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An herbivore is a name given to an animal that eats only greens. They roam in the expansive plains of Kenya need more energy than the other beasts such as zebras, giraffes, lions, elephants, and cheetahs. The way they get this is by eating only plants, grass, vegetables, leaves of trees, and some fruits. They eat all day long, some of the herbivores even after sunset, especially on moonlit nights. The particular digestive system of many herbivores is adapted to digest their diet. The wild herbivores ideally found in Kenya are the eland, the wildebeest, the buffalo and the rhinoceros.
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Travelers to Kenya come mainly to see the wildlife. They spot several animals during the game drive. But they do not know the names of many. Most notable of them are the baboon, vervet monkey, common eland, bushbuck, Thomson’s gazelle and gerenuk. There are five species of baboon. There are five known subspecies of the vervet monkey. The most striking feature of common elands is their massive size. The distribution range of bushbuck in Kenya is extensive. A variety of markings accentuate the white rumps and tan buff coats of Thomson’s gazelle. Unlike other gazelles, the gerenuk is not sociable.
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All the animals spotted during a safari are wild. But some of them are very friendly towards humans. Two of such approachable animals in the wild are the greater kudu and the sitatunga. The longest-horned and tallest of the antelopes, the kudu, weighs around 600 pounds. It is known for its narrow-shaped body, large ears, long legs and brown coat with white torso stripes. The sitatunga is a semiaquatic, non-territorial, semi-social and sedentary animal that occurs only in permanent marshes or swamps. Partial to phragmites and papyrus within swamps, they also live in wetlands dominated by reeds, sedges and bulrushes.
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The marginalized minority wildlife in the jungle of Kenya have their rights too. These animals share the same natural habitat in the wild as the widely popular Big Five. And yet so few know about their existence or are keen to study the impact of their life patterns in the ecology. One among such animals that is unheard of is known as bongo that belongs to the antelope family. It is an animal that is alien to almost all wildlife safari travelers who come to the magical world of Kenya. The bongo antelope occurs in the remote forests of Kenya.
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The abundance of Kenyan wildlife attracts tourists from all walks of life. This diversity is seen in the national parks. Popular yet exotic wild animals of Kenya are the caracal, banded mongoose, bat-eared fox and aardwolf. The name caracal comes from a Turkish word meaning black ear. Having a broad habitat tolerance, the banded mongoose inhabit grasslands, woodlands, riverine areas and rugged country. Seen mainly in the regions that are grazed by domestic and wild ungulates, the black-eared fox prefers to lounge in the acacia tree shades and favor short savannah and grasslands. An aardwolf belongs to the hyena family.
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Hippopotamus weighs around 8,000 pounds making it the second largest land animal after the elephant. Because of its physique, people believe that it is a sluggish and slow animal. On the contrary, it is quite ferocious that can kill anyone in sight almost instantaneously. In fact, records indicate that hippopotamuses kill more people than any other animal. Interestingly, there are incidents from field researchers’ reports of hippos attacking boats mistaking them for crocodiles. Therefore, these fearsome-looking quadrupeds have long had a reputation for being very aggressive animals. The longevity of hippos is around 61 years on an average in captivity.
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Hippos adapt very well in the water, be it rivers or lakes or any swampy or marshy areas. The nostrils, mouth ears, eyes and other facial features of a hippopotamus are located very high on its tilted head and are kept shut to keep out water. Its location on top of the head also enables it to keep watch for predators. Hence, they can breathe, see and even eat comfortably while mostly submerged in the water. They are such large animals with robust builds that they can lie in the shallows or merely stand or walk on the lake floor.
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Kenya is known for the majestic wildlife, expansive beaches and pleasant weather that attract both international and local tourists. Undoubtedly, people are willing to spend for a getaway in Maasai Mara. Surely, tourists come in droves during the wildebeest migration or to see the big five. They even bask in the tropical sun because of the serenity in Kenya. However, many of these safari travelers to Kenya are not aware of the fact that the country is rich with ancient fossil heritage dating 100 million years ago. The Kariandusi prehistoric site lies on the southeastern side of the Rift Valley.
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The most famous thing about West Tsavo Park is the Kilaguni Lodge. It is now part of the famous Serena chain, which is central to the park. Kilaguni is a Kamba word, a vernacular language in Kenya, meaning “the place of the young rhino.” This lodge was the very first and the only permanent accommodation for a long time in a wildlife reserve or a national park of Kenya. His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, officially opened this world-class establishment in West Tsavo in 1962 and is now a flying blue programme member. Staying there is an out-of-the-world experience.
