The Great Rift Valley★★
The Great Rift Valley is one of the Earth's most massive geological rifts — a 6,000 km long fracture in the Earth's crust stretching from Mozambique to Lebanon. In Kenya, it is particularly impressive: From the Escarpment near Nairobi, you gaze 600 meters deep into the vast valley — a breathtaking panorama.
The Lakes of the Rift Valley
The valley hosts a chain of lakes, most alkaline (soda lakes), some fresh:
| Lake | Type | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Nakuru | Alkaline | Flamingos, rhinos |
| Lake Bogoria | Alkaline | Hot springs, flamingos |
| Lake Baringo | Freshwater | Hippos, crocodiles, 470+ bird species |
| Lake Naivasha | Freshwater | Hippos, Crescent Island |
| Lake Elementaita | Alkaline | UNESCO, flamingos, pelicans |
| Lake Magadi | Alkaline | Soda mining, hot springs, flamingos |
| Lake Turkana | Alkaline | Jade Sea, crocodiles, Cradle of Humankind |
Viewpoints
The most famous viewpoint is the Rift Valley Viewpoint on the old Nairobi–Naivasha road (A104) — here you can see the entire valley with the rising steam plumes of the geothermal power plants. A second stop is worthwhile at the Mai Mahiu Escarpment on the way to the Masai Mara.
