Kenya camping:The snakes

There are many species of snakes in the world. The enormous ones like the python, which can swallow animals as large as a whole gazelle. Snakes can be found in all types of habitat, while some climb trees, others live under ground, and still others found in lake water and even sea water.

Snakes occur in a large variety of colors ranging from dull to brilliant with striking pattern. Snake that have dull coloring use it for camouflaged, while those which are brightly colored are usually poisonous. They use their bright color to warn predators to stay off. Some non poisonous snakes mimic the pattern and bright colors of poisonous snakes to fool predators.

Snakes are cold blooded, which means they do not have the ability of generating adequate amount of heat in order to keep their body temperature at a constant level. Instead they are dependent on heat from their surroundings and the sun to control the temperatures of their body. This is the reasons most of snakes are found in humid and warm climes of tropical regions.

Snake are reptiles with an elongated body that is flexible and limbless. A snake body frame is dependent on the habitat they live in. for example, snakes that burrow underground have a tendency of being more compact whereas the type that live in trees tend to be slender and long equipped with a prehensile tail which they use to grasp branches while the body of aquatic snakes is generally flattened.

Snakes do not have eyelids; a transparent scale protects their eyes. They are deaf to airborne sounds and they hear by picking up vibrations through their jawbones. The part of the body in direct contact with the ground have incredible sensitive hearing which enables a snake to sense and detect the position of prey.

Snakes use their forked tongue to smell. The tongue gathers particles that are airborne which it then passes to a specialized organ located on the roof of the snake’s mouth, that gives a directional sense of smell and predators simultaneously. To determine the presence of prey or predators in the local environment, the snakes keep their tongue constantly its motion.

A venomous snake usually has broader head that bulges out behind its eyes where it stores its venom. All snakes are purely carnivorous. As they bit or chew their food to pieces they have to swallow the prey. Snakes have more teeth to bite and grip their prey securely. Snakes have a unique ability of swallowing their prey times larger than their mouth, they can do this because of the special tendons.

Snakes have the ability of surviving without food for many days at a stretch after having a filling meal. This is because they have a slow rate of metabolism. The snake’s heart is able to move around its body. This adjustment protects the heart when large prey passes through the esophagus.

A snake becomes dominant after eating while digestion takes place. Digestion of snake is intensive activity. Therefore if disturbed the snake’s digestive enzymes dissolve and absorb everything but the prey hair and claws which are eliminated it’s excreted.

Snakes are eaten by communal tribes, snakes soup is considered good to warm up the consumer’s body during cold weather. Snakes blood is mixed with liquid to improve its taste. Snakes shed their skin regularly while they grow a process called molting. They shed their skin by rubbing their head against something rough and hard, resulting in the skin peeling of from their heads enabling them to crawl out, turning the skin inside out. Older snakes may shed only twice a year while the younger may shed up to four times a year.

Snake usually mate in colder climate. Male snake try to attract attention of a female snake by fighting with other male snakes who also want the same female snakes only to win the fight. Female give birth to baby snakes in about 2 months, they abandon the eggs shortly after laying them. Some snakes retain the eggs within their bodies until they are ready to hatch. These babies are born covered with a thin membrane.The baby uses an egg tooth to rip off membrane and crawl free.

Kenya camping:Overview of Uganda.

Ecologically, Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle. Where else but in this incredibly lush country can one observe lions marauding the open plains in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same afternoon, then the next day navigate tropical channels heaving with hippos and crocodiles before setting off into the misty mountains to stare deep into the eyes of a mountain gorilla?

Certainly, Uganda is the only safari destination whose range of forest primates is as impressive as its selection of plains antelopes. And this verdant biodiversity is further attested to by Uganda’s status as by far the smallest of the four African countries whose bird checklist tops the 1,000 mark.

Uganda is indeed, ‘the pearl of Africa’, a country with fantastic natural scenery and a rich mosaic of tribes and cultures. Travelling through Uganda, you will be captivated by its beauty, safety, accessibility and friendliness. The natural beauty of its people and its landscape are outstanding. It is one of the most appealing nations and Africa's friendliest country.

Situated at the geographical heart of the African continent, Uganda has long been a cultural melting pot, as evidenced by the existence of 30-plus different indigenous languages belonging to five distinct linguistic groups, and an equally diverse cultural mosaic of music, art and handicrafts.

The country’s most ancient inhabitants, confined to the hilly southwest, are the Batwa and Bambuti Pygmies, relics of the hunter-gatherer cultures that once occupied much of East Africa to leave behind a rich legacy of rock paintings, such as at the Nyero Rock Shelter near Kumi.

