National Parks in Kenya		Park Details
	Aberdare National Park	More Info...
	Amboseli National Park	More Info...
	Arabuko Sokoke National Park.	More Info...
	Bisanadi National Park	More Info...
	Hells Gate National Park	More Info...
	Kakamega Forest.	More Info...
	Masai Mara Game Reserve.	More Info...
	Meru National Park	More Info...
	Mount Elgon National Park	More Info...
	Mount Kenya National Park	More Info...
	Nairobi National Park	More Info...
	Samburu National Reserve	More Info...
	Shaba National Park	More Info...
	Shimba Hills National Park	More Info...
	Tsavo East National Park	More Info...
	Tsavo West National Park	More Info...
	Marine Parks in Kenya	More Info...

Amboseli National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Amboseli lies immediately North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. Amboseli was established as a reserve in 1968 and gazetted as a National Park in 1974. The Park covers 392 km2, and forms part of the much larger 3,000 Km2 Amboseli ecosystem. Large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. It is surrounded by 6 communally owned group ranches. The National Park embodies 5 main wildlife habitats (open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland) and covers part of a pleistocene lake basin, now dry. Within this basin is a temporary lake, Lake Amboseli, that floods during years of heavy rainfall. Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenic beauty - the landscape is dominated by MT Kilimanjaro.

Location:
On the border with Tanzania, Kajiado District, South Kenya; Covers 392km2

Climate:
The climate is mainly hot and dry. Amboseli is in the rain shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The maximum average temperature of the warmest month is 33°C during the day, while that of the coldest is 27-28°C. An annual rainfall of 300mm per annum is distributed in two seasons: April/May and November/December. Recurrent droughts and potential evaporation of 2200mm per annum typifies the region (KWS, 1991).

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
The main road into the Park is from Nairobi are via Namanga (240 km) on the Nairobi - Arusha Road, via Meshanani Gate. The road is tarmac upto Namanga but is badly corrugated and potholed in places from Namanga to Meshanani Gate (75km). The other road and via Emali (228 km) on the Nairobi - Mombasa Road. The road is tarmac up to Emali and murram from Emali to Remito Gate (64 km) Access from Mombasa is mainly through Tsavo West via Kimana (Olkelunyiet) Gate.

Airstrips:
The park has a single airstrip for light aircraft at Empusel gate. Other airstrips exist at Kilimanjaro Buffalo lodge and Namanga town.

Park Roads:
Viewing roads network covers the park adequately. Many of the park viewing roads are not usable during the rains and because of the loose ashy nature of volcanic soil, the roads become very dusty during the dry season.

Park Gates
The park has five gates, Kelunyiet, lremito, Ilmeshanan; Kitirua and Airstrip.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

• Mt. Kilimanjaro
• Mt. Meru
• Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the whole park especially the swamps and elephants,
• Contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyle

FACILITIES

Lodges:
Oltukai Lodge; Amboseli Serena Lodge; Kimana Lodge; Tortilis Tented Lodge.

Campsites:
Nairushari Special; Olgulului Public Campsite; Abercrombie & Kent Tented Camp; Ker & Downy Tented Camp; Chyulu Tented Camp; Kimbla Campsite; Cottar's Tented Camp; Leopard Tented Camp; Tortilis Tented Camp.

ACTIVITIES

Wildlife viewing

WILDLIFE

Reptiles
Python, Turtles, Tortoise, Black Mamba, Cobra.

Insects/arthropods
Scorpions, Butterflies, Dragon flies, May flies, Grasshopper.

Major Animals
Aardwolf; Ant Bear; Baboon, Yellow; Bat, Angola Free-tailed; Bat, Banana; Bat, Epauletted Fruit; Bat, False Vampire; Bat, Hollow-faced; Bat, Lander's Horseshoe; Bat, Lesser Leaf-nosed; Bat, Rousette Fruit; Bat, White-bellied Free-tailed; Bat, Yellow-bellied; Bat, Yellow-winged; Buffalo, African; BushBaby; Bushbuck; Caracal; Cat, African Wild; Cheetah; Civet, African; Dik-dik, Kirk's; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Red; Eland; Elephant, African; Fox, Bat-eared; Gazelle, Grant's; Gazelle, Thomson's; Genet, Large-spotted; Genet, Small-spotted; Gerenuk; Giraffe, Masai; Gnu, White-bearded; Hare, African; Hare, Spring; Hartebeest, Coke's; Hedgehog, East African; Hippopotamus; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyaena, Striped; Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Impala; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal, Golden; Jackal, Side-striped; Klipspringer; Kudu, Lesser; Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Banded; Mongoose, Dwarf; Mongoose, Large Grey; Mongoose, Marsh; Mongoose, Slender; Mongoose, White-tailed; Monkey, Black-faced Vervet; Monkey, Sykes; Oryx, Fringe-eared; Porcupine, Crested; Ratel; Reedbuck, Bohor; Rhinoceros, Black; Serval; Shrew, Giant White-toothed; Shrew, Short-snouted ; Shrew, Spectacled Elephant; Squirrel, Bush; Squirrel, Striped Ground; Squirrel, Unstriped Ground; Steinbok; Warthog; Waterbuck, Common; Zebra, Common.

