The 7 Greatest Safari Parks & Recreation Reserves in Kenya
Ecotourism is on the coronary heart of Safari Parks & Recreation Reserves in Kenya.
The nation boasts an intensive assortment of protected areas, together with practically two dozen nationwide parks, 16 nationwide reserves, and 6 marine parks and reserves.
You would wish a number of months to discover the entire pure magnificence that Kenya wildlife sights have to supply.
However right here’s a take a look at seven of our favourite safari parks and sport reserves in Kenya, from Amboseli and the Maasai Mara to Ol Pejeto and Tsavo.
READ MORE: Animals in Kenya: A Information to 40 Species of Kenyan Wildlife
SAFARI PARKS & GAME RESERVES IN KENYA GUIDE
- Amboseli Nationwide Park
- Chyulu Hills Nationwide Park
- Lake Nakuru Nationwide Park
- Lewa Conservancy
- Maasai Mara Nationwide
- Ol Peseta Conservancy
- Tsavo Nationwide Park
READ MORE: The 20 Most secure Nations in Africa to Go to
1. AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Situated in Kenya’s Rift Valley, this 151-square mile ecotourism hotspot was put apart for preservation in 1906 and established as a nationwide park in 1974.
Initially often known as Maasai Amboseli Recreation Reserve, it was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1991.
Referred to as “the land of the giants,” Amboseli Nationwide Park is most well-known for being one of the best place on this planet for viewing free-ranging Elephant herds.
However the park additionally provides spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, numerous wildlife starting from the “Massive 5” animals to over 400 species of birds, and unimaginable alternatives for cultural interactions with the indigenous Maasai individuals.
Situated roughly 150 miles southeast of Nairobi, Amboseli is second hottest safari park in Kenya, attracting round 120,000 guests yearly.
READ MORE: African Photograph Safaris in Amboseli Nationwide Park & Timbavati Recreation Reserve
2. CHYULU HILLS NATIONAL PARK
Situated in between the plains of the extra well-known Amboseli and Tsavo Nationwide Parks, this African mountain vary in japanese Kenya is full of volcanic peaks as much as 7178 ft excessive.
It’s house to the Leviathan Cave, one of many world’s longest lava tubes at roughly 7.15 miles.
The park’s decrease ranges are comprised of grassland and thicket, however at 5900 ft it provides approach to montane forest.
These hills are house to a surprisingly numerous array of mammals, together with Black Rhinos, Cape Buffalo, Elephants, Grant’s Zebras, Leopards, Maasai Giraffes (the biggest in East Africa), Lions, and varied ungulates.
The area can also be house to quite a few hen species (a number of of that are endemic), such because the African Topped Eagle, Ayres’s Hawk Eagle, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Martial Eagle, Shelley’s Francolin, and White-starred Robin.
READ MORE: Meru Nationwide Park (From George & Pleasure Adamson to Elsa’s Kopje)
3. LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
Situated at 5754 ft above sea stage in Kenya’s Rift Valley, this shallow alkaline lake is greatest recognized for its abundance of algae.
Yearly it attracts Flamingos, numbering from the 1000’s into the thousands and thousands. They’re generally so plentiful that it may be troublesome to see the water!
Lake Nakuru Nationwide Park began off small again in 1961, encompassing solely the lake and the mountains that encompass it.
However it has since expanded significantly into the savannahs, the place it protects a large variety of Rothschild’s Giraffes (which have been relocated right here for his or her safety in 1977).
The park can also be house to Kenya’s largest focus of Black Rhinos and White Rhinos.
Bordered within the east by the Soysambu Conservancy, the park additionally boasts spectacular populations of Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards, Waterbuck, and different ungulates.
Along with the Flamingos, different hen species you may even see contained in the park embody the African Fish Eagle, Goliath Heron, Pied Kingfisher, and Verreaux’s Eagle.
READ MORE: The 25 Greatest Nationwide Parks in Africa for Wildlife Safaris
4. LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY
Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Website in 2013, the Lewa Conservancy is arguably one among Kenya’s best contributions to the wildlife conservation motion.