At the cultural core of modern-day Uganda lie the Bantu-speaking kingdoms of Buganda, Bunyoro, Ankole and Toro, whose traditional monarchs – reinstated in the 1990s after having been abolished by President Milton Obote in 1967 – still serve as important cultural figureheads.

According to oral tradition, these centuries-old kingdoms are offshoots of the mediaeval kingdoms of Batembuzi and Bachwezi, which lay in the vicinity of present-day Mubende and Ntusi, where archaeological evidence suggests that a strongly centralised polity had emerged by the 11th century. Three former kings of Buganda are buried in an impressive traditional thatched building at the Kasubi Tombs in Kampala.

Uganda lies astride the Equator in Eastern Africa between longitudes 29 ½° East and 35° East and between latitudes 4 ½° North and ½° South, at an average altitude of 1,100 meters above sea- level with a total area  of 236,580sq.Km. Uganda is bordered by the Arab Republic of Sudan to the North, the Republic of Kenya to the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west and the United republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda to the south.

Uganda is well endowed with several mountains, (classified into volcanic and non-volcanic mountains) which are regarded as huge extinct volcanoes straddling in different parts of the country. They are major tourist attractions, most of them are mainly for hiking activities.

Some of the different mountains in Uganda include; Mt.Elgon which is about 4,321 meters in altitude is found in eastern Uganda. While the snow capped Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon” is located in western Uganda, the Moroto and Muhavura Mountains are located in the north eastern and south western parts of the country respectively.

Uganda is immensely endowed with over 1,000 bird species; some of which are endemic to the country; mainly in the Albertine region. These constitute 67% of Africa’s and 11.1% of the world’s total population which makes the country a must visit for birding lovers. Some of the most interesting birds include; the crested crane, shoe bill, wattled plorer, Africa Fish Eagel, African Jacana, Saddle Billed Stock, Pelican, African Pigmy Geese and Narina’s Trogon.

There's a lot to enjoy, especially the spread around monuments and forts depicting not only the heritage, history, culture but also the depth of origins and all those important life time moments you don't want to miss.

Kenya camping:Desert rose plant

Desert rose plants are colorful flowering plant native to the dry land. The stems and roots swells to store water from the summer rains for the long dry winter a head. Desert rose species and handful of sub species vary widely from short, flat trees to small shrubs depending on their location. All have a highly toxic sap which local people use them to coat arrow tips for hunting unrelated to the rose family. These are popular house plants.

Kenya camping:Tanzania’s most Important Travel Informations.

Tanzania is indeed the wild game destination for those seeking to experience sheer ecstasy of wildlife safaris. Its perfect location gives it a unique diversity of both flora and fauna. However, vacationers ought to be prepared and be fully armed with the right-up-to-date information and travel tips.Except for citizens of Commonwealth and other specified countries, all visitors to Tanzania are required to have a visa. Visas can be obtained from any Tanzania diplomatic mission or consulate abroad, but you can easily get your visa at the airport or border on arrival as well.

There are international flights to Kilimanjaro, Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar and neighboring Nairobi Kenya’s capital. Some airline companies offer the possibility to arrive at Kilimanjaro or Nairobi en departs from Zanzibar or Dar-es-Salaam. It is also possible to book your connecting domestic flight to Arusha from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi. Be aware of the fact that for domestic flights (Air Excel for example), there will probably be a weight limit of 15 kgs.

Local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh) and there is no limitation to the importation or exportation of foreign currency. Foreign currency can be changed into Tanzanian currency at any branch of the National Bank of Commerce or through private exchange bureaus. A visitor who is not travelling on a package tour must pay in foreign currency for all goods and services such as park entrance fees, hotel board and lodging, etc, US Dollar being the most preferred currency.

As pertains to health, you should be advised that all travelers coming from Europe via or transiting through an endemic country, e.g. via Nairobi or Addis Ababa, will need a Yellow Fever vaccination card. This vaccination is valid from the 10th day after the vaccination, for a period of 10 years.

Yellow fever vaccination is provided at Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam airports for passengers who do not have this vaccination card, at a cost of 50 USD pp. However, Travelers coming directly from Europe to Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam airports on direct flights do not need this vaccination but Vaccination against hepatitis and tetanus is recommended. You are also advised to take an anti-malaria prophylaxis, such as Palludrine before visiting Tanzania

Light summer clothes are suitable year round. A raincoat, wide-rimmed hat, suntan oil, insect repellant and sunglasses are recommended for safari. Some warm clothing is needed for the higher altitudes. You should also not forget to bring your camera, video or both. A pair of binoculars is also a good idea. Electricity is 230 Volts, 50 cycles Ac.

Kenya camping:The Kenya you have never seen.

