Recommended Terrestrial Parks and Reserves
These are our top Recommended Parks
Amboseli National Park – “Kilimanjaro Royal Court”
Perfect for a typical wildlife safari, located in southern Kenya. The big game and great scenic beauty where the landscape is dominated by Mt. Kilimanjaro. Water springs associated with Mt. Kilimanjaro give rise to several swamps in the park e.g. Enkong Narok swamp and other permanent swamps which are critical to wildlife in the Amboseli ecosystem. The authentic and rich Maasai culture is also a great attraction for visitors.
What can you see there?
Large herds of as many as fifty elephants up close. Other species include hippo, buffalo, giraffe, lion, and leopard. A variety of waterfowls include pelicans and the Egyptian goose.
****Suggestion for image: A herd of elephants with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background.****
Tsavo West National Park – “Land of Lava, Springs & Man-Eaters”
The spectacular Mzima Springs is an impressive sight of a million gallons of crystal-clear water gushing out of the under parched lava rocks forming the most welcoming and lovely scenes from Africa’s rolling jungle.
Painted on a sprawling canvas of endless skies, emerald hills, liquid lava flows, palm-fringed rivers, teeming wildlife, and sparkling oasis set against the impressive backdrop of mile upon mile of cloud-shadowed African savannah, Tsavo West National Park is the second largest protected area in Kenya located in Southern Kenya and is famous for the man-eater lions who to date carry a bizarre history long after they terrorized, maimed, and killed construction workers of the Kenya-Uganda Railway in 1898.
Attractions include Lake Jipe, Ngulia rhino sanctuary, big game, cave exploration, over 600 bird species, and over 100 plant species.
****Suggestion for image: Mzima Springs with crystal-clear water and lush greenery.****
Tsavo East National Park – “Theatre of the Wild”
Tsavo East lies to the east of the Nairobi - Mombasa highway and offers a vast and untapped arena of arid bush which is washed by the azure and emerald meanderings of the Galana River, guarded by the limitless lava reaches of the Yatta Plateau, the longest lava flow in the world, and patrolled by some of the largest elephant herds in Kenya. The park forms the largest protected area in Kenya.
What can you see there?
Vast herds of dust-red elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, hippo, crocodile, waterbucks, lesser kudu, gerenuk, and hirola. The park is also an ornithological paradise that attracts migrating birds from all over the world. The prolific bird life features 500 recorded species.
****Suggestion for image: A herd of red elephants near the Galana River.****
Aberdares National Park – “Majestic Peaks, Moorlands, Falls”
The Aberdares are an isolated volcanic range that forms the eastern wall of the rift valley. This beautifully scenic region is much cooler than the savannahs with its mountainous terrain covered in thick tropical forests swathed in mist.
What can you see and do there?
Rare animals – Black rhino, Black Serval, Black Leopard (seldom seen), and the Eastern Bongo (a huge forest antelope). Also elephants, buffalos, giraffes, blue and Columbus monkey, leopard, lion, warthog, giant forest hog, bushbuck, red duiker, suni, reedbuck, and eland.
Visitors can enjoy hiking, trout fishing, and game viewing at the water holes from the comfort of the Tree Tops and The Ark Lodges.
The Karuru Falls, which drop an impressive 300 meters. The Gura Falls which torrent from the opposite side of the same gorge. The sheer drop of the Chania Falls, and the enchanting Magura Falls which cascade across the yawning mouth of the Queen's Cave.
****Suggestion for image: The Karuru Falls cascading down the gorge.****
Did you know?
The Park is particularly famous as this is the place where Princess Elizabeth found out that she was Queen upon the death of her father at Treetops Lodge.
Ruma National Park – “Dramatic Valley of the Roan Antelope, Oribi”
Being Kenya’s last remaining sanctuary for the endangered roan antelope, Ruma National Park lies on the flat floor of the seasonally watered Lambwe River Valley. A mosaic of landscapes that range from riverine woodland to the dramatically rolling savannah to magnificent escarpments and towering cliffs.
What can you see there?
Scenic views, peace, and tranquility, coupled with the great wilderness appeal. Ruma is a great destination to see the endangered blue swallow. Other wildlife species include Rothschild's giraffe, rare roan antelope, serval cats, honey badgers, topi, Burchell’s zebra, black rhino, Jackson's and Lelwel hartebeest, Bohor reedbuck, leopard, buffalo, and the spotted hyena.
