Introduction to Southern Kenya

Southern Kenya offers great opportunities to experience Kenya’s wild side with popular parks and reserves dotting the area. The annual wildebeest migration in Maasai Mara game reserve, the 8th wonder of the world, can be explored on foot, by hot air balloon, and in vehicles.

About Southern Kenya

Towards the east lies the salt lake of Magadi and along its shores, the archaeological treasures of Olorgesailie. In addition to the Mara, there’s the Amboseli National Park, known as the Kilimanjaro royal courtyard, with large herds of elephants up close.

Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenic beauty, and the landscape is dominated by the towering Mount Kilimanjaro. Additionally, there are the Tsavo East and West National Parks, a wilderness the size of Jamaica along Mombasa road that can be visited en route to the Kenya Coast.

Popular Parks

This region includes the country’s most popular game parks: Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Chyulu Hills, Tsavo East, and Tsavo West. The landscape here is mainly savannah with low trees and shrubs, and is at a lower elevation with often-irregular rainfall. Animals—including the Big Five: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros—rule the roost in the 9,200 sq. miles covered by these nine national parks, which provide an exceptional (if not life-changing) safari experience. These are the most visited parts of Kenya, to which millions of international tourists flock every year.