Kenya National Game Parks and Game Reserves in AfricaDetailed information about Wildlife, Game Parks, Game Reserves and Attractions of KenyaKenya National Game Parks and Reserves are a big attraction in Kenya. Kenya is the home of the Safari and is served by 54 National Parks and Game Reserves that are found in different parts of the country. It is in the Kenya National Parks where people go on a Kenya Safari. Welcome to Kenya and experience the way God intended nature to be: sun-baked savannahs, snow-capped mountains, glistening coral reefs, a myriad game, astounding habitats and outstanding people. Kenya's landscape ranks among the most fascinating and diverse the world over. From the low-lying coastlands to the snow capped Mt. Kenya that rises to 17,058ft. above sea level. From the tree dotted plains to the jaggered escarpment that marks the sudden drop into the floor of the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley with it's alkaline lakes. And much more. However, choosing one of the many Kenya national Game parks and reserves isn't easy, as they are widely regarded as being among Africa’s best, with stunning beautiful scenery and an amazing diversity of wild animals. Below are links to information about Kenya National Game Parks and Game Reserves. You'll find an overview, photos and interesting facts about each Kenya National park. If you'd like to make one or more parks a Kenya safari destination, you'll also find information on how to get there and around, what to see and do, accommodation and camping sites, suggestions on how and where to book your safari, admission fee and the best time to visit each of the national parks in Kenya. KENYA NATIONAL PARKS Aberdare National Park The Aberdares are an isolated volcanic range that forms the eastern wall of the rift valley, running roughly 100km north south between Nairobi and Thomsons Falls. Soils are red and of volcanic origin, but rich in organic matter. There are two main peaks, Ol Donyo Lesatima (3,999m) and Kinangop (3,906m) separated by a long saddle of alpine moorland at over 3,000m. The topography is diverse with deep ravines that cut through the forested eastern and western slopes and there are many clear streams and waterfalls. The Aberdares are an important water catchment area providing water to the Tana and Athi rivers and part of Central Rift and Northern drainage basins.Aberdare National Park Kenya Amboseli National Park Amboseli lies immediately North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. Amboseli was established as a reserve in 1968 and gazetted as a National Park in 1974. The Park covers 392 km2, and forms part of the much larger 3,000 Km2 Amboseli ecosystem. Large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. It is surrounded by 6 communally owned group ranches. The National Park embodies 5 main wildlife habitats (open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland) and covers part of a pleistocene lake basin, now dry. Within this basin is a temporary lake, Lake Amboseli, that floods during years of heavy rainfall. Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenic beauty - the landscape is dominated by Mt. Kilimanjaro. Amboseli National Park Kenya Kakamega Forest National Park Kakamega Forest covers an area of about 240km2 and was established to protect the only mid altitude tropical rainforest in Kenya, a remnant and eastern limit of rainforests of Zaire and West Africa affinities are unique in Kenya and the forest contains many species found nowhere else in the country. The forest lies in the Lake Victoria catchment, about 50km north of Kisumu and just West of the Nandi Escarpment that forms the edge of the central highlands. It was first gazetted as a trust forest in 1933 and two small Nature reserves, Yala and lsecheno were established within the forest in 1967. Kakamega Forest National Park Lake Nakuru National Park Lake Nakuru is a very shallow strongly alkaline lake 62 km2 in extent. It is set in a picturesque landscape of surrounding woodland and grassland next to Nakuru town. The landscape includes areas of marsh and grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides covered with a Euphorbia forest on the eastern perimeter. The lake catchment is bounded by Menengai crater to the north, the Bahati hills to the north east, the lion hill ranges to the east, eburu crater to the south and the mau escarpment to the west. Three major rivers, the njoro, makalia and enderit drain into the lake, together with treated water from the town's sewage works and the outflow from several springs along the shore.Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya Mount Elgon Game Reserve Mt. Elgon is Kenya's second highest mountain. It lies 140km North East of Lake Victoria and is bisected by the Kenya-Uganda border. It is an ancient eroded volcano with a huge caldera and, on its summit, the spectacular flat topped basalt column known as Koitobos. Another unique feature of the mountain is the lava tube caves, some over 60m wide and frequented by elephants (and other animals) digging for salts. The mountain soils are red laterite. Mt Elgon is an important water catchment for the Nzoia river which flows into Lake Victoria and for the Turkwel river which flows into Lake Turkana. Mt Kenya National Park Mt. Kenya is an imposing extinct volcano dominating the landscape of the Kenyan Highlands, East of the Rift Valley. Mt. Kenya lies about 140 km North, North-East of Nairobi with its Northern flanks across the Equator. The mountain has two main peaks - Batian (5200m) and Nelion (5188m). The mountains slopes are cloaked in forest, bamboo, scrub and moorland giving way on the high central peaks to rock, ice and snow. Mt. Kenya is an important water catchment area, supplying the Tana and Northern Ewaso Ngiro systems. The park includes a variety of habitats ranging from higher forest, bamboo, alpine moorlands, glaciers, tarns and glacial morains.Mt Elgon National Reserve Kenya Nairobi National Park The 117 km2 Nairobi National Park is unique by being the only protected area in the world with a variety of animals and birds close to a capital city. As expected, the park is a principal attraction for visitors to Nairobi. The park also serves many residents and citizens living in the city The park has a diversity of environments with characteristic fauna and flora. Open grass plains with scattered acacia bush are predominant. The western side has a highland dry forest and a permanent river with a riverine forest in the south. In addition, there are stretches of broken bush country and deep, rocky valleys and gorges with scrub and long grass. Man-made dams have also added a further habitat, favourable to certain species of birds and other aquatic biota(life forms). The dams also attract water dependent herbivores during the dry season.Nairobi National Park Kenya Saiwa Swamp National Park Saiwa is the smallest park in Kenya, only 3 km2. It was established to protect the semi-aquatic antelope, Sitatunga and encloses the swamp fed by the Saiwa River together with its fringing belts of rain forest. The park is enclosed by subsistence farming settlements. Saiwa Swamp National Park Kenya Samburu game Reserve Samburu or Shaba is part of three small adjoining savanna national reserves that lie on either side of the Northern Ewaso Ngiro River, 340km North, North East of Nairobi (Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba). They were established in 1948 as the Samburu Isiolo Game Reserve, part of the once extensive Marsabit National Reserve. Now they are managed by their respective county councils, Samburu and Isiolo.The reserve consists of a low lying, semi arid plain on the southern bank of the Northern Ewaso Ngiro river. It lies 9 km east of buffalo springs national reserve, from which it is separated by the main road from isiolo to marsabit. The reserve was gazetted in 1974 and is administered by the Isiolo CC. Its Northern section includes a 34km stretch of the Ewaso Ngiro river; here and elsewhere in the reserve are numerous springs and swampy areas, although some have bitter tasting water. Samburu National Reserve Kenya Tsavo East National Park Tsavo National Park was established on 1st April, 1948 with an area of 21,812 Km2 It is the largest Park in Kenya. In May 1948 Tsavo National Park was divided into East and West for administrative purposes. The two Parks are divided by Nairobi–Mombasa railway /road. Tsavo East National Park Kenya Tsavo West National Park Tsavo West National Park covers 7065 km2, approximately 30% of Kenya's area under parks, and contains a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous scenic landscape. Mount Meru National Park Meru is a savanna National Park, 35km east of Maua town in the north eastern lowlands below the Nyambeni hills. Meru is part of a complex of protected areas along the Tana river that includes the adjacent Bisanadi and Mwingi National Reserves (to the east and south respectively), Kora national park and Rahole national reserve. The wetter North Western sector is hilly, with rich volcanic soils. The land flattens towards the East, where grey alluvial volcanic soils appear. The area is crossed by numerous permanent streams, draining from the Nyambenes and flowing in parallel between tounges of lava, south eastwards towards the Tana River. As well as the many streams that cross it, the park is bounded by three large rivers: the Tana to the South, the Ura to the South West and the Rojeweru to the East. There are several prominent inselbergs of basement rock, notably Mughwango and Leopard rock. Meru National Park Kenya Masai Mara National Park The Maasai (Masai) Mara national park and reserve, once described as "Kenya's Jewel never to be lost", is in a class of its own. The best known wildlife sanctuary in the World Maasai (Masai) Mara National Reserve has acquired a high flier status having been named "the seventh wonder of the world". The seventh wonder of the world is the spectacle of the annual wildebeest migration between Maasai (Masai) Mara and Serengeti. Every year, in the months of July August and September, over 1.7 million wildebeests accompanied by about 800,000 gazelles and Zebras migrate from Serengeti into Maasai (Masai) Mara and back. The river crossings are particularly dangerous as large crocodile lie in wait of unsuspecting animals, killing and maiming thousands of them. Besides predation, migrating herds have to contend with flooded rivers and disease outbreaks. The wildebeest mate in Maasai Mara and Calve in Serengeti.Masai Mara National Park Kenya From Kenya National Game Parks Back to Uganda Visit and Travel Guide Home Page |
