Unusual Attractions in Kilifi
Luigu Broglio Space Centre: San Marco
One of the unusual attractions along Kenya’s coast can be found on the northern area of Ngomeni Peninsula. Unless you’re a space jork, you probably don’t expect to find the San Marco Equatorial Mobile Range here, a fully equipped operational range, raised at Ungwana (Formosa) Bay, east Ngomeni Secondary School, for the purpose of placing small to medium sized satellites in orbits about the equator.
The establishment of the range was accomplished through a joint and cooperative project, San Marco Project, undertaken in 1962 by the Italian Space Commission of the National Council of Research and the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The responsibility for the development and operation of the range was given to the Centro Ricerche Aerospaziali of the University of Rome.
San Marco (Saint Mark) is Italy’s oldest launch site, consisting of a novel floating platform in the Indian Ocean off the coast. The centre’s near-equatorial location makes it ideal for placing satellites into low-inclination orbits. Since its conception in 1960 by Professor Luigi Broglio, Professor Carlo Buongiorono, and Dr. Franco Fiario, its purpose as a ocean platform in nonterritorial waters for launching their satellite booster, has been a laudable success in launching San Marco satellites.
The San Marco launch site was in use from 1970-1988, and was instrumental in the launch of 27 Italian and international satellites. On November 12, 1970, Kenya made its mark on international space science when the NASA satellite Uhuru was launched from the San Marco platform. As the first ever earth-orbiting mission dedicated to studying the celestial bodies with X- Ray astronomy, Uhuru made internationally important astronomical discoveries while also making local history.
Luigu Broglio Space Centre, unusual and preternatural in appearance, with large satellites bobbed at varied angles, strewn with compact white-washed bunker-like brick houses – a communications ground station, has two secondary control platforms and a main offshore launch site dubbed San Marco platform. Built in the United State in 1959, the 40 m-a-side rig’s original name was Scarabeo. When it arrived in Italy, to be readied for a the space missions, it was renamed San Marco.
San Marco arrived at the port of Mombasa in 1964. It underwent preinstallation modifications before being moved to the Ungwana Bay. While the satellite launch facilities and two platforms are dilapidated, the communications ground station is still in use and helps track NASA, ESA, Italian, and other international satellites. In 2003, a legislative decree handed the Italian Space Agency management of the center, beginning in 2004, and the name changed to San Marco Equatorial Range.
Astro Rivelatore Gamma a Immagini Leggero (codename AGILE), a high-energy astrophysics mission dedicated to the observation of the gamma-ray Universe, was successfully launched on April 23, 2007 from the Indian base of Sriharikota and was inserted in an equatorial orbit with low particle background. On the same day, ASI made contact with AGILE; its signals were acquired by the ground station at the Luigi Broglio Space Centre, and it was placed in a Sun-pointing mode.
In the coming years, Kenyan astronomy will get a boost as it becomes one of eight African countries to host remote dishes for Square Kilometer Array (SKA), whose core sites will be located in Australia and South Africa. SKA will create the world’s largest radio telescope and will improve our understanding of everything from exploding stars and black holes, to galaxy formation and the birth of the universe.
Around Kenya are a selection of natural landmarks, cultural shrines, architectural oddities, and technological installations that offer incredible, almost surreal experiences that can make you feel as if you’ve stepped into another world. Hauntingly beautiful to some, eerie sights for others, and still, for others, down right strange, these site provide unique experiences for adventurous travelers.
