TANA RIVER PRIMATE RESERVE

The primate reserve is located 350km east of Nairobi and 240km north of Mombasa in Tana River district of coast province. The ecosystem consists of riparian forests, dry woodlands and savannah habitats on the east and west of the lower Tana River. The reserve was established to protect the Tana riverine forest and the two endangered primates, Mangabey and the red colobus monkey. The two primate species are the major wildlife attraction in the reserve.

The ecosystem is also a stronghold for birdlife with over 200 species recorded in the area.  These include the White-winged Apalis, African Open-bill Stork, Martial Eagle, Bat Hawk, African Pygmy-falcon, African Barred Owlet, Scaly Babbler, Black-bellied Glossy-starling, and the Golden Pipit.

ACCESS

• By plane through Malindi or Mombasa airports.
• By Roads: The reserve is accessible via the Malindi - Garissa road. Located 250km north of Mombassa on the Malindi to Garissa road.Access through Malindi.

SIZE / LOCATION

• 6 km2
• 350km east of Nairobi and 240km north of Mombasa

CLIMATE

• The climate is generally hot and dry.

SAFARI CARD REQUIRED?

• At present the park does not operate on smart card system. Entry is by cash only (KSH or US$).

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

• River Tana
• The Tana River Primate National Reserve is a mixture of savannah and riverine forest
• Game viewing
• Bird watching
• Endangered primates watching

WILDLIFE

• Grevy's zebra, the Maasai and Reticulated giraffe. Oryx, buffalo and the lesser kudu. The river hosts plenty of crocodile and hippo, and the variety of water birds is not to be missed. Endemic red colubus and Mangabey monkeys are found here.

WHERE TO STAY

• There is Currently no accommodation in the reserve. There are lots of accommodation facilities along this coast to suit all budget levels

                                                                          ACTIVITY OPTIONS

• Bird Watching
• Primates watching
• Walking Trails
• Game viewing

      WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU

• Drinking water, picnic items and camping equipment if you intend to stay overnight. Also useful are: binoculars, camera, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and guidebooks.

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                                                                 LAKE MAGADI
Rarely visited by tourists because it is located in a remote area at the Kenyan south border with Tanzania, Magadi area is known for being one of the hottest and driest place of Kenya and for its pinkish mirror-like soda lake.
A visit to Magadi lake is a nice one-day safari from Nairobi and it is worth a visit for its general landscape, for the wonderful colours of its soda water and for its birdlife.
The town of Magadi as well as the soda lake are owned and exploited by a multinational company who export the valuable sodium carbonate.At only two hours drive from Nairobi and located in the heart of Maasai land in southern Rift Valley, Magadi is a perfect one-day excursion to see how a semi-solid soda lake looks like.

 HOW TO GET THERE:
To go to Magadi, leave Nairobi City center through Langata Road. After the Nairobi National Park (2 km), turn left on the Magadi Road (C58). Along this road, you will pass through the populated Ongata Longai and Kiserian towns, then pass over the Ngong Hills (2,460m - 8,070 ft.) to plunge into the arid plains of the Rift Valley (600 m - 1,970 ft.).
Distance Nairobi-Magadi : 110 km


PLACES TO VISIT:
 OLORGESAILIE PREHISTORIC SITE :  This prehistoric site, covering an area of 52 acres and discovered by Louis and Mary Leakey in 1942, has been donated to the Kenyan Government by the Maasai community. This site comprised six different excavated areas where you can see hand-axes, cleavers, various other tools and animal bones. Most of these finds have been left in place and protected by shaded roof. The site has also an exposition center at the entrance which develops further the importance of the discovery. From sediments dating, the site was probably abandoned more than 200'000 years ago. There is possiblity to camp in the site or spend a night in the four bandas (without bed linnen) available. Reservation can done through the Nairobi National Museum 

 WILDLIFE IN THE AREA :  Magadi is one of the best location for watching birds. You can at some point approach flamingoes more closely than in Nakuru lake. Other birds seen in the area are heron, pelican, spoonbill, etc. The best place for bird watching is along the road crossing the two upper branches of the lake where fresh water running down from the forest brings diversity in life. In addition to the birdlife, mammals are abundant as Magadi is between Maasai Mara N.R. and Amboseli N.P. But, large mammals are very discreet during the day. Common mammals are giraffes, warthogs, some gazelles and antelopes and zebras/gnus in July-August. Note the presence of the rare Chandler's mountain reedbuck, rarely seen in Kenyan National Park and of the black rhinoceros.

