East Africa is endowed with a variety of historical and cultural sites. Each country features a rich history dating back several centuries. In Kenya sites like Gedi, Fort Jesus and Kobi fora have been declared as world heritage. Here is a account of a few of these sites for those looking for ideas when preparing to go on an African safari.
Fort JesusFort Jesus was built by Portuguese in 1593 and was basically a guarding fort.
The fort changed hands nine times over its control in Mombasa by nations such as the Portuguese, Arabs, and British who used it to house prisoners until 1958 when they converted it to a historical monument.
Olduvai GorgeGenerally referred to as the cradle of mankind, this steep sided ravine is located in the Great Rift Valley East of Serengeti plains and measures 30miles in length and 295ft deep. It is one of the most significant prehistoric sites in the world especially due to the aid in furthering the understanding the theory of human evolution.
The Gorge was discovered by a German entomologist named (Wilhelm) Kattwinkel who accidentally found it upon the gorge during one of his expeditions. The ravine comprises of an erosion-created rift with layer after layer of fossils, bones and antique artifacts.
Louis and Mary Leaky pioneered excavation work at this anthropologist's paradise in 1931 with other anthropologists carrying on the work into the 21st century.
Gedi RuinsOnce a Swahili town between the 13th and 17th century placed at a village known as Gedi near the coastal town of Malindi, the ruins consist of a palace, mosques, tomb stones and large stone houses.
This area came under the possession of Somalians in the 16th century and was abandoned by them in the 18th century. The name Gedi or Gede is a Galla word meaning "precious" which is supposed to be either the name of the town or the name of the outgoing Galla leader to camp there.
Koobi foraKoobi forra is located near Lake Turkana vicinity and its name comes from the local language meaning the place of commiphora.
It consists of projection of mainly Pleistocene sediments comprising clay stones, silt stones, and sandstones that preserve numerous fossils of terrestrial mammals, including early hominid variety and as such has been of great importance in the excavations of fossils significant to the human evolution theory.
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