Kenya’s
national parks and reserves rate best in Africa. The tremendous
variety of birds and animals is the main attraction and the more
popular parks such as Maasai Mara National Reserve and AmboseliNational
Park receive a huge number of visitors - from budget campers to
hundreds-of-dollars-a-day Hilton hoppers.Smaller parks such as Saiwa
Swamp National Parking the western highlands see a handful of visitors
a day at any time of the year. In addition to protection of wildlife
some parks are created to conserve landscape and they can be extremely
exciting and rewarding places to visit. The Hell’s Gate,
Mt. Kenya, Mt. Elgon, Mt. Longonot and Kakamega Forest are worth
investigating.
The marine national parks of Malindi and Watamu off the central
coast offer excellent diving possibilities with Shimoni and Wasini
islands in the extreme south which are even better but less accessible.
Other smaller parks and reserves that should not be left out include
Aberdare National Park; Marsabit National Reserve/Park; Nairobi
National Park; Meru National Park; Mt. Kenya National Park; Mt.
Elgon
MAASAI MARA GAME RESERVE
Maasai Mara is blessed with an astounding concentration of wildlife
all year round and panoramic vistas of plains dotted with woodlands.
Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Park provides a wildlife of
experience unsurpassed in the world.Covering an area of some 1500
square kilometers in the southwestern corner of Kenya, the Mara
is unfenced bordered in the west by the Oloololo Escarpment and
in the east by the Ngama Hills.
A living tapestry of grassy savanna, umbrella-like thorn trees,
rounded hills, towering gallery forests and abundant wildlife,
the Maasai Mara draws photographers and travelers from around
the globe. It is here, on the Maasai Mara - the “spotted
land” of the Maasai people that the greatest migration on
the planet takes place. Every year, driven by the force that man
cannot comprehend, two million wildebeest, interspersed by herds
of Zebra, cross the Mara River from Tanzania to eat the lush grass
resulting from the seasonal “long rains” in Kenya. It
is this display that lures people and predators to this place,
but there is more to the Mara than the annual spectacle.
Each day presents a surprise. The wildlife is unequaled in the
entire world. Herds roam at will and graze seemingly content,
but always on the lookout for predators: Lion, Leopard, Cheetah
and Hyena. This is Eden! The Great Migration: As East Africa’s
plains fade to yellow after the summer rains; an ancient signal
is communicated between millions of animals. Originating from
Tanzania’s southern Serengeti plains, the dwindling of the
available grass is the impetus for this primal march. The horizon
fills with 1.4million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra, eland and
gazelle, relentlessly tracked by Africa’s great predators.
This is the migration - one of the most awe-inspiring sights on
earth. The great herds move north towards the Maasai Mara plains.
By July they have massed along the swollen
Mara River. In crossing, many drown, are ambushed by crocodiles,
or fall prey to opportunistic lions This dramatic life-and-death
struggle is nature her most theatrical - a once - in - a - lifetime
experience for travelers to the Maasai Mara.In addition to the great
herds of Wildebeest and Zebra on their annual migration, all year
round the Maasai Mara supports Lion, Cheetah, Elephant, Kongoni,
Thompson’s Gazelle and Defassa’ Waterbuck, as well as
eight species of primates.
Amboseli are the plains below Mt. Kilimanjaro. The waters from
melted snow drain down the mountain under lava flows and surface
in Amboseli, creating a green belt of swampland amidst dusty plains.
Located on the south part of Kenya, Amboseli National Park is
the home of the largest Elephants in Africa. It is here that the
highest peak in Africa can be best seen. Viewing game in this
park with the snowcapped Mt. Kilimanjaro on the background is
a very exciting experience. In addition to the ‘Big Five’the
‘Bad Boys’ - Hyena - who can eat up their own mother
if she stood still long enough.
TSAVO NATIONAL PARK
Tsavo reserve is divided onto two - Tsavo West and Tsavo East
National Parks. Tsavo East is the largest National Park in Kenya.
These parks are so remote and so totally unspoilt - a wildlife
preserve offering pristine wilderness away from mass tourism.