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Once upon a time of great hardship, loneliness, and adventure, in Deighton Downs, at the foothills of Aberdare and Mount Kenya and overlooking the Laikipia plains, lived a young African man. His name is George Waititu who is now the former Managing Director of Steadman. As he grew up enveloped in the wilderness, an immortal dream came unto him to convert an impoverished rural community. That idea became the exclusive Tafaria Castle established in 2012. Hence, it is fair to say that it was George Waititu’s motivation that paved the way for the existence of Tafaria Castle and Country Lodge.
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Amidst the thicket of canopy trees and shrubs, a few kilometers from Nakuru town, lies the fascinating and magnificent Lord Egerton’s mansion. He built it in 1952. Love inspired its existence. The castle casts its shadow on its lush lawn as well as the chiseled boulders dotting its stairways. Love is so impactful that it can move people’s hearts even to build luxurious castles. The Egerton Castle of Nakuru in Kenya tells a love story albeit without a fairy tale ending because Lord Maurice Egerton lived until 1958 as a loner in the castle. Eventually, he died a sad death.
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Joy Adamson was a wildlife preservationist and naturalist who spent forty years living on the game reserves of Kenya. She became deeply involved in wildlife preservation activities and is known for the films and books depicting her work in Kenya, especially her book Born Free and Spotted Sphinx. Elsamere in Naivasha is the former home of Joy Adamson, operating now as a museum dedicated to her with the original editions of her books – Born Free – and her paintings on display. The real treat at Elsamere is the afternoon tea set amid flowerbeds and lawns that attract plentiful monkeys
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The area surrounding Thomsons Falls in Nyahururu palpitates with such vibes as to allow any visitor a unique experience. It is unlike any other place in Kenya. The constant sound of the falls, twittering of the birds, chirping of the monkeys, and the enchanting view would make anyone feel closer to nature than at any other time and place. The hippo pool at the equator never ceases to amaze visitors. As one marvels at the wonders of the environment, it is quite natural to feel overwhelmed. The tourism industry has also not given it the credit that it truly deserves.
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The capital city of Kenya, Nairobi, is situated 1,800 meters above sea level on the northernmost border of Athi Plains. Nairobi is East Africa’s most cosmopolitan city and Kenya’s beating heart. Through a remarkable metamorphosis of the face of Nairobi, it has become a thrilling and maddening concrete jungle. The city is now an untrammeled natural beauty unseen anywhere in the region. Evidently, the capital city of Kenya has risen within a century from a brackish swampland to a thriving place, and the modernity has quickly caught up. However, intriguingly, this is not an urban city separated from the wilderness.
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Today, Mount Kenya Safari Club is a posh hotel and location of the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. The twelve William Holden Cottage Suites, named after the founder, are identical and reflects the charm and history of the original residence. They possess spacious lounges and are elegant with beautiful stone fireplaces, expansive private lawns overlooking the mountain and five-piece ensuite bathrooms. The stunning suites have two adjoining bedrooms for two couples or a family, offering privacy and luxurious accommodation. It is home to the largest herd of mountain bongo in the world. The natural range of these animals was the Aberdares.
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Travel Down The Memory Lane Visiting The Museums Of Kenya
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Traditionally, Maasai are pastoralists who inhabit the plains and savannahs of southern Kenya. However, in modern times, this is slowly changing due to land loss, formal education, religious conversion, and livelihood diversification. Maasai holds a special spot in people’s imagination, being intimate to wild Africa. People come to Kenya not only to enjoy safaris but also to see the Maasai. Maasai hunting and killing of lions is often considered as a symbol of tribal Africa. Yet, with the lion populations threatened, Maasai hunting is garnering outrage, shock, and misunderstanding raising concerns in conservation literature as well as in the media.
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Maasai rituals which are an essential part of their culture are symbolized using beads, shields, dressings, markings and designs. Some ceremonies are intended for both women and men. Others are solely for either males or females. Female ceremonial rituals are focused on their marriage. Each Maasai ritual is a step toward God. Maasai ceremonies serve to mark their age-set classes of social system and political culture in the strictest form. But they do not distinguish age or time in the modern way. They approximate time to 14-year sections. The 6 Maasai ceremonies are Enkipaata, Emuratare, Olomaylo, Emanyatta, Eunoto and Orngesherr.
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Maasai is the most known Kenyan tribe, having grown into an icon of Kenya tourism and global fashion. Louis Vuitton has a line that includes Maasai hats, scarves, beach towels and duffle bags. There are currently 80 companies using Maasai image. It shows how well-recognized the brand has become. For outsiders, it may seem nothing more than a fashion brand that enlivens their ceremonies. But for Maasais, they capture their entire world. Entering into Maasailand is taking a fascinating journey to a land full of symbols. The 6 iconic Maasai dressing accessories are beads, collar, shuka, decorations, mask and shield.
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Travel To Kenya To Know More About Maasais