduction, in the1960’s of the voracious and very large Nile perch has effectively reduced the lake’s once very productive output of fish for food.

Nile perch are common in Lake Victoria weighing between 60 and 100 pounds. Large adults are big enough to damage and break through fishing nets and eat massive quantities of smaller native fish species. It is also home to a wide variety of birds, such as cormorant, pelican, stork, ibis, heron, egret, duck and the majestic fish eagle. Hippopotamus and Nile crocodile are occasionally still found along the lakes extensive shore lines.

JBA- Kenya Safaris

Serengeti National Park

Plains of Serengeti

The Serengeti National Park has been the home and the subject of many books, television wild life movies documentaries, pictures, photo, on African wildlife animals, than any other African national park. Hosting the annual wildebeest migration across its grassy plains -  the world's greatest wildlife animals spectacle - this park is without a doubt a defining image of East Africa .The Serengeti Park in Tanzania covers an area of 14 763 sq km, but the greater Serengeti and roughly 30 000 sq km in extension of other various parks, which  notably the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Kenya's Masai Mara National Game Reserve. The park is picturesque grassland of awesome beauty and size. Derived from the Masai phrase "Siringet" meaning "endless plain", the Serengeti Plains ecosystem is defined by an ancient migration route, followed annually by around two million animals.

The national park can be divided into 3 major wildlife animals’ vegetation areas: In the south-eastern area are the open grasslands, to the north the open woodlands and in the west a mosaic of grass- and woodlands. The lion is one of this great African park's main attractions, as there are about 2500 of these animals in the Serengeti Plains ecosystem. This is the biggest concentration in the world of Africa's largest predators.

Masai Giraffe,Serengeti

Attractions includes;
Kopjes: Kopjes a series of weathered granite outcrops are spread everywhere in the park, one that contains African rock paintings, while another features a mysterious "rock gong". Most of these fascinating granite kopjes are miniature wildlife ecosystems, providing shade and drinking water in pools, left in the rock after the rains. The Moru Kopjes are the most frequently visited kopjes by tourists, in the park.

Lake Ndutu: The short grass plains also feature an abundance of gazelle, before the annual migration. A small seasonal lake, Lake Ndutu (or Lagarja) surrounded by beautiful acacia trees, is without a doubt, the main attraction of the area. The lake supports a number of giraffes, vast flora and fauna, rich bird life with lesser flamingoes being the major eye catching of the area.

 Moru Kopjes: The Moru Kopjes (meaning "old" in Masai) display some interesting geological formations made up of ancient granite, which were left standing after centuries of erosion and weathering. The all year round wildlife game viewing is triggered by the correction of the rain water which offers a chance for much variety of wild animals especially in the dry season. The moru provides a vantage point for the predators as they await the prey to come and drink water.

JBA- Tanzania Safari

People of Kenya

The 42 tribes of the people of Kenya enjoy diversity ,unity and harmony .They comprise the Cushitic, the bantu, the nilotes, as well as the non –Africans(Asians, Europeans and Arabs)Although the local language strongly exist, Kiswahili is the national language while English is the official language. Interaction with the friendly people in their habitats leaves a most memorable impression.

Masai People,Kenya

At the cost, one will be proudly pleased to visit the Mijikenda hut that looks exactly like half a coconut fruit with a small door. Mijikenda literally means 9 homes or villages, (Miji is homes; Kenda is 9) and the huts may have been designed to cover the nine tribes that constitutes the mijikenda tribes o=f Giriama, Digo, Chonyi, Duruma, Jibana, Kambe, Kauma, Rabai, and Ribe. It is said that mijikenda are the best cooks in the world. Their music ranges from the soothing Taarab to the more vibrant chakachaka. The word Swahili is derived from the Arabic word sawahil, an Arabic word that means coast.

Further inland, and mainly in central Kenya, there is dominance of the Bantu tribes comprising mainly of the kikuyu, Meru, Kamba, and Embu. One begins to experience the diversity in culture, seen in the mode of house construction, dress and food. Traditional house took the shape of the grass thatched roof with smoothened mud walls and earth floor. The arrangements of house within the home stead were defined by strict traditional and cultural rules.

The rift valley and its environs are mainly inhabited by the masai and the Kalejin communities. These tribes are traditionally pastoralists who depend on their animals for food. On interaction with these communities, one immediately notices the strict adherence to traditional culture by way of dress and behavior.

Western Kenya is the home to mainly the Luhya and the luo. There is dramatic change in culture and way of life, method of dress, food, music and dance.

HSK- Kenya Safari

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is located 140km north – West of Nairobi, It covers an area of 188 km2. Lake Nakuru is a very shallow strongly alkaline lake 62 km2 in extent. It is set in a picturesque landscape of surrounding woodland and grassland. This world famous Park was created to protect its stunning flocks of lesser flamingo, which literally turn the lakeshore pink in colour.
The park spans an attractive range of wooded and bush grassland around the lake, offering a wide range of eco-diversity. Notable game within the lake area is hippo and the diverse bird life. Both black and white rhino are now resident in the sanctuary and Rothschild giraffe, buffalo, impala, eland, warthog, Mountain Reedbuck, klipspringers and Black and White Colobus Monkeys are all plentiful. The ecosystem comprises of the lake, surrounded by mainly wooded and bushy grasslands.

