Now accessible, but still infinitely remote, the lake presents an exciting contrast to the more conventional game parks to the south and east. The lake and the area around it form a national reserve and although this reserve is primarily scenic it is by no means devoid of wildlife.

Birds are plentiful and at times - especially when the waters of Lake Nakuru are low - it is the filled with hundreds of thousands of flamingo. On the north eastern shore, the greater kudu are to be found, as well as, a number of plain game. Lake Bogoria has hot springs and geysers dotted all along its southern shoreline.

The back drop of the eastern wall of the great rift valley makes it one of the most picturesque settings in the Great Rift Valley! The journey along the shoreline is made more exciting by these steam jets and boiling geysers. The stark evidence from the volcanic origins of the Great Rift Valley and reminiscent of scenes from pre-history is something not to be missed.
 

This is the traditional land of the Masai people, nomadic herders, who choose a traditional lifestyle and who are permitted to graze their cattle in this area. The park's habitats include the forests along the banks of the Mara and Talek Rivers, the acacia forests and the open savannah. These various habitats are home to a great variety of game including lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest (gnu), giraffe, buffalo, jackal, topi, gazelles, impala and elephant. Hippopotamuses and crocodiles are plentiful in these rivers and the bird life is also abundant.

No less than 53 different species of birds of prey alone have been recorded. From June through to October you may see the annual migration - as hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra move through the area in search of fresh grass. Driven on, by those behind, the first animals ford the Mara River. This perilous crossing is undertaken by hordes of beasts is truly a dramatic and an obvious highlight.
 

It is no wonder this remote majestic wonderland was considered God's domain by awed farmers at its foothills. Many rivers flow from the perpetual snows in this area, among them the mighty Tana which sources much of Kenya's electricity supply.

Most visitors to this area are content to marvel at the mountain's beauty but, some will want to attempt to reach the summits - a feat requiring considerable rock-climbing skill. The mountain's lesser peaks and glaciers can all be scaled and walked by the fit and adventurous and 'Point Lenana', 4985 m (16355 ft) can be easily reached. Wildlife within the forests below the park boundary includes elephant, buffalo, lion, several species of antelope including the rare bongo and occasionally both melanistic leopard and serval. Much of this game can be seen from the comfort of Mountain Lodge, which lies just inside the forest on the south side of the mountain.
 

Lake Nakuru is 156 km (100 miles) from Nairobi. Although the flamingo's are the most obvious inhabitants there are other inhabitants (of the alkaline lake) which include Black-winged stilts, avocets and in the European winter a mass of ruffs.

Lake Nakuru National Park has a great deal to offer - besides its magnificent bird life, it is also a rhino sanctuary and is therefore one of the best places in the country to see both black and white rhino. The park is also host to lion, leopard, buffalo and a variety of plain and forest game, which has in turn made it a permanent and a protected habitat. The acacia savanna, which surrounds the lake is beautiful and provides an area, which is particularly good for game viewing.
 

It is also well known for its imports and exports through its port. Mombasa's biggest market is the Makupa Market off Mwembe Tayari - a colourful place featuring a wide range of produce that is well worth a visit. Mombasa Island is a good place pick up souvenirs, especially cheap fabrics, like 'kanga' wraparounds.

The "Old Town" is the part of Mombasa that is reminiscent of the days when the Arabs exerted a heavy influence on the town and its culture, and they especially influenced the architecture and the language of this island. This part of Mombasa is well known for its ancient buildings, extravagant art designs and curio shops that sell antique and popular Kenyan souvenirs. Old Town is best seen when explored by foot, as the streets are too narrow to accommodate a large number of vehicles. The town's inhabitants are mostly of Arab origin whose forefathers once roamed the same streets of the town.

The Port of Mombasa is vast in size. Port Tudor, Kilindini Harbor and Port Reitz (which used to be the old port) are what make up the Port of Mombasa. The Port offers many of the essential services such as cargo handling, berthing of ships, and other such facilities. Most of the ships seen at the port are from Kenya's neighboring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Zaire and a few others as well. Cruise ships, Navy ships and the famous QE2 are frequent visitors to the port and the town.
 

Five years later it succeeded Mombasa as the capital of the British protectorate. Today it's the largest city between Cairo and Johannesburg.
 
Nairobi has some very classy museums. It's worth visiting the National Museum there - as an introduction to Kenya can be learnt about and an escape from Nairobi can be found. The museum's cool, peaceful interiors will give relief from the hot dusty streets outside. As you walk quietly around, you'll see displays of fossils, tribal artifacts, and a bird gallery with more than 900 stuffed and mounted specimens.

Nairobi, as capital city, is unique as it has a wildlife park on its doorstep. It is actually possible to photograph a rhino browsing peacefully among the whistling thorn with high-rise office buildings in the background! Since some of the wildlife is migratory, when there is grazing and water outside the park, they may move out into Maasailand through he unfenced southern border. Despite this, there is a resident population and therefore a visit at any time during the year is a rewarding experience.

Of the most popular species, only the elephant is an absentee. But the rest of the big five - the leopard, the lion, the buffalo and the rhino - as well as a multitude of other creatures are well represented in this National Park. Large populations of giraffe, wildebeest, eland and Thompson's gazelle dominate the plains with secretary birds and powerful ostrich as attractive counter-points. The park has been designated a Rhino Sanctuary and more than 50 rhinos have been brought here from various remote parts of the country where poaching was rampant. So if you want to see rhino, Nairobi National Park is the place to be...
 

Lamu had a slave-based economy until the turn of the 20th century. The slavery was abolished in 1907 , and then the economy of the island suffered greatly. Only recently has the influx of tourist dollars revitalized the town’s growth.

Lamu appears to be a region almost frozen in time. The physical appearance and the character of the town have changed very little over the centuries. The narrow, winding streets accommodate only pedestrian or donkey traffic. The population of Lamu remains almost exclusively Muslim. Men still wear full-length robes known as khanzus with kofia caps while the women still cover themselves in the black wraparound cloth common in other Islamic cultures. In the early 1970s, Lamu became famous for its reputation as an exotic, remote, and self-contained society! It became a spiritual center for all sorts of hippies and other non-conformists drawn to its undisturbed traditional culture. Some people feel that Lamu’s popularity and increased tourism will ultimately undermine the unique value system and culture of this Swahili settlement. Others argue, however, that without the tourist industry Lamu will suffer and stagnate.

There are numerous sights in and around Lamu worth exploring. The architecture of the houses and buildings are especially unique. Most buildings date back to the 18th century (or before) and are constructed out of local materials including coral-rag blocks for the walls, wooden floors supported by mangrove poles, makuti roofs, and intricately carved shutters for windows. The villages of Shela and Matondoni, Lamu Fort, the Swahili House Museum, and the Donkey Sanctuary should also be included on every traveler’s itinerary.