Major Birds
Apalis, Black-breasted; Apalis, Red-faced; Avocet; Babbler, Black-lored; Babbler, Northern Pied; Barbet, Brown-throated; Barbet, D'Arnaud's; Barbet, Red and Yellow; Barbet, Red-fronted; Barbet, Spotted-flanked; Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked; Bee-eater, European; Bee-eater, Little; Bee-eater, Madagascar; Bee-eater, White-throated; Bishop, Yellow; Bishop, Yellow-crowned; Bittern, Dwarf; Bittern, Little; Bonbon, Slate-coloured; Bonbon, Tropical; Brownbul, Northern; Brubru, Northern; Bulbul, Yellow-vented; Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted; Bunting, Golden-breasted; Bush Shrike, Grey-headed; Bush Shrike; Bustard, Black-bellied; Bustard, Buff-crested; Bustard, Hartlaub's; Bustard, Jackson's; Bustard, Kori; Bustard, White-bellied; Buzzard, Augur; Buzzard, Grasshopper; Buzzard, Honey; Buzzard, Lizard; Buzzard, Steppe; Camaroptera, Grey-backed; Canary, Brimstone; Canary, Kenya Grosbeak; Canary, White-bellied; Canary, Yellow-fronted; Chat, Anteater; Chat, Cliff; Chatterer, Rufous; Cisticola, Pectoral-patch; Cisticola, Rattling; Cisticola, Winding; Coot, Red-knobbed; Cordonbleu, Blue-capped; Cordonbleu, Red-cheeked; Coucal, Blue-headed; Coucal, White-browed; Courser, Heuglin's; Courser, Temminck's; Courser, Two-banded; Crake, Black; Crane, Crowned; Crombee; Crombee, Red-faced; Crow, Pied; Cuckoo; Cuckoo, Black; Cuckoo, Black and White; Cuckoo, Didric; Cuckoo, Emerald; Cuckoo, Great-spotted; Cuckoo, Klaas'; Cuckoo, Levaillant's; Cuckoo, Red-chested; Curlew, Spotted Stone....

COMMON VEGETATION

The national park embodies several types of semi-arid vegetation and swampland/marshland. In general there is a gradient of vegetation from the bare lake bed, through grassland to Acacia woodland following a North -North West to South - South East pattern sandwiching the permanent swamps.

Water flowing underground from Mt. Kilimanjaro upwells in a series of lush swamps and marshland which support sedges of Cyprus spp., including Cyprus papyrus and that provide dry season water and forage for wildlife.

These swamps are flanked by tracts of acacia woodland with yellow-barked acacia, Acacia xanthophloea and Acacia tortilis. Acacia tortilis also occurs in the southern part of the park along on drainage lines.

The basin is surrounded by acacia/commiphora bushland while the level floor of open plains with saline/alkaline soils supports thickets of Salvadora persica and Suaeda monoica. Grasses include needlegrass Aristida, fingergrass Digitaria, dropseed Sporobolus sp., stargrass Cynodon dactylon, and Phragmites mauritianus. Balanites aegyptiaca is important as a source of edible fruits, while the pods of Acacia tortilis are eaten by livestock.

There has been a tremendous loss of woody vegetation that has been attributed to various factors including the rise of water table, increase in salinity, off road driving by tour vehicles and destruction of vegetation by elephants.

Arabuko Sokoke National Park.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Arabuko Sokoke was proclaimed a Crown Forest and gazetted in 1943. Part of the forest was gazetted as a strict nature reserve in the late 1960s. The reserve lies a few kilometers inland, between the towns of Kilifi and Malindi, 110 km north of Mombasa. It is the largest existing fragment of the tropical forests that covered much of the East African coast and is an important habitat for endemic/endangered birds, insects and mammal species.

Location:
Coastal Strip, Kilifi District, covering 6 km2.

Climate:
Average annual rainfall ranges from 900mm in the dry and scrubby northwest to 1100mm in the east.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
Access through Mombasa, Tarmac road - 75 km.
Access through Malindi

Airstrips:
Malindi and Mombasa Airports.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Endemic Bird species, Butterflies, Remnant coastal forest.

FACILITIES (Hotels Near the Park)

Turtle Bay Beach Club; Temple Point Village; Ocean Sports; Hemingways; Blue Bay Village; Barracuda Inn; Mrs Simpsons.

ACTIVITIES

Bird Watching; Walking Trails.

WILDLIFE

Reptiles/Fishes:
Sand Lizard, Day Geulo, Twig Snake, Boomslang, Green Mamba, Rock Python, Forest Cobra, Sand Snake.

Insects/Arthropods:
Six species of butterflies, Crickets, Grasshoppers, Beetles Strychnos.

Major Birds:
Akalat, East Coast; Babbler, Scaly; Barbet, Green; Bush Shrike, Four-coloured; Eagle, Southern Banded Harrier; Flycatcher, Little Yellow; Nicator; Pipit, Sokoke; Pitta, African; Shrike, Chestnut-fronted; Shrike, Retz's Red-billed; Shrike, Zanzibar Puff-back; Spinetail, Boehm's; Spinetail, Mottled-throated; Sunbird, Amani; Sunbird, Plain-backed; Thrush, Spotted Ground; Tinkerbird, Green; Turaco, Fischer's; Weaver, Clarke's; Woodpecker, Golden-tailed.

COMMON VEGETATION

The Arabuko Sokoke Forest is considered to be one of the most important sites for nature conservation in East Africa. It is the last large remnant of lowland coastal tropical forests with 11 threatened woody plants. The reserve is comprised of several distinct forest types.

