With over 25 national parks spread across one of the finest vacation destinations in the world, Kenya; located in the east of the continent of Africa, we make a mention of each of them, their uniqueness and location.
Most of the tourism activities are centered in the parks, which without doubt expose us to a variety of unique plants, mammals, landscapes, and birds. For honeymoon, camping, hot air balloon experience, student safari, research, birding, hiking or even photography, any of the parks below can serve the purpose.
Masai Mara National Reserve.
No vacation In Kenya is made better without a tour to Masai Mara national reserve; the finest and most famous destination not only in Kenya but also in Africa. It is an extension of the vast Serengeti national park in Tanzania, which gives it a bragging right of hosting the annual wildebeest migration.
In its 1,510sqkm land do we find; the Mara river infested with crocodiles and hippos, but surrounded by lions, leopards, Rhinoceros, buffalos, elephants, zebras, jackals and several antelope species, birds such as the ostrich, and a very breathtaking landscape.
The park is in the southwestern part of Kenya; Narok county, and was established in 1948. Activities in this park include among others; a game drive, witnessing the annual wildebeest migration, hot air balloon safari, birding, nature walk, and cultural encounter among others.
Lake Nakuru national park.
A true birders paradise in Kenya; lake Nakuru national park is one of the most exciting destinations in the world, hosting the pink flamingos, elephants, zebras, several antelope species, and many more.it sprawls through a 140sqkm land, north-western part of Nairobi city. Interestingly, the word Nakuru “means dust” in the local Masai dialect.
It was gazetted in 1968 and the attractions in it include; Lake Nakuru; a soda ash lake of the rift valley, lesser and greater flamingoes, alkaline swamps, hilly valleys, scrubs, and mammals such as zebras, elephants, gazelles, wildcats and the striped hyenas among others.
Hell’s gate national park.
This park is located south of Lake Naivasha, and north of Nairobi; a city in Kenya. It was gazetted as a national park in 1984; small, but with very beautiful scenery. Wondering the origin of the name; it is derived from a narrow crack in a cliff, a one-time tunnel of an ancient lake that was used by the early humans in the rift valley. The park is made up of rare wildlife species, Hell’s Gate Gorge, the central tower and the Fischer’s tower.
Samburu national park.
Established in 1961, Samburu is one of the main attractions in the country, protecting a wide range of flora and fauna. The name was derived from the local Samburu people residing in the surrounding community, after a proposal by Rodney Elliott for the place to be turned into a game reserve. It is located in the north-central part of Kenya, a distance from Buffalo Springs, Shaba and Isiolo.
Aberdares National park.
This is located at the Aberdares mountain ranges, east of the great east African Rift, about 100km north of Nairobi city. It was declared a national park in 1950, with an area of about 766sqkm. The park is composed of V-shaped valleys, bamboo forests, waterfalls, flowing streams, and a rain forest.
The flora and fauna present at the park include; 250 bird species notably; African goshawk, sunbirds, Aberdares cisticola among others; mammals such as lion, leopard, elephant, East African wild dog, cape buffalo and elands among others, primates and many more.
Amboseli National park.
Once known as Masai Amboseli Game reserve; this is one of the most exciting destinations in Kenya. The park seats on 39,206 hectares of land, across the Kenya – Tanzania boundary. The park is made of semiarid vegetation and a Pleistocene lake. It is the second most known park, after Masai Mara national reserve. Amboseli is in Kajiado county, 240km southeast of Nairobi city, the breathtaking backdrop of snowcapped Mount Kilimanjaro; Africa’s tallest mountain giving it unmatched touch and beauty. Other attractions include a profusion of elephants, Cape Buffalos, and the Masai giraffes among others.
It was declared a national park in 1974, to protect the rare ecosystem. In 1991, it was recognized as a UNESCO site.
Tsavo West National Park.
This is one of the largest national parks in the region, seating on a 9,065sqkm land in the southeastern part of Kenya, on the highway to the Mombasa Nairobi route. This park gives good accountability of a captivating landscape, variety of wildlife species, good accessibility, and a mixture of savanna, acacia woodland, and scrubs. Also, we find two rivers namely Tsavo river from the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Athi in Tsavo east.
Tsavo East National Park.
This park is about a 240 km drive eastern side of Nairobi city, the southeastern part of Kenya. The park sprawls through a 13,747sqkm land, with Arid Bush, and rock outcrops. This park also harbors a good selection of flora and fauna notably; the lesser Kudu, leopards, crocodiles, the African cape buffaloes, and waterbuck among others, freely roaming, hunting, and feeding.
There are over 500 rare bird species in the park, open for visitors, with other activities including camping, hiking, and game viewing and camping.
Nairobi National Park.
In 1932, after observing the effects caused by hunting that started in the 19th century, a move to conserve the present flora and fauna, those the establishment of Nairobi national park. It is close to Nairobi city, with open grassland plains, savannah grassland, a riverine rain forest, and a permanent river.
The mammals in this park include; hyenas, buffalos, zebras, wildebeest, elands, rhinos, and black rhinos among others. Activities are walk experience at the hippo pool, game viewing, bird watching and ivory burning among others.
Other nationals include; Kamkamega forest national park; home of unique primate species, Mount Elgon National Park; for mountain Hiking, LONGONOT national park south of Lake Naivasha, Mount Kenya national park, Ol Donyo sabuk national park, Sibiloi national park, Watamu national park, Malindi Marine National Park, Kisite-Mpunguti national park, Mombasa Marine National Park, Malka-Mari National Park, Chyulu Hills National Park, Ruma National Park, Meru National Park and Arabuko Sokoke National Park.
Each park is unique; with a variety of flora and fauna, cool climate, accommodation and accessibility. They open for visitors at 06:00hrs and the gates close at 19:00hrs for everyone. Just ensure that all the rules set in the park are adhered to for a better experience.
Literally, each corner in Kenya has something for everyone on a vacation. The parks are open all year round, very safe and accommodative, with prey and predators, flourishing vegetation and captivating landscape.