National Parks

Kenya’s Parks

Whichever park you visit in Kenya it is sure to leave a memorable and lasting image inn your memory. It is difficult to describe a safari as it is an emotional experience that affects everyone in a different way. The roads you travel on are mainly unmade and can get flooded during the rainy season. Occasionally due to the roads the vehicles can break down but all have radio contact so this not a long problem.

There is so much to say about each park each with its own temptations and wild life the choice can be very difficult as to which one to go to. The main thing is that to come to Kenya and not experience a safari and some of the beautiful wildlife would be a crying shame.

Aberdares National Park

Set in the Central Highlands; elephant, lion, buffalo and even rare black rhino and black leopard can be spotted in the dense Salient rainforest and vast Kinangop Plateau.

Amboseli National Park

Against the beauty of Mount Kilimanjaro, this small park, with swamps for perfect for grazing, gives you more chance to see larger animals, including elephant, zebra, Masai giraffe and warthog.

Amboseli National Park lies in Masai land and borders Tanzania at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is one of the oldest parks in East Africa and has enjoyed a more or less protected status for over 40 years covering an area of 160 square miles. Amboseli is named after its seasonal lake, which in dry weather resembles a salt pan. Overall the park has a varied habitat with open plains, umbrella acacia woodland, swamps and surrounding marsh areas.

Lake Nakuru National Park

One of Kenya’s most popular parks, seeing the brilliant display of pink flamingo on the Soda Lake or glimpsing warthog, impala, big cats and black rhino are unforgettable experiences.

Masai Mara National Reserve

The Masai Mara is considered to be Kenya’s leading game reserve with wildlife watching opportunities which are second to none and is famous for its western boundary, shared with Tanzania’s Serengeti.

The reserve covers an area of some 720 square miles with an altitude of around 5200 feet. It features grassy plains, scrub, acacia and lush riverine forest. The highlight of Masai Mara is undoubtedly the wildebeest migration in July and August. Over a million of these fresh pastures before heading to the south again around October. This is one of the few places to see the ‘Big Five’ as there are many buffaloes, rhinos, and large prides of black maned lions for which the reserve is famous. Wildlife includes lion, cheetah, leopard, hyenas, buffalo and rhino to name a few.

Mount Kenya National Park

Surrounding Kenya’s second highest mountain, its beautiful foothills make a perfect setting for viewing the park’s rare animals, including monkeys, elephant, black rhino, bongo antelope and leopard.

Samburu National Reserve

Along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River, the shores are ideal for observing the reserve’s fascinating wildlife, from elephant, hippo and big cats to massive freshwater crocodile.

The Samburu National Reserve is 50 miles north of Mount Kenya. Established in 1963 to protect the large numbers and great wildlife species the boundaries were later extended by the adjoining of two reserves-Shaba and Buffalo Springs. Between them they cover over 200 square miles and feature semi desert, acacia, woodland, bush and scrub. The feeling of emptiness and wilderness makes a visit to Samburu unforgettable. The slow moving Ewaso Nyiro River gives the woodland color and relief. Joy Adamson, author of ‘Born Free’ lived in this reserve for many years. Her last book ‘Queen of Shaba’ was published after her murder in 1980.

Tsavo National Park

Tsavo national park is one of the world’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries covering an area of 10,000 square miles, larger than Wales! It is the largest park in Kenya with rolling open plains, semi desert scrub, swamp vegetation and savannah. Created in 1948 the park is divided in two sections by the Mombasa-Nairobi road. Tsavo East is north of the highway and Tsavo West is south. In the early 20th century a railroad was built between Mombasa and Nairobi and man eating Lions dragged several workers off and devoured them in the bushes creating havoc and terrorizing the workforce. Before 1980 Tsavo claimed to have the largest concentration of elephants in the world with between 15 and 20000 of these animals living in the area.
Sadly the population was decimated by ivory poachers in the 1980’s and their total number stands at around 4000.

Tsavo west

In contrast of Tsavo East, Tsavo West is very hilly as it is of volcanic origin. Remnants of volcanic activity-rock out crops and lava flows scar the otherwise green landscape. One of the most famous lava flows which still looks a bit like it may just have cooled off is Shaitani which means devil in Swahili and is located near Kilaguni Lodge. There are two mountain ranges here, the Chyulu Hills and the rockier Ngulia Hills. Rainwater comes form Mount Kilimanjaro and the Chyulu Hills along underground rivers in the porous volcanic rock to gush out at Mzima springs. An estimated 90 millions gallons of water emerge each day and it provides much of the water supply Mombasa which is over 100 miles away. The pools around the springs are home to many hippos. A rhino sanctuary has been established and the surviving rhino form both Tsavo East and Tsavo West have been re located into its 70 square miles.