LAKE FACTS:
 Altitude : 630 m (2,067 ft.)
 Lake area : approx. 200 km2
 Localisation : South of Kenya at the Kenyan/Tanzanian border
 Distance : 110 km from Nairobi
 Attractions :
   o Typical soda-lake in a hot environment.
   o Public swimming pool in Magadi town.
   o Flamingos.
   o Southern track : Hot springs around the lake and roadway going to Lake Natron.
   o Eastern track : Abundant bird lige and roadway going to Nguruman escarpment (crossing the lake).
   o Olorgaisalie Prehistoric Site on the way to Magadi
   o Majestic landscapes when passing over the Ngong Hills   
    
LIST OF ANIMALS WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN THE MAGADI AREA
Note mammals seen in Magadi area includes animals seen in the plains going from the Nguruman escarpment and Lake Natron to Ngong Hills.
Antelopes and gazelles (per alphabetic order) :    
Bushbuck - Dik-dik (Kirk's) - Duiker (Common) - Gazelle (Grant’s) - Gazelle (Thomson's) - Gerenuk - Gnu (White-bearded) - Hartebeest (Coke's) - Impala - Klipspringer - Oryx (Fringe-eared) - Reedbuck (Chanler’s mountain) - Steinbok
Other ungulates and mammals :Giraffe (Maasai) - Hyrax (Bruce’s) - Hyrax (Eastern Tree) - Hyrax (Rock) - Hyrax (Southern Tree) - Rhinoceros (Black) - Warthog (Common) - Zebra (Common)
Carnivores :Aardwolf - Caracal - Cat (African Wild) - Cheetah - Civet (African) - Fox (Bat-eared) - Genet (Small-spotted) - Hyena (Spotted) - Hyena (Striped) - Leopard - Lion - Mongoose (Banded) - Mongoose (Dwarf) - Mongoose (Grey) - Mongoose (Marsh) - Mongoose (Slender) - Mongoose (White-tailed) - Ratel - Serval - Zorilla
Primates :Baboon (Savannah)
Others (rabbits, hares, insectivores)
Hare (Cape) - Hare (Spring)
Vegetation :No description.

LODGE,TENTED CAMPS AND HOTELS:
SHOMPOLE CAMP
"A unique and artistically appointed camp bordering soda Lakes Natron and Magadi and the edge of the Nguruman Escarpment, and using natural materials, smooth white walls and water to create a fresh and unusual approach to the bush experience."


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                                          FACTS ABOUT HELL'S GATE NATIONAL PARK

Hell's Gate National Park lies to the south of Lake Naivasha in Kenya, North West of Nairobi.  The park which is mainly comprised of savannah ecosystem habours a wide variety of wildlife. There are over 100 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux's Eagles, augur buzzard, and swifts. African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson's gazelle, and baboons are also common. The park is also home to klipspringer antelope and Chanler's mountain reedbuck.

ACCESS

• By Road: This park is accessible via tarmac road from Nairobi (90kms) via Naivasha Town on the Lake Road South at a junction 5km south of Naivasha

• By Air: Naivasha air strip

PARK GATES
The main Elsa Gate
Olkaria Gate

SIZE / LOCATION
68 Km2.
Naivasha , Rift Valley Province

CLIMATE

• Temperature ranges from 20-300 c and rainfall from 200mm – 700 mm

• Two rain seasons: Long rains – March & April & short rains – Nov/ December

PERSONNEL ON CALL
   The Warden

SAFARICARD REQUIRED?

• At present the park does not operate on the smartcard system. Entry is by cash only (KShs or US $)

      Citizens – Valid Passport or National ID
      Residents – Valid Passport & re entry pass
 
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

•     Game viewing

•     Raptor nesting in cliffs

•     Spectecular Gorge walk

•     Hot springs

•     The Olkaria Geothermal Station

•     The Mervyn Carnelley Raptor Hide

•     Fischer’s Tower

•     Tourist circuits, nature trails and picnic sites

WILDLIFE
Buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle and giraffe, babooms, serval cat and klipspringer antelopes
Prolific birdlife features 103 species.

WHERE TO STAY

•  In - Park Accommodation

There is no accommodation in the Park ; although a wide range of accommodations options are available in Naivasha town and along Moi South Lake Road.

•     KWS Self – Catering Accommodation:

There are no self-catering facilities at Hell’s Gate National Park.

