The African savannahs and the great migration, possibly the first thing you think of when planning a safari to Arica. Unequalled in natural beauty and scientific value, the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara are amazing landscapes and also iconic in African history, folklore and conservation and both host part of the annual cycle of the Great Migration which is one of natures greatest spectacles.
These healthy, well-balanced ecosystems are made up of multiple, interacting food chains. Carnivores such as lions, hyenas, leopards feed on herbivores like impalas and warthogs that feed off the grass and so the cycle goes round and round. A safari to East Africa is not complete without a visit to either of these spectacular game reserves, known for their healthy stock of resident wildlife, particularly the “big five”.
From the low lands to the high, not far from the equator, lie two of Africa’s highest peaks, Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro. Both provide excellent walking or mountain climbing experiences. Ecologically, both mountains have 7 distinct zones from dry fields and farms to steaming jungles, and then up through exotic heaths and moorlands to an alpine desert and glaciated summit. Both mountains have a rich diversity of vegetation types that result mainly from large range in rainfall and altitude.
And with the sweeping views of the African veldt, you’ll be able to pick out the tiny herds of migrating elephants, wandering giraffes and rare crowned eagles riding the thermals above.
Back to TopNot all of the amazing scenery is land based. Some of the most breathtaking landscapes are around the Kenyan Lake System of the Great Rift Valley which is naturally spectacular in its beauty. This system comprises of three inter-linked relatively shallow lakes, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya and covers a total area of 32,034 hectares.
This area is home to 13 globally threatened bird species and some of the highest bird diversities in the world. It is the single most important foraging site for the lesser flamingo anywhere, and a major nesting and breeding ground for great white pelicans.
The area also features sizeable mammal populations, including black rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe, greater kudu, lion, cheetah and wild dogs and is valuable for the study of ecological processes of major importance.
Crossing to Tanzania, Lake Manyara sits in the centre of the National Park it features a ground water forest which does resemble a tropical forest with lush vegetation and stippled light finding its way through the canopy. As the name suggests it is the high water table, rather than rainfall which supports the forests from the volcanic rock of the rift valley. Teeming with wildlife the forests are home elephants and most commonly baboons.
East Africa is home to almost every imaginable ecosystem and landscapes. Whatever most appeals to you we can tailor your safari to ensure you cross off some long held items on your bucket list.
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