Northern Lands of Samburu, Kenya
Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs (Samburu, Shaba & Buffalo Springs)
It is located in the northern part of the hemisphere. And there are animals here that are not in the southern part.
In the arid northern part of Kenya, water means life. That is why on the banks and in the waters of the great river Ewaso Nyiro (Ewaso Nyiro) a great variety of living creatures gather from the immediate surroundings. And the river looks like a green oasis in the deserted areas of the north of the country. This river flows through three northern reserves, Samburu (Samburu), Buffalo Springs (Buffalo Springs) and Shaba (Shaba). These picturesque regions lie at the foot of the big mysterious mountain Ol Olokwe.
According to Petsinclude.com, Samburu is often visited by large herds of elephants who come here to quench their thirst and refresh themselves in the coveted water source. During the dry season, elephants use their powerful tusks to extract water that has gone underground, leaving huge holes in the ground.
Samburu Land is home to several endemic animal species such as Gerenuk, the Reticulated Giraffe, and Grevy’s Zebra.
Many species of birds have found their home in the forests of the river, among them endemics are the Palm Nut Vulture and the Vinaceous Dove. Leopards also live here, most often they can be seen at dusk, when they begin to hunt. In general, a meeting with a leopard is very rare, and good luck, according to the Kenyans themselves.
Lions are also frequent guests of the river. If you are lucky, you can see a pack of wild dogs crossing the territory in search of prey.
Shaba Wildlife Sanctuary is where Joy Adamson, author of Born Free, has spent her last years trying to train a leopard to live in the wild. It was the heroine of her latest book, Queen of Shaba.
The Ewaso Nyiro River serves as a source of water not only for animals, but also for the inhabitants of the villages of the Samburu people, located in the vicinity of the reserves. The culture of the Samburu people is very beautiful, related to the Masai people, and having common linguistic roots. But unlike the latter, Samburu herd camels and goats, which are most adapted to life in these arid lands.
The lands of Samburu are the most picturesque landscapes, places where a person falls into the power of the magical beauty of fiery sunsets against the backdrop of the silhouettes of trees along the river.
If you go from Nairobi, then about 6 hours. The Samburu and Buffalo Springs reserves have runways and landing strips, planes from Nairobi and private charters fly here daily.
Mombasa
“On April 28, 1914, the Field Marshal crossed the equator, and on the 30th, 18 days after leaving Marseille, arrived in the harbor of Mombasa – Kilindini, having overcome 8 thousand kilometers. This ancient Swahili city, known from the X-XII centuries, by the beginning of the XVI century. Became the leading center of East Africa, largely determined the economic and cultural life of the entire East African coast. Now it is the main port of modern Kenya… The low coast of coral limestone is covered with groves of coconut palms, mangoes, baobabs. The sky is dark blue. Hot. The whole picture, due to the sharp greenery of the mango and the variegated foliage of the palm trees, has an oleographic, fabulous character “an episode of the expedition to Kenya and Uganda in 1914 by the Russian scientist I.I. Sokolova Mombasa is a place saturated with history, still retaining its spirit, and at the same time it is a large business port city with an active business life. In fact, Mombasa is an island connected to the mainland by bridges and ferries. Greets arrivals with a wide harbor where traditional fishing boats (dhows) interfere alongside commercial merchant ships. The heart of Mombasa is located in the exotic old town (Old town), among the old narrow streets and houses of Arabic architecture. The air here is always saturated with the aroma of spices. Women dressed in traditional national clothes (Bui bui) rush to the markets. Freshly caught fish is sold along the entire coast. The streets of this area are full of very colorful people dressed in traditional clothes of the coast (Khanga, kikoy) – a scarf that is wrapped around by both men and women.
Port Jesus (Fort Jesus), stands right on the edge of the land, and looks at the harbor. The high walls of the fortress, with battlements, ancient weapons are witnesses of the historical battles for power on the Kenyan coast between the Portuguese and the Arabs of Shiraz, which took place here in the 16th century. Modern Mombasa today is a city of many faces that welcomes every guest. Here you can see mosques, Hindu temples, Christian churches, which testify to the tolerance and openness to the world of this beautiful country (Kenya) From Nairobi to Mombasa you can get by air, by train and by car. There are direct charter flights from London to Mombasa.