NATIONAL PARKS & RESERVES

Nairobi National Park

Is the only park in the world within the proximity of a capital city and is Kenya’s wildlife shop window. The park is unique as nowhere in the world exists a wildlife park with such a variety of animals and birds so close to the capital city. The diverse flora and fauna of the park makes it possible for many different types of wildlife species to co- exist. Among the animals that can be seen in the park are the lion, buffalo, cheetah, zebra, giraffe, numerous antelopes and gazelles and the black rhino as well as over 400 species of birds.

At the entrance of the Nairobi National Park is the Nairobi Safari Walk, formerly the Animal orphanage. The orphanage was established in 1964 as a refuge for wild animals found abandoned, orphaned or injured throughout Kenya.The orphanage’s main objective is to foster and then release the animals into the wild whenever possible. However, over the years, it has involved into a mix between a zoo and an orphanage because of various reasons, some of the animals were not fit to be released into the wild.The Nairobi Safari Walk remains the most visited wildlife facility in Nairobi to date.

Mount Kenya National Park

5,199 meters high,Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and second largest in Africa.It straddles the equator and the entire mountain contour forms the Mt.Kenya National Park. Many visitors have explored the moorlands of the mountain and gone hiking around the mountain to enjoy its breathtaking vistas. It is very important that mountain climbers undergo acclimatization before climbing the mountain to reduce the risk of attitude sickness. For those who wish to savor the mountain air, glorious views and the peace and tranquility that emanate from the mountain, there are many hotels around the foothills. Wildlife within the park includes buffalo, lion, several species of antelope including the rare bongo and the occasional leopard.

Aberdare National Park.

The Aberdare National Park forms part of the protected range encompassing a 70 km long narrow massif stretching from North to South. This park was initially created to protect the Forest of Aberdare Mountains and in recognition of its importance, the Aberdare Park was branded as a world-class tourist destination and a conversation area.

Aberdare is best known for being the home of the famous treetops hotel where Princess Elizabeth became queen of England in 1952.

The high moorlands of the mountain range are ideal for wilderness trekking, complete with panoramic views, clear and tumbling streams and glorious flora. The Aberdare forest is rich in wildlife; it’s estimated that 2,000 elephants roam the clouded hills. Other animals found in the forest include the rhino, warthog, bush pig and giant forest hog, water buck, duiker, suni,dikdik, reedbuck and the shy and very rare bongo. It is also home to masses of dazzling bird life.

Masai Mara National Reserve.

This is the most popular wild safari destination for tourist. Situated 270km, the Masai Mara Reserve was in November 2006 named as the 8th wonder of the world because of the uniqueness of the area and the preservation it provides to so many species living in harmony.

As a resting place of the big five, the reserve’s major attraction is the great wildebeest and zebra migration from Serengeti in Tanzania to the Mara. This annual event happens between July and September and is the greatest show on earth. These animals cross over the Kenya through the Mara River. You are bound to see pretentious crocodiles lazing away under the water only to dramatically break out of their sleep and snap up the migrating wildebeests and zebras. The huge hippos can also be found submerged in water, raising their heads above the water occasionally to get some air.

Lake Nakuru National Park.

This is considered as one of the most popular park to visit. Located 160 km northwest of Nairobi, Lake Nakuru is home to millions of fuschia pink flamingos, the fish eating pelicans as well as over 450 other species of birds. It is also a good location for game viewing, including the black rhino, the lion, and the waterbuck as well as other antelopes. It is one of the best places to see the leopards as well as the endangered Rothschild giraffe. The National Park was gazetted to protect the flamingos and provide sanctuary to endangered species like the rhino.

Hell’s Gate National Park

Cleft deep into the floor of the Rift Valley, this relatively small park provides endless bio-diversity and is one of the only two Kenyan Parks to allow walking or cycling without an official KWS escort. Spectacular scenery including the towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub-clad volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal steam make it one of the most atmospheric parks in Africa. The towering cliffs and undulating grasslands provide one of the few remaining places where you can walk alongside herds of buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle and giraffe. An incredible 103 different species of birds have been recorded in this park so you can confidently expect to spot at least 25-30 species during a one-day visit. The massive cliffs also provide a home of thousands of swift as well as unique breed.

Kakamega National Reserve

The only remnant in Kenya of the once great tropical rainforest that stretched across Central Africa. As a relic of this African equatorial jungle it is now famous around the world for being home to several hundred species of birds, snakes, insects, monkeys and other mammals, as well as countless tree species. As far as bird conservation is concerned, Kakamega reserve is one of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Kenya with a prolific record of over 330 species. Turner’s Eremomela, Blue-headed Bee-eater, Ansorge’s Greenbul birds are found only in Kakamega Forestand neighbouring South Nandi Forest in the whole of East Africa. Twenty seven snake species live in the forest.

True to the forest’s continental origins, the snakes of Kakamega are mainly from West Africa. They include the Forest Cobra, the Black-lipped Cobra, Jameson’s Mamba, the bush Viper, the Rhinoceros-horned Viper, the Gaboon Viper and the Gold’s Cobra. A choice of walking trails, view points and guided tours enable you to experience some of this fascinating, beautiful and unique forest first hand. Amongst the ancient trees, awesome in size, you will find gurgling streams, vibrant coloured butterflies, chattering monkeys and a rich diversity of birds.

