KENYA

Kenya is a world-renowned tourism destination, and for good reason. It is home to several fantastic national parks and reserves that are rich in wildlife, including the Big Five: lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and rhinoceros. Kenya is also the only country in the world with a national park within its capital city, Nairobi National Park.

Here are some of the attractions that make Kenya’s national parks so special:

Abundance of wildlife: Kenya’s national parks are home to an incredible variety of wildlife, from the Big Five to smaller mammals such as zebras, giraffes, and antelopes. Visitors can also see a wide variety of birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Diverse landscapes: Kenya’s national parks offer visitors a chance to experience some of the most diverse landscapes in Africa, from the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya to the lush rainforests of Tsavo National Park.

The Great Migration is one of the most spectacular wildlife events in the world. Every year, over 1.5 million wildebeest travel in a circular pattern through the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya in search of green pasture. The migration is a dangerous journey, and predators, disease, and exhaustion kill many animals. However, the migration is also a time of great opportunity for predators, such as lions, leopards, and crocodiles.

Cultural experiences: Visitors to Kenya’s national parks can also learn about the country’s rich culture and history. Many parks offer opportunities to visit Maasai villages and learn about their traditional way of life.

Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve was established in 1961 and forms part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, which includes the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Masai Mara is home to abundance of wildlife, including the Big Five: elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, and leopard. It also has over 450 bird species.

Masai Mara is globally well known for the annual Great Migration, during which over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles cross the Mara River in search of greener pastures. This occurs between July and October of each year. It is a spectacular sight to see these animals cross the river, even though they face many dangers, such as crocodiles and hippos.

In addition to the Great Migration, Masai Mara offers visitors a variety of other activities, including:

Game drives

: Visitors can go on game drives in open-air vehicles to see the park’s wildlife.

Hot air balloon rides

: Visitors can take hot air balloon rides to get a bird’s eye view of the park and the Great Migration.

Walking safaris

: Visitors can go on walking safaris with experienced guides to learn about the park’s flora and fauna.

Cultural experiences

: Visitors can visit Masai villages to learn about the Maasai people and their culture.

2.Amboseli National Park.

Amboseli National Park is located in the Loitoktok District of the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It covers 392 square kilometers and forms an ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

Amboseli National Park is home to a large population of elephants, as well as other wildlife such as lions, leopards, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, and hippos. The park is also home to a variety of bird species, including flamingos, pelicans, and eagles.

3.Lake Nakuru national park.

Lake Nakuru National Park is a beautiful national park located in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya. It is home to a variety of wildlife, including thousands of flamingos, elephants, zebras, lions, and antelopes. The park was established in 1961 and covers an area of 188 square kilometers.

Lake Nakuru is the centerpiece of the park and is home to a large population of flamingos. The flamingos are attracted to the lake by the abundance of algae, which they eat. The flamingos are a beautiful sight to see and their pink plumage contrasts starkly with the blue waters of the lake.

In addition to flamingos, Lake Nakuru National Park is also home to a variety of other wildlife, including elephants, zebras, lions, and antelopes. The park is also a good place to see birds, with over 400 species recorded.

Visitors to Lake Nakuru National Park can enjoy a variety of activities, including:

Game drives

: Visitors can go on game drives in open-air vehicles to see the park’s wildlife.

Boat rides

: Visitors can take boat rides on Lake Nakuru to see the flamingos and other wildlife.

Hiking:

 There are a number of hiking trails in the park, including the Baboon Cliff Trail and the Lion Hill Trail.

4. Aberdare National park.

Aberdare National park is located abount 100 killometer north of Nairobi (Capital city of Kenya). It covers 776 sq Km. It forms part of the Aberdare Mountain range

Aberdare National park is also globally well know for is the site that princess Elizabert became Queen of England afetr the death of her father King George VI whilst staying at the treetops Hotel.Visitors can stay at Treetops Lodge a world wide known Lodge for above mentioned reason, The Ark lodge which build in shape of Noah’s Ark.

