The Rift Valley is one of the most spectacular geographical and geological lowland features in Eastern Africa. There are frequent earthquakes, volcanoes and other geographic features which result due to the tensional forces on the earth’s surface.
Best places to visit here are the lakes in the floor of the Great Rift Valley such as Lake Elementaita, Lake Naivasha, Lake Bogoria, the inspiring delight of national parks and the safari benefits enabled by the gains in wildlife. It’s specifically the best area for birdwatchers because of the string of alkaline waters in the lakes which attract birds such as flamingos, pelicans, and many other animals in the scenic valley. The feature is geologically active, and has frequent earthquakes, volcanoes, geysers, rivers, lakes and hot springs. The feature was discovered about a hundred years ago by John Walter Gregory, an adventurous geologist who was born in London in 1864. It is considered to be forming for almost 30 million years followed by extensive volcanism in some parts.
In this article I will be briefing you on various facts about The Great Rift Valley by providing information on various sub-topics discussed below.
Where Is The Great Rift Valley Located?
Eastern Africa. The Rift valley is located in Eastern Africa covering precisely over 2% of the continent’s area and covers over 7 countries with Kenya having the largest percentage of the feature.
The Valley divides into two in Eastern Africa, the Western Rift and Eastern Rift. The Western Rift, as well as Albertine Rift comprises some of the highest peaks in the Africa continent. The valley also contains deepest lake in Africa while in the Eastern Rift have lakes which lack the outlets making the shallow, alkaline in nature and high mineral content. With high evaporation of water, salt is left behind making them salty.
What Is The Great Rift Valley Known For?
The Great RIft Valley is known for its natural scenic beauty and being a feature with many other geological features. The valley has many national parks and reserves, volcanoes, geysers, rivers, lakes, mountains and hot springs.
The Rift Valley was formed about 30 million years ago when the Arabian Peninsula relocated further away from Africa. The valley is an area with many earthquakes due to its constant pulling aside the two plates (African Plate or Nubian Plate and the Arabian plate). The tremors on the earth’s surface may lead to formation of cracks or faults which may lead to formation of some volcano eruptions at any time.
There are many national parks and national reserves, such as Virunga National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve respectively. Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa is found here which is known to many adventurous people.
Tourist Attractions In The Rift Valley
The Rift Valley offers scenic places where tourists come to visit for their pleasure and interest mostly while on holiday. The main attractions of this valley are the marvelous national parks and other exciting features formed in the valley.
The Rift is a home to many wild animals which include lions, leopards, antelopes, monkeys, buffalos, zebras and cheetahs due to the wide plains available. This are the various attraction sites in the Rift Valley;
Thomson’s Falls
Thompson’s Falls is a 74 meters waterfall located on Ewaso Ng’iro river a few kilometers from Lake Bolossat. Is a tourist attraction site with a mass of falling water from the high fall.
The Scenic area is one of the recommended places to visit as it offers an amazing view of one of most beautiful views of the waterfall. The water from the high fall has been collected to make the best hippopotamus swimming pools in Kenya.
The falls have contributed to the growth and discovery of Nyahururu town. Most of the revenue generated from the tourists (International and Domestic charges) contribute to the growth of the town and plenty of development in the fall.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
The Maasai Mara is a tourist attraction site that forms a diverse and most spectacular view of nature across the Rift. There are various wild animals such as the elephants, lions, cheetah, leopard and wildebeest that form a great reserve.
Most tourists come to experience an exceptional population of the elephants, lions, cheetah, leopard and wildebeests migrating annually across the plains. Maasai Mara has the world’s largest multi species migration with the wildebeest migration from Serengeti to Masai Mara during the Dry season in Tanzania. It welcomes millions of wildebeest between July and October into the blossoming savannah.
The park offers safari travelers a wide variety of activities across the savannah. Whether it is to take pictures or view the wild animals with high hot air-balloons.
Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana is the largest permanent desert lake in the world located in Turkana County. There is a high rate of evaporation experienced due to the high temperatures in the area making it salty.
Is famous for the outstanding laboratory that studies plants and animals. There are also three National Parks which offer beautiful views of watching the many water birds, breeding grounds of crocodile, hippos and various venomous snakes since they act as step overs. People around Lake Turkana also offer you a kaleidoscope of impressions. The tourists can be able to encounter a unique culture of various dance and food eaten by the residents
Hells Gate National Park
Hells Gate is a small national park with a wide variety of spectacular scenery that lie south of Lake Naivasha. There are spitting geysers, sandstone cliffs, and rock towers that make this site worth your time.
The park is the only park with no predictors and that you can explore by foot. The park is a great choice for most tourists who like mountain and rock-climbing activities. Spectacular scenery such as the Fischer’s tower and central tower columns, Hell’s gate Gorge and belching plume of geothermal steam makes it the most atmospheric parks to visit in Africa.
Cycling is also one of the enjoyable activities carried across the park. Bicycles are rented early from the main gate before exploring the downhill to the gorge.