Safari in Kenyan Arid Lands
Kenya has a total land area of 569250 sq. km with the arid and semi-arid areas covering 467,200sq km an equivalent of 88%. With an annual rainfall ranging between 125 and 500 mm in the arid districts, and between 400 and 1250 mm in the semi-arid areas the main economic activity is livestock production which sustains the lively hood of Kenya’s 25% of the population who live in these areas.
Increasing frequency of drought is however accelerating the rate of poverty in the area and alternative modes of eking a living is being sort. Tourism, the highest foreign exchange earner is quickly taking root in this regions and the government is continually promoting all regions of Kenya as possible tourist destinations.
Kenya arid and semi-arid regions are also endowed with plenty of tourist attractions and below is a mention of a few
Marsabit National Park
This park is found in Northern Kenya, Marsabit district and consists of a quite impressive landscape made up of three crater lakes and a densely forested mountain. The lakes are the only permanent sources of water in the region hence vital to the sustainability of life in the region.
The fauna in the region acts as a big attraction to tourist and includes the African elephant, the endangered Grevy’s zebra, lion, reticulated giraffe, leopard, buffalo, bushbuck, large herds of greater and lesser kudus, common zebra, grant’s gazelles and a myriad of resident birdlife estimated at 370 species.
The park is most renowned for Ahmed the elephant who received 24hours security surveillance following a presidential decree in the 1970s as a demonstration on the country’s commitment to wildlife conservation, he however died at the age of 55 years and his body preserved and is on display at the Nairobi national museum.
This park was originally part of a huge reserve which comprised of the Shaba, Samburu, Buffalo springs and Losai national reserve.
Laikipia
Situated North west of Kenya’s highest mountain [Mount Kenya] in the Rift valley province, Laikipia is a district with plenty of remarkable tourist attractions not to mention the state of the art accommodation offering the most remarkable of safaris experiences world over lingering in your mind long after the experience is over.
Laikipia offers some of the best safari adventures in the country. Found in this region is the Lewa wildlife conservancy a private reserve drawing the largest number of tourists to the area. One of the many reasons for this is the fact that it is home to some of the most endangered species of wildlife including the black and white rhinos and the grevy’s zebra.
Other wildlife includes huge herds of Elephants, Lion, Leopard, Reticulated Giraffe, Eland, Oryx, Buffalo, Wild dogs a mention of a few. The other is the Ol pejeta conservancy lying between the Aberdare ranges and Mount Kenya and also plays host to the endangered species of the white and black Rhino whilst acting as a sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees.
This is just a tip of the iceberg as there are plenty of other natural splendors to be found here all of which are worth a mention and they include Mugie Ranch, solio game reserve, Mathews ranges, Ewaso Nyiro and Ewaso Narok rivers all of which are in their own right uniquely fascinating owing to the richness of wildlife not to mention spectacular sceneries ranging from open grasslands, kopjes, cedar forests and basalt hills
Samburu National Park
A drive 350 kilometers north of Nairobi lands you in the awe-inspiring Samburu national reserve accessed via Ngare Mare gates or buffalo springs gates. Once inside this165km2 national reserve you are greeted by breathtaking sceneries of lava plain featuring steep sided gullies and rounded hills in which the 32-kilometre Ewaso Ngiro River is found.
This river which empties into the famous Lorian swamp is the life line of this reserve and its inhabitants without which life would cease to exist; quite visible are the Koitogor and Ololokwe mountains and a superb blend of acacia, riverine forest, thorn trees and grassland vegetation.
When it comes to wildlife this reserve is never lacking with a unique display of drought resistant animals most of which cannot be found else where except here. They include Grevy zebra, the reticulated giraffe and the Beisa Oryx.
Other animal species include the long-necked gerenuk [a graceful antelope, which spends much of its time in a bi-pedal stance seeking succulence among the withered scrub, which dots this harsh terrain], elephants roaming the gaunt hills, lions commonly found on the riverbanks, cheetahs usually found on the plains, gerenuks, buffalos, grants gazelles, dikdiks, waterbucks and leopards often seen at dusk.
The forest along the river banks is home to an estimated 350 bird species including the famous Somali Ostriches (whose distinct features are its purple/blue legs during mating season), kingfishers, humming birds, eagles, guinea fowls, Palm Nut Vulture and the Vinaceous Dove. Adjacent to this park is Buffalo springs and Shaba national reserve which are in most cases combined with tours to Samburu national park.
Due to the fact that Samburu is a hot and arid area, game drives are best done in the morning and in the evening. The colorful Samburu people and close relatives of the Maasai are also found here and a cultural experience is recommended.
Sibiloi National Park and Lake Turkana
Priding itself in being the biggest permanent desert lake in the world Lake Turkana formerly known as Lake Rudolf boasts of possessing scenic beauty not to mention a vast array of bird and marine life including the world largest crocodile colony and hippos.
Various local bird species can be found along the shore with occasional visits from migratory birds including African and Palaearctic which break their long migrations north and south at Turkana. The rest are found further inland in the dry luggas, the open plains and the commiphora thickets.
With Lake Turkana acting as a pit stop for these migrant species an estimated 300 species can be found in the area at certain times of the year. The over 40 species of fish found in the lake act as food for these birds with the alkaline waters of the Lake providing an ideal habitat for the Lesser Flamingo, which has a preferred diet of blue-green algae.
Other common birds include kingfishers and cormorants. The lake also hosts two spectacular islands known as Central Island 5 km2 with three scenic crater lakes namely Crocodile, Flamingo & Tilapia and Southern Island both quite rich in unique flora and fauna a big factor to why they were declared national parks thereby receiving protection. Other wildlife found in the region includes Grevy’s Zebra, Giraffes and Camels.
Flanking the Lake is Sibiloi national park located on the northeastern shore a semi desert ecosystem established to protect the areas fauna and unique prehistoric and archeological sites some of which are linked to the origin of man.
The sustainability of the park’s flora and fauna solely depends on the waters of Lake Turkana. The park is a refuge to a number of dry country wildlife species including ungulates such as gerenuk, Oryx, the more rare lesser kudu and Grevy’s zebra, Topi, Burchell’s zebra commonly seen grazing along the shoreline. The predators include the striped and spotted hyena, the side-striped and golden jackal, cheetah, lion and other small cats including caracal.
Other notable attractions in this region include the preserved fossils of the Giant Tortoise and the 18-20 ft long Crocodile.
The flora of the region comprises large trees and bushes of several species of Acacia; succulent Euphorbia, many species of grasses, numerous reeds and water plants around the lake with the entire region being strewn by beautiful Desert Rose and a variety of small colorful flowers during the rainy season.
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