With its wide range of attractions, Kenya has a lot to offer when it comes to adventure. Climbing Longonot Mountain which is less than an hour drive from Nairobi the capital city, hiking in Hell’s Gate National Park located next to Longonot, climbing Mount Kenya which also includes technical climbing are just but a few areas to experience.

Hell’s Gate National Park remains the best place in Kenya to adventure. In this park, one can do hiking in the gorges where popular movies like Tomb Raiders have been shot. As you hike you encounter hot springs, Hell’s Gate is popular for geothermal power generation. Hell’s Gate Park is the only park where visitor are allowed to walk freely. They mingle with animals found in the park and direct contact with nature where they see rock formation at close range. Biking is a popular activity in this park where competitions have been held. Lake Naivasha, a fresh water lake in the Rift Valley is located next to the park. It offers an opportunity to do boat ride. Lake Naivasha has a huge population of hippos which makes the ride truly adventurous.

At the Coast there is scuba diving, water surfing and deep sea fishing. These combined with the white sand beaches make Kenya Coast an ideal place to make an adventure safari. This is even made better by the existence of clean and quality accommodation in hotels located along the beach all the way from Diani Beach in South Coast, to North Coast and to Watamu Beach in Malindi and to Lamu up north.

The Marabou stork was definitely out of place. No one could miss this gigantic strange-looking bird with its crop hanging down the neck. This only added to the beauty of this natural reserve, Lake Nakuru.

Lake Nakuru national park is located in the Rift Valley and is a small, shallow, alkaline-saline lake located in a closed basin without outlets. This creates avery

Alkaline environment in this basin and its waters. The alkaline water and warm environment provides perfect growing grounds for the blue-green algae that flamingos feed on.

Lake Nakuru is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Kenya due to its spectacular wildlife sight, a paradise to all especially ornithologists. It was declared a national park in 1961 and it now covers an area of 200 km2. It is a home to several species of wildlife in addition to the millions of flamingos and hundreds of bird species.

Flamingos are the main attraction of this lake and their brilliant pink extend as far as the eye can see.

Standing at 40 inches, they have long legs that enable them to wader and feed in the warm muddy waters of the lake.

Their main diet is the blue green-algae (Spirulina plantensis) that grow in the alkaline waters with pH concentration of between 10.4-10.5. With the deep-keeled bill they filter the top waters for the algae and other fine particles. Their pinkish or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments in the algae and small crustaceans that they eat. Their long legs and neck are especially noticeable as they are longer than in any other bird to relation to the body size.

However, even though flamingos can withstand pH levels as high as 10.5, they do need to wash in clean water in order to rinse the soda off. The soda can dry and form clumps on their feathers and hold them from flying. Same case goes for drinking water.

Lake Nakuru is a haven for both greater and lesser flamingos. Both are gregarious forming big crowds all over the lake. Only the keen eye will notice the small differences in plumage color and bill, but your guide will definitely show you what to look for.

During courtship, a group of up to 10 individuals hold their heads and neck high and call to one another. Then they move the head side to side. Over the next several minutes, the rhythm increases and other members join in the frenzy which can reach up to 50 individuals. It is one of the magnificent displays that no one needs to be a birder to enjoy. They then march forward for a few meters and back, open their wings and bow in salute. This show will be repeated about 6 times. At the end of it, pairs will stand side by side in a ‘kiss’ position, their beaks touching.

A flamingo’s nest is a mound of mud about one foot high (12 inches). The mound’s purpose is to protect the egg from being washed away by the gentle currents of the lake especially in windy and hot days

The female lays a single egg and both partners take turn to incubate for the next 28-30 days.

After incubation period, the new gray chicks are welcomed to this world and stays in the nest for the first 10 to 12 days. The chick has pink bill and legs but within a few days, up to a week they turn black. All the parents know their offspring by voice and feeds them with a blood-red secretion formed by glands in the upper digestive tract.

After the chicks leave nests, they stay together in crèches. They are however able to fly and swim from an early age. It is interesting to note that flamingoes have few enemies as the conditions that they in are usually inhospitable for the predators and large birds of prey. In Lake Nakuru however I have had a few occasions that hyenas have been able to prey on them.

During flight they follow each other closely, using a variety of formations that help them take advantage of the wind patterns and maintain their bonds of togetherness.

Lake Nakuru is great for a family weekend outing or simply a stop over enroute to other destinations, especially because of its central location.