****Suggestion for image: A roan antelope grazing in the savannah.****
Nairobi National Park – “The World’s Only Wildlife Capital”
Beyond the towering skyscrapers, lies a haven of peace and tranquility, the world’s only wildlife capital that plays host to a wide variety of wildlife, birdlife, and the best scenic views from the park and beyond. The park is a popular outing space for families, couples, and organized groups.
What can you see and do there?
Giraffe, leopard, zebra, buffalo, antelope, lion, black, and white rhino. The park is a thriving rhino sanctuary and is one of Kenya’s most successful rhino sanctuaries. The park’s exceptional birdlife records a remarkable over 400 species. Endless activity options that visitors can indulge in include scenic and game viewing, picnicking, bird watching, team building, hire of VIP tour van, and a visit to the Nairobi Safari Walk and the Nairobi Animal orphanage.
****Suggestion for image: A rhino with Nairobi's skyline in the background.****
Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park – “Ultimate Panoramic Experience”
Oldonyo Sabuk is basically a densely forested montane forest known to the local Kikuyu community as ‘The mountain of the buffalo’ and to the Maasai community as ‘The big mountain’. The Park can be indistinctly visible from Nairobi and it particularly attracts day trippers, hikers, or groups of friends and families yearning for some bit of exercise out of their normal routine and confinement. The mountain’s summit also offers visitors beautiful scenic views of Mount Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
What can you see there?
Buffalos are the dominant animals in the ecosystem. Other wildlife species include bushbucks, leopards, olive baboons, aardvarks, porcupines, mongoose, pythons, and monitor lizard.
****Suggestion for image: A panoramic view from the summit of Ol Donyo Sabuk.****
Fun Fact!
The National Park was once an expansive farm and home to William Macmillan, a game hunter from America, who visited and decided to settle in Kenya in 1901. On different occasions, he hosted explorer and former American President Theodore Roosevelt and British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. The renowned world leaders were on game hunting trips to Kenya.
Mt. Elgon National Park – “Untamed Wilderness, Secluded Splendor”
Towering about 4187 meters high, covered in mist and drizzle, Mt. Elgon is a soaring volcanic giant located in Western Kenya. The mountain is made up of a number of zones including thick and evergreen on the floor, mixed bamboo and podocarpus. The heath zone is characterized by dense scrub and wildflowers, the alpine moorland zone boasts the highest number of endemic plant species on the mountain while the open moorland grassland is dotted with clusters of giant groundsel and lobelia plants that are unique to East Africa.
What can you see and do there?
The salt-mining elephants of Kitum Cave dubbed ‘the troglodyte tuskers’ stream down the cave to dig out salt elements from the ground. Cave exploration and excursions in the bat-infested caves are common with outdoor junkies that love the thrill of being in the wilderness. A hike up is refreshing and the views breathtaking.
****Suggestion for image: Elephants inside Kitum Cave.****
Meru National Park – “Complete Wilderness”
Remote, rugged, and prominently unspoilt, Meru National Park sits on an 870 sq.km area.
What can you see and do there?
Elephant, Grevy zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard, black rhino, hartebeest, hippo, buffalo, and the reticulated giraffe among others. Visitors can enjoy game viewing, camping, picnicking, hiking, and swimming near Kinna cottages. Visitors can savor the rich culture of the Ameru and Borana communities in the cultural villages. Other attractions include; Tana River, Nyambene Hills Ranges, Adamson’s Falls and Rapids, Elsa’s Grave, Pippa’s Grave, Mwariama Mau Post Office, Mt. Kenya, The Equator, Inselbergs, Kopjes, Swamps, and natural springs.
****Suggestion for image: A lion resting in the wilderness of Meru National Park.****
Did you know?
Meru National Park prides herself in the history of the coming together of Joy Adamson’s book “Born Free”. The script bases itself on the Adamson’s life and research on lions and cheetahs. George and Joy Adamson are best known through the movie Born Free and a best-seller book with the same title, based on a true story of Elsa the Lioness, an orphaned lioness cub they had raised and later released into the wild.
