Kenya National Parks

 MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

The Masai Mara the most famous and most loved reserves in Kenya its sheer beauty of wide savannah, rolling hills, meandering rivers and forests with huge grazing herds, bountiful birdlife and the larges population of lions. This is protected as a reserve, not a national park and not managed by the Kenyan Wildlife Service but by the local authorities, (District Councils). This protected reserve favors re-population of the Maasai tribes, in charge of the reserve's management/districtCouncils. The reserve offers high population density of animals including the "Big Five" and many varieties of plains game, Gazetted in 1961, located west of the Rift Valley extending down to the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. The Mara River traverses north to south heading for its westbound way unto Lake Victoria, through the Tanzanian park. In the hills and plains, grasslands are scattered with acacia trees and bushes. The riverbanks of the Mara and its multiple tributary streams are bordered by dense revering forests. Masai Mara's location and altitude is above 1,500 meters, yield a climate which is milder and damper than in other regions.

Species: The list of mammals in  the park range from elephant, leopard, Black Rhino, buffalo, plains zebra, roan antelope that roam in small numbers, white-bearded gnu, Oribi, warthog, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, hartebeest and other big cats. The rivers are home to hippopotamus and crocodiles. There is no any other park in Kenya like Maasai Mara that has the largest population of lions. There about 460 species of birds, which include, the red winged schalow's turaco, white-tipped crest, ross turaco, orange buff pel's fishing owl, wary guinea fowl. The open savannah plains birds include Jackson's bustard, black-bellied hartlaubs bustard. 54 species of birds of prey have been recorded here in the park. Secretary birds are also common.

Activities: From July to October, Masai Mara is at its peak visitation, with seasonal visitors populating the vast grasslands for best experience of game drives.

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

Lake Nakuru an alkaline lake 62 kms in extent; It was gazetted in 1968 as a national park, both authorities and conservation organizations have kept on winning the battle to private property and human settlings, further broadening the park limits in 1968 and 1974 to its current extension of 188 kms. The park is easily accessible, since Nakuru is the fourth city in the country and the head town of the Rift Valley. The Lake in the park is covered by the National park in the centre and a land strip around the northern, eastern and western shores, whereas southward the grounds extend farther to Makalia Falls, which is in the southern limit. The shores are surrounded by swamps which are the base for the birds that swam to sun bath and during the driest seasons disappear to give rise to huge white salt crusts. The reverie forest opens up southward in a bush and acacia tree in the savannah plantations.

Species: The Park is one of the greatest bird sanctuaries as the shores are populated with million flamingoes teeming algae of its alkaline waters, the park offers 450 different species of birds. The famous ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson defined it as "the greatest bird spectacle on earth". It is also home for 56 species of mammals, which include carnivores such as lions and leopards, then buffaloes, warthog, waterbucks, Thompson's gazelle. In 1987 the park was declared a sanctuary for the protection of the endangered Rhinos, allowing the re-introduction of specimens of both species, black and white. Here the visitor can easily find two of the five rhino species surviving in the world. About 550 different plant species are recorded including the unique and biggest euphorbia forest in Africa.

Activities : Game drive will be organized for you while you arrive at the park as part of the activities on the program on the itinerary and the view-points are Lion hill to search the big cat, Baboon cliff and a visit Makalia waterfalls.

TSAVO NATIONAL PARK

Tsavo National park is one of the largest parks which is divided by Nairobi – Mombasa high way, some of the most magnificent natural views are unfolded. Hippopotamus and crocodiles abound - enjoy viewing through a glassy observation point inside the pools, and the cool banks that are a favorite point for countless baboons and monkeys. The acacia umbrella shaped cover is a cover to the animals that come to rest here during the heated sun raise.

Species:  The savannah vast grass with the beautiful acacia umbrella shaped cover. Tsavo is well known for Aruba dam, Mudanda rock, and longest lava flow in the world.

Activities: Visits to Mzima Springs, where jungle like vegetation surrounds the crystal springs that pump out millions of gallons of clear cool water .the source of Mombasa's drinking water! is a must visit.

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK                              

Amboseli is a dominant by the backdrop in the North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro Africa’s highest mountain, on the border with Tanzania. Established as a reserve in 1968 and gazette as a National Park in 1974; Amboseli Park covers an area of 392 kms and forms part largest 3,000 Kms Amboseli ecosystem. A Large concentration of wildlife occurs mostly in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination in Kenya. The National Park covers 5 main wildlife habitats: open plains with acacia woodland, rocky thorn bushes, swamps and marshland. The Amboseli territory belongs to the land of the Masai people. The snows of Kilimanjaro melt and flow downhill to water the park with water through out the year, soaking the porous subsoil layers of volcanic rocks. Waters converge into various underground streams that rise in two clear water springs in the center of the park.