The Nine Mile Canyon in Utah is a stunning, historical 40 mile canyon showcasing over 1000 panels and 10,000 images of petroglyphs and pictographs. Petroglyphs are carved, pecked or chipped into the sandstone panels. Pictographs are painted onto stone. The unique history of rock art in this canyon is attributed mostly to the Fremont Native American cultures.

The Fremont Culture

As you drive through this incredible canyon with desert mountain views and high sandstone canyon walls, you’ll find panels of mostly Fremont petroglyphs assessable right off the side of the road or within a short hike. The Fremont Native Americans inhabited Nine Mile Canyon around 300 A.D. to 1250 A.D. It’s always entertaining imagining the meaning and inspiration behind each petroglyph.

Directions

To reach the start of the canyon, head east from Wellington on US 191/6 onto Soldier Creek Road, 2200 East, at Walkers Food and Fuel Chevron Station (where you’ll want to make sure you have a full tank of gas and fill up water bottles before entering the long stretch into the canyon without any services!). You’ll then drive about 20 miles on paved and dirt roads to the start of Nine Mile Canyon.

The Canyon drive is about 40 miles along. Plan a full day to drive, view the amazing sights and take a few side hikes. I highly recommend this adventure exploring art history. I would suggest having a map to help you locate the panel sites on the side of the road; however, it’s also fun to find them yourself. Take your camera!

Adventures in Virginia

Virginia has everything an Adventure Traveler desires. This place has the Atlantic Ocean where you can watch the dolphins play. When you are ready for some dry land you can hike the gorgeous woods with stands of hardwood trees and beautiful flowering wild flowers. You can visit historic places, relax and enjoy a ride on one of the many scenic roads that will restore your spirit and will make your vacation go by in a heartbeat.

Want to walk along the ocean and hike along the dunes and view wildlife in the ocean and on land visit First Landing State Park. This place will have looking at bald eagles, sea turtles, dolphins and you will know your in the south with moss hanging from the trees. The wild roses and the sea breeze is a smell that will imprint on your memory and have you coming back for more.

Virginia Beach is famous for relaxing in the sun and enjoying the ocean. Adventure Travel in a Kayak into one of the largest salt water marshes on the east coast. Your reward will be getting away from the crowds, closer to the wildlife and making yourself one with nature. You can rent a kayak in the area and enjoy a different perspective from many who visit this area.

When you ready to take a scenic drive adventure in Virginia you will want to travel along on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. The road will take along the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains and give you access along the way to over five hundred miles of hiking trails. You will find that one third of these will take you into wilderness areas, some of the trails are handicapped accessible. Hiking on any of the trails you will be exposed to the wilds of Virginia. The wildlife, the hardwood trees, wildflowers and the babbling of many a stream.

When your ready to enjoy some history with scenic stops along the way travel along the George Washington Parkway. It will take you all along the Potomac River. You can stop at Mount Vernon and see where Washington made his home for over forty five years. Take a look at the gardens and wetlands that will inspire you to plant some heritage seeds in your garden next year.

While on the parkway you will want to stop at Great Falls State Park enjoy the falls and hike into the woods.

Virginia is a place that Washington held dear to his heart. Adventure Travel in the area and it will remain in yours, hopefully for the rest of your life.

If you’re smart enough to be living on a budget you are probably saving for a family vacation. You can save less and take a short trip close to home, or save more and take a big trip. Obviously with shorter trips you can do them more often, but the tradeoff is not getting to see the world farther from your front door.

Depending on where you live the cost of a big vacation often includes hotel rooms, airfare, cruise tickets, food, tips, and miscellaneous transportation costs. Once you add in souvenirs and pictures you’re often looking at several thousand dollars. For many this seems like too much money. But think about this. We get one life to live. There’s a higher number of unique places on the planet to see than you have time for. It’s healthy to break out of the rut and do something spectacular once in a while. Life is about the experiences and if you have saved up the money then you should spend it on more experiences.

It’s been 6 years since we’ve had a big cruise vacation. We’ve had several smaller trips in between, but nothing that took us off the grid, out of the country. For our upcoming trip we’re debating about another theme park experience or taking the plunge and getting on a big ship for a week. As we’re deciding I’ve attended Relay for Life events which have reminded me about how precious life is. Life is important. It’s also not guaranteed. If you’re healthy and able, get out and enjoy what the world has to offer while you can. Yes, it costs more, but in the end you have a wonderful experience to remember and hopefully lots of pictures.