Mixed forest in the east, on grey sands. This habitat is relatively dense with a diversity of tree species. Characteristic trees include Combretum schumannii, Drypetes reticulata, Afzelia quanzensis, Dialium oreintale, Humenaea verrucosa and Manilkara sansibarensis.

Brachystegia woodland runs in a strip through the approximate center of the forest on white, very infertile soil. This relatively open habitat is dominated by Brachystegia spiciformis.

In the south-west and north-east, on red magarini sands is cynometra forest and thicket, dominated by Cynometra webberi with Manilkara sulcata, oldfieldia somalensis and Brachylaena huillensis with mature trees approaching 15m height and a dense understorey. There are two areas of relatively tall cynometra forest with a canoppy height of up to 20m.

The dry north western part of the reserve is covered by a low dense and often almost impenetrable cynometra thicket with vegetation mainly comprising a thick shrub and sapling tangle from 3m to 6m tall with emergent trees (10m) of Brachylaena hutchinsii (threatened in Kenya); and white soil Cynometra-Afzelia forest, which borders the Cynometra thicket

Bisanadi National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
It acts as a wildlife dispersal area for Meru national park. It is a part of the Meru, Kora, Mwingi and Bisanadi conservation area.

Location:
Adjacent to north-east boundary of Meru, Isiolo district, covering an area of 606km2.

Climate:
The climate is hot and dry.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads
The Reserve is readily accessible Via Meru.

Park Roads
One road connecting Meru and Bisanadi.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Wilderness.

WILDLIFE

Reptiles
Python, Puff Adder, Cobra, Tortoise, Crocodile, Common carp, Catfish.

Insects/arthropods
Grasshopper, Bee, Beetle.

Major Animals
Aardvark; Ant Bear; Baboon, Olive; Buffalo, African; BushBaby; Bushbuck; Caracal; Cat, African Wild; Cheetah; Civet, African; Dik-dik, Kirk's; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Blue; Duiker, Bush; Eland; Elephant, African; Galago, Greater; Gazelle, Grant's; Genet, Common; Genet, Large-spotted; Genet, Small-spotted; Gerenuk; Giraffe, Reticulated; Hare, African; Hare, Spring; Hartebeest, Coke's; Hedgehog, East African; Hippopotamus; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyaena, Striped; Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Impala; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal, Side-striped; Kudu, Lesser; Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Banded; Mongoose, Dwarf; Mongoose, Large Grey; Mongoose, Marsh; Monkey, Black-faced Vervet; Monkey, Patas; Monkey, Sykes; Oribi; Oryx, Beisa; Otter, Clawless; Pangolin, Lesser Ground; Pig, Forest Bush; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Cane; Rat, Giant; Rat, Naked Mole; Ratel; Reedbuck, Bohor; Rhinoceros, Black; Rhinoceros, Square-lipped; Serval; Shrew, Giant White-toothed; Shrew, Spectacled Elephant; Squirrel, Bush; Squirrel, East African Red; Squirrel, Striped Ground; Squirrel, Unstriped Ground; Steinbok; Suni, Small-spotted; Warthog; Waterbuck, Common; Zebra, Common; Zebra, Grevy's.

COMMON VEGETATION

The vegetation is mainly thorn bushland and thicket with Combretum prevailing in the north and Commiphora in the south. To the west the Combretum merges into Terminalia wooded grasslands. The red-flowered parasitic Loranthus grows on the branches of Acacia reficiens along the rivers. Dense riverine forests of doum palm Hyphaene spp. and raffia palm Raphia spp. occur along the water courses. Some riverine swamps have sedges Cyperus sp., and grasses Echinochloa haplacelada and Pennisetum mezianum. On the plains Sehima nervosa, Chloris roxburghiana and other species of Pennisetum are the dominant grasses

 

Hells Gate National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Hell's Gate National Park covers an area of 68.25 km2 and is situated in the environs of Lake Naivasha about 90 km from Nairobi. The park is situated 14 km after the turnoff from the old Nairobi-Naivasha highway. It is characterised by diverse topography and geological scenery. It is an important home of the lammergeyer.

Location:
Hell's Gate or Njorowa Gorge is situated in Nakuru District, Rift Valley Province, covering an Area of 68 km2.

Climate:
Warm and dry.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
The park is accessible via tarmac road from Nairobi. (90 kms) via Naivasha Town on the Lake Road South at a Junction 5 km south of Naivasha.

Park Roads:
Except for the Western side, Hell's Gate National Park has an adequate network of primary roads and viewing circuits.

Park Gates:
Hell's Gate has two gates that are used by visitors i.e. the main Elsa Gate and the Olkaria Gate. The latter also serves the Olkaria Geothermal Station which is located inside the National Park.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Game viewing, Raptor nesting in cliffs, Spectacular gorge walk, hot springs, scenic landscape, the Geothermal Station, Masai culture.

FACILITIES

Campsites:
Oldubai Campsite, Naiburuta, Endacha.

Picnic Sites:
Trails: Gorge, Fisher's Tower, Obsidian Cave.

ACTIVITIES

Hiking, camping, rock climbing, biking, bird watching and wildlife viewing.

WILDLIFE

Reptiles:
Python, Cobra.

Insects/arthropods:
Grasshoppers, Butterflies, Bees, Termites.

