Did you know? ... that in we have four major fitness challenges that take place annually in Kenya & Tanzania?

First ascended in 1899 by Halford Mackinder, a geographer and director of the London School of Economics, Mount Kenya, or Kirinyaga, is Kenya's highest mountain and has three separate peaks – Batian, Nelion and Point Lenana – of which, at 5,199m (17,057ft), Batian is the highest. It is also the second-highest mountain in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. Mount Kenya sits just south of the Equator, in central Kenya, around 150km north-east of Nairobi – and was the source for the Republic of Kenya's name.

 

This guest blog is very kindly written by Jared Crawford. Jared worked in environmental education with WWF, CARE, CITES, IUCN and AWF (amongst others) for decades before joining the safari world and so he speaks from both sides of the fence.

With the dramatic and well publicized increase in poaching I'm often asked if it is a wise or politically correct time to visit Africa on safari. This is a very good question and one that deserves to be addressed. Tourism has always been a mainstay for wildlife populations, local communities and conservation efforts throughout the continent. Many African range states are grappling with huge environmental choices as they hurtle towards modernization. There has simply never been a more important time for people to come on safari.

 

Beasts of the Serengeti, exchanging pleasantries with the Maasai, camping out in the bush amid the acacias and elephant dung.

When it comes to activities in Kenya you might think you’ve heard it all before

Unlikely.

Read on for some lesser known experiences in Kenya by Philippa Stewart and originally published in CNN Travel.

 

 

Kenya has a great variety of activities to occupy even the most ardent adrenaline-junkie, from white-water rafting to skydiving. What's your fix?

Have you ever wondered, whilst on safari or just at home, which animals fill these criteria - here is a brief glimpse at some record holders of the African bush.

A friend of Pippa's has just started working for the Kenya Wildlife Trust and one evening over a couple of drinks she was telling her about some of the facts and statistics about the Kenyan Lion population. Throughout the conversation Pippa became more and more astounded at what she was saying – the fact that our Rhinos and Elephants are being killed at an excessively high rate has always been publicized and well known. However the fact that we only have 2,000 Lions left in the country hit herlike a hard ball in the gut and she then asked her to write about it so that we could help, in some small way, to make people the world over more aware of this horrifying situation and hopefully help us all come together to try and rectify this tragic series of events.

‘Kenya’, a word that conjures up ideas of adventure, great expanses of land speckled with spectacular and truly ‘wild’ wildlife. Most intrepid travellers get to witness this once in their life from a safari vehicle, better known as a photographic safari. There is nothing wrong with a ‘photographic’ safari, clambering into a 4x4 vehicle and driving through the unspoilt lands of Eastern Africa is as intrepid or adventurous as many people would like to get, but for the bold and the brave, we can offer a more extreme safari experience.

Whether from the back of a camel or a horse, the seat of a motorbike, a bicycle or a quad bike or from an old fashioned Arabic trading boat floating on the Indian Ocean, here are some ways in which to witness Kenya, whilst being ‘closer’ to nature.

If you are needing a long weekend out of Nairobi and can't be doing with the coast, this is the perfect place for you.  It would also be a great place to relax for a few days in the middle of a safari. 

‘The Masai Mara’, these three words conjure images of genuine, authentic, original ‘safari’, Acacia strewn savanna, animals galloping across the African plains and nature at its most raw, wild and un-spoilt.

If you have been on safari but haven’t been to the Masai Mara, we feel your safari experience is indeed not complete. Why is the Masai Mara the essence of safari? The most obvious answer is because it is the smallest area in which to see the Big 5 at all times of year as well as the home to the natural phenomenon that is The Annual Wildebeest Migration, which is in evidence from July until November every year. Annually, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Kenya to witness this wondrous cycle that has been happening for over a million years. The raw brutality of nature comes alive on the savannah and at the river crossings as the world watches, horrified, but fascinated as the wildebeest, zebra and crocodiles fight the battle they have fought for centuries.

It is obvious that visiting the Masai Mara is a must in everyone’s lifetime, and here is how to do it on the budget you have available:

Offbeat Mara Camp is traditional Safari at its very best- private and small, the camp offers excellent game viewing in one of the most famous safari destinations in the world. Just six tents, and a prime location means that they can provide a truly individual and tailored approach to your holiday. This small and exclusive tented camp offers game-viewing in both the serene and unspoilt Mara North Conservancy, and close access to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve.

The Great Wildebeest Migration, the longest and largest overland migration in the world and one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of Africa”, comprises around 1.5 million Wildebeest, 200,000 Zebra, 350,000 Thomson’s Gazelles and 12,000 Eland making an epic circular journey of approximately 2000 miles in search of “greener pastures”. The Migration is not a single occurrence; it is a never-ending cycle which begins for a Wildebeest with its birth and ends with its death. Wildebeest are born in a mass birthing (known as “calving”) which takes place during January and February on the plains near the Ngorongoro Crater and the Olduvai Gorge, in Tanzania, at the southernmost extent of the Wildebeests’ range. Nature has ensured that, to increase its chances of survival, a newborn Wildebeest calf is able to stand within 2-3 minutes of birth and run with the herd within about five minutes! It is believed, from recent fossil discoveries, that Wildebeest have been grazing the Serengeti for more than a million years.

 

Towards the end of the short Dry season, in March, the grass plains of the southern Serengeti start to dry out and the Wildebeest continue – or commence – their journey, intuitively following the rains and fresh grasses first westwards towards the small, seasonal lake of Ndutu (Lagarja), and then northwest towards Lake Victoria. From here the herds gradually head north into the Masai Mara – and more of the life-or-death river crossings that prove such a draw for tourists from all over the world. The Wildebeest converge at the Mara River in their thousands and gather on the plains and banks beside it, waiting to cross. The cacophony as they call to one another is unprecedented. Their numbers can grow for days at a time and observers will often wait in suspense beside the river, anticipation building, until – for no apparent reason – the Wildebeest turn from the river, as one, and move away! Eventually, however, the herds will select a crossing point (frequently more than one), and the intrepid journey to the opposite bank will begin. It is still not known what prompts them to turn back or to cross – or even where they will choose to cross in any given year.

 

Usually, the Wildebeest begin their journey south again by late October, when the first of the Short Rains reach the plains of the Serengeti, bringing fresh growth and brimming seasonal waterholes. Rutting having taken place in May and June, the majority of the cows will already be heavily pregnant – and so the cycle continues on in perpetuity.

Uganda "The Pearl of Africa" has been listed by Lonely Planet as one of the best countries to travel to in 2012.

We are delighted to announce that Miss Nicola Butler has been appointed General Manager for The SAFARI Company and Advantage East Africa as of the 17th October 2011. 

Check out this cheetah video taken by a guest recently at Lions Bluff Lodge.  Thank you Heather Clarke.

The Government of Tanzania has reassured the international community they will never do anything to hurt or take any decision that may irresponsibly destroy the Serengeti National Park such as building a tarmac road through the Park.

The long awaited re-opening of the Samburu / Buffalo Springs Bridge finally took place last week. British Army Engineers responsible for the reconstruction handed over the repaired bridge during a colourful ceremony to the two Councils involved. This should make transfers to and from the Samburu airstrip much easier.

There is rain all around the sanctuary, and it's beginning to fall on site with some of the dams holding water - the instant greening of the trees and grass is already showing. We expect an amazing flower carpet in next few weeks!