The African savannah
The savannah is the country's most emblematic plant environment. A veritable kingdom of grass, savannahs are among the most remarkable landscapes on the planet. They are transitional zones between forest and desert, perennial grasslands as far as the eye can see, dotted with trees and shrubs, sometimes grouped together in forest patches, or in tree-lined strips along watercourses.
The distribution and abundance of rainfall throughout the year explain the presence of these savannahs. Generally speaking, they are found in regions where annual rainfall ranges from 500 mm to 1,500 mm, and where wet seasons alternate with dry periods. The colors of the savannahs thus change from green to yellow to scorched brown. The length of the dry season determines the nature of the vegetation. In the north and east of the country, where rainfall is scarce, the savannah takes on the appearance of desert or semi-desert steppe, which can be described as bush: only a few trees 3 m to 5 m tall (generally acacias and commiphoras) stand amid thick thorny bushes. In the south, particularly in the Tsavo region, the vegetation becomes denser and baobabs are very common.
Central and southern Kenya are characterized by a savannah of medium-high grasses (80 cm) and umbrella acacias. Sometimes, the grass, known as "elephant grass", can reach several meters in height. Where a river meanders through the savannah, its banks are covered with gallery forest, including large yellow-trunked acacias, locally known as fever trees. In wetter regions, the savannah is made up of taller, more numerous and more varied trees.
You can also see candelabra euphorbias (in Nakuru, for example) or the astonishing sausage trees (especially near waterholes). Most tourists who visit Kenya do so during the dry season, so they don't have the chance to drive through bright green savannah covered with multicolored, fragrant flowers. Enjoying the shoulder seasons, these bloom just after the main rains or at the very beginning of the dry season.
The acacia, emblematic tree of the savannah
Who doesn't have in mind the lived or fantasized image of the glowing sun setting behind a solitary acacia tree in the immensity of the African savannah? It's a cliché that every self-respecting traveler is bound to include in his or her souvenir photos. Spaced fairly far apart, the acacias are shaped like parasols. This characteristic shape is due to the large herbivores (mainly giraffes) that continually graze on the twigs within their reach.
These trees are perfectly adapted to drought: their roots form a particularly extensive network, sinking deep into the ground (up to 45 m) to fetch water wherever it's available. Acacias lose their leaves when atmospheric conditions become particularly unfavorable: they can withstand temperatures of 40°C, beyond which they fall off. Another, larger species of acacia, with a yellow trunk, grows along rivers: the Yellow Fever Tree (Acacia Xanthophloea).
Forests to preserve
A rainforest remains at Kakamega, near Lake Victoria. It is in fact the continuation of the immense equatorial forest that stretches from the West African coast to Uganda. The rainforest requires an average annual temperature of 25°C and at least 1,500 mm of rainfall per year. It is characterized by an extremely varied flora. The treetops form a veritable canopy, barely allowing the sun's rays to penetrate. Each tree is covered by a multitude of epiphytes (orchids, ferns, etc.) and lianas.
On the high plateaus, on either side of the collapse trough and on the slopes of the mountains, the quantity of humidity from rainfall and fog has also enabled the development of very characteristic forests (Aberderes, Mau, Mount Kenya...). They are found mainly in the highlands, between 1,500 m and 3,000 m altitude. These forests are truly exceptional and impressive places.
Further north, 560 km from Nairobi, a unique and spectacular mountainous forest island emerges in the middle of the desert. This is Mount Marsabit. It is a permanent source of water for the region. Here, as in all areas where water is becoming scarce, social peace, the feeding and watering of livestock, stocks of firewood and the supply of water to local populations are directly dependent on the preservation and proper functioning of these forest ecosystems.
Unfortunately, these forests - essential to human and animal life, but also in terms of biodiversity and contribution to carbon sequestration - are shrinking drastically, and reforestation efforts are struggling to compensate for years of intensive deforestation.
