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Birdwatchers flock to Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, a volcanic wonderland dotted with shimmering lakes that draw candyfloss-coloured flamingos.
Formed by tectonic shifting a million years ago, the valley sliced across Kenya creating sheer rock walls and a valley floor carpeted with plains and forests, dormant volcanoes, geysers and mineral lakes. Most of these oasis-like pools are filled with alkaline water that breeds the coveted algae birds come to feast on. By contrast, the valley’s two freshwater lakes bring life to surrounding forests and farms where fields of flowers and earthy vegetables are harvested.
Sail across Naivasha, the valley’s highest lake, surrounded by 400 species of colourful African birds. In its fresh waters, a protected hippo population submerge and reappear like submarines, wading onto shores fringed with thick greenery. If it’s birds you crave, Lake Nakuru is where blue-green algae thrives, attracting flocks of up to two million flamingos, while its surrounding National Park is home to lions, leopards and endangered black rhino. Meanwhile, at Lake Elmenteita, just one type of Tilapia fish survives in the salt-saturated waters, which are backed by dormant volcanoes that the Maasai people believe resemble a sleeping warrior.
Ready to experience the Great Rift Valley Lakes? Let our Kenya experts arrange birdwatching trips, boat excursions and safaris on the shores of these famous waters.
Great Rift Valley Lakes Hotels
Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Great Rift Valley Lakes
Governors' Loldia House
Experience the life of Kenya’s early colonial era at this beautifully converted farmhouse which d...
Holidays in Great Rift Valley Lakes
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Adrenaline-Pumping Great Rift Valley
There’s plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities to try near Lake Naivasha, from climbing volcanoes to cycling through geothermal landscapes. If you like to hike, then climbing Mount Longonot, a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley is a must.
You’ll leave Loldia House at about 7am with a guide for the two-hour climb, which is slightly shorter on the way down. While it isn’t a difficult trek, you need to be aware of the altitude, which reaches 2,776 metres at the peak, and go slowly. At the summit of Mount Longonot, you can see right into the huge crater rim, which is filled with thick forest.
Then, sit back with a picnic and take in views of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley, which is home to herds of buffalo and game, predators and lakes known for their huge flocks of flamingos. It’s a beautiful view and when guests return, they’re always excited to tell me about it. Loldia House also offers a popular day trip to Hell’s Gate National Park, which is special for its geothermal activity, including geysers and bubbling sulphur pools formed by volcanic activity. You’ll get the chance to cycle through this unusual landscape with a naturalist guide, who’ll teach you about the geological features, including the obsidian caves which were formed when molten lava and water collided. Along the way, you’ll spot wildlife such as baboons, vervet monkeys and sometimes even rare colobus monkeys.
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