Specialist Safari

Due to Kenya’s diverse and rich resources, special niche exploration is a very strong travel element. Kenya’s special niche experiences run the gamut from bird watching to archaeological digs to ruins exploration, agricultural/herbal studies and exotic wildlife conservation.

Bird-watching - Kenya is a true Mecca for birders. The Kenya Tourist Board has identified 60 important birding areas where rare and native species are found. In some parts of Kenya, more than 400 species of birds can be identified within a single location. Some of the key birding areas that attract the world’s birders include; Tsavo, Meru and Masai Mara wilderness areas; Lamu, Tana River, Malindi and Watamu coastal areas; Shimba Hills, Mount Kenya, Mount Elgon and Cherangani Hills mountain areas; Aberdares, Kakamega and Arabuko Sokoke forest areas and the Bogoria, Baringo, Magadi, Victoria, Nakuru and Naivasha lakes.

Archeology - Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site outside Nakuru was unearthed by Louis Leakey in the 1920s and ever since has been a rich source of Neolithic fossils, tools and Iron Age artifacts. On the fossil-rich north shores of Lake Turkana, there is a prehistoric site at Koobi Fora. Ongoing excavation here has produced such significant human fossil finds that it has been designated a World Heritage Site. Olorgasalie, located near Lake Magadi is an are where a significant population of Homo erectus lived around 500,000 years ago. The digs here have uncovered plenty of fossils and tools and early artifacts.
Ruins – Two hours by ferryboat from Lamu, Pate Island has some of the most impressive ruins anywhere on the coast. Matatu motorboats, most often accompanied by schools of dolphin, also leave the island regularly. The Gedi ruins feature a lost city deep in the Arabuko Sokoke coastal rainforest. Mysteriously abandoned in the mid 16th century, the ruins include many houses, mansions, mosques and elaborate tombs and cemeteries. Jumba la Mtwana (The Mansion of the Slave) near Mtwapa is a Swahili town deserted around 500 years ago. The majority of the town no longer stands but the ruins of stone mansions and their mosques and tombs still remain. It is beautifully located in a baobab forest overlooking a deserted beach.

Shopping - Throughout Nairobi and its suburbs, there is a range of supermarkets, shopping malls, large open markets and city stores. The largest shopping malls are the Sarit Centre a very modern mall in Westlands, the Yaya Center near Hurlingham and the Village Market in Gigiri. In the center of town is the large City Market, selling a great selection of produce, meats and handicrafts. Kariokor Market is another excellent market for handicrafts is renowned all over town as the best place to sample real traditional Kenyan food. On Biashara street, many shops deal in handicrafts and especially fabric from the coast.
Mombasa old town and Lamu are ideal places to shop for well-priced coastal handicrafts. In Mombasa, there is a large central fish market and several produce market including Maembe Tayari (Fresh mango) market. Mombasa and Lamu are home to excellent wood carvers from all over Kenya, producing many traditional designs. However the coast’s speciality is fine woodwork, including furniture and Swahili boxes, intricately carved and inlaid with brass, copper or marble work. Other wood carvings available on the coast are Makonde figures, a traditional style that originated in Tanzania and a kikoy or khanga traditional fabric/cloth worn as a wrap around garment (sarong). Most Kenyans would agree that the best carvers in the country are the Wakamba from Eastern Kenya. They are well know for producing wood carvings, particularly of animals from rosewood, mango wood and the roots of the Leleshwa. Around Kakamega, the Kisii people are gifted stone carvers. They use locally quarried soapstone to produce a range of carvings. Around Maralal, Samburu beadwork is intricate and beautiful, combining thousands of tiny colored beads with leatherwork. There are plenty of small curio markets and shops around Naivasha town. The El Molo tribal people who live on the southern shore of Lake Turkana are renowned basket weavers. Luo communities around Lake Victoria produce attractive functional pottery.
The local Masai population makes this a good place for buyin shukka, the blanket seen worn by most Masai, always red blended with black, blue or other colors. Masai beadwork is intricate and beautiful, combining thousands of tiny colored beads with cowrie shells and leatherwork.

Herbalism and Prophecy - For those with an interest in traditional medicine, some of the camps and lodges and private ranches in and around the Mara can arrange for guests to learn about natural medicines and rites of the Masai, Samburu, Pokot and Borana. Traditional healers use blends and preparations of native herbs, leaves and particularly bark to treat and prevent a wide range of ailments and disease. This practice continues today with herbal practitioners known as Daktari wa Miti Shamba offering traditional remedies. Another fascinating and fading part of traditional culture in this area is the practice of divination and prophecy. The Samburu have many astrological beliefs and read the night sky and position of the stars to make prophecy and predictions. Visitors are welcome to spend time among the traditional people here to gain an insight into local beliefs and customs.

Agri Tours Naivasha - is the center of Kenya’s booming agricultural industry. The fertile conditions, altitude and proximity to lake water have made this a major area for growth and production of fresh cut flowers and vegetables. Several farms are open to visitors who can tour the greenhouses and facilities. Some also like to show visitors the efforts they are making locally to protect the environment and using self regulation to make the industry sustainable and equitable. Kericho is a high hill town with slopes that have long been Kenya’s richest tea growing area. Several large tea corporations established plantations here in the 1950’s. It is a charming colonial town reminiscent of the British Hill Stations of India. Much of Nairobi is surrounded by coffee and tea plantations in Limuru and Tigoni. On lower ground at Kiambu are large coffee plantations, producing top grade Arabica coffee.

Wildlife - at the Kipepeo Butterfly Farm at Gedi, a conservation project works with local people to produce butterflies for the international market. The public can visit the center and see many beautiful local species of butterfly. Anyone with and interest in snakes should visit the BioKen Snake Farm just outside Malindi. This farm produces snake venom for antivenin purposes and has a wide range of local species on display. On the outer rim of Mombasa is the Crocodile Farm. The beaches of Watamu are a major nesting site for sea turtles and visitors can participate and learn about the conservation efforts there. Large populations of dolphin are found around the South Coast. Diving and snorkeling boats on day trips to Wasini Islands or dive sites often encounter dolphins along the way. The Jadini-Diani forest is a refuge for the highly endangered black and white Colobus monkey. They have set up a center called Colobus Cottage at Diani that is base for their operations and provides information on local wildlife. It is possible to arrange to stay here and assist with this important work. Ol Pejeta Ranch in Laikipia has created a sanctuary for chimpanzees, working in close conjunction with the Jane Goodall Institute. Visitors to the ranch can take a boat ride along the river to see the chimps or view them from a specially constructed platform.