Shimba Hills National Reserve

The reserve is located 56 km southwest of Mombasa and consists of giant primeval tress. Shimba Hills is a paradise for nature lover and is home for elephants, buffaloes, the rare but impressive sable antelope that carries 100-160 cm horns rising vertically before curving backward in a pronounced arc, leopards, monkeys and a major bird life such as eagle, African hawk, falcon and cuckoo. There are numerous picnic sites that overlook the Indian Ocean to the east and on exceptionally clear days, the mighty mass of Mount Kilimanjaro to the west. Within the Shimba Hills forest is the Mwaluganje Elephant sanctuary, a beautiful elephant watching site that has been constructed from where visitors have uninterrupted view of the large animals. Occasionally, leopards may also be spotted there

Shaba National Reserve

The Shaba National Reserve is rich in wildlife, which includes the elephants, cheetahs, lions, grevys zebras, giraffes, gerenuks, buffaloes, oryx, grants gazelles, dikdiks and waterbucks. This was also where the renowned Born Free author Joy Adamson spent her final years. Shaba was subject of her final book Queen of Sheba. The Reserve was also put on the world map when it served as the location of the Hit Us reality series in 2001, making it the first African destination to be featured on survivor.

Tsavo National Park.

At just over 21,000km square, Tsavo is the largest National Park. It is wild, diverse and enormous and is divided into the Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. The Tsavo East National Park:It is located only 100km away from Malindi white beaches and the only place one can see the few remaining Hivola Antelope among other wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, kongonis, lesser kudus, oryxs, klipspringers, impala stripped hyenas, gazelles, buffaloes and elephants. Here you will find the world’s largest lava flow and the river Galana coursing its way to the Indian ocean making it perfect scene for the arid photographer. Be sure to visit the beautiful Lugard falls and the rhino sanctuary created to protect them from poachers. Adjacent to this park is Voi, which is an ideal destination for those who want to combine a beach and bush holiday. It is home to the Voi wildlife lodge & Safari Spa and the Voi Safari Lodge.

Tsavo West National Park:

Famous for the man eating lions of Tsavo, Tsavo west National park covers 9,000 km2 and contains a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous scenic landscape. The park is a vast expanse of Savannah stretching from the Athi River, North of the Mombasa-Nairobi road and South to Tanzanian border. The Park’s habitat include open plains alternating with Savannah bush and semi-desert scrub, acacia woodlands; rocky ridges and outcrops and more extensive ranges and isolated hills; belts of riverine vegetation and palm thickets. Spanning the vast of Tsavo and lying within view of majestic Kilimanjaro are the Taita and Chyullu Hills. This is a paradise of elephants herds, plains game, cheetah and remote Masai villages close to Tsavo East. The nearby Taita hills are home to a private game sanctuary-Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1972 and spectacularly located at the foot of the Taita hills adjacent to Tsavo National Park. The sanctuary has a wide varietyof game including lion, cheetah, elephant and plain game. The profile bird life includes the extremely rare Taita Falcon, a bird recorded in early Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Shimba Hills National Reserve

The reserve is located 56 km southwest of Mombasa and consists of giant primeval tress. Shimba Hills is a paradise for nature lover and is home for elephants, buffaloes, the rare but impressive sable antelope that carries 100-160 cm horns rising vertically before curving backward in a pronounced arc, leopards, monkeys and a major bird life such as eagle, African hawk, falcon and cuckoo. There are numerous picnic sites that overlook the Indian Ocean to the east and on exceptionally clear days, the mighty mass of Mount Kilimanjaro to the west. Within the Shimba Hills forest is the Mwaluganje Elephant sanctuary, a beautiful elephant watching site that has been constructed from where visitors have uninterrupted view of the large animals. Occasionally, leopards may also be spotted there.

Amboseli National Park.

The park rests at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kenya. Considered a favorite spot for writers such as Earnest Hemingway, Amboseli incomparable beauty and ample wildlife makes it a definite visit for all tourists. The diversity of Amboseli’s ecosystem has created the perfect environment for hundreds of bird species. Its major attraction are the big five; Lion, Leopard, Elephants, Rhino and Buffalo. The park is famous for the oldest elephant research study center in the world, where elephants have been studied for over 30 years with each individual known by name.

Samburu National Park

A place of endless skies, dust-red plains and palm-fringed rivers, Samburu National Park lies on the fringes of the vast and arid desert once known as the Northern Frontier District, whose heat-scorched scrublands extend all the way to the jade-green waters of Lake Turkana and beyond.

Physically dramatic, the 104 sq.km landscape of the reserve features rocky battlements, craggy scarps, dry riverbeds and fallen boulders rising out of the thorn scrub against a backdrop of the far distant hills and the great red table mountain known as Lololokwi. As for wildlife, Samburu provides one of the few sanctuaries in Kenya for the endangered Grevy’s Zebra, the rare beisa oryx and blue-shanked Somali ostrich whilst large herds of elephants roam the gaunt hills during the day before returning to bathe on the banks of the river in the evening.

Watamu National Park and Reserve

Was established in 1968 and is Kenya’s first marine park. It has now been recognized by the United Nations as world Biosphere Reserve. The park comprising the Whale Island and Mida Creck has over 1,000 species of reef fish and is also renowned for its deep sea fishing, breathtaking coral gardens and spectacular species of fish and other sea creatures such as the whale sharks, octopus and barracuda. One will also find clear water ideal for snorkeling.