Places to visit in Rift Valley

Places to visit in Rift Valley : The Great Rift Valley, is a physical feature which runs from  Ethiopia through Kenya to Tanzania and spreads over East Africa like a massive wound. The Rift Valley Province in Kenya contains the majority of the Great Rift Valley, which is regarded as the most picturesque region. The  Great Rift Valley formed as a result of tectonic plate movement and volcanic activity. It spans a great part of the whole African continent and is more than 6,430 kilometres (3,987 miles) long and up to 1,520 meters (4,986 feet) deep in some areas.

The Great Rift Valley is most recognisable geographic landmark as seen from space. With an estimated age of 40 million years, it is the source of two of Africa’s most recognised summits, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, where visitors come to test their physical might. The Great Rift Valley  is currently expanding at a rate of 6 to 7 mm (about 0.2 inches) per year, and scientists have determined that it will take around ten million years for this to happen:

The Great Rift Valley is home to some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes, with a variety of breathtaking gorges, lakes, savannahs, mountain highlands, and indigenous forests. These valleys, cliffs and lakes have played a crucial role in bringing together different species in a variety of habitats, which spurred on archaeologists’ discoveries of numerous ancient fossils, obtaining intriguing insights into the path of human evolution. When visiting Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, these are some of the top activities to engage in:

Lake Nakuru National park

 Rift Valley floor in kenya is home to the well-known soda lake known as Lake Nakuru, which is surrounded by Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru National Park has two of the Big Five—the rhino and the leopard—it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A top kenya safari tour destination with Africa’s greatest population of black rhinos Park, it was the first place in the Kenya to create a rhino sanctuary. In the morning, you can see the rhinos grazing on the verdant waters along the shores of the lake. When the Rothschild giraffe was brought into the park in the 1970s, it is another uncommon and endangered species found on a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.

There are over 400 species of birds, including flamingos, cormorants, and pelicans in Lake Nakuru’s skies, making birdwatching another popular attraction. Because flooding is invading their food and nesting sites, the number of flamingos has drastically decreased since 2014.

Crescent Island in Naivasha

Crescent Island located on Lake Naivasha is a private island and animal refuge that gained notoriety after the 1985 film “Out of Africa” highlighted its unique natural beauty. A less taxing walking safari option is to observe robust populations of hippo wading in the lake; going around the island only takes a few hours. Since therpqe are no large predators on the island, a surplus of birds naturally exists along with enormous populations of giraffes, elands, wildebeest, zebras, and impalas. One of the finest ways to interact with the African wilds and obtain a deeper understanding of its intriguing intricacies is to set out on foot, track animals, and identify spoor and vegetation. This is a very different perspective than being on a safari vehicle.

Go Rock climbing at Hell’s Gate National Park

The breathtaking cliffs, exploding gorges, dusty valleys, and immaculately formed volcanic columns that make up Hell’s Gate National Park are the setting for the fascinating film “The Lion King.” It is the only national park in Kenya that may be explored on foot or with two wheels and contains some of the strangest and most spectacular vistas. Since millions of years of geothermal activity created the stunning landscape that gives Hell’s Gate National Park its name, the park lacks predators unlike its peers on safari. In spite of its scary moniker, one of the nation’s smallest national parks offers a variety of well-liked sports, such as rock climbing, cycling, and hiking through canyons. You can even go camping. While there are undoubtedly more expansive and untamed safari sites in Kenya, Hell’s Gate National Park is an untamed paradise where you may arrange guides for any activity and receive somewhat reduced entrance fees.

Lake Magadi

Lake Magadi, in Kenya’s Rift Valley, gets its sometimes striking pink colour from high salt concentrations. One of the most physically stunning lakes in the Rift Valley, Lake Magadi feels like a voyage to another planet because of its isolation and heat, which only heighten the place’s otherworldly atmosphere. This is a flamingo-rich, rugged, and stunning habitat. Every year, thousands of them swarm to the lake to construct their nests on tall mud mounds along the edge of the water, where they are safe from predators. If you’re lucky, you might also be able to see some of the lake’s resident fauna, which includes hyena, zebras, giraffes, and antelope.

Hot Air balloon safari in Lake Elmenteita

Lake Elementaita is one of the other alkaline Lake in the Rift Valley which is located between Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru. It is a considerably less frequented wilderness location than other well-known spots, but it is nonetheless breathtaking, and it serves as a crucial breeding ground for numerous endangered bird species. The Soysambu Conservancy protects it and the place to see the rare colobus monkey. This a wonderful place for great safari tours in Kenya and also one of the birding safari in kenya destination which the nomadic Maasai utilise as a natural salt lick and somewhere for their livestock to graze, is made up of volcanic hills, acacia woodlands, grassy plains, and groves of Warburgia fever trees. With the sound of flamingos flapping their wings as they lift off in mass, you may witness this natural beauty from the air while riding in a hot air balloon just before daybreak. After marvelling at one of the planet’s most pristine wilderness places, you will return to a bush breakfast after the ride, which will take you 4,000 meters (13, 123 feet) above sea level.

Boat safaris at Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha is the highest lake in the Rift Valley of Kenya, offers boat safaris that allow you to gently glide across its crystal waters in hopes of seeing some of the most unique bird species in the area. Situated on the Rift Valley bottom, Lake Naivasha is a shallow freshwater lake encircled by verdant acacia bush and open grassland. The lake’s edge is framed by a profusion of foliage, providing a perfect habitat for Hippopotamus and other wildlife including birds. Lake Naivasha is also a great birding safari destination, look for predatory herons and pink-backed pelicans, spot gangly cormorants lounging on the beach, and watch for colourful kingfishers. We suggest staying at Loldia House if you’re going to Lake Naivasha.