Major Animals:
Baboon Olive; badger, honey; Buffalo, African; Bushbuck; Caracal; Cat, African Wild; Cheetah; Civet, African; Dik-dik, Kirk's; Dog, Hunting; Duiker, Bush; Eland; Fox, Bat-eared; Gazelle, Grant's; Gazelle, Thomson's; Genet, Large-spotted; Genet, Small-spotted; Giraffe, Masai; Giraffe, Reticulated; Hare, African; Hare, Spring; Hartebeest, Coke's; Hippopotamus; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyrax, Rock; Impala; Jackal, Black-backed; Klipspringer; Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Marsh; Mongoose, White-tailed; Monkey, Black faced Vervet; Otter, Clawless; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, African Mole; Reedbuck, Bohor; Reedbuck, Chanler's; Serval; Squirrel, Bush; Squirrel, Striped Ground; Steinbok; Warthog; Waterbuck, Defassa; Zebra, Common.

Major Birds:
Avocet; Babbler, Black-lored; Barbet, Red-fronted; Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked; Bee-eater, European; Bee-eater, Little; Bee-eater, Madagascar; Bee-eater, White-fronted; Bee-eater, White-throated; Bishop, Yellow; Bittern, Dwarf; Bittern, Little; Bulbul, Yellow-vented; Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted; Bunting, Golden-breasted; Buzzard, Augur; Buzzard, Steppe; Canary, Brixnstone; Canary, Yellow-rumped; Chat, Anteater; Cisticola, Pectoral-patch; Cisticola, Rattling; Cisticola, Winding; Coot, Red-knobbed; Cordonbleu, Red-cheeked; Cormorant, Long-tailed; Cormorant, White-necked; Coucal, Blue-headed; Coucal, White-browed; Courser, Temminck's; Crake, Black; Crane, Crowned; Crombec, Red-faced; Cuckoo, African; Cuckoo, Black; Cuckoo, Didric; Cuckoo, Emerald; Cuckoo, European; Cuckoo, Klaas'; Cuckoo, Red-chested....

COMMON VEGETATION

Mainly grasslands and shrublands with the latter being dominated by Leleshwa and several species of acacia. There are also a wide variety of succulents in the area.

 

Kakamega Forest.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Kakamega Forest Reserve covers an area of about 240 km2 and was established to protect the only mid altitude tropical rainforest in Kenya, a remnant and eastern limit of rainforests of Zaire and West Africa. Its West African affinities are unique in Kenya and the forest contains many species found nowhere else in the country.

The forest lies in the Lake Victoria catchment, about 40km north of Kisumu and just east of the Nandi Escarpment that forms the edge of the central highlands. It was first gazetted as a trust forest in 1933 and two small Nature Reserves, Yala and Isecheno were established within the forest reserve in 1967. In 1986 nearly 4,000ha of the northern portion of the forest together with the adjacent Kisere Forest were gazetted as Kakamega Forest National Reserve.

The forest is an important water catchment area with the Isiukhu and Yala rivers flowing through it. The terrain is undulating with often steep sided river valleys. The soils are well-drained, deep, heavily leached clay loams and clays of generally low fertility.

Location:

Kakamega district in Western Kenya and covers an area of 45km2.

Climate:
Annual rainfall over 2,000mm.Most of this rain falls between April and November with a short dry season from December to March. Rain falls mostly in the afternoons or early evenings and is often accompanied by heavy thunderstorms. Average temperatures remain similar between 15°C and 28°C.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
The reserve located 418 km from Nairobi is well served by several tarmac roads that link it with all major urban centres in the country. The park can either be accessed from Kakamgega town on the Kisumu - Kitale road or from Tindinya on the Kisumu - Eldoret road.

Airstrips:
Kakamega airstrip located outside the reserve and 4 km outside Kakamega town can offer services to the reserve.

Park Roads:
The reserve has a murram road network that serves KWS and Forestry Headquarters together with the few visitor facilities.

Park Gates:
The reserve has no gates and KWS does not charge entrance fee.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Kenya's only tropical rain forest with unique endemic and endangered species of mammals, birds, Butterflies, Snakes.

Activities:
Bird watching, Nature trails, Camping, Night game walks

FACILITIES

Bandas:

Udo Bandas, Isechero Guest House.

Campsites:
Rondo Retreat, Udo Campsite, Isecheno Campsite.

Picnic Sites:
Isiukhu Falls, Bunyangu Hill and Bunyangu Trail.

WILDLIFE

Reptiles:
Forest Cobra, Black Lipped Cobra, Jamesons Mamba, Rhinoceros-Horned Viper, Nile Monitor, Gabon Viper.

Insects/arthropods:
Goliath Beetle, Stick Insects, Fire flies, Leaf insect, Butterflies.

Major Animals:
Aardvark; Baboon, Olive; Bushbuck; Civet, African; Civet, African Palm; Colobus, Black and White; Duiker, Blue; Duiker, Common; Duiker, Red; Genet, Large-spotted; Hare, African; Hedgehog, East African; Hippopotamus; Hyaena, Spotted; Jackal, Side-striped; Leopard; Mongoose, Slender; Monkey, Black faced Vervet; Monkey, Blue; Monkey, de Brazza's; Monkey, Red tailed; Otter, Clawless; Pangolin, Tree; Pig, Forest Bush; Porcupine, Bush tailed; Porcupine, Crested; Potto; Rat, Giant; Rat, Mole; Shrew, Giant Water; Squirrel, Flying; Squirrel, Giant Forest; Squirrel, Red Legged Sun; Squirrel, Striped Ground.

