An introduction to Kenya’s national parks and nature reserves

Kenya has a large number of national parks and nature reserves. The parks are entirely dedicated to the preservation of wildlife, while the reserves allow local countrymen, such as the Masai, to live in their traditional environment.

Aberdare National Park , one of the most wooded in Kenya, is located in the middle of the old White Highlands. Observation posts have been erected in the trees to enable visitors to enjoy African wildlife in the best possible way.

Amboseli National Park stretches beneath the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Covering an area of almost 400 sq. km, it is the oldest and most varied park in Kenya with its bush and woodlands, dusty savanna, hills and peaks, and its wetlands flooded with the water from underground springs that filter through the soil from their source in Mt Kilimanjaro. The dense vegetation consists of dwarf palm-trees, reeds, papyrus and gorse, and the vast grassy plain welcomes numerous herds, thirsting for its abundant waters.

Meru National Park extends over an area of about 870 sq. km. It is home to a lush vegetation of locust trees and doum palm-trees scattered (clustered?) over a hilly volcanic landscape in the vicinity of the Tana river. Grevy's zebras, lesser kudus, oryxes, lions, reticulated giraffes, leopards, baboons and many species of birds are the mainstay of local wildlife.

Mount Elgon National Park has a very unusual feature: caves that were dug out by elephants.

Mount Kenya National Park lies at the foot of the 5199 m mountain which towers above it. Wild animals abound: elephants, buffaloes, several species of monkeys and rock hyraxes are the most common wildlife in these parts .

Nakuru National Park is a 200 sq.km bird sanctuary - the meeting place for thousands of pink flamingos and pelicans, offering a breath-taking sight to the visitor. Most of Kenya’s rhinos gather in Nakuru Park.

 

Tsavo National Park is the largest in Kenya. It covers an area of 20,000 sq.km, allowing the wild animals to breed freely. It is the nearest park to Mombasa and its airport.

Bogoria Lake Nature Reserve displays a landscape of geysers and cliffs set among beautiful tortili acacias and thornbush. Covering a modest surface of 30 sq. km, the reserve is home to a million pink flamingos (one fifth of the planet’s flamingo population) and a varied fauna, from which predators are excluded

Masai Mara Nature Reserve stretches over about 1,800 sq.km at an average altitude of 1,650 m, to the north of Tanzania´s Serengeti Park. Imagine a landscape of plains and hills, speckled with groves of locust trees growing in the middle of the savanna (hence the name Mara, derived from “maa”, which is the Masai word for spotted/speckled). This reserve hosts vast populations of gnus, zebras and gazelles.

Samburu and Buffalo Springs Nature Reserves extend over 165 sq.km to the north of the country. Oasis vegetation covers the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro river over a 25 km stretch, creating a genuine garden of Eden when the sun goes down.

Shaba Nature Reserve is 239 sq.km and has fewer visitors than the two parks above, but it is quite as beautiful. It is named after Mount Shaba (1,623 m) which towers above the southern part of the reserve.

Along the coast, marine parks are also to be found, such as Watamu or Kisite. The bottom of the Indian Ocean is covered with magnificent corals where numerous species of tropical fish are a feast for the eyes.

HEALTH : Vaccination against yellow fever and typhoid is strongly advised, and a preventive treatment against paludism (malaria) is absolutely necessary.

Link to site officiel the official website of Kenya’s parks and reserves

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