Top Kenya wildlife safari parks and reserves
Top Kenya wildlife safari parks and reserves : The following is a list of my own top 10 wildlife parks and reserves in Kenya. Kenya is the most popular Kenya safari destination in Africa because of high-quality of its parks and reserves, each with their own ideal times to visit. Kenya offers special safari tour experiences at a lower cost than any other place in Africa.
1: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Kenya’s most visited wildlife park is the Masai Mara Reserve. From July – October you can observe the spectacular migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra. The Maasai tribesmen enhance the experience with their cultural tours. Big families of buffalo, lions, hippos, and elephants are among the many animals on display at the Mara.
Optimal Travel Period: July to October
Where to Stay: Both inside and outside the reserve, there are lots of lodges and campsites.
2: Lake Nakuru National Park
Large groups of flamingos that like the shallow soda lake’s alkaline waters make Lake Nakuru famous. A million flamingos and numerous other bird species call the park home, but there are also white rhinos, warthogs, giraffes, hippopotamuses, ostriches, and lions. The flamingo population in Lake Nakuru saw a fall in the 1990s due to several environmental factors, which are now being gradually addressed.
Best Time to Visit: All year long
Where to Stay: The Park has a number of both public and private campsites in addition to the two main lodges.
The duration of travelling via road from Nairobi is three hours.
3: Mount Kenya National Park
Kenya got its current name from Mount Kenya, the continent’s second-highest summit. It is also the home of the Kikuyu god Ngai and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Reserve has breathtaking lakes, mineral springs, and woods in addition to being home to uncommon animal species. About 50% of Kenya’s population receives water from the mountain, which also generates 70% of the country’s hydroelectric power. This makes the mountain an extremely significant watershed.
When to Go: January through February and July through October
Where to Stay: In addition to resorts and private camps nearby, there are huts on the mountain.
Travel time by road from Nairobi is three to four hours.
4: Amboseli National Park
One of most popular parks in Kenya, Amboseli National Park offers stunning views of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro. Observation Hill, which provides breathtaking views of the plains below, is the focal point of the park. Amboseli is home to approximately 400 kinds of birds and over 50 species of mammals, not to mention the Maasai people who live all around the park and their cattle. Elephants, hippopotamuses, cheetahs, leopards, and more are visible.
Optimal Travel Period: June to October
Where to Stay: The Park has a number of lodges and campsites.
The best ways to get there are by car (4 hours) from Nairobi or by daily scheduled aircraft from Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
Tsavo National Parks
There are two sections of Tsavo National Park: Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park. The terrain is untamed and the Tsavo parks are very large. Though less developed than Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East is easier to get to. At Tsavo West, an underwater glass tank provides a unique viewpoint for witnessing elephants bathing among hippos and crocodiles. Indeed, the “Big Five” reside here, but you have to search hard to find them. May to October is the best time to visit.
Where to Stay: There are various lodges in Tsavo West; Voi Wildlife Lodge is located in Tsavo East. There are private campsites in both parks.
Getting there: via charter flight; by vehicle from Mombasa (3–4 hours) or Nairobi (10 hours).
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
The main goals of the privately owned reserve Lewa are to safeguard black rhinos, Sitatunga, and the critically endangered Grevy’s zebra. Over 200 species of birds and 60 species of mammals can be found in the park, and game viewing can be done in a variety of ways, including on foot, in a traditional safari vehicle, or on the back of a camel. The best times to visit are January through April and June through October. There are a number of lodges within the park and on community land outside of it.
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is home to over 400 different species of birds and is one of Kenya’s most successful black rhino sanctuaries. It also experiences its own annual migration of wildebeest. All of this is conveniently close to Nairobi, Kenya’s thriving capital city. Walking pathways give tourists an opportunity to see the African bush in its most natural state.
Travel is best done year-round (July and August are when migration occurs).
Where to Stay in Nairobi: Anywhere
How to Travel There: It is fewer than five kilometres from the city centre via vehicle.
Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs National Reserves
Three Reserves—Samburu, Shaba, and Buffalo Springs—are adjacent to one another in North Central Kenya’s arid terrain. The Ewaso Ngiro River, which flows through the Reserves, is the gathering place for animals. Meeting the Samburu people is a highlight of any trip, aside from the animals (elephants, giraffes, leopards, zebras, and blue-legged ostriches). Most of the lodges offer camel safaris; while you’re there, check out the Laikipia Plateau. Travelling is best from June to October.
Where to Stay: Every park has a number of lodges.
Travelling there: You can take a full day’s drive or daily flights from Nairobi.
Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park
Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve is a marine reserve located in Southern Kenya’s shallow Indian Ocean coastal waters. You can enjoy snorkelling or diving among the vibrant coral reefs of the underwater park by sailing there on traditional dhows. It’s common to see parrotfish, angelfish, turtles, manta rays, and dolphins.
Optimal Travel Period: October to January
Where to Stay: The marine reserve has a number of bandas and guesthouses.
Arrival: catch a 1.5-hour journey from Mombasa and catch a Dhow from there