Major Birds:
Babbler, African Hill; Barbet, Double-toothed; Barbet, Grey-throated; Barbet, Hairy-breasted; Barbet, Speckled; Barbet, Yellow-billed; Barbet, Yellow-spotted; Bee-eater, Blue-headed; Bee-eater, European; Bluebill, Red-headed; Boubou, Tropical; Bristle-bill; Broadbill, African; Bush Shrike, Doherty's; Bush Shrike, Grey-green; Buzzard, Mountain; Camaroptera, Grey-backed; Camaroptera, Olive-green; Chat, Blue-shouldered Robin; Chiffchaff; Cisticola, Chubb's; Coucal, Green; Crake, Buff-spotted Pygmy; Crake, White-spotted Pygmy; Crake, White-spotted Pygmy; Cuckoo, Emerald; Cuckoo, Klaas'; Cuckoo, Red-chested....

COMMON VEGETATION

Kakamega Forest Reserve was established to protect the only mid altitude tropical rainforest in Kenya, a remnant and eastern limit of the Congo-West African equatorial rainforest. The fairly dense rainforest is interspersed with grassy glades, where the soil is too shallow to support forest trees. To the east, north, west and south-west is wet Combretum woodland, a secondary succession following the clearing of rainforest.

The vegetation has 380 species of plants spread in swarnps, riverine forests, high forest, glades and secondary forest at the periphery of the reserve. There are few endemics, the only woody endemic being the Liana tiliacora kenyensis, but the forest contains many species found nowhere else in Kenya including 13 out of a total of 62 recorded species of Pteridophyte. Genera include Renealmia, Pisonia, Pollia, and Voacanga.

Kakamega has a rich diversity of trees with at least 125 species of trees identified. Common genera include croton, celtis, trema, antaris, bequaertiodendron and zanthoxylum. The forest also contains the major (giant) forest trees Aningueria altissima, Cordia millenii, Entandrophragma angolense, and Maesopsis eminii, with an average height of 30-40m and a maximum of 70m.

Other central-west African forest trees and shrubs only recorded from this reserve in Kenya include Bequaertiodendron oblanceolatum, Cassipourea ruwenzoriensis, Chrysophyllum albidum, Leea guineense, Monodora myristica, Uncaria africana, Uvariopsis congensis, Zanthoxylum leprieurii, and Zanthoxylum mildbraedii.

 

Marine Parks ( Kenya )

GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Marine parks and reserves, the white sandy beaches, historical monuments, contemporary culture and the warm climate give the Kenya Coast a unique tourist product. Almost 47% of Kenya's tourism occurs here. Nationally about 52% of the total hotel beds are at the coast, and 95% of the visitors to Kenya use the coast as a base for inland safaris.

The marine and coastal environments include Indian Ocean territorial waters and the immediate hinterland areas that border the ocean. Another feature of the coastline is the fringing coral reef which runs between 0.5 km and 2 km off-shore with occasional gaps at the mouths of rivers and the isolated areas facing the creeks. The shoreline is dominated in most areas by beaches, cliffs or mangrove forests. The coral-reef system and mangrove swamps serve the most important ecological role and the former is a major tourist attraction next to the sun, sea and sand.

MALINDI MARINE NATIONAL PARK
The Malindi Marine National Reserve encloses Watamu and Malindi Marine National Parks. The area also includes several coral islets, notably Whale island at the entrance to Mida Creek in the Watamu Marine National Park. The reserve is 213 km2 forming a complex of marine and tidal habitats on Kenyas North Coast. It extends 5 km into the sea and stretches 30 km along the coast from Malindi town to beyond the entrance to Mida creek. Habitats include intertidal rock, sand and mud; fringing reefs and coral gardens; beds of sea grass; coral cliffs, platforms and islets; sandy beaches and mangrove forests. Mida creek is a large, almost land locked expanse of saline water, mangrove forest and intertidal mud protected in the Watamu Marine Reserve. Its extensive forests are gazetted as forest reserves and the extreme western tip of Mida Creek is part of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve.

Malindi Marine Parks' unique historical features include Vasco da Gama pillar build slightly over 500 years ago.

Roads: 118 kms from Mombasa (Malindi Town)

Airstrips: Via Malindi Airport.

Facilities: KWS Bandas.

Activities: Snorkelling, diving.

Reptiles/fish: It is a key spawning ground for many fish species. Turtles, Parrot fish, Several species of coral fish

Insects/arthropods: Butterfly, Mosquito

Vegetation: Mida Creek has important mangrove forests with a high diversity of species including Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Avicennia marina and Sonneratia alba.

Coral reefs are among the richest, diverse and biologically productive ecosystems, with more organisms per square meter than any other type of ecosystem in the world. A total of 140 species of hard and soft corals have been recorded along the Kenya coast. These corals live in symbiosis with chlorophyll generating animals, which give corals their spectacular colours.

WATAMU MARINE NATIONAL PARK
Watamu National Park is part of a complex of marine and tidal habitats on Kenyas North coast stretching from Malindi town to beyond the entrance to Mida creek. It is enclosed by the Malindi Marine National Reserve which also encloses Malindi Marine National Park. Habitats include intertidal rock, sand and mud; fringing reefs and coral gardens; beds of sea grass; coral cliffs, platforms and islets; sandy beaches and Mida Creek mangrove forest. The park was designated as a Biosphere reserve in 1979.