The park provides a habitat for elephants, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys,buffalos, warthogs and bushbucks among others. Visitors can indulge in picnics, trout fishing in the rivers and camping in the moorlands. Bird viewing is rewarding, with over 250 species of birds in the park, including the Jackson’s Francolin, Sparrow hawks, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds and plovers.

 

5. Hells gate National park.

Hells gate National Park is a UNESCO World heritage Site established in 1984 and located in Nakuru county, Kenya between lake Naivasha and the Longonat & Suswa Volcanoes. It is covered by ashes from the Longonat euroption, which occurred 100 years ago, cover it.

It is one of the atmospheric parks in Africa for it’s spectacular scenery including the towering cliffs, water-gauged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub clad volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal team.

The Hells Gate name is derived from the impressive feature in the park, the OI Jorowa Gorge, which runs through the middle of the park. Despite the nature of the park, visitors can still have the opportunity to see giraffe, antelope zebras with in Hells Gate national park.

6. Mount Kenya National Park.

Mount Kenya national park an UNESCO world heritage Site straddles the equator about 193 km from North-East of Nairobi and 480 from the Kenyan Coast. It is the second peak in Africa with 5,199 m. It is also an ancient extinct volcano.

Mount Kenya is one of the most impressive landscapes in East Africa. The evolution and ecology of its afro-alpine flora provide an outstanding example of ecological and biological processes. It is also the home of various animals like

Giant forest hog, tree hyrax, elephant, white tailed mongoose, black rhinoceros…Visitors can also challenge them self by hiking this incredible mountain.

7.NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK

Nairobi National Park offers a unique opportunity to experience wildlife and nature within a city environment. It’s a popular destination for both tourists and local residents who want to enjoy a taste of the African wilderness without traveling far from the capital city.

Wide open grass plains and backdrop of the city scrapers, scattered acacia bush play host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and diverse birdlife with over 400 species recorded.

Nairobi National Park is one of the most successful of Kenya’s rhino sanctuaries that is already generating a stock for reintroduction in the species former range and other upcoming sanctuaries. Due to this success, it is one of the few parks where a visitor can be certain of seeing a black rhino in its natural habitat.

8.SAMBURU GAME RESERVE

Samburu National Reserve, often referred to as Samburu National park, is a wildlife conservation in Kenya, it’s part of the larger Samburu Ecosystem and is known for its unique and distinct landscapes, as well as wildlife that inhabits the region. It’s an excellent destination for those interested in exploring the beauty and culture of northern Kenya.

Samburu is renowned for its unique and rare wildlife species. Visitors can expect to see a variety of animals, including the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and the long-necked gerenuk. These species are adapted to the arid conditions of the region. The park is also home to predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Crocodiles and hippos can be found along the riverbanks.

Samburu is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 450 bird species recorded in the park, including vultures, eagles, and kingfishers.

9.TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK

Tsavo East National Park being oldest and largest among Kenya National Parks, It well known for its striking landscapes, abundant wildlife, and iconic landmarks like Lugard Falls and Mudanda Rock. It offers a unique safari experience, and its size and diversity make it a fantastic destination for wildlife enthusiasts and nature covering an area of approximately 13,747 square Kilometers. (5,308 Square miles). Tsavo East is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, buffalos, and numerous antelope species. It’s known for its “red elephants” due to the reddish-brown soil.

The park boasts over 500 bird species, making it a great destination for birdwatchers. You can spot species like ostriches, eagles, and hornbills.

10.TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK

Tsavo West National Park is situated in Southern Kenya, Covering an area of Appromiximately 7,065 square Kilometers (2,735 square Miles), From the sight of fifty million gallons of crystal clear water gushing out of from the under parched lava rock that is the Mzima Springs to the Shetani lava flows, Tsavo West is a beautiful, rugged wilderness. The savannah ecosystem comprises of open grasslands, scrublands, and Acacia woodlands, belts of riverine vegetation and rocky ridges including the Poacher’s Lookout where visitors can see the teeming herds in the plains below. Tsavo West offers some of the most magnificent game viewing in the world and attractions include elephant, rhino, Hippos, lions, cheetah, leopards, Buffalos, diverse plant and bird species including the threatened corncrake and near threatened Basra Reed Warbler.