Kenya National Parks & Reserves

Overview, travel information for National Parks in Kenya

Kenya National Parks and Reserves are a big attraction in Kenya. Kenya is the home of the Safari and is served by 54 National Parks and Game Reserves that are found in different parts of the country. It is in the Kenya National Parks where people go on a Kenya Safari.

Below are links to information about Kenya National Parks and Game Reserves. You'll find an overview, photos and interesting facts about each Kenya National park. If you'd like to make one or more parks a Kenya safari destination, you'll also find information on how to get there and around, what to see and do, accommodation and camping sites, suggestions on how and where to book your safari, admission fee and the best time to visit each of the national parks in Kenya.

Kenya National Parks & Reserves

The Must-see Sights & Attractions in Kenya

Masai Mara National Reserve

The most famous and most visited of Kenya's National Parks is the Masai Mara National Reserve. It offers breathtaking views and a chance to view the "big five" animals - rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards and buffaloes.

To enjoy the spectacular and world-famous annual Wildebeest Migration that takes place every year, the Masai Mara (or The Mara) is the park to go to.

Amboseli National Park

About 160 miles away from Nairobi, is the Amboseli National Park, the second most popular National Park after the Mara. It offers a stunning view of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru.

Apart from the beautiful sunsets and sunrise of Mt. Kilimanjaro, you can enjoy an eclectic view of animals and wildlife habitats, especially large herds of elephants and swamps, atop The Observation Hill.

Aberdare National Park

Majestic peaks, moorland, deep ravines, streams and cascading waterfalls is what defines the spectacular landscape that is Aberdare National Park.

An ideal park for topography enthusiasts and bird watchers who also want a chance to view elephants, black Rhinos and other game wildlife.

Nairobi National Park

If you want to enjoy Kenya's wildlife within the city, Nairobi National Park is a major Kenya attraction to tourists to Nairobi. Located less than 10 miles from the city of Nairobi, the park is a Rhino's sanctuary and you are guaranteed to see a black Rhino.

Enjoy the buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and a host of birdlife. With picnic sites and nature trails, the park offers enough fun to Kenyans and tourists alike.

Tsavo East National Park

Now a separate park from the original Tsavo, the Tsavo East National Park is a very popular park with tourists from Kenya' coast. It's less than 100 miles away from Mombasa and is served by several airstrips.

This is the park where you can see the popular "Man-Easters of Tsavo", elephants, Rhinos, birds and other wildlife.

Tsavo West National Park

One of the largest National parks in Kenya, this vast park that occupies 30% of Kenya's area under parks is easily accessible from the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and borders Tanzania in the south.

It offers tremendous views of landscape with diverse habitats from wildlife, rocky ridges, acacia woodlands, isolated hills, semi-desert scrubs and mountain forest.

Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya which is Kenya's highest mountain lies within the Mount Kenya National Park. The park flourishes with pristine wilderness, glaciers, snow-capped peaks, flora and fauna.

It is an ideal park for hiking and mountain climbing alongside viewing some of the rare and endangered animal species.

Lake Nakuru National Park

About 95 miles North-west of Nairobi is the Lake Nakuru National Park, which is popular for it's pink flamingoes. For those who love birds and bird watching, the lake is set in a picturesque landscape and plays home to both the Greater and Lesser flamingoes including over 400 other bird species and game animals such as the white Rhinos.

Read more about Lake Nakuru National Park >>>

Meru National Park

Located 350km (220miles) North-East of Nairobi and offering a spectacular view of Mt. Kenya is the Meru National Park. With its pristine vegetation of wooded grasslands, thorn-bush and partly wilderness, it is in this small savannah park where George Adamson and Elsa the Lioness lived.

Mount Elgon National Reserve

In Rift valley province along the Kenya-Uganda border is Mt. Elgon National Mount Elgon National Park Reserve, a park where elephants live in caves. This park on Kenya's second highest mountain, Mt. Elgon, is lush with fauna and flora, caves and waterfalls, hot springs and mountain peaks.

An ideal reserve for trekking, rock climbing, birdwatching and walking trails.

Read more about Mount Elgon National Park >>>

Saiwa Swamp National Park

As the smallest park in Kenya, this 1.9m² park lies below the Cherangani hills Saiwa Swamp National Park in the Rift valley and is served by Kitale airstrip. It is home to the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope and various species of birds.

This swampy park is so small that you don't need to drive. Simply walk to camp at the park, enjoy the antelopes or view the birds.

Read more about Saiwa Swamp National Park >>>

Shimba Hills National Reserve

Located 20 miles in Kwale district, off the south of Mombasa, Shimba Hills National Reserve is a dissected plateau with scenic landscape comprising rivers, valleys and hills - an ideal topography for bird-shooting.

Read more about Shimba Hills National Reserve >>>

The Kenya national parks are managed by the Kenya Wildlife services (KWS) who are also responsible for protecting all Kenya wildlife animals and species. The Kenya national Reserves on the other hand, are managed by the local county councils within their jurisdiction.

If you are going on a Kenya Safari tour, it is possible to combine and visit more than one park at the same time. Some of the parks are close to each other. However, to get the best chance of spotting the animals in any park, game drives takes place either in the early morning hours or late evening when most of the animals are active and moving around. During the day around the parks, tourists engage in other types of safaris such as air balloon, cultural tours, bird viewing or simply enjoy time in the lodge or camping site.

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