Kenya, officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator. With the Indian Ocean to its south-east, it is bordered by Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north-east. Kenya has a land area of 580,000 km2 and a population of nearly 41 million, representing 42 different peoples and cultures. The country is named after Mount Kenya, a significant landmark and second among Africa's highest mountain peaks.
The Lakes of the Great Rift Valley offer millions of beautiful flamingos to the world’s biggest bird, the ostrich. Kenya, holding about eleven percent of the worlds species, holds some of the best birding experiences that is a must see.
You can see over 100 birds in one day to a few hundred on a short trip. Those who are looking for spectacular birding experience must come to Kenya in December to find many different migratory birds.
Lake Nakuru, a shallow soda lake, is an ornithologist's paradise that has recorded over 400 bird species including the famous pink flamingo. If you have ever imagined a lake with a bright pink border, Lake Nakuru is the one you are looking for.
Lake Nakuru's low concentration of salt, attracts many water birds becoming a prime destination for avocet, storks, ibis, ducks, cormorants, heron and terns.
Lamu Island's relaxed and peaceful environment creates a stunning scenery with beautiful beaches, rolling sand dunes and a warm Indian Ocean. The ocean is a huge attraction of Lamu featuring traditional sailing and superb snorkelling. Snorkelling and diving has become very popular and many amazing sites still remain relatively unexplored. Lamu is a great destination to enjoy water sports in the most peaceful atmosphere.
Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's finest wildlife reserve. With rich wildlife and beautiful grasslands that constantly have great animal scenery, everything in the area is outstanding. The climate is just right and if any rain it is usually in the late afternoon or night. A famous activity in the reserve is the balloon safari where you get a view of the surrounding landscape and can catch the rising sun between the mountains and the animals by the river. This activity is topped off with a luxurious champagne breakfast to create a memory of a lifetime.
April time in Kenya offers a variation of over 100 species of wildflowers in the Afro-alpine zone. Some of the famous everlasting species include the Helichrysum spp., buttercups (Ranunculus orephytes), African gladiola (Gladiolus thomsoni), and sunburst (Haplocarpha rupellii). Interestingly some of the species are in bloom throughout the whole year.
The Dugong Festival in Kenya is home to the Lamu Donkey Racing and is one of the most biggest festivals celebrated in the country. Being part of this festival will leave you a lifetime memory as you get to experience the heritage of the region and culture of Africa.
Some of the activities that the Dugong Festival offers are donkey races, free donkey and cart rides, face painting, games and many more. This is a great festival to be a part of with your entire family.
At the banks of the Mara River, herds make their mass crossings through the dangerous waters overflowing with crocodiles. This is the best place to see lions in all of Kenya as the herds of the Mara attract many predators. Both lions and cheetahs are frequently seen on the reserve as well as the intimidating hyenas .
Experiencing a safari through the Mara will include all kinds of habitats in a single day like herds of giraffes, gazelles, and zebras along with the rare Musiara Swamp elephants.
The best time to see the wildebeest migration is usually between June and August as the herds prepare to cross the crocodile infested Grumeti River. The whole migration cycle varies annually but the time the herds cross the Mara River and get ready to cross the Grumeti River is the best.
There are many great camping sites in the area where you can observe this natural phenomenon.
The wildebeest migration in East Africa which is also known as “The Great Migration” takes place between the Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It is known to be one of the greatest scenes of wildlife on the planet.
Thousands of wildebeest and zebras migrate as they are constantly searching for fresh graze. These herds are followed and watched by predators like lions, cheetahs, and hyenas who are looking to find a nice feast.