•     Camping Facilities

Oldubai campsite( on the cliff top south of Fischer’s Tower)
Nairburta campsite
Endchata campsite (across the gorge on the northern cliffs)
 
ACTIVITY OPTIONS
    Hiking
    Camping
    Rock climbing
    Biking
    Bird watching
    Wildlife viewing
 
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU
 Drinking water, picnic items and camping equipment if you intend to stay overnight. Also useful are: binoculars, camera, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, walking boots and guidebooks.

  









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                                          Shaba Game Reserve

 The Isiolo District lies at the northern foot of Mt Kenya rising above the expansive range lands of northern Kenya.
The arid and semi-arid zones district sits as a divide between the populous agricultural highlands of the Mt. Kenya region and acts as a gateway into the vast lowlands of North Kenya inhabited by various nomadic pastoralist communities where wildlife and livestock freely co-exist.
Together with the adjacent Samburu, and divided by the river Ewaso Nyiro, the three reserves form a very popular tourist destination because of the diverse wildlife populations they support.
Unlike other wildlife areas in Kenya’s northern tourist circuit, the reserves, which are popularly known as the Samburu Ecosystem, sustain free ranging wildlife species both within the three reserves as well as far into community lands.

Climatic Conditions - Temperatures range from 30ºC during hottest months to 20ºC between July and September. Annual rainfalls range between 100mm to 300mm on average usually divided into two seasons, short rains in October/ November and long rains between February and May.

Wildlife - Besides normal species found elsewhere in Kenya, the area is a natural home to the five rare species known as the five northern species which are endemic to this area. They are Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx, Somali ostrich and the gerenuk. Shaba is also the home for the highly endangered Williamson’s lark. All these rare species can only be found inside this game reserve.

Access - Roads: From Nairobi through Nanyuki on a tarmac road to Isiolo, then a 22km murram road. Air: Buffalo Springs Airstrip is used by scheduled flights from Nairobi each day linking the reserves to other tourism destinations.

Best time to visit - All the year round

Activities - Game viewing safari, nature walks, entertainment by pastoralist cultural dancers, and visits to cultural villages to get the experience of nomadic lifestyle in the community.

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The Crying Stone of Ilesi - Kakamega, Kenya

For anyone at the foot of this phenomenon, the most striking feature is that it resembles a gowned figure, perpetually in tears flowing from ‘head to toe' — an image spiced-up by myth and folkfore. For the Government, it is simply another tourist attraction within the Western Kenya tourism circuit. And to scientists, it is a formation consisting of a large boulder balanced on a column of rock with water flowing from a groove in the middle. Indeed, geologists describe it as an acid plutonic rock consisting mainly of quartz, alkali, feldspar and mica. However, the stone is held dear and is of great cultural and spiritual importance to the Luhya community and the Isukha sub-tribe in particular. The Isukha live around the rock's formation. "To visitors, it is just another attraction but to us locals, it affects our lives in many ways just as it affected the lives of our forefathers," says 78-year-old John Shikhomoli.

The community has resisted the take-over of the crying stone by the Government or private developers who would like to build a resort in the area. Villagers say when the stone cries, it is a good omen, signalling a bumper harvest, for instance. When there is drought, the community carries out rituals here to persuade the gods to bring rain. Other rituals are performed to allay disasters. There is a symbolic meaning when the stone ‘cries' when it has not rained, villagers say. Shikhomoli says the site is also used for cleansing victims of incest in families.Ritual cleansing "There is a cave under the crying stone called Shimichiro, where those involved in acts of incest are cleansed before they can be re-accepted into the community," explains Shikhomoli. The cleansing process involves those affected going to the cave to be administered traditional herbs, normally prepared by respected elders. According to testimonies, so effective is the cleansing, that no misfortune comes the way of those cleansed thereafter. During sacrifices to appease the gods for rain or to avoid looming calamities like famine, several animals are slaughtered in nightlong festivities held at the foot of the crying stone. Women and children don't participate in these festivities which are exclusively a men only affair. The women's role is to prepare food for the rituals. "We prepare the food for our men who take part in such rituals but we are not allowed to participate otherwise," Queen Jedina, 65, explains. After performing the rituals, the men usually slaughter a bull, a sheep, a goat and some chickens to go with traditional foodstuffs such as ugali made from millet flour for the feast, explains Shikhomoli. On the night of the ritual, Isukuti dance troupes brought in from various parts of the region entertain those in attendance. Shikhomoli points to the entrance of Shimichiro cave where those involved in acts of incest are cleansed.

