3.1 Natural tourist attractions

Natural tourist attractions are features of the natural environment that draw visitors because of their beauty, rarity, wildlife or scientific interest. Disseminating information about them is a core duty of the wildlife guide: before and during the tour, the guide explains where each attraction is, what makes it special, how it formed or behaves and how guests can enjoy it responsibly. Example: on the drive into Amboseli National Park, a guide explains that the swamps there are fed by underground water from Kilimanjaro's snowmelt, which is why elephants gather in them in the dry season.

Categories of natural attractions in Kenya

• Wildlife: The Big Five, endemic and rare species such as the Grevy's zebra, hirola and Rothschild's giraffe, and spectacles such as the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara.
• Birdlife: Over 1,000 recorded bird species, including the flamingos of Lakes Bogoria and Nakuru.
• Mountains and hills: Mount Kenya, Mount Elgon, the Aberdares, Chyulu Hills and Mount Longonot.
• Lakes and rivers: Rift Valley lakes such as Turkana, Baringo and Naivasha, and rivers such as the Mara, Tana and Galana.
• Forests: Kakamega, Arabuko Sokoke, Mau and Mount Kenya forests.
• The Great Rift Valley: Escarpments, volcanoes, hot springs and geysers such as those at Lake Bogoria.
• Coast and marine features: Beaches, coral reefs, mangroves and marine parks such as Malindi and Kisite-Mpunguti.
• Deserts and drylands: Chalbi Desert and the semi-arid north.
• Caves and rock formations: Mount Elgon caves, Hell's Gate gorge and Fischer's Tower.

Information a guide gives about natural attractions

• Location and access: Where it is, how to get there and entry requirements.
• Key features: What visitors will see and why it is unique.
• Ecology and formation: How the feature formed or how the ecosystem works.
• Best times to visit: Seasons, migration periods and times of day.
• Conservation status and rules: Threats, protection status and visitor codes of conduct.
• Safety: Hazards such as steep drops, hot water or dangerous animals.

Sources of accurate information

• Kenya Wildlife Service and conservancy materials: Park guides, maps and leaflets.
• Field guides and scientific publications: For species and geology.
• Local knowledge: Rangers, researchers and community elders.