NATIONAL PARKS DESCRIPTION

Amboseli National Park 

Amboseli means the place of water in Masai language.  The park has an endless supply of water which is filtered through thousands of meters of volcanic rock from Mount Kilimanjaro.  Animal species seen include elephant, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala and leopard.  The birdlife seen here includes pelican, bee eater, kingfisher, African fish eagle and pigmy falcon.  Amboseli is one of the most popular parks and offers excellent accommodation facilities.  There are five lodges and two campsites inside the park.  Kilimanjaro forms the backdrop of this game sanctuary and it is a sight to see and marvel at the nomadic richly decorated Masai who are deeply steeped in Masai culture entertain visitors with enchanting dances of ageless Africa. 

Aberdare’s and Mt. Kenya National Parks 

These parks are part of the most fascinating sanctuaries in terms of scenic splendor and the great variety of wildlife found here.  Mount Kenya National Park lies at an altitude of 3,400 to 5,199m.  It offers excellent mountain climbing and scenery that includes glaciers, tarns and ice caves as well as mineral springs.  According to local folklore, Kenya owes its name to this mountain which is the second highest in Africa after Mt Kilimanjaro. 

Part of the mountain’s attraction is the variation in flora and fauna found at different altitudes. Dry upland forest covers the lower slopes while true mountain forest begins at 2,000 meters and comprises of cedar, Meru oak and podo trees.  At 2,500 meters a belt of bamboo that merges with smaller trees interspersed with glades begins.  The forest is home to a variety of animals and rare plant species.  The mountain also features in the local people folklore as being the home of the Supreme Being ‘Ngai’ (God). It is therefore treated as a holy shrine.  The wildlife in the park includes Colobus monkey, Sykes monkey, bushbuck, buffalo, elephant, olive baboon, water buck, black rhino, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cat, hyena and the elusive bongo.  There is one game lodge within the park, seven mountain climbers’ huts as well as self help bandas. 

The Aberdare ranges lie at an altitude of 2,134 to 4,268 meters.  It is home to the first tree hotel in Africa and harbors significant memories in world history.  In 1952, Queen Elizabeth learnt of her accession to the British throne while she was a guest at Treetops Lodge following the death of her father, King George VI.  It is also at the nearby town of Nyeri that lie the remains and tomb of Lord Baden Powel, the founder of the world wide Boy Scouts movement.  There are two lodges, self help bandas and several campsites within the park. 

Lakes Baringo and Bogoria 

The two lakes lie on the floor of the Great Rift Valley and are an ornithologist’s paradise.  Bogoria is a salt water lake and contains flamingoes while there are hot springs and geysers, evidencing the areas volcanic origin.  At Baringo, over 350 species of birds have been recorded of both migrating and resident composition.  A boat ride on the lake is a worthwhile complement to your visit. 

Lake Nakuru National Park 

Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake on the edge of Nakuru town and lies a distance of 160 kilometers from Nairobi.  The lake is world famous as home to millions of flamingoes.  The number of flamingoes depends on the water level which determines the quantity of algae on which the birds feed.  Flamingoes are known to migrate to other Rift Valley lakes whenever the water level is low. 

The National Park surrounds the lake and was gazetted to protect the colony of flamingoes as well as provide sanctuary for endangered species such as the rhino.  There are about 25 white and black rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country.  Predators are also residents to this park while Rothschild giraffe have been translocated into the park for safety.  Accommodation includes two lodges, a KWS guest house, campsites, self help bandas and two picnic sites. 

Mount Longonot and Hell’s Gate National Park 

Mount Longonot National Park is only ninety kilometers from Nairobi and lies at an altitude of 1,900 to 2,800m.  It is a young volcano which rises to 2.776 meters above sea level and is a captivating sight for visitors wishing to view the Naivasha basin, the volcano and crater, as well as the Great Rift Valley.  Hell’s Gate is an ideal get-away for a day trip from Nairobi as well as a stop over enroute to Lake Nakuru.  It is famous for natural hot springs, as well as eagle and vulture breeding grounds. Special locations for viewing include Fischer’s Tower, Central Tower and Njorowa Gorges. 