Ask any tourist about Kenya and you will hear endless stories about Rift valley views, Lake Nakuru, Bogoria and Baringo. Others will tell you tirelessly about the famous parks and reserves while others will narrate from dawn to dusk about the recently graded seven wonders of the modern world, the wildebeest migration and masai mara ecosystem. Additionally, you will not miss a hundred more tell you about Lake Victoria, the worlds second largest fresh water lake. The narration will go on and revolve around what one saw or heard about the beaches of the Kenyan coast and the pride mountain, Mt Kenya. And the story ends here.

In the rush for wildlife, especially big five craze, there is another side of Kenya that you rarely get to see, starting with Western Kenya.

When you hear of port Florence, the name sounds like one of the many ports in the world. This is the current Lake Victoria's major town and the Kenya’s third city- Kisumu one of the major attraction site in western Kenya. Many know about it and scholars have written about it both locally and internationally with the local people having various authentic folk tales, myths and legends about its mother Lake Victoria.

The western Kenya includes important towns among them, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Kisii among others. The Kenya’s agricultural back bone is found here. To the north, you enjoy fresh fruits and other farm produces from the fertile farm lands. To the south you view beautiful vast plantations of tea that are endless and the dedicated local people may insist you pick a few. Proceed to Kakamega forest. It is the only rain forest in Kenya and only found on this part of the country. Here you get to see many species of Fauna and Flora that can only be spotted in the Congo forests, which are thousands of miles from here.

This is definitely a living museum of unique and rare species, a treasure trove for nature lovers, bird watchers and an ideal place for holiday makers. A couple of primate species reside in this forest including black and white colobus monkeys and the debrazza monkeys. The sheer abundance of birds is over whelming and the beautiful chameleons that are often seen in the undergrowth are a great pleasure.

You can set camp on the forest edge and enjoy a great meal prepared by the safari cook. But at night the forest is a different world – the air fills with bats,  the silence is taken over by croak sounds of frogs, night birds and the unmistakable booming call of the giant forest squirrel, very interesting and appealing.

The forest has many walking trails. Though there is a vehicle circular, the forest is best explored on foot. It is such a fantastic place and you feel the urge to stay longer.

But you have Mount Elgon to visit too. Here lays an impressive craggy extinct volcano whose peaks are ideal for climbing. The many caves found here are collectively known as Elkony but the famous one is called Kitum. At night Elephants collect in this cave to lick natural salt from the walls of the cave. Here you witness ancient cave paintings on the walls. Hiking to the peak is very fulfilling.

These are some of other destinations that you would rarely find on the regular safaris, especially if coming back to Kenya for a second or third time.

Kenya camping:Racing in the wild

The diversity of Africa attractions, the awe-inspiring natural beauty and the intense creativity of African people has once again brought an event that brings pride and admiration to Africa.

One of these events is ‘The Cycle with the Rhino’ – a spectacular and unique sporting-cum-fundraising event that takes place in the Lake Nakuru National Park. This bicycle racing sport is one of the world most interesting event thanks, to the fact that it is done inside a densely populated wildlife national park.

This year marked the 6^th event of the cycle with rhinos and the experience was greatly widespread. The organizers of this year’s event choose a new route incorporating the old route with another stretch that saw the cyclist race through the patched community land parcels.

The race was flagged off from the sloppy nice-lawn corridor patched with young acacia trees by the Director of Kenya Wildlife Service Mr. Julius Kipng’etich. This followed a tasking pedaling through the magnificent shade of canopied acacia branches. The conducive weather conditions saw cyclists enjoy a cool breeze along the shoe before proceeding to the open community land.

The climax turf was climbing to the top of Flamingo Hill also know as Honeymoon Hill. Some cyclists opted to shoulder their bikes while others pushed them hard, while others jogged to the top in ambition of touching the line first.

The event is held every September and it involves great passion and excitement among the participants. Whether cheering or cycling, you will get to enjoy the scenery and also view game in their natural habitat. The Cycle With the Rhino event is organized in collaboration with various organizations, local and international cyclists and the local business community.

Join and race for conservation!