Mida creek is a large, almost land locked expanse of saline water, mangrove and intertidal mud. Its extensive forests are gazetted as forest reserves and the extreme western tip of Mida Creek is part of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve.

Roads: Access is via tarmac road from Mombasa or Malindi.

Airstrips: Mombasa or Malindi Airports.

Reptiles/fish: Fish, Turtles.

Insects/arthropods: Crabs

Vegetation: Mida creek has important mangrove forests with a high diversity of species including Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Avicennia marina and Sonneratia alba.

MOMBASA MARINE NATIONAL PARK & RESERVE
The park is 10 km² while the reserve is 200 km². Both the park and reserve are the most highly utilised among marine protected areas . Their coastline is heavily developed with tourist facilities.

There are various agents who offer for hire boats to get into the Marine Park. There are quite a good number of companies offering water sports facilities. These firms are spread along the beach. The place is ideal for diving. Diving gears are easily available from water sports desks.

Mombasa itself is a mix of traditional and modern culture. The 17^th Century Fort Jesus, which was used as a Fort by the Portuguese against Sultan invasion after which they (Portuguese) were eventually evicted after a two year siege, is within the Island which is a few minutes drive from the marine park. Mombasa Old Town is highly dominated by swahili culture especialy architecture.

Major Attractions: Beach, Coral gardens.

Insects/arthropods: Crabs, Corals, Shells, Sea urchins, Sea cucumbers, Sea Stars, Jelly fish.

Common Vegetation: Mangroves, Sea grasses, Sea weeds.

KIUNGA MARINE NATIONAL RESERVE
Kiunga Marine National Reserve incorporates a chain of about 50 calcareous offshore islands and coral reefs in the Lamu Archipelago, running for some 60km parallel to the coastline off the northern most coast of Kenya and adjacent to Dodori and Boni National Reserves on the mainland. Composed of old, eroded coral, the islands mainly lie inland around 2km offshore and inshore of the fringing reef. They vary in size from a few hundred sq m to 100ha or more. Their walls rise sheer from the surrounding seabed and are usually deeply undercut on the landward side. The larger islands and the more sheltered inner islands are covered with low, tangled thorny vegetation including grass, aloes and creepers. The small outer islands provide nest sites for migratory seabirds. The reserve conserves valuable coral reefs, sea grass meadows and extensive mangrove forests, with their attendant biodiversity and is also a refuge for sea turtles and dugongs.

Climate: The climate is hot and humid with rainfall around 500mm per year.

Roads: By boat from Lamu or by road from Lamu

Airstrips: One at Dodori N. Reserve

Major Attractions: Coral reefs, Sand dune, Kiwayu Island

Activities: Wind surfing, Snorkeling, Water skiing, Sunbathing, Diving

Reptiles/fish: Sea Turtles, Olive Ridley, Leatherback, Turtles, Reef fish

Insects/arthropods: Lobsters, Sea urchins, Sea star, Crabs, Mosquito

Common Vegetation: The islands consist of bare sharp edged spikes and ridges of coral on the seaward side with a little straggling vegetation such as Saliconria and the succulent sanseveria.

On the landward side there is more vegetation including stunted thorny bushes of Commiphora and Salvadora persica. The coast itself has sandy beaches, some with mangrove swamps and a great variation of marine flora.

Microscopic marine plants are absent from the upper part of the intertidal zone except for areas of Bostrychia bindelia. In the intertidal sand and mud, the finer sediments below water, which are subject to less wave action, have become fixed by growth of marine angiosperms and there are extensive areas of dugong grass (green algae) and Zostera spp.

Dwarf shrub thickets of salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) typical of the Indo-Pacific beach littoral zone are common on the mainland, and species include Ipomoea pescaprae, Cyperus maritimus, Suaeda, and Tephrosia. Mangrove swamps dominated by Rhizophora mucronata occur in the sheltered tidal waters between Mwanzi and Mkokoni.

KISITE MARINE PARK & MPUNGUTI RESERVE
Kisite and Mpunguti Marine Parks are located on the south coast off Shimoni and south of Wasini Island in Kwale District on the south Kenyan coast near the Tanzanian border. Kisite park covers 11km2 while Mpunguti reserve covers 28 Km2. The complex covers a marine area with four small islands surrounded by coral-reef. Kisite island is a small waterless coral island, 8 km offshore in the Marine Park. Coral platforms around the raised central portion are exposed at low tide. The three other coral islets in the park (Mpunguti ya Juu, Mpunguti ya Chini and Liwe la Jahazi) lie closer to the larger Wasini Island, are scrub covered and support no significant wildlife or birds. The surrounding waters have well developed coral gardens and a large variety of fish.

