KENYA NATIONAL PARKS
ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
The Park is part of the Aberdare Mountain Range which forms the steep eastern edge of the Rift Valley. It lies approx 180kms north of Nairobi and has an altitude of 7,000 to 14,000 ft. The scenery in this region is spectacular and impressive as is the range of wildlife. Due to the dense forest vegetation, you will need to do some searching for the wildlife, but there are also many purposes built game viewing lodges. Game to be found in the park includes; elephant, lion, black rhino, waterbuck, gazelle, giant forest hog, genet cats, leopard, buffalo and the rare spiral-horned antelope known as the bongo.
Accommodation: Includes two loges, Treetops and the Ark which both provide night game viewing facilities. There are also three self-catering sites ("bandas"), eight tented campsites and one public campsite.
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Amboseli National Park, although small, at approx 395
sq km, is one of Kenya's most popular parks. The views
of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, coupled
with the variety of game to be found, draws the visitors
in. The park which lies approximately 140kms south of
Nairobi on the border with Tanzania, is most famed for
its' large herds of elephants. A combination of drought,
increased tourism, and over-grazing has had a hard-hitting
effect on the western side of the park, the land has
become dry, dusty and barren and the animals that were
once there have moved into areas of shrub forest and
marshland.
Accommodation: Amboseli Lodge, Ol Tukai Lodge, Amboseli Serena lodge, Tortillis
LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
The park entrance lies 6km from Nakuru town and the
main attraction is Lake Nakuru, a shallow alkaline soda
lake set beneath the high cliffs of the eastern Rift
Valley. It is an ornithologists' paradise offering the
spectacular view of up to 2 million flamingos at one
time (during the season) along with hundreds of other
species including birds of prey. An area of 190 sq km
around the lake is fenced in as a national park and
has been made a sanctuary for Rothschild giraffes and
black rhinos.
Accommodation: There are two campsites, both with running waters and long-drop toilets. Just inside the park gate is the Backpacker's Camp Site and further in there is Njoro Camp Site.
MARSABIT NATIONAL PARK
The Marsabit National Reserve lies in northern Kenya
in a densely forested mountain park, being home two
beautiful crater lakes. The park was once famous for
it's large tusker elephants but that was before the
poachers slaughtered most the large ones. Elephants
are still in abundance along with large herbs of kudu
and many birds of prey.
Accommodation: The park has a lodge and camping facilities.
MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE -
The Masai Mara is regarded as the most favorite and
is definitely the most popular game reserve in Kenya,
having over 140,000 visitors per year. The reserve lies
approx 270km west of Nairobi and covers an area of approximately
1,510 sq km, bordering with the Serengeti National Park
in Tanzania. The landscaped is mostly open Savannah
grasslands and acacia shrubland.
Starting any time from late July the wildebeest follow the rains and grazing to the wide and open grasslands of what has become known as "the Mara". They may be late, but they will always make the trip, driven by dry conditions in the Serengeti and led by the lightning and thunder to the north. Come November they start the homeward leg, bound again for the Serengeti.
At this time of the year you will see a large number of lion, hippo, crocodile and vultures all of which prey on the weak and young migrating animals. Other game to be found in the Masai Mara at any time of the year include; elephants, cheetahs, baboons, gazelles, giraffes, jackals, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, water buffalo, ostriches, and a large variety of antelope and birdlife.
Accommodation: Mara Hippo Lodge, Mara Fig Tree, Siana Springs, Sarova Mara Camp, Kichwa Tembo Camp, Mara Serena, Mara Intrepids Club, Mara Sopa, Mara Safari Club, and many more!
MERU NATIONAL PARK
The park is situated approximately 360km northeast of
Nairobi and covers an area of 870 sq kms. This park
was the setting for Joy Adamson's book "Born Free"
and it remains one of Kenya's most unspoilt parks. The
scenery is varied, wild and beautiful, from woodlands
at 3,000 ft on the slope of Nyambeni Mountain Range
to wide open plaints with many rivers running through.
Game found here includes; lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant,
antelopes, and buffalo. In the many rivers hippo and
crocodile are found in abundance. You may be lucky to
spot Kenya only colony of the rare white rhino.
There are several other parks which can be visited from here within a day, they include Bisandi National Reserve, Kora National Park, Rahole National Reserve and Mwingi National Reserve.
Accommodation: Meru National Park has a number of Lodges and campsites that need to be pre-booked and one public campsite.
MOUNT KENYA
The National Park lies approximately 176kms northeast
of Nairobi and covers an area of approximately 700 sq
kms, with a landscape consisting mainly of forest and
bare rock. Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano straddled
across the equator, and is Africa's second highest peak.
The altitude ranges from between 11,000 to 17,058ft,
with the highest peaks being Batian at 17,058ft and
Nelion at 17,022ft. These are regularly climbed by experienced
climbers though very few actually make it to the top.
