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We leave Kampala to the east and end up in the
adrenaline centre of East Africa, Jinja.
The town is built at the place where the Nile flows out
of Lake Victoria to finds its way to the Mediterranean.
Jinja is considered as the source of the mighty Nile and
offers some of world's most thrill seeking white-water
rafting.
Before we leave Uganda and return into Kenya, we make
camp along the shores of Lake Victoria at
Majanji, which is nestled at the border between
both countries. The little harbour offers the
possibility to make a little tour with a fisher boat
over the waters of Lake Victoria.
After crossing the border we cycle through the Kakamega
National Forest, Kenya's last remnant of the ancient
Guineo-Congolian rainforest that once spanned the
continent.
A rest day is planned in Njoro situated
in the Kenya highlands. It's a good base to visit the
Lake Nakuru National Park which is best
known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingos
nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow
lake is often hardly recognizable due to the continually
shifting mass of pink. The park is also a good place to
see leopards, Rothschild giraffes and black and white
rhinos.
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We cycle along, and make camp at, Lake Naivasha.
A beautiful freshwater lake fringed by thick papyrus.
The lake and its surrounds are rich in natural bounty,
and the fertile soils and water supply have made this
one of Kenya's prime agricultural regions. The waters of
the lake draw a great range of game to these shores.
Giraffes wander among the acacia, buffalo wallow in the
swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops while
the lake's large hippo population sleeps the day out in
the shallows.
We leave Lake Naivasha through Hell's Gate
National Park. It's unique among Kenya's parks,
as we are allowed to cycle across its breadth. There's
dramatic scenery, with looming cliffs, gorges and basalt
columns. Giraffe, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson's
gazelle, and baboons are common as you cycle along.
Lurking lions and leopards add to the excitement! A real
cycling safari.
Before you complete your wide loop around Lake Victoria,
we cycle over the slopes of Mount Longonot,
a young volcano rising to 2,776 metres above sea level.
The name is derived from the Maasai word Oloonong'ot
meaning "mountains of many spurs or steep ridges". One
stage through Maasai land is left before we return to
the place where we started our tour 57 days earlier,
Nairobi.
Lake Victoria Safari is a demanding,
but for sure also a very rewarding bicycle expedition.
It's a fabulous way to discover this part of Africa
which has magnificent scenery, offers the best wildlife
in the world, and is populated by colourful tribes and
wonderful people. An adventure you'll never forget. |
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