Five great places to sample Kenyan history

With its reputation as the home of safari and its idyllic beaches, you’d be forgiven for overlooking another fascinating aspect to Kenya – its rich and variegated history. From intriguing prehistoric sites that turned up evidence about the origin of modern humans, to magnificent ancient military structures, to stunning architecture signalling its varied cultural influences, Kenya is a treasure trove of historical interest. Here are five great spots that showcase the country’s colourful past:

Olorgesailie
Located 70km from Nairobi, this pre-historic site offers a rare insight into early human life. Discovered and excavated in 1942, the area has revealed one of the world’s highest concentrations of stone age tools, including hand axes, and an early human fossil. An accompanying museum presents exhibits and explains the significance of the site’s findings.


Lamu Town Fort

Lamu Town
This ancient town is found of the main island in the Lamu archipelago off the east coast of Kenya. The town dates from at least as far back as the 14th century and hosts a rich collection of fascinating heritage. Lamu reveals an eclectic social history, which features Swahili, Arabic and Portuguese influences. With no vehicles on the island, enchanting squares and narrow streets, and charming architecture, Lamu Town takes you back in time and provides a living slice of African history.

Gedi Ruins
This is a magical lost Swahili city near Malindi which was mysteriously deserted in the 17th century. Gedi became hidden by a forest but was rediscovered in the 1920s. A visit to the city today reveals palaces, houses and tombs dating as far back as the 13th century, with the Great Mosque being a highlight.

Fort Jesus
This coastal fortress in Mombasa was built in the 1590s by the Portuguese. It is considered a superb example of Renaissance architecture with its geometric harmony and man-shaped layout when seen from above. Testament to the importance of Fort Jesus is the fact it has been assigned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The unique Giraffe Manor

Giraffe Manor
For accommodation with a historical essence, Giraffe Manor in Nairobi is hard to beat. With a lovingly restored art deco interior and classic 1930s architecture, this small boutique hotel is highly evocative of Kenya’s colonial days. With the added twist of several resident Rothschild giraffes, which like to pay a visit to guests at breakfast, this charming manor combines a unique wildlife experience with a rich historical viewpoint.

Flamingo exodus

Lake Nakuru in Kenya, near the home of Africa House Safaris, is probably best known for its huge population of flamingos. But the lake has been looking rather different in recent months as the vast majority of these elegant birds have flown north in favour of Lake Bogoria, about 100km away.


The reason for this mass exodus is thought to be the dramatic recent rise in the water level at Lake Nakuru. This is attributable to a combination of increasing human population, drainage issues caused by land use changes, and climatic factors, including unusually heavy rain. The increase in water volume has reduced the lake’s salt concentration, which in turn has meant less of the algae on which the flamingos depend for food.

One upside of this development is that wildlife seekers visiting Nakuru are finding that a wider variety of birdlife is now far more visible at the lake. With the usual sea of pink absent, guests can now spot pelicans, storks, gulls and an abundance of migratory birds – as well as the reduced number of flamingos that have remained here. Hippos that wallow in the lake are also now easier to spot. Plus, the higher water levels have flooded much of the grassland in the vicinity, making it easier to sight mammals such as buffaloes, baboons and impala on land.

This switch of habitats for the flamingos is expected to be only a temporary phenomenon. When the water levels at Lake Nakuru subside and more typical environmental conditions resume, we look forward to welcoming back the million-plus flock of flamingos to their usual home.

Gorilla births celebrated

The annual naming ceremony for newly born gorillas in Rwanda took place on 16 June. The event, called Kwitz Izina, attracted an audience of thousands, with senior government officials, including the Rwandan Prime Minister, and leading conservationists present.

Over the last twelve months, nineteen baby gorillas have been born in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, one of the few places on Earth where the endangered species still lives. The new arrivals were given names that include Ijabo, meaning ‘dignity’ and Icyeza, which means ‘beauty’.


A baby gorilla with its mother
at Volcanoes National Park

The naming event is a celebration of the considerable achievements that have been made in protecting the few remaining wild mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The event also provides an opportunity to draw attention to the plight the animals face and to encourage a greater understanding of the species.

The staging of this ceremony is an indication of the importance attached to the protection of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The huge tourist interest in these creatures has contributed strongly to the impetus for conservation. Fortunately, Rwanda’s tourism authorities have pursued a sensitive approach to allowing access to the gorillas’ habitat, issuing strictly limited daily permits.

This green approach to tourism has been a win-win for everyone involved – the gorillas are protected by determined conservation efforts, the Rwandan people benefit from community investment from a share of the permit proceeds, and guests on holiday get to savour the incredible experience of a close, wild encounter with gorillas.

Hopefully, the coming year will bring cause for a whole new list of names to be dreamt up by next June.