The Amazing Kenya National Parks Every Traveler Should Visit:
Situated in East Africa bordering the Indian Ocean in the Southeast, Kenya is one of the extensive countries in Africa and a few most visited destinations in the world.
It covers the land area of over 580,000sq.km slightly bigger than the Metropolitan France and about twice the size of Nevada State.
Kenya prides itself of over 24 spectacular National Parks, 15 Kenya National Parks and Reserves, 6 Marine Parks and Private conservancies. Choosing where to visit from these numerous destinations can be challenging but here are some of the best National Parks in Kenya.
The Top Kenya National Parks:
Nairobi National Park
Lying at the edge of Nairobi city is a stunning Nairobi National Park that overviews the city. Most popular as the World’s Only Wildlife Capital, Nairobi NP is a compact park spanning over 117sq.km. The park was gazetted in 1946 and falls under the management of Kenya Wildlife Reserve.
The spectacular Nairobi National Park contains a huge concentration of floral and faunal species. Besides, it is the one of the best birding destinations in Kenya.
Here are some of the numerous species of wildlife to find in Nairobi National Park: African buffaloes, lions, leopard, spotted hyenas, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, common elands, waterbucks, black-backed jackals, warthogs, plain zebras, Thomson’s gazelles, Nile crocodiles, and more. This park also holds over 520 species of birds including endemic species.
Maasai Mara National Reserve/Park
Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the best locations where tourists can experience the most of the world’s greatest spectacles. Located in the far Southwestern Kenya, this reserve is set next to the Serengeti National Park. Masai Mara was initially created as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1948 and became a Game Reserve in 1961.
This nature reserve in Kenya occupies a vast area of about 1510sq.km along the rift valley area. It is most popular not only for the Great Migration/wildebeests but also the big five game members –African bush elephants, leopards, black rhinos, cape buffaloes and lions.
These co-exist with other numerous wildlife including hippos, cheetahs, impalas, topis, giraffes, jackals, hyenas, crocodiles, fox and more plus more than 500 species of birds.
Amboseli National Park
In the Southern side of Kenya, lies the scenic Amboseli National Park just overviewing the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli is most popular for its huge elephant herds, believed to total up to 1500 individuals.
This park was created in 1968 as a reserve and turned a national park in 1974.
Amboseli protects more than African elephants and additionally, you can find lots of cape buffaloes, big cats, Maasai giraffes, blue wildebeest, plain zebras, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, hippos, and over 400 species of birds which include more than 47 raptors.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Set along the mighty rift valley floor is Lake Nakuru National Park, a birder’s haven on earth. The park is dominated by wooded and bushy grasslands, and boasts of its rich ecological species and distinct habitats. Gazetted in 1968, Lake Nakuru N/Park occupies a compact area of 188sq.km and protects myriad of wildlife and birds.
The main wildlife to find on Kenya safaris in Lake Nakuru NP include leopards, African wild dogs, rhinos, baboons, elands, zebras, colobus monkeys, striped hyenas, rock hyrax, gazelles, bat-eared fox, golden cats, hippos, impalas, and more than 450 bird species including 1000s of greater and lesser flamingos.
Lake Nakuru National Park lies in the North-western Nairobi, 140km from Nairobi city. It spans within the rift valley province featuring the scenic Lake Nakuru, a soda lake formed from rift valley area.
Aberdares National Park
Created in 1950, Aberdares National Park shelters the magnificent slopes and moorland of the Aberdare Mountains.
The park is accessible 160km off from Nairobi city and set in Central Kenya. It covers 767sq.km of land area, lying at an altitude of 1829-4001m. This park features rugged terrain, streams and deep ravines plus beautiful waterfalls, etc.
Animal species to find here include lions, black rhinos, baboons, leopards, colobus monkeys and a total of about 250 species of birds.
Mount Kenya National Park
Mt. Kenya National Park is about 175km North of Nairobi capital. It is found between Central and Eastern Provinces of Kenya. The park was created in 1949 and in 1978; it was recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Mount Kenya National Park features unique vegetation cover comprising of three primary zones and abundant wildlife in its lower slopes of Mt. Kenya.
These include bushbucks, tree hyrax, giant forest hogs, elands, waterbucks, white-tailed mongoose, hyenas, lions, leopards, mountain hyrax, duikers and others. The interesting things to enjoy here include game viewing, mountain climbing and cave exploration.
Tsavo National Parks
Tsavo Parks are Kenya’s biggest parks with rich ecosystem, spanning over 20,812sq.km. It was created in 1948 before it split to form the Tsavo East and Tsavo West. The Tsavo west lies along the Coast Province, Southeastern Kenya on the western highway of the Nairobi-Mombasa road about 240km off from Nairobi capital.
This particular protected area spreads over 9065sq.km forming over 30% of the Tsavo Conservancy Area. It protects diversity of wildlife including giraffes, hyrax, cheetahs, leopards, lesser Kudus, dik-dik, giraffes, red-skinned elephants, nocturnal porcupines and over 600 species of birds.
Tsavo East NP is on the Eastern part of the Nairobi-Mombasa route, 240k from Nairobi city. This park is 13747sq.km and holds wildlife species such as gerenuks, waterbucks, hippos, leopards, buffaloes, the red-skinned elephants, lesser Kudus, crocodiles, and about 500 species of birds.
Longonot National Park
Located in the rift valley province of Kenya, Longonot National Park is a compact park with land area coverage of 52sq.km.
It takes its name from Mount Longonot, and contains wildlife such as impalas, buffaloes, giraffes, gazelles, leopards, lions, Thomson gazelles, grant gazelles and others. It is a perfect place for visitors to enjoy rock climbing, hiking, biking and viewing Lake Naivasha.
Mount Elgon National Park Kenya
Mount Elgon NP Kenya is part of the extensive Elgon National Park shared by Kenya and Uganda. Mt. Elgon NP Kenya was formed in 1968 and takes its name from the spectacular Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano holding the world’s biggest surface area of 50x80km.
Mount Elgon NP Kenya contains different animal species at its lower slopes including buffaloes, elephants, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and over 300 species of birds. The likely birds to identify here include the baglafetch weaver bird, African goshawk, lammergeyer, maathai’s long leg, and others.