Species: Amboseli Park, including among others are among others the; the buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, gazelles, wildebeest, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, Masai giraffes, zebras and baboons, the swamps of Enkongo Narok, Olokenya and a large herd of elephants.

Activities: There is big game which famous in Amboseli and its great scenic beauty, of the landscape is dominated by Mt. Kilimanjaro. The park has five gates, Kelunyiet, lremito, Ilmeshanan, Kitirua and Airstrip. At the western part, rises the Observation Hill, the only height in the park, smooth hill climb from foot that displays a magnificent view of the whole park and beyond. Southward, the layers of volcanic rocks expelled by Kilimanjaro hundreds of years a go rise to the surface, giving the landscape a lunar beauty.

ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK

Created in 1950, Aberdare National Park is located in the Central Highlands. The atmospheric park offers a kingdom surrounded by Mist where Elephant’s roam through lichen hung forests, Spectacular water falls plunge into pools and have trout filled streams. The Landscape is made of moorland, peaks and forest of the Kinangop Plateau in the South and the Salient rain forest in the East.

Species: The most popular animals here are the elephants and buffaloes, but you can also find the black rhinos, antelopes, black servals and black leopard.

Activities:  Game drives day/night and visits to viewing platform at the Chania Falls and Karura Falls.  

MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK

Mt. Kenya is an imposing extinct volcano that rises from the thick forests to the spectacular pointed peak and stands at 5199m; the tropical ice forms a series of glaciers and screed around the summit. Mt. Kenya lies about 140 km North, North-East of Nairobi with its Northern flanks across the Equator. The mountain has two main snow-covered peaks rising up as, Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5188m). The mountains slopes are cloaked in bamboo forest and moorland which gives way on high central peaks to rock, ice - snow. Mt. Kenya is a water catchment’s area, supplying Lake Tana and Northern Ewaso Ngiro Eco-systems. The park, which was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997 and is also a Biosphere Reserve, covers 715 kms and includes the Peaks consisting of all the ground above 3200m with two small salient extending lower down to 2450m along the Sirimon and Naro Moru tracks. Surrounding the park is Mount Kenya National Reserve with an area of approximately 2.095 kms.

Species: The Park has a variety of habitats ranging from higher forest bamboo, alpine moorlands, glaciers, tarns and glacial moraines. Mammals that can be found here include elephant, buffalo, black rhino and waterbuck. Mount Kenya is home to fascinating high-altitude of alpine vegetation including giant groundsels and lobelias. Other interesting not to miss is on the lower-altitude forest zone, one will encounter with large habitats of elephants and buffalo. Lions, leopard, rock hyrax, and various antelope species are often seen the park.

Activities:  Mountain climbing/ trekking and game viewing are common here. There are at least seven routes up to the mountain that one can choose to, the easiest being the Naro Moru (one requires four days to complete a round trip), then the Sirimon, Chogoria, and the Summit Circuit path. Point Lenana (4.895m), the third peak, can easily be access by all trekkers who choose to take this route. The longest trek can last one week to about ten days. The best period to hike Mount Kenya is from mid January to February and from late August to September, when the season is dry.

SAMBURU, BUFFALO SPRINGS AND SHABA NATIONAL RESERVES

Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba are located in the aride wildness where the waters of Ewaso Nyiro attract a profusion of game. The area is so remote and inaccessible among the most popular reserves that are located in the Northern Kenya along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River. The Shaba, one of the less visited parks, has the largest total extension of 239 km². Samburu and Buffalo Springs are similar in surface, later having 165 km² and 128 km² the second. The area is traditionally inhabited by the Samburu people, nomadic paranilotic tribe that is closely related to the Maasai people.

Species:  Samburu hosting some rare species of habitat which cannot be found elsewhere in Kenya parks, among them are long necked gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and Beisa Oryx. Leopard is a frequent passer-by. There are also elephants, crocodiles, and gazelles that one can find.

Activities : The bulk of wildlife gathers around the banks of the rivers Ewaso that form the wet land and brings the Aberdare waters, a visit here will enable one interact with the tribes and game drives can also be arranged.