While on a Great Rift Valley Safari, you visit one of the wonders of the world. The valley forms a wide trench (about 5400 miles long) down the length of Africa that is visible from the moon. The Rift Valley is one of the wonders of the world, stretching from the Middle East, down through Africa, reaching as far as Mozambique. The staggering view, as you approach from Nairobi, Kenya is quite unbelievable. The ground suddenly disappears from under you to show the huge expanse of the great rift, stretching for thousands of miles in either direction. Whilst this stunning introduction to the Rift valley is amazing in itself, actually descending and exploring the Lakes area of the Rift in Kenya is a "not to be missed" opportunity.

If you are planning to partake in a Great Rift Valley safari in Kenya, chances are you'll be visiting Lake Naivasha or Lake Nakuru. Lake Nakuru is a saltwater lake and together with its neighbouring park is famous for attracting large flocks of flamingos. The sight of thousands of bright pink birds as they collect against the soda crusted shoreline is striking.

In complete contrast, Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake that is home to buffalos and hippos - as well as being the ideal safari destination for birders! Among the resident birds are fish eagles, ospreys, lily-trotters, black crakes and a large variety of herons. Numerous mammals graze around this fresh water lake and you can also expect to see zebra, impala, giraffe and kongoni. Truth be told, you will find many wonders on safari through the Great Rift Valley.

hotels, camps and lodges make Lake Naivasha a favoured spot for weekend breaks. The first Park in the area, the Mount Longonot National Park is based around a young volcano, which rises up to 2,776 metres. Created amongst the massive eruptions that formed the Rift itself, Longonot has beautiful V-shaped valleys and ridges covered in forest, which are a haven for a variety of birds and animals. With hiking, rock climbing, biking joining the more normal game viewing activities, this park is perfect for the more active visitor.

The second park is the Hell's Gate National Park. Famous for its natural hot geysers, eagle and vulture breeding grounds, obsidian deposits and extinct volcanoes, it is possible to walk, game drive, camp, cycle and rock climb within the park. Beautiful rock gorges and natural steam vents add to the beauty of this tiny, 68 square km. Park. Game to view includes hyrax, buffalo, giraffe, eland, hartebeest, lion and leopard. As with all of the Rift Valley Parks, Hell's Gate is also an ornithologist's dream. The cliffs of Hell's Gate are the breeding grounds for vultures, Verreaux Eagles, Auger Buzzards and thousands of swifts.

hippo and the diverse bird life. Both black and white rhino are now resident in the sanctuary and Rothschild giraffe, buffalo, impala, eland, warthog, Mountain Reedbuck, klipspringers and Black and White Colobus Monkeys are all plentiful.

This park is world-renowned and is a beacon for ornithologists, scientists and wildlife filmmakers.The next lake jewel scattered along the Rift Valley floor is Lake Bogoria. Most of this reserve is covered by the lake itself, which is a spectacular sight, reflecting searing blue skies and the rose pink of flamingo. With over 135 species of bird recorded, the area is of significant ornithological interest. As does Lake Nakuru, Bogoria waters grow rich blue-green algae, which seasonally attracts thousands of flamingos. The surrounding bushed grasslands are home to a number of animals, most notably the very rare
Greater Kudu antelope.

The tiny Lake Kamnarok Reserve is the last stop on this circuit. Lake Kamnarok has a diverse landscape centred around a 4,000-foot deep valley with semi-tropical vegetation on the sides contrasting with the dry thorn bush at its base. Here you can find bush pigs, waterbuck, buffalo, elephant, pelicans and grebes.

As you travel through this small section of the entire Rift Valley with the rising Mau Escarpment on one side, and the Aberdare Mountains on the other, the lush, green forests of these mountain ranges frame the arid landscape of the Valley floor. With a huge variety of landscapes, activities, accommodation and wildlife, the Rift Valley Lakes area is an excellent part of any safari holiday.