A well represented fauna
Almost all the species expected in Africa live in Kenya in impressive numbers: lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, antelopes, hippopotamuses, and over 1,000 listed bird species, to name but a few. In short, Kenya lacks only the great apes (bonobos, gorillas and chimpanzees) to have a complete panoply of the abundant African fauna living in its natural environment. In the savannah, the large herbivore family is particularly well represented (antelopes, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, rhinoceroses, buffaloes, elephants...). All these species live in harmony in their natural environment. And inevitably, they are accompanied by their share of carnivorous predators, fascinating in their numbers and diversity.
To survive, some have developed defense mechanisms, others techniques to circumvent them. The cheetah, for example, the fastest terrestrial animal, relies on dizzying speeds of up to 110 km/h over short distances. This tall, slender feline lives on vast plains and often stands on small promontories (dead trees, termite mounds) to observe its surroundings. The cheetah doesn't stalk, but approaches its prey slowly, then pursues it at full speed over a distance of 500 m maximum. Exhausted by its run, it is regularly forced to abandon its prey to lions and hyenas. This fierce competition for food is one of the reasons for the gradual disappearance of these animals.
Lions, on the other hand... especially lionesses, usually hunt alone, using diversionary tactics and generally attacking the weakest animals in a herd. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are formidable predators along rivers and streams, attacking all types of prey (except hippos), especially wildebeest and zebra during the great migration. On land, it is astonishingly fast. Generally, it drowns its prey by holding it underwater with its powerful jaws, then leaves the corpse to pamper for several days under a trunk or rock, safe from scavengers.
Birds and lakes
The fauna also includes numerous bird species such as the ostrich, the largest bird on the planet, which does not fly, but can run at speeds of 50 km/h over very long distances; the yellow-billed hornbill, a bird with brown or dark grey plumage spotted with white, easily recognizable by its large curved orangey-yellow beak, which lives in rather humid and scrubby areas; the royal crane; the sacred ibis; the marabou, a scavenger and fearsome predator of fledglings, large insects and baby crocodiles; the metallic blackbird, a superb bird whose small, round, bright yellow eyes stand out against its black head; several species of eagles and vultures. To name but a few.
Bird enthusiasts will not be disappointed. With over 1,100 recorded species (more than 10% of the world's birds), Kenya is one of Africa's most bird-rich countries. From the savannah of Samburu to the primary rainforest of Kakamega, from the foothills of Mount Kenya to the lakes of Naivasha or Oloïden, via the interconnected lakes of the Great Rift Valley (Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru, Elementaita - a World Heritage site and the most important feeding site on the planet for lesser flamingos), there's plenty to see in terms of an incredible variety of birds.
National parks, national reserves and conservancies
All this wildlife can be observed in its natural habitat. Kenya's parks and reserves are among the most renowned in Africa. The country is home to 27 parks, 34 reserves and 4 sanctuaries, both terrestrial and marine. There are also a number of Ramsar sites, Unesco World Heritage sites and biosphere reserves. Nature is therefore well represented. Far less vast than those of Tanzania, Namibia or Botswana, they are nonetheless home to the greatest variety of animals and birds. National parks are zones of absolute protection for flora and fauna, placed under the responsibility of the central government, which finances them. National reserves benefit from regional funding, while retaining the same objectives and rules. Parks and reserves are guarded by rangers who report to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). There are also conservancies (Ol Pejeta, Lewa, Mara Naboisho, Selenkay, OlKinyei, etc.), protected areas where wild animals, domestic animals and local communities live side by side. These sanctuaries enjoy the same wildlife (animals know no boundaries) and landscapes as the reserves and national parks. A safari in a conservancy is the promise of a unique experience, with respect for the people and animals who live on these protected wild lands.
Man, the threat to wildlife
The incredible thing about Kenya is that it's home to all the animals of the savannah, including the "Big Five", which the safari traveler will have the chance to discover. However, the main threat to all these wild species remains man. Although Kenya has set an example in the fight against poaching, and it is no longer ivory hunters who are a cause for concern, the enemy has not been vanquished. Subsistence poaching is still rife (the Covid-19 pandemic was an aggravating factor), and wild animals are coming into conflict with growing human populations. Rivalry for access to natural resources, particularly land and water, is being reinforced by climate change and the repeated droughts it brings.