Index of Unusual Attractions Around Kenya
Baringo County - Olduka (Mogotio) Valley, Busia County - The Alupe Leprosy Centre, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Kipteberr, Isiolo County - Magado Crater, Magado Cave Dwellings, Nantudu Spire Rock, Merti Catholic Church, Buffalo Springs, Harr Girrissa, Kericho County - Van Wicker's Cave, The Kipkelion Monastery, Kilifi County - Hell's Kitchen, Luigi Broglio Space Centre, Ngomeni Shipwreck, Kwale County - Three Sisters Caves, Mrima Hills Rare Earth Mine, Laikipia County - Sirmon & Nyariginu Confluence, Lamu County - The Lamu Donkey Sanctuary, Machakos County - Komarock Shrine, Kituluni Magical Hill, Makueni County - Kenze Gorges, Virgin Mary Shrine, Emali Trig, Holy Nzaui Rock, Mandera County - Marehan Sandstone, Marsabit County - Chalbi Desert, Meru County - Mystical Lake Nkunga, The Giant Footprints, Mombasa County - Kizingo, Mbaraki Pillar, Muranga County - Muranga Gorges, Nakuru County - Longonot Earth Station, Menegai, The Djinn House, Diana Caldwell's Shrine, Nandi County - Sheu Morobi Cliffs, Kopere Rocks, Nyandarua County - The Kinangop Step, Wanjohi Happy Valley, Dragon's Teeth, Nyeri County - Italian Memorial Church & Somali Wall, Taita Taveta County - The Taita Skull Caves, Shetani Lava, Yatta Springs, Nyiri Taru Desert, Crystal Caves at Lake Chala, Salaita (Slaughter) Hill, Haunted Sniper's Tree, Turkana County - Kapedo Falls, Lake Alablab, The Turkana Boy Monument, Samburu County - Samburu Singing Wells, Ngurunit Pools & Slides, Mystical Emuruangogolak, Vihiga County - Wagevere Rock, Nganyi Rainmakers Forest, Wajir County - Shaletey Caves
Touring Kilifi County offers a delightful blend of coastal beauty, lovely beaches, cultural richness, natural wonders, and fascinating ancient ruins. Whether you’re seeking pristine beaches, historical sites, or vibrant cultural experiences – or a combination, Kilifi promises a memorable and enriching travel experience.
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A Guide to Kilifi County
A Summa Digest of Kilifi
About Kilifi Way Back When
95 Destinations in Kilifi County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, east then north - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Shimo la Tewa Prison, Mtwapa Creek, Mtwapa Ruins, The Moorings, La Marina Restaurant, Jumba la Mtwana, Kikambala Beach, Vipingo Mosque Ruins, Kinuni Ruins, Kuruwitu Conservancy, Neem Tree House, Vipingo Ridge, Chasimba Cave, Kilifi Sisal Plantations, Vuma Cliffs, Old Town Takaungu, Takaungu Creek, Kitoka Ruins, Takaungu House, Beneath the Baobab Festival, Kilifi Creek, Kilifi Bridge, Kilifi Boatyard, Distant Relatives Lodge, Mnarani Ruins, Mnarani Snake Park, 3 Degrees South, Kamili House, Mazingira Park, Bofa Beach, Saltys Kitesurfing Bar & Restaurant, Bush Baby Kilifi, Casa Dalton, Panga ya Saidi Cave, River Rare Geo Park, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Mwangea Hills Forest, Watamu Marine National Park, Uyombo Ruins, Rock & Sea Resort, Mida Creek, Sudi Island, Kirepwe Ruins, Watamu Beach, Ocean Sports Watamu, Medina Palms, Hemimways Watamu, A Rocha Eco Lodge & Conservation Centre, Watamu Treehouse, Garoda Beach, Tribe Watersports, Kite House, Local Ocean Conservation, Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Kiburugeni Ruins, Mgangani Ruins, Mida Creek Nature Camp, Gede Ruins, Kipepeo Butterfly Farm, Malindi Museum, Henry the Navigator Monument, Malindi Pier, Malindi Pillar Tomb, Malindi Waterfront Park, Portuguese Chapel, Vasco da Gama Pillar, Malindi Beach, Ndoro Sculpture Garden, White Elephant Sea & Art Lodge, Malindi Crocodile & Snake Farm, Malindi Marine National Park, Malaika Beach Sunbeds & Restaurant, Sawa Sawa Dhow Excursions, Lo Sfizio Coffee Shop, Lennox Art Gallery, Falconry of Kenya, Hanging Gardens, Malindi Golf & Country Club, River Sabaki Delta, Marafa Depression, Dakacha Woodland, Mekatilili wa Menza Site, Mambrui Dunes, Mambrui, Mambrui Tombs, Kibirakani Ruins, Che Shale Hotel Kitesurf Center, Ngomeni Shipwreck, Luigi Broglio Space Centre, The Nyika Plateau, Galana Conservancy, Ngala Mausoleum, Rabai Museum, Kaya Kambe Shrine, Thomas Wakefield Memorial Church
Know More About Kilifi County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Kilifi can be split into three zones – the narrow coastal plain, varying in width from 3 kms to 20 km; few coastal hills lying below 30 ms asl, and the Nyika Plateau rising from 100ms to 340 ms asl.
For the greater part of the year, the climate along the coastal plain is pleasurable, though humid. Temperature ranges between 21C and 30C along the coast, and between 30C and 34C further inland.