Kenya camping:Traditional bee-hive

A long the valley of the Tugen hills where Tugen community live, which are the sub-tribe of kalenjin enrolled themselves in bee keeping by use of traditional bee-hive. Structure  It is a simple log cut out from a specific trunk of tree, then split into two equal parts where the inner parts are chopped to make a hollow sample. The parts are smoothen regularly so as to allow further finishing. Blood from the Zebu male cattle plus the cow dug are smired to the inner parts to enhance attraction of the bees into the bee hive .After all these have been accomplished the bee hive is kept between two to three days to dry up completely. Rituals The old men from the same age mates just between the age of sixty and seventy years are called upon to do a ritual sacrifices where a white he goat is slaughtered as a way of blessing the owner of the bee hive to get the best honey and as well enabling the bees not to be so wild when harvesting honey. The bee hive is ready to be put in place. It is taken to a big acacia tree close to a water source then it is hung in one of the branches where it will be possible to stand when harvesting honey. After sometimes between two to three weeks the bees are seen moving in and out, some collecting nectars while others are responsible of securing the bee hive. Usually the bees makes the honey in the upper inner half bee hive while they settled in the lower half part .The honey is made in bundles depending on the size of the bee hive; The bigger the hive the more the honey bundle. Honey harvest The honey is harvested after three months time. Traditionally the honey is harvested in two ways; the first method the honey is harvested by use of smoke from a burned dry wood. The young men climb up the tree with a burning wood at night with an interest of harvesting honey from the bee hive. He also carry with him a skin bag (tokol) where honey is kept. The chopping sticks are another requirement for opening the bee hive and cutting the honey bundles. The second method; this is done during the day where no equipment is used to chase the bees a way, only one smire himself with a thick clay to his body,face,hands and legs and anywhere in the body to facilitate better security. When the honey is harvested, it is purify for a better storage. The honey is put into a clean containers and left in hot sun. .The honey melts to its point then all wax are sieved and kept in a clean dry container for future use. Importance The honey is not eaten more often as people thought but is kept for special occasions. The honey is a source of energy, as medicinal value, and also used to make local brews for ritual ceremonies such as circumcision, marriage and rain making. Most of it is sold to organizations and business people who then process and sell locally to export.

Kenya camping:Travel Shopping in Tanzania

Every visitor to Tanzania will take away with them something special to remind them of their lifetime safari.  Be it a ring fitted with glittering Tanzanite or a carving of giraffe or buffalo on the wind-swept plains, you will be spoilt with choices of diverse authentic artifacts that Tanzania has to offer.Regional specialities and unique finds include Masaai beadwork, gourds and spears from northern Tanzania not forgetting the famous Makonde woodcarvings of people and wildlife. Woven mkeka mats make good floor coverings, straw-colored kind are woven from sisal by craftsmen in Karatu, near the Crater Highlands.

On the coast, the women of Mafia Island are particularly renowned for their colorful mkeka weaving and incorporate colors and designs (among them ‘gecko’s backbone’, ‘the Arab’s scarf’, and ‘popcorn’) into the mats they make from dried and twisted palm fronds.

Baskets often make great storage places for magazines and newspapers back at home and often double as handbags. The best come from Singida, and most craft shops in Dar es Salaam and Arusha will carry them. In Zanzibar, old tiles, bowls, and carved wooden chests make fantastic souvenirs of your journey to the coast.

Apart from regional specialties, there are a variety of smaller local items that make great presents and take-home souvenirs. Bright printed clothes called kangas are worn by women all over Tanzania. They’re sold in pairs and emblazoned with a witticism or traditional proverb. Kangas go in and out of style – look around and you’ll see this season’s fashions on women from Dar es Salaam to the shores of Lake Victoria.

Kikois are similar in shape and size to kangas, but are traditionally worn by the men of the Swahili coast as wrap-around sarongs. Woven with vertical stripes, kikois make popular gifts and are simpler and more demure than the bright colors and prints of women’s kangas.

If you’re looking for special food or delicacies of Tanzania, pick up bags of Zanzibar spices direct from the market – vanilla beans fresh off the tree, bags of whole cloves and round nutmegs laced with mace make great gifts for cooks back home. Honey direct from Tabora in central Tanzania is also a special delicacy.Tanzania is the world’s only source of tanzanite, a semi-precious stone found in the open mines around Arusha. The stone comes in three grades, ‘A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’ – ‘AAA’ is the highest quality.

The deep blue of Tanzanite is magnificent, ranging from ultramarine to a light purplish blue. The most coveted color is a blue which shows a purplish hue shimmering around it, which is extremely spectacular in sizes above ten carats.

Fakes abound, so if you’re going to invest in one of Tanzania’s largest exports, be sure to do it right. Don’t buy from dealers on the street or anyone who looks suspect. Most licensed curios shops and dealers stock different grades, cuts, and colors of the popular gem and please be sure to follow export procedure.

Responsible tourism entails refraining from supporting trades or services that do harm to the people or the environment, and travelers to Tanzania should be very aware its importance. Please avoid purchasing wildlife products such as ivory and skins as the market created by these purchases encourages poaching and terrible injuries to the animals themselves.

Removal of coral, shells from turtles or any other kind of marine animal also causes a tremendous upset to the balance of marine life which is more often than not impossible to correct. Wood carvings too, should be checked to ensure that the material comes from a renewable, sustainable source.