The Great Rift Valley

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The Great Rift Valley stretches across Africa from Mozambique into Lebanon in the Middle East. Dissecting Kenya in two, it’s a great place to see several lakes supporting more than 500 bird species and crocodiles.

Hidden gems in The Great Rift Valley

The Great Rift Valley

Samburu National Reserve

Lucy Booth

Place

The Samburu National Reserve is one of my favourite parts of Northern Kenya, thanks to its extraordinary landscape and unique wildlife. The scenery here is truly special, with doum palms lining the Ewaso Ng’iro river and the majestic Ololokwe mountain rising dramatically in the distance. This mountain is sacred to the Samburu people, adding a deep cultural layer to the natural beauty. Wildlife here is abundant and fascinating, and I love how you can spot the Samburu ‘special five’: the reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra, both endangered species, along with the Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk. The gerenuk, meaning ‘giraffe-necked’ in Somali, is particularly striking: it stands on its hind legs to browse high in the trees, its long neck perfectly adapted to this unique feeding style.

The Great Rift Valley

Wine tasting in Naivasha

Sample some of East-Africa’s fastest-growing wines with a tasting tour at the Leleshwa vineyard. The winery, best known for its light, summery sauvignon blanc, is based in Naivasha, 47 miles north of Nairobi in the heart of the Rift Valley.

Samburu National Reserve

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The Great Rift Valley travel guides

Article

Decolonising African travel—and travel writing

Mazuba Kapambwe

Travel writing in Africa has always been an overwhelmingly white affair. Early accounts from 19th century explorers like Henry Morton Stanley and fiction writers like Joseph Conrad depicted Africa as uncivilised, mysterious and barbaric, reflecting the racist attitudes that underpinned European empire building.

Guide

Kenya besides safari

Stuart Butler

The most popular add-on to a safari is to throw in a bit of sun and sand time on Kenya’s delicious Indian Ocean coastline. Direct flights link most of the main national parks and reserves with Diani and Malindi beaches.