The Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Kenya Safari You Should Know : Kenya’s position as one of the top safari destinations worldwide is a result of its exceptional wildlife concentration and committed conservation efforts. Nairobi, the country’s capital, is home to several wildlife reserves, such as Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Manor, a tiny hotel that protects the Rothschild’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. Below are the top 10 fascinating facts about Kenya safari.
1:Safaris in Kenya date back to the fourteenth 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 wildlife because the word “safari” means “travel or journey” in Arabic. The Arabs planned these trade safaris over several months in advance.
After hundreds of years, travellers from all over the world—particularly those from Europe—began organising safari vacations to Kenya and other safari hotspots in Africa. While some were more drawn to the area’s wildlife, 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 industry.
2:Kenya outlawed hunting in 1977
Worldwide, national parks and wildlife reserves were established to guard against natural hazards and poaching that would otherwise destroy the declining wildlife. All hunting was strictly prohibited in Kenya in 1977 after a legal notice was published in the Kenya Gazette. Hunting or poaching incurs severe fines and/or jail time as penalties.
3:Since 2015, Kenya has emerged as the top safari destination globally.
Since 2015, Kenya has been the most popular safari destination worldwide, according to the World Travel Awards. It defeated rival top travel locations like Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia to win the esteemed prize.
4:There are more than 25 national parks, 18 national reserves, and 6 marine parks and reserves in Kenya.
Kenya has excellent wildlife attractions, including its well-known national parks and wildlife reserves, making it the top safari destination in the world. It is home to internationally recognised wildlife reserves like Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Tsavo East and West National Parks. It has over 25 national parks. Amidst an abundance of other wildlife and a wide variety of bird species, these reserves provide visitors with the chance to see Africa’s renowned big five animals.
More than 300 different species of birds can 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 snorkelling, as well as enjoy water sports like windsurfing and water skiing.
5:Hot-air balloon safaris in Masai Mara National Reserve
A hot-air balloon safari gives visitors an entirely different perspective on Kenya’s wildlife than traditional game drives and African bush walks do. The Masai Mara is one of the few African safari destinations that offers this exceptional experience. A popular safari activity, a hot-air balloon safari allows visitors to float above the herds of wildlife grazing on the open plains of the Masai Mara national reserve, giving an incredible birds-eye view of the wildlife activity below. An idyllic safari experience, the hot-air balloon safari also offers spectacular aerial views of the stunning Masai landscapes.
6:The second-highest mountain in Africa is Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is the highest peak in Kenya and the second-highest mountain in Africa, with Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania standing over the border. Mount Kenya is 5,199 metres high. Mount Kenya is an extinct stratovolcano that was active in the Plio-Pleistocene epoch. It was said to be higher than Mount Kilimanjaro and covered in ice caps at that time. But their current height is the result of the ice caps wearing down their peaks.
7:The African lion is Kenya’s National Animal
Kenya’s national animal is the African lion, one of Africa’s big five. The Masai Mara National Reserve is a great place 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 Masai Mara is the site of the yearly wildebeest migration.
8:The world’s largest permanent desert lake is called Lake Turkana.
Situated in the northern region of Kenya, Lake Turkana is one of the lakes that make up the Rift Valley. By volume, it’s the fourth-largest salt lake in the world and the largest permanent desert lake on Earth. Throughout the dry grasslands that encircle the lake, visitors can see zebras, giraffes, and gazelles grazing. Bird watching is another excellent activity there.
9:The Great 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 cycle that takes them from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara, two of Africa’s most famous safari locations.
The wildebeest, along with herds of gazelles and zebras, must make it through the waters teeming with crocodiles and the waiting land predators. Many zebras, antelopes, and wildebeests perish in predation during this journey, but an equal number survive and give birth to young, the next generation of migrating animals.
10:Twenty million years ago, the Great Rift Valley formed.
Geological tension 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, including 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.
Summary
These top 10 fascinating facts about Kenya safari provide us with a fascinating look into the country’s long history of natural and wildlife 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 travellers can unwind and enjoy the stunning coastline for days following an exhilarating safari experience.
