Kenya is a beautiful country with an even richer history to match. It is home to a variety of wildlife, great landscapes, and deep culture. This country offers its 500 000+ annual visitors with a truly African adventure. If you are considering visiting this great nation, be it via a Jettly flight or through any other means, here are a few points that I have put together to give you a nudge in the right direction.
Ghost Town Of Gedi
This strange and picturesque abandoned town is very interesting. It is believed that the residents fled the town due to cannibals that were attacking them from neighboring towns. Some say the true reason why they left is because of lack of water and constant attack from other tribes. Some people suggest that at night some dark figures can sometimes be seen roaming around the deserted town.I guess the real reason will forever be a mystery. Nonetheless, the town is fascinating due to its architecture and artifacts. Archeologists suggest that this town was prosperous due to the coins, beads, and pottery found there. This town also has a mosque, palace, and beautifully constructed houses. I believe that such a town that shows us a glimpse of the past should be a must-see.
Salt Mining Elephants
Kitum cave is famous for its caves and more particularly the actions of the Elephants there. This cave is the only one in the world where Elephants go, especially at night. The Elephants go in there to eat the salt formed on the walls. The cave has enlarged over time due to the Elephants scrapping pieces of the walls to eat them. The reason for this peculiar behavior has to do with the fact that the vegetation they feed on in the forest is low in sodium and so the salt in the caves supplements it. I would not mind watching, from a safe distance though, the Elephants enjoying the salt walls in the cave.
Bike Tours in Hell’s Gate
Hell’s Gate National park got its name from “a narrow break in the cliff” that was created by the water feeding the Rift Valley. The national park which costs $25 for non-residents and 300 Shillings is a great place for a day trip. This is the only place that you can get a bike tour or rent out a bike in a national park for a day. What is exciting about the bike tours is that you get to ride alongside wild animals such as Giraffes, Zebra, and Warthogs. Visitors, however, have to stay on the designated paths and not stray off as there are predators in the national parks such as Lions, Cheetahs, and Leopards.
Besides bike tours, visitors can take a walk and experience the world’s largest geothermal field. The volcanic structures are also breathtaking and are of educational value.
The Maasai People
The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic tribe found in southern, northern, and central Kenya as well as Tanzania. They mostly inhabit places close to national parks and Lakes and they are renowned for their hunting skills as well as being fearless. They are known for their rather unique customer.
When they slaughter cattle, they drink its blood. This act used to happen on special occasions such as when someone got circumcised or one of the ladies gave birth.
They value their children as well as their livestock very much as this is their source and sign of wealth. The larger the size of the herd of livestock the more respected the people are. The tribesmen then have lots of children to manage the livestock, hunting as well as gathering for the family.
The Maasai women are the ones in charge of building the family homestead. Their houses are primarily made from erecting sticks then mixing cow dung and mud to plaster on the sticks to make walls. The roof is made from a certain type of tall dried grass.
The Maasai are also known for their height, mouth plates as well as big loops in their ears.