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Kenya National Parks, Kenya Game Reserves, Kenya Wildlife
Sanctuaries, Maasai Mara National Park, Lake Nakuru Game Park, Amboseli
National Park, Tsavo Game Reserve
Maasai Mara Game
Reserve
The Maasai Mara Game Reserve is arguably Kenya’s most popular game
sanctuary. It is the most famous and most visited game reserve in
Kenya. The film ‘Out of Africa’ was made to a great extent in this
reserve. Virtually every type of wildlife can be seen at the Mara. A
spectacle worth seeing is the annual migration of millions of
wildebeest, zebra and gazelle from Serengeti plains across the
Tanzania border and the Mara River to reach Masai Mara grazing
fields from late June. The dramatic crossing of the river and the
preying on the migrants by predators can be viewed from early July
to August. The reserve abounds with birdlife since dose to about 452
species have been recorded. Hot air balloon safaris are readily
available in this park. Accommodation is plentiful in Masai Mara and
ranges from five star lodges to luxury tented camps and campsites
within the reserve.
Samburu, Shaba and
Buffalo Springs Reserves
The highlights of these reserves are the spectacular scenic beauty,
rivers and forests. It is an area where the local people have a rich
and colourful heritage. The reserves have numerous permanent springs
and a wealth of wildlife which includes leopard, hippo, elephant,
lion, reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra and crocodile in the Ewaso
Nyiro river. Over 365 species of birds have been identified in the
sanctuaries. There are lodges and campsites managed by mobile tented
camp operators.
Shaba National Reserve is home
to the monument of Joy Adamson who, together with her husband
George, contributed greatly to Kenya’s wildlife as an author,
conservationist and artist. The film ‘Born Free’ is based on Joy’s
book of the same title. Shaba was the setting for the film ‘Sheena
Queen of the Jungle’. Shaba reserve is home to the rare blue-shanked
Somali Ostrich.
Lake Baringo is at the threshold of Northern Kenya and it's fresh
waters are an oasis inthe dry plains. The 129 sq. Km Lake is well
stocked with fish, and attracts many pelicans, comorans and fish
Eagles - as well as a healthy population of Crocodiles. The Lake
itself is truly beautiful, surrounded by volcanic ranges that
stretch as far as the eye can see. Boat trips are available and is
ideal for birds and hippos spotting making Lake Baringo an ideal
stop-over on a safari to Northern Kenya. Of the 1200 different
species of birds, over 450 of them have been spotted in Lake
Baringo.
Lake Naivasha/Hells gate National Park
is the highest of the Rift Valley Lakes at an altitude of
1880 m. It is also the second largest fresh water lake in Kenya and
is unusual that it has no known outlet, normally a requirement for a
freshwater lake. The dense vegetation in the edge of the lake
support a thriving bird population - the area has a list of over 350
species. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game to these
shores; Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the
swamps and Colobus monkeys swing in the treetops while the Lakes'
large Hippos sleep the day out in the shallows.
Walking is permitted making it ideal for hiking, biking and
rock-climbing. Due to the relative closeness to Nairobi, it is a
good place for a one-night stop while traveling north from the
capital. Boat trips on the Lke are widely available , making it a
great way to spend a morning or an afternoon.
Lake Nakuru
National Park: Located on the floor of the Great Rift
Valley, this park has a great concentration of wildlife including
waterbuck, gazelle, buffalo, rhino, the rare Rothschild giraffe, and
if lucky, you may see lions and Leopard. The lake and National Park,
which is also a bird sanctuary is famous also for its great
concentration of birds, in particular the colourful flamingo and the
Pelican, which seasonally feed off the abundant algae in the shallow
waters of this soda lake. The park was gazetted the first Rhino
Sanctuary in the country and boasts of both the White and black
Rhino. The park is also home to a large / great Euphorbia forest,
which compliments the beauty of the acacia forest on the shores of
the Lake - a 'mini-paradise' as described by many who have toured
here!
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is the oldest of Kenya’s National Parks and
Game Reserves. It was gazetted in 1946. This game sanctuary is a
stretch of Savannah that is set against the dramatic skyline of
Nairobi. Its main entrances are merely a stone’s throw away from the
city’s outskirts, making Nairobi the only city in the world that
borders a natural game protection area. The park contains over 100
species of mammals, mainly plains game. The big five are also found
here except the elephant. The park’s advantage is that visitors do
not have to travel far to view game in its natural habitat. The
Animal Orphanage and Safari walk at the main gate should not be
missed. The orphanage is home to injured and orphaned animals. Here
they are nursed back to health before being released to the wild.
