Rift Valley of Africa is a unique biodiverse ecosystem, it is Africa’s western arm of the Great Rift Valley of Africa formed as a result of the geological movement of tectonic plates, the narrow long flat valley is a gym of wildlife, spotted through several protected areas that lie on the floor of the Rift valley region. The Albertine stretches from lake Albert to the south of Lake Tanganyika, it encompasses forests, lakes, swamps, savannah wood, and grasslands, The East African countries have most of their ecosystems placed along the floor of the rift valley region. It has 70% of Wildlife in Africa a diversity of Mammals, vertebrates.
Natural habitats – The great rift valley of Africa
Amphibians, butterflies, plants, trees, and Bird species. The rift valley conserves threatened and endemic species including the Rwenzori duikers, owl-faced monkey, L’hoest Monkey, Red colobus monkey, Mountain gorillas, Golden monkeys, Rwenzori climbing mouse, among the mentioned species, there are critically endangered species according to the IUCN red list, the National parks like Bwindi impenetrable have been gazette as a way of protecting its residents, there are more than half of the worlds remaining population of mountain gorilla living in Bwindi and the rest in the Virunga national park of the democratic republic f congo and Rwandas’ volcanoes national park.
Why you should visit the Albertine rift valley
Many protected areas in the Albertine rift valley are interconnected with each other forming a large adventure scope, beginning from the Lake Albert region, the dotted parks are the Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale forest National park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, and the Semiliki national park, each of these ecosystems presents an opportunity to view wildlife differently common sights include, leopards, lions, antelopes, Topi, elands, Jackson Hartebeests, oribi, Jackal, Rothschilds giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, Hyenas, hippos, Nile crocodiles, Chimpanzee, baboons, black and white colobus monkey, red endangered colobus monkey, l’hoest monkey, vervet monkeys. The diversity is on a large scale, there are about 40% of Africa’s recorded birds in the Rift valley for example the African green broadbill, Abyssinian ground hornbill, malachite kingfisher, sunbirds, Red-Throated bee-eater, piapiac, African Martial eagle, grey crowned crested crane, shoebill stock the bird list is as many as you will love to explore.
Primates
Lakes and rivers are not to miss in the rift valley, it is dotted with crater lakes, especially in Queen Elizabeth national park and Kibale forest national park, the views are the most beautiful you can witness inclusive of salt mining areas, Lake George, and Edward has a great connecting Kazinga channel along which are boat cruises, the channel is said to have the worlds highest concentration of Hippos, animals gather around to hunt and drink water, popular sights of large herds of African Buffaloes ad schools of Hippos.
The Kyambura gorge is a lovely scenic long narrow valley in the heart of Queen Elizabeth national park, it is a lost world that if you are not keen enough might actually miss and never know it does exist within the ecosystems, here are several primates that have been trapped here including Chimpanzee, the life within the forest of Kyambura and just don’t leave the gorge, Habituated chimpanzee families are present for chimpanzee tracking.
Hiking activities
Safaris in the Albertine rift valley are organized to one national park or connecting through the ecosystems, there is a chance to do interesting activities in the park, the rift valley region is a mega biodiverse hot spot! Game drives are conducted in the early mornings in search of morning risers especially the cat family, the afternoon drives will enhance enjoying the sundowners and relax with a surrounding full of animals, Night drives are done with a lead from an experienced and armed ranger. Boat cruises presence of the lakes and Rivers gives a chance to ride on the water while in the rift valley region, you will get closer to majestic physical features, animals, and water birds.
Wildlife – Rift Valley of Africa
The rift valley floor is filled with geological truth of the whole process of formation, the earth movements, and underneath magma, it is evident in the Semiliki national park, the hot springs of Sempaya, these rise up to 2 meters above the ground hot enough to even boil an egg, the traditional local people believe the waters are for medicinal purposes, the female spring is always sought for fertility-related issues.
