Lakes and Dams
With many travellers having been in Kenya to witness the legendary Great Migration or chase the Big Five, Kenya is the perfect mix of first-world tourism infrastructure and Africa's exotic charms.
With Nairobi National Park located mere miles from Kenya's biggest airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya is a great country for a day safari or a lengthier, multi-park tour.
Lake Magadi lies within Kenya, slightly north of Lake Natron and at the bottom of a steep-sided valley, the lowest point in the eastern or Gregory Rift Valley. The lake extends roughly 20 km N-S and is up to 6 km wide. Both lakes lie at some 600 m above sea level and are surrounded by plateaus and active natrocarbonatite volcanoes, reaching to more than 3,000 m asl. With an area of only 90 km2, Lake Magadi is one of the most saline and one of the smallest, alkaline lake sumps in the Rift Valley.
Lake Manyara National Park offers a wilderness experience in diverse habitats, from its Rift Valley soda lake to dense woodlands and steep mountainsides. Apart from a spectacular setting, the park is famous for its unusual tree-climbing lions and the vast elephant herds it was established to protect.
A broad but shallow freshwater lake, Lake Naivasha is a family-friendly playground perfect for boating or walking safaris on Crescent Island, a private game reserve populated by herbivores.
Also a world-class birding destination, Lake Naivasha's swamps and forests are a perfect place to spot hundreds of species of birds, while those looking for large mammals can see the cape buffalo, hippopotamus, and playful Colobus monkeys along the lake's shores.
In this park lie the shimmering waters of Lake Nakuru, which is packed with pink flamingoes.
Lake Nakuru National Park is also the first rhino sanctuary in Kenya, and it was established right after the rhinos became an endangered species. The park hosts a large population of them.
Nakuru, Kenya's fourth-largest city and capital of Nakuru County, is a rapidly growing, cosmopolitan, and scenic agricultural hub located 160 km from Nairobi. Situated in the Great Rift Valley at 1,850 meters, it is renowned for its mild climate, the nearby Lake Nakuru National Park (famous for flamingos).
When it comes to the safari experience, Tanzania’s stunning range of wildlifeand its many beautiful national parks and conservation areas make it the best place in Africa to go on safari. Whether you choose to do your safari from the back of a truck or want to try something more adventurous, such as guided hiking or even canoeing, there is a wealth of options to satisfy.
