King of the Jungle Endangered

Known for its majesty and prestige, the lion, nicknamed "the king of the jungle" is an animal know of it's strength and beauty. For centuries, the lion has been one of the main attractions in any game park or reserve across the globe. Lions have fascinated people from all walks of life with documentaries and  movies such as the Lion King keenly emphasising on the lion and their families.

Lions vary in colour but commonly are those that sport a light yellow-brown coat. Mature male lions are unique among big cats due the thick brown or black manes that encircle their necks and protect them while fighting, whereas the mature female lions are the pride's primary hunters, often working together to prey upon antelopes, Zebras, wildebeest and other animals in the naked wild.

The Lion population in Africa has rapidly reduced since the early 1950's and today fewer than 21,000 remain in all of Africa. As a fact lions are facing an indirect threat from climate change called co-infection and periodically face outbreaks of the disease distemper though this causes few death with an exemption of the period 1994 - 2001 which caused massive die-offs with researchers saying the epidemic was due to the occurrence of a server drought. This would then factor in the issue of deforestation by humans which causes weather change and as a result drought is experienced. It is warned that droughts such as the ones that bring about co-infection in lions are predicted to become more as the climate warms which we can rightfully say,  indirectly humans are the cause of the weather change.

Lions are also facing many more human threats such as population growth and agricultural expansion, resulting in loss of natural habitat, hunting, poisoning and poaching just to name but a few.

Facts about the Lion:

• Lions are about 4 feet (1.2m) (males) in height and approximately 5-8 feet (1.5-2.4m) (males), length. 
• They weigh 330-500 lbs (150-227 kg) (males) in general, female lions are smaller than males. 
• Their lifespan is placed at 10-14 years in the wild, however if in captivity can last for over 20 years!
• Lions top speed is rated at 50 mph (81 km/hr), for short distances . 

Defenders of wildlife and conservation groups are continually advocating for the life of lions, with campaigns being put across, blogs, news papers and magazine articles being written among many other channels including Social Media. We however feel that we can do more by educating people on the topic using simple viral methods or simply, planting a tree to help sustain the environment. 

"Visit one of Kenya's parks today and see a lion and the other big five. http://www.uniglobeletsgotravel.com "

Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley

I was recently reading some of Yahoo Travel's articles and one in particular caught my eye. The heading read; 10 new Earthly wonders and among the wonders number three (3) was a stunner! The Kenyan Lake system in the Great Rift Valley!

"Set in Kenya's Great Rift Valley region, the area around three inter-connected shallow lakes—Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita is home to a stunning arena of bird and mammal life. The Great Rift Valley is considered the most important foraging site in the world for the lesser flamingo (the smallest species of flamingo at 3 feet tall)—countless of which can be spotted there—and it's also a top nesting and breeding ground for great white pelicans. Black rhino, lions, Rothschild's giraffe, greater kudu and cheetahs quench their thirst at the lakes." written by Sandra Ramani  

The facts:

About 20 million years ago, the earth's crust weakened and tore itself apart creating a jagged rift, thousands of kilometres long, across the African continent. The land on either side erupted creating great volcanic mountains, while the valley floor gradually sank into a low flat plain. This geologic phenomena, dubbed the Great Rift Valley by the Scottish explorer John Walter Gregory, divides Kenya neatly down the length of the country essentially separating east from west. Subterranean movement is common today as the Rift Valley is home to thirty active and semi-active volcanoes and countless hot springs along its length. 

This string of alkaline lakes and boiling springs northwest of Nairobi includes Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Elementaita, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Magadi in the south. These lakes are unique because their water is highly concentrated sodium carbonate

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This is caused by the high alkalinity from the surrounding volcanic rocks coupled with poor drainage outlets due to the steep sides of the valley. The high evaporation of the surface lake water results in sodium carbonate which creates an ideal breeding ground for algae that serves as an attraction for several species of fish, in particular tilapia. In turn millions of birds flock to the soda lakes to feast on the abundant food supply of algae and fish.

Library: yahoo travel & jambokenya.com

Ruma National Park ; The Antelope's Den

Initially known as the Lambwe Valley Game Reserve,but renamed as Ruma National Park following a request by the local community. The park was gazetted in 1966 and was established as a National Park in 1983 to protect its indeginous population of rare roan antelope,which exists nowhere else in Kenya.

The park lies in western Kenya,close to the shores of Lake Victoria and is situated in Lambwe Valley in South Nyanza, 140 km from Kisumu, 10 km east of Lake Victoria and South West of Homa Bay and 425 km west of Nairobi.The park has a captivating history that suggests that area had been so named by one of Kenya’s most powerful wizard, the much feared Gor Mahia who lived around the park. The park is largely of black cotton soil with surrounding area settled with a mix of small scale cultivation and grassy pasture land with compliments of  mosaic of landscapes ranging from revirine woodland and rolling savannah to magnificent escarpments and towering cliffs, Ruma National park promisies undiscovered wildlife treasures and undisturbed peace.

  

What to see and do?
1. The vivid and varied Landscapes.
2. The Refuge of the endangered Roan antelope also knonw as Korongo in swahili
3. The Orini Antelope
4. Realm of rare birds
5. Wildlife such as the Hyena, Impala,Vervet monkey, Leopard, Buffalo etc
6. Reptiles; the park is rich in reptiles such African spitting cobra,forest cobra,puff adder etc 

 

Where to stay?
There are no lodges within the park however there are two campsites Kamato and Nyati, plusa self catering guesthouse named after the Oribi Antelope, Oribi guesthouse.







 Courtesy of KWS

Ndere Island National Park; Nyanza Province's Secret Heaven

Ndere Island National Park is a small island of about 2.4km2 in Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, in Kenya's Nyanza Province. A nature's heaven approximately 425km west of Nairobi and 35km west of Kisumu city. Interestingly is that Ndere Island was established in 1986 to particularly provide refuge for a small population of Impala that were translocated from Kisumu''s Impala Sanctuary,which now acts as an incentive for people to visit the island.

Locals know the island as Chula Rabour, Chula  meaning island and Rabour meaning red, thus Red Island. The logic behind the naming is because the island is virtually covered with Themeda grass species, whose mature flowers are reddish in colour.The vegetation is predominantly grassland interspersed with trees and shrubs. Papyrus reeds are common along the shoreline. The island is rich in animals such us crocodiles, monitor lizards, hippos and a variety of fish species on the shores while on land, impalas, baboons, vervet monkeys , sitatunga antelope, reptiles, birds with over 70 recorded species and butterflies.

What to see and do?
1. The rolling Homa Hill and Beyond
2. Realm for Bird Watchers
3. Boat Rides

4. Sport fishing and game viewing

Where to stay?
There is one camp site at Ndere mainland (KWS) overlooking the island with modern amenities to compliment the campsite, however there are no lodges within the parks.
Best time to visit?
All year round!