The Great Rift Valley, Kenya

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Nakuru lake

The Great Rift Valley is not an easy place to describe, either geographically or geologically. The name was coined by a 19th century explorer, John Walter Gregory, who gave it to a 6000 kilometer long stretch of land running from northern Syria to central Mozambique.

Since this huge chunk of land is spans over more than a few countries and it is also geologically imprecise, nowadays the term is used mostly to denote a valley in the East African Rift that is the process of splitting into two pieces the African plate.

The part of the valley located in Kenya is famously beautiful (though this is not the only part of the valley that is worth visiting), and has some unique features. So here’s a short guide to one of the planet’s most amazing places: the Great Rift Valley in Kenya.

Geography

The Kenyan slice of the Great Rift Valley is mostly part of the Rift Valley Province, and administrative division of the country near the Ugandan border. The Rift Valley Province is the largest, most populous and arguably the most prosperous in Kenya, with several tourist hotspots.

Some of the most notable features of the region are the Elgeyo escarpment, several extinct volcanoes (Mount Longonot and Mount Suswa), and a score or scenic lakes. The capital and biggest city in the area is Nakuru, a large city which makes a pretty good first base of exploration, especially if you want to start your trip in Nakuru National Park.

Natural Attractions

Lake Nakuru National Park is centered around Lake Nakuru, one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes, located at an altitude of almost 1800 meters. The lake is surrounded by savannahs, and it is a great destination for wildlife viewing. Flamingos are a semi-permanent fixture on the lake, and the park has the largest concentration of black rhinos in the country (which is to say, about 25 of them), plus several dozen white rhinos.

A tour through the park will allow you to see many other interesting species, from the large and carnivorous to the small and fuzzy. For some swamp waddling, you can head to Amboseli National Park in Kajiado District, south of Nairobi. Masai Mara National Park is an unmissable destination, and possibly the most famous in the area, offering both wildlife and nature, especially during the wildebeest migration season.

Cultural attractions

Olorgesailie, photo by Ryan Somma

If you’re more interested in man-made places sights, there are plenty of places to keep you busy in the area. A must visit destination is Olorgesailie Prehistoric site not far from Nairobi. This hunter’s camp is more than half a million years old, and offers a fascinating look at the dawn of history.

Kabarnet Museum in Baringo town has wonderful displays on Kenyan art, and the Hyrax Hill Museum is a great place dedicated to these furry creatures. Kariandusi Museum is another very interesting archaeological site that also features a nature trail and some caves.

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