The game that can be viewed includes buffalo, giraffe, eland, and coke’s hartebeest, Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. About 103 species of birds have been recorded here. Accommodation is available in hotels, lodges and home stays around Lake Naivasha.   

Masai Mara Game Reserve 

The Masai Mara Game Reserve is arguably Kenya’s most popular game sanctuary. It is the most famous and most visited game reserve in Kenya. The film ‘Out of Africa’ was made to a great extent in this reserve. Virtually every type of wildlife can be seen at the Mara. A spectacle worth seeing is the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelles from Serengeti plains across the Tanzania border and the Mara River to reach Masai Mara grazing fields from late June. The dramatic crossing of the river and the preying on the migrants by predators can be viewed from early July to August.

The reserve abounds with birdlife since dose to about 452 species have been recorded. Hot air balloon safaris are readily available in this park. Accommodation is plentiful in Masai Mara and ranges from five star lodges to luxury tented camps and campsites within the reserve. 

Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs Reserves 

The highlights of these reserves are the spectacular scenic beauty, rivers and forests. It is an area where the local people have a very rich and colorful cultural heritage. The reserves have numerous permanent springs and a wealth of wildlife which includes Leopard, hippo, elephant, lion, reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra, bongo and crocodiles in the Ewaso Nyiro River. Over 365 species of birds have been identified in the sanctuaries. There are lodges and campsites managed by mobile tented camp operators.

Shaba National Reserve is home to the monument of Joy Adamson who, together with her husband George, contributed greatly to Kenya’s wildlife as an author, conservationist and artist. The film ‘Born free’ is based on Joy’s book of the same title. Shaba was the setting for the film ‘Sheena Queen of the Jungle’. Shaba Reserve is home to the rare blue-shanked Somali Ostrich. 

Nairobi National Park. 

Nairobi National Park is the oldest of Kenya’s National Parks and Game Reserves. It was gazetted in 1946. This game sanctuary is a stretch of Savannah that is set against the dramatic skyline of Nairobi. Its main entrances are merely a stone’s throw away from the city’s outskirts, making Nairobi the only city in the world that borders a natural game protection area. The park contains over 100 species of mammals, mainly plains game. The big five are also found here except the elephant. The park’s advantage is that visitors do not have to travel far to view game in it’s natural habitat. The animal orphanage and Safari walk at the main gate should not be missed. The orphanage is home to injured and orphaned animals. Here they are nursed back to health before being released to the wild. The park is also ideal for ornithological safaris.

Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Chyulu Hills 

Tsavo National Park is the largest game sanctuary comprising Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Chyulu Hills. It is over 21,000 km2 and is located halfway between Mombasa and Nairobi. It’s awe inspiring landscape and proximity to Kenya’s coast makes the park a popular safari destination. The park is one of the world’s leading bio-diversity areas. It is ideal for photography on account of it’s unlimited sunlight and the expanse of the Yatta Plateau – the world’s largest Lava flow.

One of the outstanding features of this sanctuary is its huge population of red elephants which derive their red coloring from the rich red earth of the park. Other species seen include buffalos, rhinos, lions, hippos, leopards, crocodiles, waterbucks, kudus, gerenuks, zebras, hartebeests, and the hirola antelope that has been translocated to Tsavo East. Tsavo occupies its place in the frontier folklore as a place where two lions killed and ate close to 40 engineers and their crew who were constructing the Kenya-Uganda railway in the early 1900’s. The man eaters of Tsavo nearly brought the construction work to a halt.

The park has over 500 species of birds which include ostrich, buzzards and migratory kestrel. Chyulu Hills and Mt. Kilimanjaro can be viewed from the park in clear weather. Other outstanding features include cave and geological formations, Shaitani lava flows and Mzima Springs underwater observatory. Accommodation in Tsavo is available in a variety of game lodges, tented camps, campsites and self service bandas. 

