Republic of
KENYA
Kenya is the ultimate safari destination, hosting a variety of wild and untamed landscapes that range from the open savannah of the Masai Mara to the glistening, snow-capped peak of Mount Kenya. National parks and reserves cover one-tenth of Kenya's surface area, spanning desert, grassland, mountain forest and acacia-studded plains.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Best Time: August - OctoberClimate: 22 - 30 °c
Size: - sq. km.
The most famous and most visited of Kenya's national parksis the Masai Mara National Reserve. It offers breathtaking views and a chance to see Kenya's "big five" animals - rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo.
The Masai Mara (or The Mara) is the best park to visit to enjoy the spectacular and world-famous annual wildebeest migration that takes place in Kenya every year.
Amboseli National Park
Best Time: July - OctoberClimate: 21 - 31 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Amboseli National Park is Kenya's second most popularnational park after the Mara. Located 160 miles from Nairobi, the park offers a stunning view of both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru.
In addition to the beautiful sunsets and sunrises of Mt. Kilimanjaro, you can enjoy an eclectic array of animals, including large herds of elephants, and wildlife habitats, such as swamps, from atop The Observation Hill.
Aberdare National Park
Best Time: July - OctoberClimate: 15 - 27 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Majestic peaks, moorland, deep ravines, streams and cascading waterfalls define the spectacular landscape of Aberdare National Park.
Aberdare is an ideal park for topography enthusiasts and bird watchers who also want a chance to view elephants, black rhinos and other game wildlife.
Nairobi National Park
Best Time: June - OctoberClimate: 16 - 27 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Nairobi National Park is a major Kenya attraction for tourists to Nairobi, offering them a chance to enjoy Kenya's wildlife from within the city.
Located less than 10 miles from Nairobi city, Nairobi National Park is also a rhino sanctuary and you are guaranteed to see a black rhino during your visit.
You can also enjoy buffalo, zebras, wildebeests and a host of birdlife. With picnic sites and nature trails, the park offers plenty of fun for Kenyans and tourists alike.
Tsavo East National Park
Best Time: May - NovemberClimate: 16 - 27 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Now a separate park from the original Tsavo, the Tsavo East National Park is a very popular park for tourists from Kenya's coast. It's less than 100 miles from Mombasa and is served by several airstrips.
Tsavo East is the park where you can see the infamous "Man-Eaters of Tsavo" lions, as well as elephants, rhinos, birds and other wildlife.
Tsavo West National Park
Best Time: June - OctoberClimate: 17 - 31 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Occupying 30 percent of Kenya's total park area, Tsavo West National Park is one of the largest national parks in Kenya. It is easily accessible from the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and borders Tanzania to the south.
Tsavo West offers tremendous views of a landscape packed with diverse wildlife habitats, rocky ridges, acacia woodlands, isolated hills, semi-desert scrubs and mountain forest.
Mount Kenya National Park
Best Time: July - OctoberClimate: 14 - 27 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Mount Kenya, which is Kenya's highest mountain, lies within the Mount Kenya National Park. The park flourishes with pristine wilderness, glaciers, snow-capped peaks, flora and fauna.
It is an ideal park for hiking and mountain climbing, as well as for viewing some of Kenya's rare and endangered animal species.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Best Time: July - NovemberClimate: 14 - 26 °c
Size: - sq. km.
About 95 miles northwest of Nairobi is Lake Nakuru National Park, popular for it's pink flamingoes.
For those who love birds and bird watching, Lake Nakura offers a picturesque landscape, and is home to over 400 bird species, including both the greater and lesser flamingoes, as well as game animals such as the white rhinos.
Samburu National Reserve
Best Time: June - OctoberClimate: 14 - 24 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Located in the Samburu district of Kenya is the Samburu National Reserve, a rugged, semi-desert park that has remained almost undisturbed by mankind.
In its remoteness, the park is an ideal retreat for those who enjoy calm and natural serenity.
This former home to "Elsa the Lioness" is full of birdlife and Kenyan game animals, and is a great park to spot the elusive Kenya leopard.
Meru National Park
Best Time: June - OctoberClimate: 8 - 26 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Meru National Park is located 350km (220miles) northeast of Nairobi and offers a spectacular view of Mt. Kenya. It is in this small savannah park, with its pristine landscape of wooded grasslands, thorn-bush and wilderness, that George Adamson and Elsa the Lioness lived.
Mount Elgon National Reserve
Best Time: July - AugustClimate: -4 - -20 °c
Size: - sq. km.
In Mt. Elgon National Reserve, located in Kenya's Rift Valley Province along the Kenya-Uganda border, you will find elephants living in caves.
