Mount Kenya - Irresistible To Climbers and Trekkers

Mount Kenya straddles the equator and stands at 5199 meters high. Its beautiful snow-capped peaks and imposing height have attracted adventurous climbers and trekkers for years.

The mountain somewhat stands unjustly in the shadow of it's slightly loftier cousin Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters), as most people who conquer it after conquering Mount Kilimanjaro attest that it is more challenging.

Mount Kenya is the source of the name of the Republic of Kenya. Its highest peaks are Batian (5,199 m), Nelion (5,188 m) and Point Lenana (4,985 m). Batian and Nelion are only for technical climbers, whereas Point Lenana can be reached by trekkers.

The stratovolcano was created about 3 million years ago. Before glaciation it stood at 7,000 meters high. It was covered by an ice cap for thousands of years, resulting in its very eroded slopes and numerous valleys radiating from the centre.

Since 1900 the glaciers have been rapidly retreating and 7 out of 18 have disappeared.

Mount Kenya National Park, established in 1949, occupies an area of 2,800 sq km and protects the region surrounding the mountain. The park has an abundance of wildlife, mineral springs and unique montane and alpine vegetation with 11 species of endemic plants.

History
The first European to report seeing the mountain was Dr Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary, from Kitui in 1849, a town 160 km away from the mountain. The sighting was made on 3 December 1849, a year after the discovery by Europeans of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The mountain was first climbed in 1899 by Halford Mackinder, with guides César Ollier and Joseph Brocherel. They reached the summit of Batian at noon on 13 September, and descended via the same route.

On 6 January 1929, Percy Wyn-Harris and Eric Shipton made the first ascent of Nelion. They climbed the Normal Route, and then descended to the Gate of Mists before ascending Batian.

In February 1938 Miss C Carol and Mtu Muthara became the first woman and African respectively to ascend Nelion, in an expedition with Noel Symington, and on 5 March the same year Miss Una Cameron became the first woman to ascent Batian.

In 1943 three Italian prisoners of war detained at POW Camp 354 near Nanyuki escaped to climb the mountain then returned to face the music. The mountaineering classic No Picnic on Mount Kenya by Felice Benuzzi tells their story.

On Kenyan independence in 1963 Kisoi Munayo raised the Kenyan flag at the top of Mount Kenya. He died in 2007 and was given a heroic funeral attended by Kenya's third president Mwai Kibaki.

Find out about climbing Mount Kenya and further information on Mount Kenya National Park tourist attractions and accommodation.

Article Source: Paul_M_Banks

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The Man Eaters of Tsavo

When one hears about the man-eaters of Tsavo, an image of marauding lions rampaging through villages in Africa immediately comes to mind. In fact, it is sometimes quite innocently assumed that all lions in the Tsavo National Park are man-eaters. Nothing can be further from the truth, but going by documented evidence, the man-eaters of Tsavo were a pair of male lions that wreaked havoc during the construction of a railway bridge across the Tsavo River toward the end of the 19th century, the victims being primarily Indian workers.

The combined total area of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks is a little over 18,000 km2 of a savannah ecosystem located midway between Nairobi and Mombasa. These two parks boast of all the "Big Five" as well as zebra, giraffe, crocodile and hundreds of bird species. It is here that some of the Indian rail workers, imported to construct the Kenya-Uganda Railway in the late 1890'S, met their fate. Estimates vary as to the number dragged from their tents in the middle of the night to certain death. Patterson, famously known as the head of the railway construction project and the one who ultimately killed the lions, claims in his accounts that the dead number 135, but more scientific estimates that have since been conducted put this figure at a conservative 35.

The true number of devoured Indian workers and the reason for the attacks has never been clearly ascertained. Nevertheless, certain theories have been put forward. First, there may have been an outbreak of rinderpest disease, wiping out whole populations of prey that the lions depended on. Another theory is that lions became acclimatized to the sight and taste of human remains found floating in the Tsavo River, either caused by Hindu cremations, or the remains of dead slaves; Tsavo was along the slave caravan route.

Whatever the cause of this behavior, or the uncertainty surrounding the numbers who were killed by the two man-eating lions, what is certain is that the two lions, along with the books and documentaries that chronicle this episode in Kenya's history, have boosted travel and tourism to the park and the name of the country as a top tourism destination. Numerous lodges, bandas, guest houses, and campsites now dot both parks, providing accommodation to tourists who wish to view the game, explore the many caves, or simply camp in the wilderness of the Tsavo.

Fred Mucai is the owner of http://www.greaterkenya.com which features new and exciting tour destination packages to the East African Region

Article Source: Fred_Mucai

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Interesting Facts About Mount Kenya

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Mount Kenya is one of the highest peaks in Africa, second only to Mount Kilimanjaro. At an elevation of 12,549 feet, the glacier-topped mountains provide an excellent source of water for much of Kenya. Here are more fast facts about the mountain that named the country.

