 PARKS & RESERVES IN KENYA
Most of Kenya’s wildlife has been preserved in National Parks and Game Reserves in a natural undisturbed state. The most important of these parks and reserves have been briefly described below.
Aberdare National Park
Area: 770 sq.kms. Alt: 1825-3995m
This highland forest park, created in 1950 is known for its mountain vegetation, scenic views, waterfalls and the rare Bongo in addition to other wildlife such as elephant, leopard and buffalo. Accommodation is in elevated mountain lodges which are built near watering holes or saltlicks to allow sighting of animals. The typical highland weather is known for its unpredictability and is generally quite cool.
 Index
Amboseli National Park
Area: 3810 sq.kms Alt: 1150m
Famous for the stunning scenery with the 19,450 feet snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro standing sentinel over the landscape. It is also known for its prolific elephant herds. The vegetation is varied and mainly savannah, which allows for viewing of the plains game and predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah.
Index
Lake Nakuru National Park
Area: 188 sq.kms Alt: 1750-2075m
One of the most scenic parks in East Africa, this bird and rhino sanctuary is home to a wide range of animals including lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck and rhino, the only notable exception being the elephant. The park is also a bird watcher’s paradise, with 400 known species having being spotted here. Vegetation ranges from savannah to various indigenous forests. A world heritage site, Lake Nakuru Park is particularly famous for its over a million lesser and greater flamingo population.
Index
Masai Mara Game Reserve
Area: 1800 sq.kms Alt: 1500-2200m
The most famous wildlife reserve in the world, the "Mara", as it is popularly known, is the best place to see a wide variety of game, from the big cats to plains game and hippo and crocodile. The most spectacular sight is during the annual migration season during July and August when hundreds of thousands of wildebeeste and accompanying predators cross over the border from Tanzania's famous Serengeti plains. Vegetation is open savannah with riverine forests.
Index
Meru National Park
Area: 870 sq.kms Alt:1035-3040m
Lying North East of Mount Kenya, this park is known for its remote location and is therefore less frequented by tourists. Although generally semi-arid, several streams flowing off the mountain have led to the proliferation of rich forests and marshes which sustains common wildlife species in addition to less common species such as the gerenuk and lesser kudu.
Index
Nairobi National Park
Area: 117 sq.kms Alt: 1530-1760m
Located on the outskirts of Nairobi, the park offers spotting of lions, leopard, rhino and other plains game with the exception of elephant.
Vegetation is primarily savannah with isolated stretches of riverine forests. Several hundred species of birds can also be spotted here. This park is excellent for a day visit from Nairobi. No accommodation/lodges available inside the park.
Index
Samburu National Reserve
Area: 165 sq.kms Alt: 800-1220m
Located in the homeland of the nomadic and colourful Samburu tribe, this semi-arid region is home to a unique species of giraffe and zebra. The reserve also hosts leopards, crocodiles and hippos as well as a variety of plains game. The area boasts dramatic scenery with vast rugged landscape for which Africa is famous.
Index
Shaba National Reserve
Area: 240 sq.kms Alt: 700-1500m
Neighbouring Samburu Reserve, Shaba is smaller with a greater occurrence of riverine forests. Although Shaba is greener and offers a lower frequency of game sighting than Samburu.
Index
Shimba Hills National Reserve
Area: 300 sq.kms Alt: 120-450m
A scenic park located inland from the south coast of Mombasa. The closeness of this park to the beaches makes it an ideal excursion for beach holiday makers who can enjoy an overnight experience and excitement similar to a safari. The wildlife includes elephant, waterbuck, antelope and warthog. Leopard, lion and cheetah cannot be seen here. Vegetation ranges from savannah to coastal rain forest.
Index
Tsavo National Park
Area: 21,288 sq.kms Alt: 2250-2440m
The largest park in Kenya, Tsavo, is known for its divergent and striking landscapes as well as for its prolific baobab trees and especially its large elephant herds. Vegetation is mainly arid savannah and the region is generally hot and dry most of the year.