Hells Gate National Park – “A Walk on the Wild Side”
Lying about 100km north-west of Nairobi with an excellent road network from Kenya’s capital makes it a good out-of-town adventure. Tucked deep into the floor of the Great Rift Valley, standing between 1560 and 2187 meters above sea level, located in Naivasha’s dusty town, Hells Gate National Park provides the ideal fun in the wild experience across all markets and ages.
What can you see and do there?
From panoramic picnic sites, spectacular scenic views, abundant flora and fauna, towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, rock towers, geothermal steams from Olkaria Geothermal I power station located inside the park south-west of Naivasha, the park is a bundle of fun waiting to be explored. Nature trails, picnic sites, and two circuits loop around the park offering a variety of scenic beauty and wildlife viewing opportunities. The park allows walking and cycling activities, birding, and rock climbing at the 25m Fischer’s Tower. The rock offers a great climbing experience.
****Suggestion for image: The towering cliffs and gorges of Hells Gate National Park.****
Mt Longonot National Park – “Sheer Adventure”
Derived from the Maasai word Oloonong’ot meaning mountains of many spurs and ridges, Mt. Longonot National Park covers an area of 52 sq km. A young volcano rises to about 2,776 meters above sea level. Due to the nature of the terrain, Mt. Longonot has no roads and visitors hike to the top and rim of the crater. The extinct volcano and crater forest, and the serene scenic landscapes with views of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley are most definitely one of the great visitor pullers to this destination.
What can you see there?
Wildlife attractions at Mount Longonot include buffaloes, elands, lion, leopard, bushbucks, common zebra, giraffe, and Grant’s gazelles. The park is also a paradise for birds of prey.
****Suggestion for image: The crater of Mt. Longonot with Lake Naivasha in the background.****
Ndere Island National Park – “The Island of Serenity and Beauty”
Ndere means “meeting place” in the local Dholuo Luo language. The local community surrounding the park call the island Chula Rabour. Chula – Island, Rabour-Red thus Red Island. The Themeda grass species whose mature flowers turn reddish in color virtually cover the island, and thus the “red island”.
What can you see and do there?
This Park was largely established to provide refuge for small populations of impalas. Other species found here include African fish eagles, swifts, hippopotamus, and Nile crocodiles. Other than hiking, boating, and game viewing, visitors can also enjoy team building, sport fishing with the local fishing community, and birding escapades as the diversity of insects, singing, and wader birds is massive.
****Suggestion for image: A panoramic view of Ndere Island with its red Themeda grass.****
Shimba Hills National Reserve – “Paradise of the Sable Antelope”
Beyond the serene sandy beaches of Mombasa, elephants and sable antelopes leisurely patrol the gently rolling and one of the largest coastal rain forests of Shimba Hills National Reserve in Kwale County. This reserve has the last breeding herd of the rare sable antelope in Kenya. The vanishing rain forest antelopes are on the priority list of nationally endangered species in Kenya. We are keen on seeing that a national conservation strategy is developed to guide all efforts to conserve the species for posterity. Sable antelopes are highly matriarchal in their social structure and congregate in herds of 15 to 20 individuals and the most dominant female in the herd becomes their leader.
What can you do there?
Immerse your senses in the quiet of nature as you flex your muscles hiking on the trails of nature on the hills of Shimba. Enjoy camping under a starry wild night and picnicking if you just want to be in the park for just a day trip.
****Suggestion for image: A herd of sable antelopes in the Shimba Hills.****
Mt. Kenya National Park – “Come Touch the Sky”
Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa and is an ancient extinct volcano. There are 12 remnant glaciers on the mountain, and four secondary peaks that sit at the head of the U-shaped glacial valleys. With its rugged glacier-clad summits and forested middle slopes, Mount Kenya is one of the most impressive landscapes in East Africa. The Park is a UNESCO world heritage site.
There are about 20 glacial tarns (small lakes) of varying sizes and numerous glacial moraine features between 3,950 m and 4,800 m. The highest peaks are Batian (5,199 m) and Nelion (5,188 m).
What can you see there?
Wildlife includes elephants, tree hyrax, white-tailed mongoose, suni, black-fronted duiker, mole rat, bushbucks, waterbuck, and elands. Animals rarely seen include leopard, bongo, and giant forest hog. Over 130 bird species have been recorded.
****Suggestion for image: The snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya.****