Tsavo West is another good place to hopefully spot the ‘Big Five’.

Tsavo East

The main feature of this park is the Yatta plateau, a sheer scarp that runs parallel to the Gallana River. It dominates the landscape and can easily be seen form the Mombasa-Nairobi Road. The plateau is 3-6 miles wide, around 100 feet high and originates from lava flow.

One of the most spectacular sights in the park is the Lugard Falls where the Galana River disappears into a narrow gorge.
Unfortunately due to deterioration of the roads it can be very difficult to get here.
Wildlife found here includes lion, buffalo, zebra, Masai giraffe, gazelles, Oryx and of course elephants.

Shimba hills

Shimba hills National Reserve is located on the upper reaches of the Shimba Hills which rise 1650 feet above Diani Beach. It is only 25 miles from Mombasa and very easily accessible form the coast. It is said to be the last remaining habitat of the sable antelope. From vantage points around the reserve you have excellent views along the coast line and can even see the Pare Mountains to the south of Tanzania. Shimba Hills lodge overlooks a watering hole where elephants and other animals come to bathe and drink. Set in dense forest with an elevated walk leading to a secluded observation point it offers excellent views and a romantic atmosphere.

Taita hills

This reserve is set on the outskirts of Tsavo west national Reserve. It is a private sanctuary previously owned by the Hilton group where it was their leading property for many years. It is now under private management and homes 2 accommodations- Taita Hills Lodge at the park entrance and then further in Salt Lick Lodge comprising numerous bungalow type rooms on stilts.

The main area of salt lick is right next to a watering hole which in dry weather sees many animals visit each evening to get water. It has even been known for a lion to come to the watering hole to make a kill.
During the First World War this area was the scene of fierce fighting between the Germans and an Allied Force commanded by General Jans Smuts.

Wildlife within this reserve now includes lions, elephants, giraffes, antelopes, gazelles, water buck as well as many bird species.

Mount Kilimanjaro is renowned for being shrouded in mist, however, if you are lucky the photographic opportunities offered by this mountain especially at sunrise and sunset are unsurpassable for sheer beauty.

The star attractions of Amboseli are the herds of elephants, many of which have been studied by biologists for years and are therefore unafraid of vehicles.

The elephant populations here are one of the few who have not been ravaged by poachers. The classic and most coveted photograph is the elephants captured against Mount Kilimanjaro snow capped peak. Cynthia Moss, based at the Amboseli Elephant Research Centre has spent many years studying them and written a book entitled ‘Elephant Memories’.
Due to the openness of most of Amboseli lions are easily found and can sometimes be seen stalking their prey. Wildlife also includes hippos, antelopes, zebras, buffalo and Masai giraffe.

Birdlife is enormous with around 400 species resident in the park.

Tanzania’s Parks

Lake Manyara National Parks

Famous for its tree climbing lions, which hide in umbrella trees, travelers wanting a hands-on adventure can take canoes safaris or ride mountain bikes to see abundant hippo and birds.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

In the depths of Ngorongoro Crater, this spectacular reserve evolved millions of years ago when the peak erupted. Home to 30,000 animals, traveling into its heart allows possible sightings of Africa’s most famous wildlife.

Serengeti National Park

Meaning ‘endless plain’ in Masai, the Serengeti is Tanzania’s most famous Park. Undisturbed savannahs, home to the four of the ‘Big Five’ and over a million wildebeest, make safaris an exciting adventure.

The ‘big five’

Who are the ‘big five’?
Currently the ‘big five’ are the elephant, the rhino, the lion, the leopard, and the buffalo. They are called the ‘big five’ as they were the preferred shooting targets of the erst while Great White Hunters, the romantic heroes in the early days of traditional safaris.

Nowadays the only shots to be fired on safari are on film but that does not stop most visitors to Kenya developing an overwhelming urge to capture all of these animals on film or video.
Looking for these animals is not always as straightforward as it may seem. For example, if you are trying to spot an elephant in Tsavo National Park by looking for a big grey shape you may well be disappointed. The elephants in this reserve are a reddy brown in color due to covering themselves in the deep red iron oxide soil of this area to protect their skin and keep the insects out as much as possible.

If it is the big cats you are want to see then head up to Masai Mara with its wide open plains and tree lined rivers. When looking fir the ever elusive leopards watch out for the swinging tail usually high up in the trees. It is quite a solitary animal and seldom found with company.

The lions are often found together however it is the female who will go out  hunting for the food not the male  and she some times lays low for many days especially after having given birth to cubs to protect her litter. If you want to see rhino then Tsavo West is a great place to see them where the sanctuary is set up to protect them.