Lesser Flamingos ,Lake Nakuru

The park supports a wide ecological diversity with Flamingos (Greater and Lesser) and other water birds being the major attractions of the area. The ecosystem provides for about 56 different species of mammals including the white rhino and buffaloes and a variety of terrestrial birds numbering nearly 450 species.Other wildlife at the park includes several prides of lions, leopards, zebra, gazelles, eland, giraffe and the hyrax. It is always rewarding to explore the forests, cliffs and waterfalls that align the Spectacular Park.Activities: Game viewing, bird watching.The best months to visit the Lake Nakuru National Park are June to September and January to March.

HSK- Kenya Safari

Safari Rwanda

Gorilla,Rwanda

Rwanda ''The land of a Thousand Hills", Rwanda is a green undulating landscape of hills, gardens and tea plantations. It offers tourists a one of a kind journey - home to one third of the world remaining Mountain Gorillas, one third of Africa's bird’s species, several species of primates, volcanoes, game reserve, resorts and islands on the expansive lake Kivu, graceful dancers, artistic crafts and friendly people. Located in the heart of Central and East Africa with easy access to bordering countries of Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo as well as to Kenya, Rwanda is an ideal location for travel within the region for conference tourism.

A visit here can easily expand to include many of the great African destinations.Rwanda has one of the highest bird counts on the continent despite being one of the smallest countries in Africa, its size 26 338sqkms. Include the high number of birding 'specials' to be seen, and the primate experiences as a bonus, and it's no wonder that most pundits rank it within the top five destinations for those seeking a rewarding birding experience.
Landlocked and lying just south of the Equator, Rwanda has a diverse topography that has been shaped by the dynamics of one of Africa's primary geological features, the Great Rift Valley. Tumultuous subterranean forces have over the last 50 million years contorted, ruptured and seared the crust, giving rise to a hugely impressive array of volcanoes, lakes, mountain ranges and forests that define the landscapes of today. Collectively, they make up the narrower and shorter Western Branch of the rift valley, or, because Lake Albert is its first discernible feature, The Albertine Rift or Albertine Eco-region.

Monkey Rwanda Safari

Nyungwe offers 13 hiking trails, some with tongue-twisting names. Try pronouncing "Igishigishigi" quickly, which is the name of an easy 1.7 km trail that begins near the Uwinka Reception Centre. By the way, Igishigishigi means tree fern. The trails range from easy to difficult and from 1.7 kms to 10.6 kms in length. Nyungwe is home to at least 278 bird species, 26 of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley. It is one of the best bird watching destinations in Africa. Some of the birds that can be seen here include the Great Blu Turaco, the Crowned Hornbill and the Blue-Headed Sunbird.Thirteen species of primates are known to inhabit Nyungwe Forest, including chimpanzees, owl-faced guenons and Angolan black and white colobus monkeys. Nyungwe is home to 154 species of orchids, eight of which are endemic to Rwanda. The Park hosts 68% of the orchid flora of Rwanda. It is one of the world's greatest concentrations of orchids.

HSK - Kenya Safari

Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration

… The wildebeest are here once again!Although these is just the start of the most dramatic wildlife pilgrim on earth, the early start means there is a lot to be anticipated with more dramatic episodes expected to unfold as the migration continues. Trailing the noisy gnus from the expansive plains of Serengeti as they cross Talek, Mara and Sand River has never been this exciting. Sightings of the first plunge have been witnessed at the Sand River by those in the ongoing Kenya safari. 

Cheetah in Masai mara

In the recent years, we have witnessed the most historical, dramatic, exciting and sometimes interestingly frustrating episodes due to the effects of adversely changed weather patterns both in Mara and Serengeti. For instance; apart from the early stop of the rains in Serengeti, the un-seasonal weather of the last month has caused the wildebeest to continue moving in a rather abnormal patterns.Zebras as usual mark the genesis of this gyratory exodus, in fact, the moment their hooves touch the waters of the Mara river, it marks the official instigate of undoubted endless annual pilgrim.

Tradition documents that the migratory herds usually separate into two divergent groups - one in north-east Serengeti and northern Loliondo region and the other one in the Western Corridor/Grumeti area. The western heard has always had their first plunge into the Mara – but it’s not a guarantee.Whilst some wildebeest are, as we would normally expect at this time of year, in the Western Corridor area, other herds can be found as far north as Bologonja up near the Mara River.

In just a few days after crossing the Sand River, the wildebeest together with Zebras and other ungulates are expected to move on to spread over the Keekorok region towards the Mara Bridge – surprisingly covering an estimated 25 kilometers.Due to the rains in Mara, the herds are unlikely to speed up their march towards Mara River and Ol Keju Ronkai River in search of waterholes as it has been the case in the last few years when most of the waterholes in the Mara are dry. This also means the real thrilling river crossings might not start sooner than earlier anticipated.

Lions are still being sighted in good numbers and even the prides are beginning to split into smaller groups. The arrival of the migration means food will be easy to find and therefore, staying as a large pride may make it difficult to hunt as it is easy to be spotted by the prey.

JBA- Kenya Safari