Index
PLACES OF INTEREST
BEACHES
Kenya has a long coastline of beautiful white beaches with perfect all year climate and excellent accommodation facilities. Mombasa is the biggest city at the coast, and has a history dating back to the 12th century, along with a vibrant local culture. Established beach hotels are located to the north and south of Mombasa. the island of Lamu and Malindi are smaller tourist towns north of Mombasa with their own unique attractions.
Index
LAKES
Kenya is home to several stunning lakes, most of which are known as the Rift Valley Lakes, and are all uniquely different in character.
Lake Baringo
Surrounded by a scenic rugged semi-desert landscape, this freshwater lake located in the Rift Valley is a classic example of timeless Africa. A birdwatcher’s paradise with over 450 species spotted, the lake is also home to crocodiles and hippos. Activities at the lake include fishing, water-skiing, surfing and nature boat rides.
Lake Turkana
A Rift Valley lake, located in Northern Kenya, this 320km long lake is the most dramatic of Africa’s lakes. Commonly referred to as the Jade Sea, due to its electric blue-green colour, the lake is surrounded by a spectacular landscape of dry desert and hills, and famous for its Nile Perch. Due to its remoteness, Lake Turkana is strictly for the adventurous tourist.
Lake Naivasha
At over six thousand feet, the picturesque lake is a favourite destination for fishing and boating. It is dominated by Mount Longonot, which is popular for hiking. There are no crocodiles and only a few hippo. Renowned for its numerous bird species, the lake is only an hour’s drive from Nairobi.
Lake Victoria
At 68,000 sq.km , the world’s second largest lake, shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The lake is only a half hour flight from the Masai Mara from where charter flight daytrips can be arranged for Nile Perch fishing.
Index
MOUNTAINS
Mount Kenya (5199m, 17,060ft)
Located on the equator, Mount Kenya has its upper slopes permanently covered in snow and ice. Held sacred by the Kikuyu tribe, this beautiful mountain offers several climbing routes, some of which are ideal for amateurs, and others challenging for professional mountaineers. The park surrounding the mountain has a varied collection of wildlife and diverse alpine vegetation. There are several lodges and hotels located at the foothills of the mountain, including the famous Mount Kenya Safari Club.
Index
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mt Kilimanjaro (19,340ft/5,895m), Africa’s highest mountain, is simply an unforgettable sight. The majestic snow capped peak dominates the landscape and its stunning appearance provides a once-in-a-lifetime event. Set at the foot of the mountain is the Amboseli National Park, which in turn hosts an abundance of rich bird and wildlife.
Index
NAIROBI
The largest city in East Africa and Kenya's capital, with a population of over 4 million, Nairobi started life as a railway depot in 1899. Today, the city skyline is dominated by modern high rise buildings, and is the headquarters of several United Nations agencies. It is a sophisticated, vibrant city with a mix of races and cultures and provides the visitor with several diverse sightseeing options, ranging from historic sites and museums to golf courses and night life.
Tourist Attractions
-
Nairobi National Park
-
Giraffe Centre: Here, the visitor can hand-feed the endangered Rothschild giraffes.
-
Karen Blixen Museum: The historic house of the famous Danish lady, Karen Blixen, about whom the movie ‘Out of Africa’ was based.
-
Butterfly Centre: providing a stunning show of butterflies in a live house
-
Daphne Sheldrick's baby elephant orphanage
Index
Arusha National Park
Lying between the peaks of Kilimanjaro and Meru, Arusha National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty. The park has a wide range of habitats from a crater lake through to primeval forest dominated by the spectacular peak of Mt Meru. The park is home to a huge bird population as well as plains game and black and white Colobus Monkey.
Index
Tarangire National Park
Famous for its huge baobab trees, Tarangire National park is only a 2-hour drive from Arusha. The park is not as well known as the nearby Lake Manyara park, however, it equals the famous park due to its variety of habitats and its concentration of animals during the dry season, particularly elephants and boasts a prolific birdlife. The park is characterized by huge Baobab trees.
Best time to visit: Game viewing and access all year but best during the dry season months of June to November.
Index
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara is dominated by the long narrow alkaline lake nestled against the western wall of the Great Rift Valley. In earlier years this area was famous as a hunting ground, now a wildlife sanctuary containing a ground water forest, amongst other interesting habitats. Famous for its elephant and tree-climbing lion in addition to a prolific birdlife.