Roads: 40 kms from Mombasa via Diani & Kwale

Major Attractions: Coral Gardens

Activities: Snorkelling, Diving, Bird watching

Common Vegetation: Kisite is flat and treeless, covered in low grass and herbs while Mpunguti Islands have dense coastal equatorial forest. Sea grasses Cymodocea serrulata and Syringodium isoetifolium cover a large area of the sub-littoral zone of the reef. Marine algae include Padina commersonii, Dictyota bartayresiana, Bostrychia binderi, Ulva lactuca, Dictyosphaora sp., Udotea indica, and Halimeda opuntia

 

Meru National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Meru is a savanna National Park, 35km east of Meru town in the north eastern lowlands below the Nyambeni hills. Meru is part of a complex of protected areas along the Tana river that includes the adjacent Bisanadi and Mwingi National Reserves (to the east and south respectively), Kora national park and Rahole national reserve. The wetter North Western sector is hilly, with rich volcanic soils. The land flattens towards the East, where grey alluvial volcanic soils appear.

The area is crossed by numerous permanent streams, draining from the Nyambenes and flowing in parallel between tounges of lava, south eastwards towards the Tana River. As well as the many streams that cross it, the park is bounded by three large rivers: the Tana to the South, the Ura to the South West and the Rojeweru to the East. There are several prominent inselbergs of basement rock, notably Mughwango and Leopard rock. A section of the park has been designated as a wilderness area in which are no roads. The park is part of the domain made famous by the writings of Joy Adamson.

Location:
East-north-east of Mount Kenya in Meru District of Eastern Province, coverig 870km2.

Climate

Rainfall is 635-762mm in the west and 305-356mm in the east.

HOW TO REACH THERE

Roads:
Access from Nairobi (348 kms) is via Nyeri-Nanyuki-Meru or via Embu all weather roads. Access into the park from Maua to Murera Gate (35 km) and 348 km from Nairobi. The other access is via Embu to Ura Gate (120 km), 290 km from Nairobi.

Airstrips:
Main airstrip at Kina, Mulika airstrip next to Meru Mulika Lodge.

Park Roads:
The road network in the park has recently been upgraded. However due to the nature of soil, some roads are easily destroyed by vehicles during the rains.

Park Gates:
Murera Gate, Ura Gate.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

• Former home of Joy and George Adamson and Elsa the lioness,
• Views of Mt Kenya,
• Rivers and riverine habitats,
• Tana river and
• Adamson's Falls.

FACILITIES

Special Campsites:- (no facilities, prior booking with Kshs. 5000 needed).
Kampi Baridi; Kitanga; Makutano; Rojoweru; Mugunga; Ken Mare and Kanjoo.

Public campsite:- (with toilets and showers).
Bwatherongi.

ACTIVITIES

Game viewing.

WILDLIFE

Reptiles:
Python, Puff Adder, Cobra.

Insects/arthropods:
Scorpion, Dragon fly, Butterfly, Grasshopper.

Major Animals:
Aardwolf; Ant Bear; Baboon, Olive; Bat, Angola Free-tailed; Bat, Banana; Bat, Epauletted Fruit; Bat, False Vampire; Bat, Flat-headed Free-tailed; Bat, Hollow-faced; Bat, Lander's Horseshoe; Bat, Lesser Leaf-nosed; Bat, Pale-bellied Fruit; Bat, Rousette Fruit; Bat, White-bellied Free-tailed; Bat, Yellow-bellied; Bat, Yellow-winged; Buffalo, African; BushBaby; Bushbuck; Caracal; Cat, African Wild; Cheetah; Civet, African; Dik-dik, Kirk's; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Blue; Duiker, Bush; Eland; Elephant, African; Galago, Greater; Gazelle, Grant's; Genet, Common; Genet, Large-spotted; Genet, Small-spotted; Gerenuk; Giraffe, Reticulated; Hare, African; Hare, Spring; Hartebeest, Coke's; Hedgehog, East African; Hippopotamus; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyaena, Striped; Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Impala; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal, Side-striped; Kudu, Lesser; Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Banded; Mongoose, Dwarf; Mongoose, Large Grey; Mongoose, Marsh; Monkey, Black-faced Vervet; Monkey, Patas; Monkey, Sykes; Oribi; Oryx, Beisa; Otter, Clawless; Pangolin, Lesser Ground; Pig, Forest Bush; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Cane; Rat, Giant; Rat, Naked Mole; Ratel; Reedbuck, Bohor; Rhinoceros, Black; Rhinoceros, Square-lipped; Serval; Shrew, Giant White-toothed; Shrew, Spectacled Elephant; Squirrel, Bush; Squirrel, East African Red; Squirrel, Striped Ground; Squirrel, Unstriped Ground; Steinbok; Suni, Small-spotted; Warthog; Waterbuck, Common; Zebra, Common; Zebra, Grevy's.

Major Birds:
Duck, African Black; Eagle, African Fish; Eagle, African Hawk; Eagle, Bateleur; Eagle, Black-chested Harrier; Eagle, Brown Harrier; Eagle, Long-crested; Eagle, Martial; Eagle, Steppe; Eagle, Tawny; Eagle, Wahlberg's; Egret; Egret, Great White; Eremonela, Yellow-bellied; Falcon, Pygmy; Falcon, Red-necked; Finch, African Fire; Finch, Jameson's Fire; Finch, Red-billed Fire; Finfoot, African; Fiscal, Long-tailed; Fiscal, Taita; Flycatcher, Ashy.........

COMMON VEGETATION

Most of the park is covered by bush, thornbush and wooded grassland of varying densities with Combretum prevailing in the north and Commiphora in the south. In the extreme north there is a small remnant outliner of rain forest, the Ngaia forest.

