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Vasco da Gama Pillar
More impressive for what it represents (the genesis of the Age of Exploration) than the edifice itself. Erected by da Gama as a navigational aid in 1498, the coral column is topped by a cross made of Lisbon stone, which almost certainly dates from the explorer’s time. There are go
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Aruba Dam
Some 30km east of Voi gate is the Aruba Dam,which spans the Voi River. It also attracts heavy concentrations of diverse wildlife; one of the park’s regularly spotted lion prides ranges around here. Away to the east and southeast, all the way down to the Buchuma Gate, the open grass
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Kanderi Swamp
Around 10km from Voi Gate, the lovely area of green known as Kanderi Swamp is home to a resident pride of lions, and elephants also congregate near here; this is one of only two water sources in the park during the dry season. The landscape here has a lovely backdrop of distant hil
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German Post Office Museum
In the late 1800s, before the British decided to nip German expansion into Tanganyika in the bud, the Germans regarded Lamu as an ideal base from which to exploit the interior. As part of their efforts, the German East Africa Company set up a post office, and the old building is no
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Lower Gorge
Rising from the main gorge’s southern end is the large Central Tower , an unusual volcanic plug. A picnic site and ranger’s post are close by, from where a walk descends into the Lower Gorge (Ol Njorowa). In some places the riverbed is dry, in others you’ll find yourself scrambling
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Chyulu Gate & the West
The plains, rocky outcrops and light woodland between Kilaguni Serena Lodge and the Chyulu Gate are good for zebra and other herbivores, and sustains a healthy population of lions, leopards and spotted hyenas – the epic battle between rival hyena clans that we witnessed here on our
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Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy Animal Orphanage
It may come off a little zoolike at first but this orphanage is one of the few places in the world to have successfully bred the rare mountain bongo. Its success is such that there are now plans to release some of the captivate-bred antelope into the Mt Kenya forests to bolster the
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Malindi Marine National Park
The oldest marine park in Kenya covers 213 sq km of powder-blue fish, organ-pipe coral, green sea-turtles and beds of Thalassia seagrass. If you’re extremely lucky, you may spot mako and whale sharks. Unfortunately, these reefs have suffered (and continue to suffer) extensive damag
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Maralal National Sanctuary
This sanctuary, home to zebras, impalas, hyenas and others, once completely surrounded the town. Today it only covers a small patch of land around whats left of the Maralal Safari Lodge. With nowhere really to drive or walk on a safari, one of the only ways to take in the animals i
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Rhino Valley
This is one of our favourite areas for wildlife watching, with plenty of antelope species keeping a careful eye out for the resident lions, leopards and cheetahs. You’ll also see elephants, giraffes and, if you’re lucky, black rhinos. Birdlife is also particularly diverse here. The
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Lake Jipe
This lake (pronounced ji-pay) lies at the extreme southwestern end of the park and is reached by a desperately dusty track from near Taveta. You can hire boats at the campsite to take you hippo and crocodile spotting on the lake (US$5). Huge herds of elephants come to the lake to d
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Mbasa Island
Also known as Bird Island, Mbasa is home to a wide variety of wetland birds, including long-tailed cormorants (which have a breeding colony here), fish eagles, marsh harriers and little white egrets. Bird concentrations are thickest at sunset, when peripatetic birds return to roost
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Kakamega Forest National Reserve
Rangers state that trails here vary in length from 1km to 7km. Of the longer walks, Isiukhu Trail, which connects Isecheno to the small Isiukhu Falls, is one of the most popular and takes a minimum of half a day. The 4km drive or walk to Buyangu Hill allows for uninterrupted views
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Animal Orphanage
Just inside the main gate to Nairobi National Park, this animal orphanage houses formerly wild animals that have been recovered by park rangers. Although the conditions in which the animals are kept are less than inspiring, the orphanage does protect animals that would have died wi
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Kitale Nature Conservancy
This place looks as if it was designed by Frankenstein after he converted to Christianity and dropped acid. Though you could come here for the picnic tables or play parks, the butterfly spotting or the birdwatching, or maybe even for the incredibly kitsch portrayal of biblical scen
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Kenana Knitters
What began as a hobby for three ladies knitting under a tree now employs more than 1200 local people and exports all over the world. The knitters use plant and flower dyes – including beetroot and dahlia – and sustainable wool and cotton in their cute, quirky designs. You can tour
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Rock Paintings
These rock paintings, often featuring sun motifs, are both revered and feared by locals (which has hindered vandalism) and are thought to be the handiwork of the island’s earliest inhabitants, Bantu Pygmies from Uganda. The entry fee is used to help fund some very needy children at
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Volcanic Pools
This series of tiny volcanic pools on the western side of Lake Elmenteita is used by Maasai women and local communities. You can reach them in about 30 minutes, starting from Oasis Eco Camp and following the shoreline clockwise, dipping back behind the hill. Barely big enough to so
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Kimana Community Wildlife Sanctuary
On Kimana Group Ranch, around halfway between Amboseli and Chyulu Hills National Parks, the 40-hectare Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary protects an impressive concentration of plains wildlife. More importantly, any money spent here directly supports the local community. Established in 199
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Baobab Adventure
Funnily enough, one of the prettiest nature reserves on the Mombasa north coast has been carved out by a cement company. In a nice example of environmentalism and entrepreneurship finding common ground, Baobab Adventure is the child of seemingly unlikely parents: Bamburi Cement and
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