A collection of safari destinations in East Africa.
I have been to Ngorongoro Crater, (perhaps the one area on earth with highest number of preditors per Km square), Lake Manyara (where I have often described one single sunset here as "A Thousand Sunsets!"), onto the crown of Africa, Kibo peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro and at 19,340 feet, the view here is described as "A million dollar breathtaking view"...
Serengeti, typifies everyone's version of "Dream Africa"...the largest single migration of wild animals in the world, Wildebeest, (Gnus, as I like calling them), about 3 million happens here...
Lake Natron is notably an ornithological paradise as the flamigos fly from L. Nakuru in Kenya to nest as the clay soil is more solid here.
Uganda's bustling capital, into the deep forests of Kigezi and Kibale to track the extremly rare mountain gorillas and Ruwenzori colobus...
You dont want to miss out the eclectic view of Murchison Falls as water plunges a wooping 1,150 feet into calmer waters below...
Lakes Ruhondo and Rwanyakizinga in Rwanda is a good spot to make a stop over to view the amazing rare marsh antelope (with adaptive long hooves to keep them afloat on the soft ground), the Sitatungas! This is one of the finest views in a country of memorable panaromas. The search for the Silverbacks in Virunga Volcanoes makes Rwanda a very notable tourist destination in the world.
And recently, I have had the pleasure of visiting the land of mystery and a land apart, Ethiopia. From Addis Ababa, Awash, Bale Mountains to Shashamene, all against the backdrop of the highlands to the east, the jewelled lakes Nechisar and Shalla, Ethiopia boasts of a wealth of pure romance, culture and wildlife.
Camp at Nechisar Plains at the hot springs and if birds are your main interest, it's well worth spending time in Kulfo River.
Night City life is a deep mixture of culture and pure pleasure. (The coffee and dates here turns me on literary!!!) The skies are so clear and starry...(at some point I felt I could stretch out my arm and touch the stars lying on my back in the plains.)
Hire horses, pack your backpack and experience the typical "Night under canvas" in the African mountains.
East or West, home is best...
There's so much I would say about my mama land KENYA, but obviously it has been documented somewhere.
So there are afew "intimate spots" unknown to the rest of the world...and I wish to say one or two things about them.
WAJEE NATURE PART IN MUKURWEINI;
In centaral Kenya, an IBA (Important Bird Area) the few remaining places in the world where you can see the remaining remnants of Hinde’s Pied-Babbler, (Turdoides hindei), a critically endangered species, andr Abyssinian Owl (very rare and poorly researched).
MENENGAI CRATER IN NAKURU; curious tourists are drawn to a controversial cave by stories of strange happenings that have convinced many that it is a haunted place. A number of strange things are said to happen in the crater, such as people disappearing without trace.The latest mystery about the crater is a 'flying umbrella' that appears whenever it rains. People claim that the Devil often lights fire at ther bottom of the crater since there are many cases of wild fires. (There's still active volcanoes thus the fire incidents).
KITULUNI HILLS IN MACHAKOS;
A interesting spot where Isaac's Law of Gravity is put into question.
Water flows uphill. I have personaly driven there, put the car into neutral shift and it rolls uphill unaided!! Am yet to find someone who can explain this phenomenon that defies law of science and physics.
CHALBI DESERT & TURKANA.
Turn left at Marsabit, keep driving until there are no trees within sight, and you're in the Chalbi Desert, a vast flat nothingness which is occasionally transformed into a shallow seasonal lake. This land of endless mirages and salt flats somewhat bizarrely drops at its western rim to the base of the Rift Valley and the infinitely mysterious Lake Turkana, the world's largest desert lake.
Turkana is not only visually compelling–deep green waters hemmed in by an apocalyptic moonscape of extinct volcanoes and naked flow–but its hinterland also provides home to an eclectic mix of staunch traditionalists, the cradle of mankind–the Turkana, Gabbra, Samburu and El Molo peoples. More perhaps than anywhere in modern Africa, visiting Turkana feels like leaving the 21st century behind.
KAKAMEGA FOREST;
To anybody whose interest in wildlife extends beyond the plains game, this vast western forest close to the town of Kakamega is unconditionally recommended. In addition to offering great primate viewing (abundant black-and-white Colobus and, with a spotlight, a good chance of picking out the nocturnal sloth-like Potto), this is arguably Kenya's most alluring destination for butterfly and bird enthusiasts, with some 320 bird species, 30 of which occur at the eastern extent of their range.
SHIMBA HILLS;
True, predator sightings at Shimba aren't comparable with those at the Masai Mara, but large herds of tuskers still roam the lush green hills, while mud-stained buffalo and sable antelope (the latter wiped out elsewhere in Kenya) can be taken for granted.
A tantalising list of coastal forest birds is headed by the sought-after Green-headed oriole. For those who want to do it in luxury, a superb Shimba Hills lodge -(The only true Tree Lodge in Kenya) ringed by coastal forest, reverberating with bird calls - provides a playground for red coastal squirrels by day and bushbabies by night. Or you can camp in a forest glade, sipping a sundowner as you gloat in the direction of the distant outline of coastal Diani.
OLORGASAILIE;
Two hours south of Nairobi along a decent surfaced road, yet epochs away in mood, Olorgasailie is one of East Africa's most important early hoately rustic and cheap (bring a sleeping bag), with hyaenas and lions providing a lively nocturnal soundtrack.
SAIWA SWAMP NATIONAL PARK;
Kenya's smallest national park (and perhaps in the world). Consisting of about 2 Km squared area of swamp overlooked by wooden viewing platforms and enclosed by riparian forest, this is one of the best places in Africa to see the semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope and white-bearded De Brazza's r, along with several other primates. Top birding, too (look out for the bright purple Ross's turaco) and a secluded camp site you're almost certain to have all to yourself.
Peole who have visited Kenya often say its too "touristy"
The thing is–and I say this in the spirit of genuine bemusement rather than wilful contrariness–that after spending about two decades exlporing Kenya, I have not the faintest idea what the 'too touristy' brigade are all about when you visit these secret intimate spots...
P