Crocodile are very ferocious, fierce- some, dangerous creatures. Even words just can’t describe the wrath they wage on humans when hungry or provoked. Among the fiercest, are the Nile crocodiles that are known to seize any prey (even as large as the wildebeest), clasp tightly into their great jaws and drag them under the water where they meet their death. The two species found in Kenya as well as most parts of Africa are the African dwarf Crocodile, the Slender Snouted crocodile and the African Nile Crocodile.
They lay about seventy to eighty eggs but out of this huge number, only a few manage to survive until adulthood. A young newly hatched crocodile are also fierce and can also bite off a probing finger.
Most crocodile species prefer living in fresh water basin hence they are found in Tana and Athi rivers and not Lake Bogoria. They swallow stones which may act as a ballast to balance their bodies in water or assist in crushing food.
There are a number of tourists’ sites that are home to these beastly creatures. There is the Mamba village in Mombasa, the Nature Trail in Bamburi still at the Coast and the Nairobi National Park in the Capital city of Kenya. Visitors are seen at the sides of the man made lakes in the parks that are well enclosed to secure holiday goers from danger. The crocodiles catch prey by playing dead with their mouths wide open. Immediately prey settles on the mouth of the crocodile the mouth snaps shut trapping the prey and killing it instantly. This activity is repeated frequently through out the day until it is full or tired with the later being the best reason since a crocodile needs about one hundred and fifty kilograms of meat a day to just survive. As a tourist one should not assume that the creature is dead and get close to it because with just one snap the arm can be chopped off instantly. Of course there is the Tana River site where you can catch a glimpse of these creatures though it is not officially opened to tourists and is quite a risky affair for any one.
Certain restaurants like the Carnivore Simba Salon are licensed to cook delicious, mouth watering meat from these creatures called crocodiles but it is illegal for others to poach wildlife and sell game meat in Kenya.
This bewildering sight is an unforgettable experience.
Maasai Mara Safaris
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Best of Western Province
So yes we have talked about the Coast and dreamed about it every day but it is time we set our sails in a different direction off to the west of Kenya that is little talked about. It does not require a lot of money for the traveler because some of these sights are just natural beauty present all over the region and not enclosed in a park. There are the Kericho and Vihiga district Tea zones whose green cover in the area is just wondrous. The air around the tea zones is flavoured by aromatic scents of the exotic internationally acclaimed Kenyan Tea; while driving you may stop to take a deep breadth of the scented air. Don’t forget to take a sip of the tea so that you can write back home to tell them about the sweet tea. There is the bull fight ceremonies held in Kakamega town by market centers’ streets that are open for all to see.
Further away there is the Kisumu Bird Sanctuary which is a fascinating place to visit for budding ornithologists (in lay terms, these are people who study birds species). The sanctuary is a nesting site for herons, ibises, cormorants, egrets and storks.
Still in the west, there are several national parks that are home to different species of wildlife. Ruma National park is one of them which houses the big five animals. The country’s smallest park is also found in this region. The Saiwa Swamp National Park was created with the aim of preserving the endangered semi- aquatic antelope called the Sitatunga antelope which spends it days semi – submerged in the weedy swamp water. Mount Elgon should also be a national park that is near Mount Elgon which is known to be the best park to view elephants in the caves inside the park.
Which part of the country would you find a crying rock? A rock that cries without any scientifically induced processes or gadgets is quite intriguing, right? If you don’t believe me, take a ride to Kakamega to see how water seeps out through two rocks through out the year even in the droughtest of all seasons.
Lake Victoria the second grandest of all fresh water lakes in the world is also found in Western province. Covering an unbelievable area of seventy thousand square kilometers the lake has been known to be able to pull visitors from far and wide.
Kakamega forest which is tirelessly been conserved by the government is amazing. It is the last of the Equatorial forest in Kenya that used to span all the way from DRC Congo is a no miss for anyone. Take a walk inside the park to view the three hundred species of birds, three hundred and fifty indigenous tree species and 400 butterfly species. Among the wildlife are the cheeky, endangered De Brazza, Vervet and the black and white Colobus monkey. Also available are countless picnic sites for the family to enjoy.
The famous archeological site where full human remains of the homo erectus man were found is also in Western Kenya. Though the town is almost deserted you take relief of the fact that there is a luxurious Rusinga Island Club for a nights rest.
Lastly there are many hotels and lodges for the traveller to lay her head. These are such as Mfangano Island Camps, Kakamega Sports clubs and the Golf Hotel Kakamega.
See you soon in Western Dear Traveler!
Further away there is the Kisumu Bird Sanctuary which is a fascinating place to visit for budding ornithologists (in lay terms, these are people who study birds species). The sanctuary is a nesting site for herons, ibises, cormorants, egrets and storks.
Still in the west, there are several national parks that are home to different species of wildlife. Ruma National park is one of them which houses the big five animals. The country’s smallest park is also found in this region. The Saiwa Swamp National Park was created with the aim of preserving the endangered semi- aquatic antelope called the Sitatunga antelope which spends it days semi – submerged in the weedy swamp water. Mount Elgon should also be a national park that is near Mount Elgon which is known to be the best park to view elephants in the caves inside the park.
Which part of the country would you find a crying rock? A rock that cries without any scientifically induced processes or gadgets is quite intriguing, right? If you don’t believe me, take a ride to Kakamega to see how water seeps out through two rocks through out the year even in the droughtest of all seasons.
Lake Victoria the second grandest of all fresh water lakes in the world is also found in Western province. Covering an unbelievable area of seventy thousand square kilometers the lake has been known to be able to pull visitors from far and wide.
Kakamega forest which is tirelessly been conserved by the government is amazing. It is the last of the Equatorial forest in Kenya that used to span all the way from DRC Congo is a no miss for anyone. Take a walk inside the park to view the three hundred species of birds, three hundred and fifty indigenous tree species and 400 butterfly species. Among the wildlife are the cheeky, endangered De Brazza, Vervet and the black and white Colobus monkey. Also available are countless picnic sites for the family to enjoy.
The famous archeological site where full human remains of the homo erectus man were found is also in Western Kenya. Though the town is almost deserted you take relief of the fact that there is a luxurious Rusinga Island Club for a nights rest.
Lastly there are many hotels and lodges for the traveller to lay her head. These are such as Mfangano Island Camps, Kakamega Sports clubs and the Golf Hotel Kakamega.
See you soon in Western Dear Traveler!
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