African Lion Safari Kenya- Lion Safari In Africa Kenya-Lion Animal Information

With shores fringed with papyrus and yellow-barked acacias, and freshwater that supports protected hippo populations, fish eagles and a blossoming horticultural industry, Lake Naivasha?s beauty is as undeniable as its importance to the region.

A vast range of plains animals and a plethora of birdlife have long called the verdant shoreline home, as have the Maasai, who considered it prime grazing land. Unfortunately for the Maasai, the splendor of the surroundings wasn?t lost on early settlers either and it was one of the first areas they settled, eventually becoming the favourite haunt of Lord Delamere and the decadent Happy Valley set in the 1930?s.

Amazingly between 1937 and 1950 the lake was Kenya?s main airport, with BOAC?s Empire and Solent flying boats landing here after their four-day journey from Southampton. Lake Naivasha is still one of the largest settler and expat communities in Kenya, and can have a resort-like feel to it in high season, when it essentially becomes Kenya?s St Tropez.

Not only does Lake Naivasha?s fresh water bestow it with a unique ecosystem in comparison with the vast majority of Rift Valley lakes, which are highly alkaline, but it also means that the lake can be used for irrigation purposes. While the surrounding countryside has historically been a major production area for beef cattle and fresh fruit and vegetables, today the flower industry rules the roost.

Shade houses have proliferated in the hills recently, and Lake Naivasha is now the centre of Kenya?s US$360 million flower industry. Astoundingly, flowers that are picked here in the morning can be at Europe?s flower auctions the same day. One flower grower alone produced a million rose stems for Valentine?s Day in 2005!

However, the success of the agricultural and horticultural industry is threatening the very survival of the source of their creation, as pesticides and fertilizers are seeping into the lake and reeking havoc with the ecosystem. Irrigation has further destabilized erratic water levels, which had seen the lake almost dry up in the late 1890?s before rebounding to cover almost 1000sq km in the early 20th century. The lake is currently receding again, and now only spreads over 170sq km.

The lake?s ecology has been interfered with on a number of other occasions, notably with the introduction of foreign fish (for sports and commercial fisheries), cray fish, the South American coypu (an aquatic rodent that initially escaped from a fur farm) and various aquatic plants, including the dreaded water hyacinth.

For these reasons Naivasha has been the focus of conservation efforts and in 1995, after years of lobbying from the lake Naivasha Riparian Association (LRNA),the lake was designated a Ramsar site, officially recognizing it as a wetland of international importance. Besides educating the locals dependent on the lake about the environmental issues involved, the LNRA, Elsamere Conservation Center and other organisations work to establish a code of conduct among the local growers that will maintain the lake?s biodiversity. The results are promising, but much work remains to be done.

Its worth visiting the Lake Naivasha Riparian offices and Elsamere if only to support their work in Naivasha.

Robert is a travel expert with Landmarksafaris.com. He has authored more than 1000 articles on Africa Kenya vacation travel. Learn more of your experience in Kenya lake vacation safaris and plan your african lion safari and get a free quote here: http://www.landmarksafaris.com/planner/?refferer=ezinearticles