Situated in northern Kenya, the non-profit was fashioned in 1995, and drew appreciable worldwide consideration after Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton there.
Protecting 62,000+ acres, Lewa is world-renowned for its wildlife conservation initiatives. It’s house to an progressive group partnership, the Northern Rangelands Belief, by which locals have donated land for wildlife preservation.
There’s additionally a formidable schooling program that has helped over 6,000 native college students study the significance of defending wildlife.
As a result of it’s near components of Kenya that have been as soon as unstable with poaching and different crimes, Lewa’s safety measures are top-notch.
Regardless of being house to just about 15% of the nation’s Black Rhino inhabitants, they went greater than 3 years with out having one poached.
The Lewa Conservancy can also be house to the world’s largest inhabitants of Grevy’s Zebras, in addition to Kenya’s Massive 5 and myriad different cool & bizarre animals.
READ MORE: 20 Endangered African Animals You Can See On A Safari
5. MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
A dream journey for virtually each traveler with a ardour for wildlife, the Maasai Mara Nationwide Reserve is a part of the huge Serengeti ecosystem, which covers round 12,000 sq. miles in northern Tanzania and southwestern Kenya.
The Maasai Mara is a primary vacation spot for witnessing the annual Nice Migration, which is extensively thought-about among the many world’s High 10 Pure Wonders.
Yearly thousands and thousands of Gazelles, Wildebeest and Zebras make the arduous 500-mile trek northwest to Kenya seeking water and recent grass.
The well-known crossing on the Mara River, the place hungry Crocodiles lie in wait, is in contrast to some other African safari spectacle you’re more likely to see.
In fact the Mara additionally provides quite a few sights at different occasions of the yr, together with Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Elephants, Buffalo, Hyenas, and greater than 470 completely different species of birds.
READ MORE: Maasai Mara Conservancies: A Mannequin for Neighborhood-Based mostly Conservation in Kenya
6. OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY
Situated in Central Kenya between Aberdare Nationwide Park and Mount Kenya, Ol Pejeta is a non-profit 90,000-acre wildlife conservancy.
It’s the biggest sanctuary for Black Rhino in East Africa, with a inhabitants of over 100.
Sadly, it’s house to the final Northern White Rhinos on this planet: They have been moved right here from a zoo within the Czech Republic, and stay consistently beneath the watch of armed guards.
Ol Pejeta can also be house to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which provides a secure place for deserted, orphaned, and rescued chimps.
The sanctuary was opened in 1993 by an settlement between the Conservancy, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and the Jane Goodall Institute.
Different animals on the expansive property embody the famed Massive 5 animals, Baboons, Cheetahs, Giraffes, Hippos, Hyenas, Zebras, and uncommon species similar to African Wild Canines, Oryx, and Jackson’s Hartebeest.
There are additionally greater than 300 completely different hen species within the space.
READ MORE: The ten Greatest Locations for African Safari Excursions
7. TSAVO NATIONAL PARK
Situated in Kenya’s Coast Province between Nairobi Metropolis and Mombasa, Tsavo is likely one of the largest nationwide parks on this planet (8,494 sq. miles).
It’s so massive, it was divided into two sections– the 5,307 sq. mile Tsavo East and the three,500 sq. mile Tsavo West.
Tsavo East is made up of comparatively flat, semi-arid grasslands and savanna, with main options together with the Galana River, Lugard Falls, and the Yatta Plateau (the world’s longest lava movement).
Tsavo West is extra mountainous and wetter, with options such Lake Jipe, Mzima Springs, and quite a few swamps.
Collectively, Tsavo is likely one of the largest sport reserves on this planet, house to the well-known Tsavo Lions (whose males usually lack manes) and a sanctuary for Black Rhinos.
The safari park’s different wildlife contains the Massive 5, Aardwolf, Bushbabies, Caracal, African Civets, African Wild Canines, Cheetah, Grevy’s Zebra, and greater than 500 completely different hen species. –Bret Love