The park is also ideal for ornithological safaris.
Amboseli National
Park
Amboseli National park is one of the most popular wildlife
sanctuaries in Kenya. It is situated close to Kenya. It is situated
close to Kenya- Tanzania border, The Park lies at the foot of Mt.
Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa (5,896m) whose
snow-capped summit presents a splendid view on clear days. Amboseli
National Park is often referred to as “The home of Elephants’ some
of the largest Elephant herds are found here. The Game Park also
contains vast groups of Zebras, Wildebeests, Giraffes, Buffalos,
Hippos and Antelopes. Also to be found in Amboseli are lions,
leopards, Cheetahs, Rhinos and many species of plain game.
Tsavo
National Park
One of the largest game parks in the world surrounded by the
beautiful Chyulu hills and the Pare Mountains. Mzima springs; a
natural and clear watering point is great for game viewing. Tsavo is
also famous for its large number of elephants among other species of
the animal kingdom.
Kakamega Forest
Kakamega Forest is a superb slab of virgin tropical rainforest the
heart of an intensely cultivated agricultural area. It is the home
to a huge variety of birds and animals and it is real a must see.
Here you will find exotic species like the rare De Brazza’s monkey,
other forest primates include the red-tailed monkey the colobus and
blue monkey. In the night you will see the hammer-headed fruit bat
or a flying squirrel. The biggest attraction to this reserve is the
abundant bird life the best months being June, August and October
when many migrant species arrive. More than 300 species of birds
have been recorded, you are most likely to see black and white
casqued horn bill, Ross’s Turaco, greater Turaco. Wild flowers and
butterflies are wonderful in October.
Mount Elgon National Park
This unspoiled national park is famous for caves, game viewing and
hiking. Situated on Kenya /Uganda border, the highest peak on Kenyan
side (Koitobos) is about 4,200 meters high. Kitum cave (place of
ceremonies) extents 200 meters into the mountain. At night animals
go in to feed on the rich salt deposits. An unforgettable sight is
of the elephants licking away at the salt walls in these caves.
Ndere Island National Park (Meeting Place)
This place is where Mikaye (the mother of Luo) rested after her long
journey, before she found shelter on this island close to the rock
that goes by her name. Ndere Island is also home to a large
population of crocodiles, swamp antelopes and birds. Fishing can
also be done nearby. Situated in northern part of Lake Victoria near
Kisumu, Ndere Island National Park can only be accessed by boat.
Ruma National Park
This rarely visited national park is home to a number of Kenyan
animals and birds. Famous for Roan antelopes (hippopotamus equines )
which are an endangered species of antelopes.
Mount Kenya
National Park
Mount Kenya National Park is surrounded by 130,000 acres of forest
reserve. Visible from the mountain top on a clear day are Mount
Kilimanjaro to the south, Mount Elgon to the west, Marissa Mountain
to the north and the Indian ocean to the east. Hiking, climbing and
game viewing for rare mountain wildlife can be done here.
Lake Turkana National Park
Lake Turkana National Park is situated on the Ethiopia /Kenya
border. Africa’s longest Rift Valley Lake. The Great Rift Valley is
a symbolic relic of the massive upheavals in the earth’s crust some
10 million years ago which opened the world’s largest geological
divide stretching over 3,500 miles from Danilil depression at
Ethiopia’s northern Red Sea coast line to Mozambique. Turkana has
the largest number of crocodiles in the world - more then 10,000. A
number of pre-historic human fossils have been found here including
the Australopithecus.
Aberdare National Park
was created in 1950 to protect the forested slopes and moors of
the Aberdare Mountains. While the park has Elephant, Lion, Rhino,
black Leopard and the beautiful but elusive bongo antelope, it is
rarely visited by safari companies and individual travelers. The
main reasons for this is that frequent rainfalls turn the road to
mudslides and due to the dense forest, gameviewing is tricky. Also
due to the exclusivity, prices tent\d to be in the higher bracket.
It was in the Aberdares where princess Elizabeth was informed that
she was now Queen when her father died in 1952! Two Tree Hotels -
The Ark and Treetops, are found in this national park!
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