The crying stone is so revered that folk has it that it even fought wars for the Luyha. One of such stories dates back to pre-colonial times. Local elders say there was war between Luhyas and the Nandis over the boundary of the two communities. During one instance, the Nandis tried to pull down the stone, which they believed gave the Luyha immense supernatural powers. At the end of the day, more than 100 Nandis died. "The Nandis thought the stone was helping Luhyas to miraculously out-stage them and all of those who attempted to floor it perished," explains. Shikhomoli. This, he says, shows that the stone has magic powers and can protect the local people against any evil designs by enemies.Overnight pilgrimage The crying stone is also of religious importance as churches such as Legio Maria and Rosary Church make pilgrimages to it, camp there overnight as they fast and kesha (hold night-long prayers). "We receive Legio Maria members from far away areas like South Nyanza who come to worship here in seclusion. They believe they can communicate better with God that way," says Kelvin Juma, a villager. He says some of the religious groups decide to camp at the site while crossing into a new year or celebrating Easter festivities, among other significant holidays.

Despite the bad state of the Webuye-Kakamega road and the Kisumu-Kakamega road, several foreign tourists visit the crying stone annually. "On average,  between 300 and 500 foreign tourists every year," notes one of the youths who guard it and usher in visitors.Local tourism Local tourism also thrives in Kakamega National Forest Reserve.While driving along the Kakamega–Kisumu road, it is common to see Kenyans stopping their vehicles beside the road to have a glimpse of the stone. Schools and colleges from the Western Kenya region and other parts of the country also tour the crying stone as part of their academic or educational tours. Whenever a vehicle branches towards the stone at Ilesi, villagers flock out of their homesteads immediately to welcome visitors.

Villagers believe with improved roads linking Kakamega with other towns and Hotels for accomodation within the Western Kenya region, more visitors can flock Ilesi and improve its revenue.

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                                                        BOMAS OF KENYA
Bomas of Kenya offers Kenya in miniature! It is a must visit to all visitors. Situated 10km from Nairobi city Bomas enter, and about 1 km past main entrance of the game-filled Nairobi National Park, Bomas of Kenya lets you see the wonderful diversity of cultures that make up this fascinating country.
At Bomas different aspects of Kenyan culture are displayed including living styles, crafts, music and dancing.
The word Bomas was derived from "Boma"-a Swahili word for enclosed homestead and there are now many different "Bomas", each one representing one of Kenya's major ethnic groups.
You, cannot afford to miss the most exciting traditional dances and acrobatic shows which starts at 2.30pm to 4.30pm during A weekdays and 3.30pm to 5.15pm weekends and public holidays.

 
                                               CULTURAL SHOWS 
In a Nation so rich in culture but whose heritage is threatened through modernity, celebrating culture is perhaps the only way to safe guard the same. As a result, this has not been easy, since an obvious lax in the passing down of the same from generation to generation, a situation that has flung the youth in particular to the periphery has been evident.
         Tribal cultural shows geared towards promoting Kenya’s rich cultural diversity. The cultural fetes are intended to yield cultural ambassadors from virtually all the 42 tribes in the country who promote Kenya’s rich culture beyond borders showcasing a rich array of artistic talent is on, running through to Sunday.
These popular cultural bonanza brings together Kenyans from diverse cultural backgrounds in the display of talent in music, dance, theatre/drama, fashion show, poetry/recitals, comedies, sports and games, exhibitions, seminars, beauty contests and body building.   

                           
 UTAMADUNI RESTAURANT
The Utamaduni Restaurant of Bomas of Kenya is the first of its kind in Kenya!
Come enjoy sumptuous meals that are as diverse as the traditional cultures of Kenya. Meals from rich culture  of Kenya are offered here. Meals ranging from nyama choma, mukimo, muthokio among other Kenya’s regions are all at your disposal at pocket friendly prices. You will not miss the professional treat at our Utamaduni restaurant. Our location is in itself a marvel since it is adjacent to the Nairobi national park so you are presented with a rare opportunity to interact with nature first hand as you enjoy your meal. The environment is also equally relaxing.
 To sum up the Utamaduni restaurant,  since brings the exotic kitchen in the villages spread around Kenya to one spot and with a serene location where you can interact and enjoy what the natural forest has to offer while you treat your taste buds the exotic taste that Kenya has to offer.

   
   
   
 





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