Kenya Game Parks and National Reserves

MAASAI MARA - Kenya’s finest Game Reserve and a great opportunity to view the big five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and cheetah). The annual migration of wild beast and zebras from the Serengeti National Park in Northern Tanzania provide the highlight between June and August. In the remainder of the year the Park is still rich in wildlife having the greatest density of wildlife per square kilometer in Kenya.

SAMBURU AND SHABA NATIONAL RESERVE - These National Game Reserves are situated in the northern part of Kenya, on the fringes of the hot and sparsely populated dry region. The attract a different range of wildlife species unique to the area, among which are the gerenuk, the beisa's oryx, the reticulated giraffe, the blue legged ostrich and the grevy's zebra.

ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK - Center for Kenya’s forest lodges (tree hotels) including the world famous Tree Tops. Night game viewing is available for those whose interests include the nocturnal wildlife and the many mountain animals are seen from the comfort of the balcony as the come to drink from the nearby salt lick.

GREAT RIFT VALLEY (LAKES NAKURU, BARINGO, BOGORIA, NAIVASHA, MAGADI AND CHERENGANI HILLS, HELL’S GATE NATIONAL PARK) Thousands of flamingos visit the lakes seasonally. Excellent for those in search of bird-life (An Ornithologists’ paradise). Lakes also attract a large variety of wildlife, water birds and predators.

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK - The Might Kilimanjaro forms a beautiful backdrop. Amboseli Game Sanctuary is famous for elephants, buffalos and birds.

TSAVO NATIONAL PARK - One of the largest game parks in the world surrounded by the beautiful Chyulu hills and the Pare mountains. Mzima springs, a natural and clear watering point is great for game viewing. Tsavo is also famous for its large number of elephants among other species of the animal kingdom.

KAKAMEGA FOREST: An Ornithologist’s paradise - here you can find about three hundred species of birds, some of which are unique to this part of the country. A natural and ancient forest excellent for game or botanical walks.

MOUNT ELGON NATIONAL PARK: This unspoiled national park is famous for caves, game viewing and hiking. Situated on Kenya /Uganda border, the highest peak on Kenyan side (Koitobos) is about 4,200 meters high. Kitum cave (place of ceremonies) extents 200 meters into the mountain. At night animals go in to feed on the rich salt deposits. An unforgettable sight is of the elephants licking away at the salt walls in these caves.

NDERE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK (Meeting Place): This place is where Mikaye (the mother of Luo) rested after her long journey, before she found shelter on this island close to the rock that goes by her name. Ndere Island is also home to a large population of crocodiles, swamp antelopes and birds. Fishing can also be done nearby. Situated in northern part of Lake Victoria near Kisumu, Ndere Island National Park can only be accessed by boat.

RUMA NATIONAL PARK: This rarely visited national park is home to a number of Kenyan animals and birds. Famous for Roan antelopes (hippopotamus equines ) which are an endangered species of antelopes.

MOUNT KENYA NATINAL PARK: Surrounded by 130,000 acres of forest reserve. Visible from the mountain top on a clear day are Mount Kilimanjaro to the south, Mount Elgon to the west, Marissa Mountain to the north and the Indian ocean to the east. Hiking, climbing and game viewing for rare mountain wildlife can be done here.

LAKE TURKANA NATIONAL PARK: Situated on Ethiopia /Kenya border. Africa’s longest Rift Valley lake. The Great Rift Valley is a symbolic relic of the massive upheavals in the earth’s crust some 10 million years ago which opened the world’s largest geological divide stretching over 3,500 miles from Danilil depression at Ethiopia’s northern Red Sea coast line to Mozambique. Turkana has the largest number of crocodiles in the world - more then 10,000. A number of pre-historic human fossils have been found here including the Australopithecus.

Tanzania Game Parks and National Reserves

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Lake Manyara National Park nesting under the wall of the Great Rift Valley is like a perfectly cut gemstone. It contains a variety of habitats and diverse animals and birds. It covers an area of 319sq Km, altitude 945 meters. Lake Manyara has 5 distinct zones.

NGORONGORO CRATER
The largest intact crater in the world and second largest extinct volcano in the World has a spectacular concentration of wildlife. The crater rim is wooded with mountain forest vegetation. Its oval in shape and 20Km in diameter, 100sq miles in area, 2000 feet deep and 2286metres above sea level.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
One of the most unique wilderness areas of the world, fantastic in its natural beauty and unequalled in its scientific value. It occupies 14763sq Km. This Park is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in the world. One of the most remarkable scenes in this wildlife sanctuary is the migration of wildebeest, zebras, giraffe, gazelle, buffalo and other plain animals. As the herds move to new grazing grounds they are followed by predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals and hunting dogs waiting for weak prey, while vultures soar overhead waiting for their share of the kill.

ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
This park is remarkable for its range of habitats – miniature volcanic craters, highland rainforest, acacia, woodland and a string of crater lakes (The Momella lakes). In addition, on clear day there are spectacular views of both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Arusha National Park offers many beautiful panoramic views. An opportunity to visit this park is not to be missed.

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
This park is scattered with Baobab trees alternating with open acacia woodland, open bush, plains woodland, open bush, plains, swamps and rivers along which stands palm trees. Big game and birds abound. Among the wildlife that can be seen are lions, elephants, zebras, oryx and many more. The bird-life is also extremely rich and varied.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO
This is the highest Mountain in Africa is just three degrees below the equator and its two peaks, the KIBO (5,893) and MAWENZI (5,149) are permanently snow-capped. Ascent and Descent takes five days and can be climbed by any normal, fit person with the assistance of experienced mountain guides porters. Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of the year except during the long rains April and May.

OLDUVAI GORGE
Within Ngorongoro conservation area is the Olduvai Gorge, 180 Km from Arusha. The remains of Homo Habilis or "Handy Man" regarded as mankind’s first step on the ladder of Human evolution. Guides operate lecture tours of the sites.

MIKUMI
Located north of the Selous Reserve, some 300kms from Dar es Salaam.It covers’ an area of 3,230sqKms. Among the species that can be seen here are baboons, Buffaloes, colobus monkeys, hunting dogs, elands, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, hippos, lions, impalas, sable, antelopes amongst other species.

SELOUS
The Selous game Reserve is the largest in Africa.It is a vast wilderness, untamed by Man. has a large population of the Elephants. Walking Safaris accompanied by an armed ranger can be organized together with game drivers and boat trips.