1. Mount Kenya is an inactive stratovolcano. It has spewed out lava that quickly hardened, thus creating the conical shape it is famous for. If the mountain is cut crosswise, visible layers of lava, tephra, pumice and ash will be found according to the sequence and type of volcanic spews. The rich soil makes a perfect habitat for a variety of plants.

2. A 715 square-kilometer National Park sits around the center mountain. The park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 for its geologic characteristic. It is a famous tourist spot and it receives 16,000 visitors per year.

3. There are four ethnic groups that live around Mount Kenya. The Gikuyu are the growers or agriculturists. They take advantage of the high fertile soil at the western side of the mountain. The tribesmen build their houses with doors facing the mountain, as they believe that it is God's throne on earth. This practice is observed by the Embu tribe, who says that Mount Kenya is the sacred abode of God. The Ameru has made the east and north slopes their home, while the Maasai are semi-nomadic people occupy the northern part of the mountain with their cattle.

4. The center of the mountain has a similarity with the Alps' terrain. The peaks have a craggy nature and alpine plants grown in rock crevices. The peaks each have a name with the highest one reaching to 17,057 feet high, and it is called Batian. The first known climbers of Batian reached the summit in September, 1899. It took them three attempts before they successfully got to the top.

5. It is more difficult to climb Mount Kenya than Kilimanjaro. The first is listed in The Seven Summit, a popular bucket list for mountaineers around the world. It requires special equipment and tested rock climbing skills to get to the twin summits of Batian and Nelion.

6. This equatorial mountain has an equal number of hours for day and night. The sunrise and sunset occurs at 5:30 almost constantly every day. There's also just one minute of difference between the shortest and the longest days.

Kenya is definitely different from home. The country promises an adventure to all visitor, an experience that will be retold countless times. For more travel tips and adventure guide, visit Travelingeast.com

Article Source: Heather_J_Scott

Top Three Luxury Great Rift Valley Kenya Camps

Mbweha Camp, Nakuru

Mbweha Camp is located in the privately owned Congreve Game Conservancy and hidden in a grove of Euphoria Cactus with over 300 species of birds. The gate to Lake Nakuru National Park is only 15 minutes away. The Conservancy is home to the majority of plains game such as- eland,warthogs, zebras, leopard,grants, gazelle,water buck, impala, hyena,dik dik, buffalo,giraffe,adv ark,baboon and flamingo.

The Camp comprises of nine cottages made of local materials, thatch roofs with natural lava rock walls and have a circular roomy sleeping area with ensuite shower and a private veranda. All cottages are simply designed and are comfortably and tastefully furnished and are all private and completely separate.

The sunken bar and spacious lounge has an open fireplace, a pool table, darts board, and looks out at eye level over a mown lawn area onto a small water waterhole. The bush restaurant serves a choice of freshly prepared meals as well as game meat in a separate thatched dinning room. Activities on offer include nature walks, bike rides, hiking, day and night game drives, bush dinners, and sundowners.

Kigio Porini Camp

Kigio Porini Camp is approximately a 45-minute drive from the Nakuru National Park, famous for its flamingos. Kigio Porini Camp has been set up in the exclusive Kigio Conservancy, a short drive from Nairobi and set in the Great Rift Valley, between lakes Naivasha and Nakuru.

The conservancy, a beautiful mix of Acacias and leleshwa shrub-land is home to White Rhino and the endangered Rothschild Giraffe, among numerous other animals. The expansive private conservancy area offers the opportunity to walk safely amongst wildlife.

Learn how to identify animal spoor, and about the traditional use by the local people of medicinal properties of the many plant species in the conservancy. In addition to plains game like zebra, giraffe and antelopes, birdlife abounds and a walk along the river gives the opportunity to see hippo and maybe even a python!

Facilities and activities included for all guests: Spacious Safari tents, all with private verandas, a double and single bed, solar electric lights, en suite bathrooms with flush toilet and showers. All meals and picnic lunches, free mineral water, sodas, gin, beer and house wine.

Lake Baringo Club

On the shores of Lake Baringo, 285 kms northwest of Nairobi, Lake Baringo Club nestles amongst palm trees, green lawns and the clashing pinks, purples, reds and oranges of bougainvillea obviously thriving in the hot steamy days that characterize so many of the Great Rift Valley's lakes.There is never a dull moment at the Club. Morning and evening bird walks, always accompanied by our resident ornithologist, give visitors the opportunity to see several magnificent birds of prey, noisy, restless 'bush' birds and the numerous species frequenting the shore.There are plenty of small motorised boats for hire, all captained by knowledgeable bird enthusiasts.

And there is so much to see on the Lake - hippo and crocodile at close quarters, a bejeweled assortment of kingfishers, local fisherman sorting the day's catch, and of course the scenic beauty of a Rift Valley Lake. Our daily visit to a local tribe's manyatta (village) is always popular with guests.

Joe Maina is a Kenya safari expert with Landmark Safaris Ltd- Your one stop consultants in Kenya safari vacations, tours, travel and online African Kenya safari bookings.
http://www.landmarksafaris.com
http://africa-kenya-safari.blogspot.com

Article Source: Joe_Maina