Tsavo West National Park with water holes at Kilaguni and Ngulia
Lodges attracting a variety of animals gives a good opportunity
to view game. Mzima springs in this park has pools with underwater-
viewing -chamber enables the viewing of Hippo’s submarine
activities. Around the lodge areas is the spectacular Shetani
lava flow and caves where the black lava flow is an exciting sight
- use a flashlight (torch). The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary is not
a place to miss in Tsavo West - a 70 sq km with a meter high electric
fence, where 42 black rhinos live. There are tracks within the
enclosed area and a good chance to see one of these elusive creatures.
LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
Created in 1961, Nakuru National Park occupies an area of 180
sq km. Lake Nakuru once home of millions of Flamingoes and over
400 species of other birds - some of which are residents, some
visitors and other migrants - is a shallow soda lake and for years
until the El Nino rains in 1997, the water levels decreased to
almost dry ground during the dry season. The flamingoes once synonymous
with the lake sought happier hunting grounds - mainly Lake Bogoria.
At present the lake is 3.5m deep - the deepest for a decade and
the nomadic flamingoes might return in the future. However even
without them Lake Nakuru remains an ornithologists’ paradise.
Among other animals, the rare Black Rhino is also found here.
Established in 1973 and covering an area of 107 sq kilometers,
Lake Bogoria Reserve is one of the greatest spectacles on East
Africa and home to 2 million birds. It is also the home of Africa’s
most magnificent antelope - the (shy) Greater Kudu. Access on
foot or bicycle is possible (pre-arranged and in the company of
a ranger) to see the Hot Springs and Geysers - which are hot enough
to boil an egg. Don’t fall in! The Lake has been in the past
described as the jewel of the Rift Valley and by the words of
one bishop on his first sight, it is ‘The most beautiful
view in Africa’. The contrast in colors from the grasslands
into the pink flamingo covered lake to the sky above can only
describe the
place as nature’s studio. The alkaline lake that covers 33%
of the reserve is often blanketed by a broad band of pink as thousands
of Flamingoes gather to feed on algae. In flight, these are matchless
spectacle set against the dramatic eastern wall of the Great Rift
Valley.
LAKE BARINGO NATIONAL PARK
Tracking its existence from the 1800’s, this lake and its
13 islands - two of them inhabited - is a spectacular sight and
the bird- watching center of Kenya. Bird -watching is the popular
activity in this bird sanctuary. Ornithologists come from all
over the world to see and photograph the 502 different species
of birds that have been identified here. Of interest is the Hemprich’s
Hornbill that is worth hunting down. Main wildlife feature is
the large number of hippos and crocodiles. The Hippos - River
Horses - can grow up to over 4metres long and weigh up to4,000kg.
Their massive body is supported by strong stumpy legs so the belly
is only a short way off the ground. The female take good
care of their calf (which is proverbial) under water but will
abandon the calf if times are hard. A number of other reptiles
are found hare Cultural tour can be organized to the nearby villages
where you can freely walk and take photos.
SAMBURU, SHABA AND BUFFALO SPRINGS RESERVES
Covering morethan 300 square kilometers, Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo
Springs are located in northern Kenya and on the banks of Ewaso
Ngiro River. Though there is no much game, the majestic landscape
in these parks is awesome with the high massifs standing sentinel
in the desert like Lolokwe and Matthews’s Ranges. The terrain
is scrub desert and open savannah plain broken here and there
by small rugged hills - with Shaba more hilly and with springs
and great rocky kopjes, klipspringer and hyrax. The permanent
Ewaso Ngiro River supports a wide variety of game in the three
reserves. There are a few hoofed animals like elephants, reticulated
giraffe, various species of smaller gazelle; cheetah, leopard
and lion are also present, but the rhino were wiped out years
ago. There are real monster crocodiles along the Ewaso Ngiro River
- be watchful.
Kenya’s
national parks and reserves rate best in Africa. The tremendous
variety of birds and animals is the main attraction and the more
popular parks such as Maasai Mara National Reserve and AmboseliNational
Park receive a huge number of visitors - from budget campers to
hundreds-of-dollars-a-day Hilton hoppers.Smaller parks such as Saiwa
Swamp National Parking the western highlands see a handful of visitors
a day at any time of the year. In addition to protection of wildlife
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