| |
|
|
| |
Parts of Haller Park |
|
| |
 Haller
Park (Southern Qaurry)
Haller Park, formerly known as the Bamburi Nature Trail, is
located in a former limestone quarry of Bamburi Cement Ltd. It hosts a
variety of wildlife including hippos, giraffe, buffaloes and antelopes,
as well as smaller mammals and birds.
The forest ecosystem is also a fundamental component of this
rehabilitated quarry. Opened to the public in 1984, guests are taken
around the park by expert guides whose knowledge of the park and its
history makes for a fascinating and educational experience.
 Game
Sanctuary
In the Game Sanctuary, you will find a number of animals
including hippo, buffalo, antelopes and many species of birds. All these
animals form an integral part of the man-made ecosystem developed from
the former barren limestone quarry. Baobab Farm is the only
rehabilitated quarry in the world that has such diversity. A highlight
of a visit to Haller Park is watching the animals in the Game Sanctuary
being fed at 4:00 pm everyday.
 Sally
the Hippo
Sally the Hippo is probably the most famous resident of
Haller Park ! Introduced to the Park in 1983, she hails from Lake
Baringo where she was orphaned and originally reared by the famous
wildlife film maker Alan Root. In 1986 she was joined by Potty, a male
hippo rescued from a mobile circus in Germany. Feeding of the Hippos at
4:00 pm everyday is one of the main highlights for visitors to the park.
This provides guests with the unique opportunity of observing these
mighty creatures at really close quarters.
 Snake
& Reptile Park
Opened in 1985 the Snake and Reptile Park is one of the more
popular attractions in Haller Park. Apart from tourists, thousands of
local school children pass through its gates annually, gleaning
fascinating and educational information about these reptiles. The
fundamental lesson that is passed on by the expert handlers is that,
contrary to general belief, snakes have many positive attributes. There
are approximately 50 snakes in the park and about 20 different species -
from enormous pythons to harmless house snakes and poisonous vipers.
 Crocodile
Farm
Apart from being an important commercial venture for Baobab
Farm, generating revenue from the sale of crocodile meat and skins, the
Crocodile Farm is a fundamental part of the Baobab integrated
aquaculture system comprising the fish farm and the rice paddies.
The crocodiles are imported waste meat recyclers and also
play am important role in the water reticulation system. Presently there
are 7,000 crocodiles, which are divided into various pens according to
their age and maturity. The Crocodile Farm is a major tourist attraction
and expert guides impart their wealth of knowledge about these
fascinating creatures onto the guest.
 Fish
Farm
The Fish Farm forms part of the overall integrated
aquaculture system that also comprises the crocodile farm and rice
paddies. The African Tilapia, an indigenous fish to Kenya, was selected
to stock the ponds when the fish farm was started in 1980. This fish
tolerates low oxygen levels and breeds easily. Various shapes and sizes
of concrete tanks were experimented with and with a constant flow of
water through these tanks, thus preventing the stunting of the growth of
the fish, over 45 tonnes of fish are now produced annually.
Integrated Aquaculture
The Baobab Integrated Aquaculture system that was developed
by Dr Rene Haller has become well known all over the world for its
unique and simple principals when it comes to the interfacing of
different aquaculture farming practises with each other. The abundance
of unpolluted ground water made this a further form of rehabilitation
that could be undertaken in the quarry. The crocodiles are fed on
Tilapia and the waste water from their tanks, rich in phosphate and
nitrogen, flows into the rice paddies, providing valuble fertilizer. The
total system is managed as one economic unit.
Raffia Island
Raffia Island is one of Mombasa's best kept secrets ! Set in
the lush palm garden of Haller Park, this small island is accessed by
stepping stones. No more than 4 diners are permitted on the island at
any one time, ensuring that the intimate atmosphere of dining on your
own private island is maintained. Your meal is freshly prepared at the
restaurant and cooked, by yourself, on a table grill. Guests have been
known to see the nocturnal bush babies and also the water buck who come
to drink from the lake. An experience not to be missed for any visitor
to Kenya.
 Palm
Garden
The Palm Garden is a botanists delight. Over 80 species of
palms are featured in this garden with many of them being collected by
Dr Rene Haller himself on his trips abroad. Dotted around the Palm
Garden are a number of small lakes and ponds, sprinkled with lilies and
other plants. It is easy to loose oneself in the beauty of this area of
Haller Park and you could be forgiven for thinking and believing that
you were in a lush tropical forest rather than a rehabilitated quarry
very near the Equator !
Restaurant
The Whistling Pine Restaurant is situated right in the heart
of Haller Park. Set amongst Casaurina trees and next to a lily pond and
the crocodile breeding area, it is an idyllic venue where one can spend
a quiet lunch or dinner dining in an atmosphere of real tranquility,
with the melodic sounds of the African night accompanying your meal.
Most of the produce used in the restaurant is from Baobab Farm and the
variety of game meat (eland, oryx, crocodile, quail and guinea fowl)
leaves many a discerning guest spoilt for choice. A highlight of a meal
here is the crocodile feeding that takes place at 9:00 pm in the pond
right next to the restaurant.
Source: former official website of The
Baobab Adventure (2009)
|
|
|
|
|