Mount Elgon and Saiwa Swamp National Parks 

Mount Elgon lies 2,500 to 4,200m above sea level and is 470 Km from Nairobi. The National Park here is one of the most beautiful and truly wild sanctuaries. 

The park provides a home to numerous elephants, buffalos, colobus and blue monkeys, giant forest hog and other types of antelopes. Over 240 species of birds have been recorded here. There are four explorable caves which are popular meeting places for elephants that go to lick the mineral content in the caves. There is a lodge, two hotels, campsites and one picnic site. The Saiwa Swamp National Park completes the Western Tourist circuit and was opened to provide a home to the rare semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope. 

Meru National Park. 

Meru National Park lies at an altitude of 305m to 1,036m and covers an area of 870km2. It is 348 km from Nairobi and was opened in 1968. Meru National Park is one of the best watered sanctuaries and is situated on the slopes of Nyambene Mountain ranges, North East of Mt. Kenya. The park teems with a variety of wildlife that includes lion, elephant, cheetah, leopard, lesser kudu, duiker as well as large herds of buffalo.  The park has over 300 species of birds and was the setting of Joy Adamson’s book ‘Born Free’ that chronicles an in depth study of lions and cheetahs.  Accommodation is available in lodges, tented camps and campsites. 

The Kenyan Coast 

Mombasa is the gateway to Kenya’s coast and is the country’s second largest city.  It has a recorded history dating back to 2,000 years.  It is the major port of East Africa, the old town which lies next to the old port is worth seeing as well as the Marine Reserve.

The 16th century Fort Jesus is a must see; it is open to visitors and has a museum that houses  antiques from the entire Kenyan coast, Shimoni to the South of Mombasa is a popular fishing village. All sorts of water sports are easily arranged from Mombasa.  Short excursions to nearby game sanctuaries including Shimba Hills National Park and Arabuko Sokoke Forest.  Mombasa is linked directly to the outside world by Moi International Airport and is a major port of call for many world cruise liners. 

Lamu has magnificent old houses of Arabic architecture with curved doors, numerous mosques and a thrilling Swahili culture. 

Lamu Island is linked to the mainland and the three other smaller islands of Kiwayu by waterways other attractions are the museum and mangrove swamp, with donkeys as the mode of transport as there is no motorized transport.  Malindi and Watamu resorts are known for their marine Parks, the Gedi ruins which were mysteriously abandoned in the 17th century, the Arabuko Sokoke forest, the Portuguese chapel and Mambrui village. 

Mombasa’s North Coast stretches from Nyali to Kilifi and offers long stretches of palm fringed beaches, a variety of speciality restaurants and superb hotels provide high excellent services to visitors.  The Mtwapa creek with its abundant birdlife and the Bamburi Nature trail are a must for nature lovers. 

The south coast is linked by ferry to Mombasa Island, and is unique for its long white sandy beaches.  It stretches from Likoni to the Kenya/Tanzania border.  The most notable beaches are Diani and Tiwi.  Most accommodation options are on the beachfront area.  Sunbathing and a variety of water sports are the main activities while the Chale, Kisite and Mpunguti  marine parks offer a dazzling array of technicolored fish and  coral gardens.  Viewing is done from glass-bottomed boats or by snorkeling.  

Northern Parks 

The northern circuit includes Maralal, Sibiloi, Lake Turkana and Marsabit.  The circuit is ideal for the adventure loving visitors as it includes some of the most challenging terrain.  Sibiloi is credited as the ‘cradle of mankind’ as the proof of man’s origin has been unearthed in this area.  The park was established to protect these unique prehistoric and archeological sites.  Lake Turkana is home to the world’s largest surviving colony of crocodiles.   The safari trips available emphasize observing the desert landscape and the nomadic tribes that inhabit the northern part of Kenya.