The more popular peak for climbers is the easier Lenana
which reaches a height of 16,354ft. and can be climbed
without the use of specialist equipment. Climbers are
often accompanied by a guide, with ports being available.
There are climbers huts is rest up in, but plenty of
food and warm clothes should be taken with you. The
best time of the year for climbing is from mid-January
to late February and from late August through September
The scenery is stunning and quite breathtaking. It is also a botanist's paradise, with a wide variation in flora as the altitude changes.
The region is home to a variety of wildlife including some unique species, such as Black and White colobus and Sykes monkeys, bushbuck, buffalo, elephant, Olive baboon, waterbuck, black rhino, leopard, hyena, bongo and at high altitudes zebra and eland can be found.
Mountain Climb...Mt. Kenya
The "Classic" Route (Up Sirimon / Down Chogoria)
- A must for lovers of high altitude trekking. Designed
for optimum time on the mountain to acclimatise, as
well as getting away from the bulk of hikers. It is
run as a camping trip - with all equipment supplied.
Top quality mountain tents, thick mattresses, campstools,
rain awning, good food, a cook, and qualified guides
are supplied, as well as a porter for your pack
Accommodation: Available at the Mountain Lodge in the heart of the rainforest and there are three self catering (banda) sites within the park.
NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK
Nairobi National Park is only 20 minutes drive from
the city and is ideal if you only have a stopover in
the city and want to experience some of Africa's game.
Because of it's location, there are many visitors, both
tourists and residents but you are guaranteed to see
an abundance of game, seemingly unaware and unafraid
of humans. The elephant is the only one of the 'big
five' not found here, but leopard, lion, buffalo, rhino,
giraffe, hippo, crocodile, antelope, wildebeest, eland,
zebra and Thompson's gazelle as well as many other species
are here in abundance.
At the western end of the park is an Animal Orphanage, dedicated to young animals who are injured or deserted in the wild. Here they are studied and cared for until they can be returned to the reserve.
There are no accommodation facilities within the park as it is located so close to the city centre.
SAMBURA & BUFFALO SPRINGS
The Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves lie
northeast of Nairobi halfway to Lake Turkana and cover
an area of approximately 300 sq kms. The area is arid
and largely semi-desert, but has a large concentration
of game including some species not found elsewhere;
such as the oryx,, gerenuk, Reticulated giraffe and
grevy's Zebra. Other game includes ostriches, elephants
and leopards who are lured into the lodges with bait,
so the tourists can get a glimpse.
Accommodation: In Samburu accommodation consists of two lodges ; the Samburu Lodge and the River Lodge. And in Buffalo Springs there is the Buffalo Springs Tented Lodge.
SHABA GAME RESERVE
Situated 314 km from Nairobi in Central Kenya,
off the Uaso Nyiro River, being a semi-desert. It is
the natural habitat for the Grevy Zebra, Reticulated
Giraffe, and Gerenuk, only found in this part of Kenva.
There are also herds of Elephants, plenty of Lions,
Cheetah, Crocodile, hundreds of species of birds and
other game
SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK
This is Kenya's most remote national park, lying right
in the north of the country bordering with Lake Turkana.
The region is hot, dry and windswept, but surprising
has a large variety of wildlife and birds. These include
Grevy's zebra, ostrich, gerenuk, oryx, tiang and a large
population of Nile crocodile in the lake. The park's
petrified forest is proof that this region was once
lush and densely forested.
Due to the remoteness and inhospitable terrain most people visit this area in organised groups.
TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK
This is one of Kenya's oldest and largest parks, but
huge areas, mainly to the north of the Galana River,
are completely closed to the public. The southern accessible
area of the park includes the Kanderi Swamp and the
Aruba Dam on the Voi river and has large concentrations
of game including hippo, giant crocodiles lion, leopard,
waterbuck, kudu, zebra and ostrich. It is also home
to the largest herds of elephant in Kenya, usually covered
in red dust. The park provides for excellent photography
with it's spectacular views such as Mudanda Rock and
Yatta Plateau.
Accommodation: Voi Wildlife Lodge
TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK
The park is located approx 230kms from Nairobi
off the main Mombasa-Nairobi road and has three rivers
flowing through it; the Galana, the Athi and the Tsavo
attracting large concentrations of game including buffalo,
rhino, giraffe, zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah crocodile
and many varieties of antelope.
In the northwestern corner of the park is Shetani Lava Flow, a massive lava bed created by an eruption in the Chyulu Hills where the raw cone at the centre can still be seen. Rain falling in these hills is purified as it soaks through the porous volcanic ash , running underground for 50km, resurfacing at the lush Mzimba Springs, which is one of the parks main attractions. This is haven to crocodiles and hippo and a waterhole for a large variety of other game.
COASTAL BEACHES:
Kenya’s vast coast lines with white sandy beaches,
swaying palm trees offers an ideal for a vacation holidays.
Other activities include: water sports - surfing, sport
fishing and scuba-diving tours.
Accommodation: Wide range of exotic beach hotels of all budgets.
