Rift Valley Safaris

Stretching 6,000 kilometres from Lebanon to Mozambique, Africa’s Great Rift Valley is one of the most spectacular geological features in the world. The dramatic section slicing through Kenya provides the perfect contrast to the savannahs of the national parks, with extinct volcanoes, flamingos and salt flats to explore. The Rift Valley lakes attract an impressive array of wildlife, and are a particular highlight for birders.

Lake Naivasha is the largest of the Rift Valley Lakes in Kenya, and not far by road or air from Nairobi. A magnet for bird life and hippos, the best way to explore is by boat, and it’s also a popular place for fishing, horse riding and golf. This is prime flower growing country and sprawling rose farms hug the lake shores. Day trips from Naivasha include climbing Mount Longonot, a dormant volcano offering spectacular views form the crater rim, and Hell’s Gate National Park, which is one of the few places in East Africa where you can combine a safari with walking and cycling. A couple of days here make an excellent start or finish to a safari holiday in Kenya.

Lake Nakuru National Park is famous for its flamingos, although rising water levels mean that sightings can’t be guaranteed. There is a healthy number of black and white rhino present as well as tree-climbing lions and the usual plains game.

Located in the semi-desert region of northern Kenya, Lake Turkana is a 270 kilometre stretch of sparkling jade water surrounded by volcanic boulders and purple hills. It’s an ideal destination for the intrepid traveller looking to experience bio-diversity at its best: ornithology, anthropology, archaeology, culture, fishing, game viewing and photography. It’s all here.

Second only to Turkana in remoteness, Lake Baringo is perfect for those looking to escape from it all on a luxury Rift Valley holiday. Come here if you want to see a dazzling array of colourful birds, watch fishermen continuing a trade little changed for centuries, and spectacular sunsets that illuminate the lake’s mesmerising bronze waters.

Meanwhile Lake Bogoria is another popular birding spot, especially when it comes to flamingos. This long and narrow soda lake with its boiling hot springs and steaming geysers is also home to the elusive greater kudu, as well as hyena, jackal and leopard. Most visitors make a day trip here from their base at Lake Nakuru.

Lake Magadi is the most southerly lake in the Rift Valley and has a distinctive pink colour from its soda deposits. Surrounded by salt flats with a series of hot springs around the edge of the lake, this is another flamingo paradise, and despite being well off the beaten track is quite easy to reach.