Best time to visit: All year.
Index
Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area
A world famous site and ranked amongst the seven natural wonders of the world. The Ngorongoro Crater is part of the Serengeti eco-system boasting volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes, forests and archeological sites forming a magnificent landscape and offering magnificent scenery, with the crater as its centre piece. The crater has an unrivalled magical beauty, when the morning sun penetrates the banks of misty clouds to reveal the crater floor 9 miles/14 kms across. 2000 feet/600 metre's below, the crater floor encompasses a variety of habitats such as savannah, swamps, lakes, rivers, and woodland which is host to a high concentration of wildlife throughout the year. It is also home to a population of protected Black Rhino and is one of the few places in Tanzania where the prospects of seeing a rhino are very good.
Best time to visit: All year. Heavy rains in April & May can make parts of the crater inaccessible.
Index
 Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti (14,673 sq.km) is one of the last great wildlife areas in Africa and the most famous. Huge open spaces, seemingly endless plains that blend with the horizon, fascinating rocky outcrops known as kopjes. Famous for its wildebeeste migration where up to 1.5million animals take part in following the rain patterns throughout the year in search for young blades of grass. Rotating in a circuitous route the migration moves from southern Serengeti northwards to Kenya's Masai Mara. The soaring eagles that rise on thermals as prey and predators take their place in one of the greatest and last wildlife spectacles on earth.
Best time to visit: Wildlife is plentiful all year. The migration can be viewed in the southern Serengeti from January to May and from June to October in the north. Access can be limited during long rains in April/May.
Index
Ruaha National Park
Covering 13,000 square kms, Ruaha is Tanzania's second largest game park and a dramatic wilderness area with a variety of scenery ranging from rolling grasslands and tracts of dry miombo woodland to the riverine terraces fringing the Ruaha River. Palm trees, baobabs, figs and tamarinds can all be found in the area of the river providing food and sanctuary to a great diversity of animals. Occasional visitors include packs of the rare African hunting dog, as well as resident herds of elephants, giraffes, prides of lion, sable and Greater Kudu.
Best time to visit is the dry season from June to December.
Index
Selous Game Reserve
The park was established in 1922 and named in honour of a famous first world war soldier, bushman and elephant hunter, Frederick Courtney Selous. The Reserve is the largest areas set aside for wildlife preservation anywhere in the world, covering approximately 54,000 sq. kilometres, almost four times the size of the vast Serengeti. This, combined with the lack of mass tourism in the Reserve, guarantees the visitor a truly remarkable experience. The main feature of the reserve is the huge and wide Rufiji River on which boat trips may be taken as a half day or full day activity, from where wildlife can be observed coming down to water on the banks of the river. The northern part of the reserve is now open for tourists where huge population of elephants, buffalo, crocodile, hippo, lion, wild dog, sable and kudu antelopes, amongst others, may be seen, as well as prolific birdlife.
Best times to visit is from June or July to December and sometimes to March depending on the rain patterns.
Index
Mikumi National Park
Bordering the northern edge of the Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi is Tanzania's third largest national park. The main feature of the park is the flood plain of the Mkata River together with the mountain ranges that border the park on both sides. Some animals follow a seasonal migration between the northern Selous and Mikumi. The diversity of habitat means most of Tanzania's game species can be found here including the rare African hunting dog, Greater Kudu and Sable antelope. The park is also home to the main predator groups including lion, leopard, hyena and jackal. The flood plain is home to a variety of swamp species, and the park has over 300 recorded bird species.
Mahale Mountain National Park
The park is located on the western shores of Lake Tanganyika and was created to protect the tropical rain forest habitat of more than a thousand Chimpanzees, some of some of which have been habituated to human contact and can be approached to within a few feet.
Index
ZANZIBAR
Famous for its spices, beautiful beaches, whispering palms and traditional Swahili culture, Zanzibar is the perfect compliment to the excitement of a safari. Visitors to the Island can sample some of the Island's history and culture with a stay in Stone Town, or cross over to the east coast and enjoy a beach holiday on the pristine shores of the Indian Ocean. A variety of accommodation is available from the simple to the sophisticated.
Index
 FAQs
|
