Kenya safari facts : Kenya’s position as one of the top safari destinations worldwide is a result of its exceptional animal concentration and committed conservation initiatives. Nairobi, the country’s capital, is home to several animal reserves, such as Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Manor, a little hotel that protects the Rothchild’s giraffe, an endangered species.
Let’s learn more about this history and other fascinating facts about Kenya. Safaris have a long history in Kenya.
Kenya safaris have existed since the 14th century.
Arab traders benefited from the East African trade route in the fourteenth century. These trips were called safaris even though they had nothing to do with the local animals because the term “safari” means “travel or journey” in Arabic. The Arabs planned their commercial excursions over several months in advance.
After hundreds of years, travelers from all over the world particularly those from Europe began organizing safari vacations to Kenya and other safari hotspots in Africa. While some were more drawn to the area’s nature, others wished to avoid the harsh winters. It gave the word “safari” a new meaning and, over time, contributed to the growth of the modern safari sector.
Kenya has been the world’s leading safari destination since 2015.
As of 2015, the World Travel Awards state that Kenya has emerged as the top safari destination globally. It defeated other top travel destinations, like Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia, to win the coveted accolade.
Kenya safari facts : Hunting was banned in Kenya in 1977.
Worldwide, national parks and wildlife reserves were established to guard against poaching and other natural risk factors that could further deplete the species. The Kenyan government outlawed hunting in all its forms in 1977 after publishing a formal notice in the Kenya Gazette. Hunting and poaching are punishable by hefty fines and/or jail time.
Kenya has over 25 national parks, 18 national reserves and 6 marine parks/reserves.
Kenya has excellent animal attractions, including its well-known national parks and wildlife reserves, making it the top safari destination in the world. World-famous wildlife reserves like Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Tsavo East and West National Parks are located there, together with more than 25 other national parks. Amidst an abundance of other wildlife and a wide variety of bird species, these parks provide tourists with the chance to see Africa’s renowned big five mammals.
More than 300 different species of birds may be found in the Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves, which are situated on opposite banks of the River Ewaso Ng’iro. The three big cats of Africa the lion, leopard, and cheetah live in both locations.
One of Kenya’s six marine reserves, Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve, gives visitors the opportunity to go diving and snorkeling, as well as enjoy water sports like windsurfing and water skiing.
Take inspiration from our selection of spectacular Kenya safaris offered by our top safari travel suppliers.
Maasai Mara hot-air balloon safaris.
While African bush walks and traditional game drives provide tourists a close-up look at Kenya’s animals, a hot-air balloon safari provides a different viewpoint, and the Maasai Mara is one of the few places in Africa where guests may enjoy this exceptional experience.
A hot-air balloon safari is a much-desired safari experience that offers an amazing birds-eye perspective of the wildlife activity below. Guests can float over the herds of wildlife grazing on the vast plains of the Maasai Mara. The hot-air balloon safari offers breathtaking aerial views of the stunning Maasai landscapes, making it an exquisite safari experience.
Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa.
With a height of 5,199 metres, Mount Kenya is both the highest peak in Kenya and the second-highest mountain in Africa, behind Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. During the Plio-Pleistocene epoch, when Mount Kenya was active and covered in ice caps, it was purportedly taller than Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Kenya is an extinct stratovolcano. But their tops were worn by the ice caps, which is how they got to their current height.
Kenya safari facts : East African lion is Kenya’s national animal.
Kenya’s national animal is the African lion, one of Africa’s big five. Maasai Mara National Reserve is an excellent safari destination to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. Visitors may also get the chance to see nature in action as lions hunt and kill their prey, as Maasai Mara is the site of the yearly wildebeest migration.
Lake Turkana – the world’s largest permanent desert lake.
One of the lakes in Kenya’s Rift Valley, Lake Turkana is situated in the country’s north. It is the fourth-biggest salt lake in the world by volume and the largest permanent desert lake in the world. Gazelles, giraffes, and zebras can be seen grazing on the parched grasslands that encircle the lake. It’s an awesome spot to observe birds as well.
Kenya safari facts : The great wildebeest migration.
The yearly migration of over two million wildebeest, who must find new pastures in order to survive, is a well-known event that takes place in Kenya and Tanzania. Their trip is a never-ending loop that takes them from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Maasai Mara, two of Africa’s most famous safari locations.
The wildebeest, together with herds of gazelles and zebras, must make it through the waterways teeming with crocodiles and the waiting land predators. Many zebras, antelopes, and wildebeests perish in predation on this voyage, but an equal number survive and give birth to young, the next generation of migrating animals.
Great Rift Valley formed 20 million years ago.
Geological stress in the earth’s crust caused the formation of the East African Rift Valley, which starts in Ethiopia and extends through East Africa, including Kenya, all the way to Mozambique. This occurred more than 20 million years ago. Many habitats, notably the Great Rift Valley lakes Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Turkana in Kenya have been formed as a result of the valley that resulted.
These amazing facts about Kenyan safaris provide us with a fascinating look into the country’s lengthy history of natural and biological wonders, which can be found in its breathtaking national parks and reserves. Kenya is also well-known for its beaches, particularly those in Mombasa and Diani, where travelers may unwind and enjoy the stunning coastline for days following an exhilarating safari trip.