This park, situated on Kenya's second highest mountain, Mt. Elgon, is lush with fauna and flora, caves and waterfalls, hot springs and mountain peaks.
Mount Elgon is an ideal reserve for trekking, rock climbing, bird watching and hiking.
Saiwa Swamp National Park
Best Time: June - OctoberClimate: 12 - 26 °c
Size: - sq. km.
As the smallest park in Kenya, this 1.9m² park lies below the Cherangani Hills in the Rift Valley and is served by the Kitale airstrip. It is home to the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope and various species of birds.
This swampy park is so small that you don't need to drive. Simply walk over to camp at the park, enjoy the antelope or view the birds.
Shimba Hills National Reserve
Best Time: June - FebruaryClimate: 15 - 25 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Located 20 miles in the Kwale district, to the south of Mombasa, Shimba Hills National Reserve is a dissected plateau with scenic landscapes comprised of rivers, valleys and hills - an ideal topography for bird-shooting.
Chyulu Hills
Best Time: June - SeptemberClimate: 15 - 25 °c
Size: - sq. km.
The dramatically rolling Chyulu Hills lie Northwest of Tsavo West National Park and are a collection of ancient volcanic cinder cones. The hills have splendid views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and populations of elands, giraffes, zebras and wildebeests, lions, buffaloes and a few elephants. Within the Chyulus is the longest lava tube in the world – Leviathan – formed by hot lava flowing beneath a cooled crust. Some of the highlights of a trekking experience here will include lunch at the foot of the Hills next to the two eye catching Elmau Hills as well as the stunning sunsets over the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Kakamega Forest
Best Time: June - OctoberClimate: 16 - 28 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Kakamega Forest National Reserve is the only tropical rainforest in Kenya and could well be one of the remnants of the vast forest that once stretched across the girth of Africa from the Congo Basin. The forest includes some of Africa’s greatest hard and soft woods and splendid orchids sitting amongst the branches of the larger trees. Walking beneath the lush forest canopy, the deep shade is pierced by flashes of color, exotic birdcalls, the scents of wood, flower and moss. There are diverse trails through the forest that you can explore together with a guide. The forest is home to a huge variety of animals, birds and reptiles. Here you will find black and white Colobus monkeys, red tailed monkey, potto, bush baby, tree pangolin and the occasional leopard. Furthermore, 350 species of bird, many of which are stunningly vibrant, have been recorded.
Kerio Valley
Best Time: June - OctoberClimate: 18 - 27 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Kerio Valley is a 4,000ft. deep valley with semi-tropical vegetation on the slopes leading down to dry thorn bush at the base. Kerio Valley is in the Eastern arm of the split of the Rift Valley. It is bounded in the East by the Kerio River and to the west by Cherang’ani Hills, which rise to 11,000 feet. The Kerio Valley was made a national reserve in 1983 for its bio-diverse importance. The deeply faulted and greatly eroded volcanic blocks of the Eastern Rift Valley present some of the most spectacular and wildly beautiful scenery in the world. It is a land of lowland deserts, highland plateaus and mountain forests. A land of wide spaces and spectacular sunrises and sunsets over the distant hills and escarpments, the area is inhabited by the Keiyo people who migrated to the area many hundreds of years ago. Gradually, they have moved away from their traditional pastoral way of life into settled agriculture. Despite the change in lifestyle, the people still preserve a strong affection for livestock, particularly cattle. The Kerio Valley and its surrounding areas are ideal for cycling, paragliding and walks.
Lake Naivasha
Best Time: June - NovemberClimate: 19 - 28 °c
Size: - sq. km.
Lake Naivasha is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus and surrounded by forests. The waters of the lake attract a great variety of wildlife – giraffes wander among the acacia trees, buffalo wallow in the swamps, and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops, while the large hippo population sleeps the day out in the shallows. Naivasha is also a wonderful birding destination and boat trips on the lake are a great way to spend an afternoon or morning. And, in the evening, enjoy stunning sunsets; with the haunting call of a Fish Eagle high over the lake bringing the day to a perfect end. Hell’s Gate National Park was named for its pair of massive red-tinged cliffs which frame the parks active steam vents and bubbling hot springs. The park is home to a variety of wildlife and birdlife. Unlike Kenya’s other parks, walking is permitted here, making it ideal for hiking, biking, and rock climbing. You can also climb the spectacular Longonot Mountain – the hike along the crater rim is one of the most beautiful day hikes in East Africa. And, in Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary, one can find a variety of wildlife species, including the white rhino, leopard, cheetah and Beisa oryx.