The vegetation on the ridges is Combretum wooded grassland, dominated by Combretum apiculatum. This grades into acacia wooded grassland to the east with Acacia tortilis and Acacia senegal on the rocky ridges, in riverine thickets and dotted over open country. To the west the Combretum merges into Terminalia wooded grasslands.

On the plains Sehima nervosa, Chloris gayana, Chloris roxburghiana, and other species of Pennisetum are the dominant grasses.

Dense riverine forests of doum and raffia palms Hyphaene and Raphia spp. grow along the watercourses and in the swamps near the rivers. Along the Tana river is found the Tana river poplar, Populus ilicifolia. Other riverine trees include Phoenix reclinata, Ficus sycomorus, Newtonia hildebrandtii, Acacia elatior and Acacia robusta. The red-flowered Parasitic Loranthus grows on the branches of Acacia reficiens trees along the rivers.

There are numerous riverine swamps with sedges Cyprus sp. and grasses Echinochloa haplacelada and Pennisetum mezianum

 

Mount Elgon National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Mt. Elgon is Kenya's second highest mountain. It lies 140km North East of Lake Victoria and is bisected by the Kenya-Uganda border. It is an ancient eroded volcano with a huge caldera and, on its summit, the spectacular flat topped basalt column known as Koitobos. Another unique feature of the mountain is the lava tube caves, some over 60m wide and frequented by elephants (and other animals) digging for salts. The mountain soils are red laterite. Mt Elgon is an important water catchment for the Nzoia river which flows into Lake Victoria and for the Turkwel river which flows into Lake Turkana.

Mt Elgon National Park was gazetted in 1968 and covers a narrow transect up the North Eastern slopes of the mountain, from lower montane forest to the caldera edge. The remaining forest and moorland is part of the Mt Elgon Forest Reserve. The Ugandan side of the mountain is protected within Uganda's Mt Elgon National Park.

Location:
On the western border of Kenya with Uganda, in Trans-nzoia District of Rift Valley Province. It covers an area of 169km2.

Climate:
The climate is moist to moderate dry. Annual rainfall is over 1,270mm.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
Mt. Elgon is located 470 kms from Nairobi. Access is via tarmac road to Kitale and then to the Chorlim Gate. Two routes to the gate can be used, either via Endebess or take the tarmac road 11km past Kitale and turn left onto a murrum road leading to the gate.

Airstrips:
At Park Headquarters.

Park Roads:
Adequate road network.

Park Gates:
There are four park gates i.e. Chorlim main gate, Kassawai, Kiptogot and Kimothon.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Together with the fauna and flora, the park is endowed with variety and breathtaking scenery of cliffs, caves, waterfalls, gorges, mesas, calderas, hot springs, and the mountain peaks.

The most popular areas are the four explorable, vast caves where frequent night visitors such as elephants and buffaloes come to lick the natural salt found on the cave walls. Kitum cave, with overhanging crystalline walls, enters 200 m into the side of Mt. Elgon.

The breathtaking natural beauty of the park can be best appreciated from the Endebess Bluff where one gets a panoramic view of the areas' escarpments, gorges, mesas, and rivers.

The highest peak of Mt. Elgon on the Kenya side, Koitoboss, measures 13,852 ft (4,155 m), and is easily reached by hikers in about two hours from the road's end.

FACILITIES

Campsites:
Public: Rongai Campsite; Nyati Campsite; Chorlim Campsite.
Special: Salt lick Campsite.

Lodges:
Mt. Elgon Lodge, 28 beds. Situated 0.5 km. outside the park gate.

Picnic Sites:
There is one picnic site at the Elephant platform with no facilities.

Nature Trails:
The park has three short nature trails to Kiptum cave, Makingeny cave and the Elephant Bluff.

ACTIVITIES

• Vehicle circuits leading to animal viewing areas, the caves and Koitoboss peak.
• Self-guided walking trails (Ask for the Kitum Cave guide book at the gate)
• Hiking to Endebess Bluff and Koitoboss Peak
• Primate and bird watching
• Cave explorations
• Camping Photography

WILDLIFE

Reptiles/fish
Python, Green Mamba, Lizard.

Insects/arthropods
Butterflies, Beetles, Bees

Major Animals:
Baboon, Olive; Buffalo, African; Bushbuck; Cat, African Wild; Cat, Golden; Civet, African; Civet, African Palm; Colobus, Black and White; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Black-fronted; Duiker, Black-fronted; Elephant, African; Genet, Large-spotted; Hog, Giant Forest; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Leopard; Mole, Golden; Monkey, de Brazza's; Monkey, Sykes; Pig, Forest Bush; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Crested; Rat, Mole; Rhinoceros, Black; Squirrel, Bush; Squirrel, Scaley-tailed Flying; Suni.

Major Birds
Akalat, Equatorial; Apalis, Black-collared; Apalis, Black-throated; Apalis, Chestnut-throated; Babbler, Abyssinian Hill; Barbet, Double-toothed; Barbet, Grey-throated; Barbet, Yellow-billed; Bee-eater, Cinnamon-chested; Bee-eater, European; Bishop, Yellow; Bluebill, Red-headed; Bonbon, Tropical; Bulbul, Yellow-vented; Bush Shrike, Doherty's; Buzzard, Augur; Buzzard, Honey; Buzzard, Lizard; Buzzard, Mountain; Buzzard, Steppe; Camaroptera, Grey-backed; Canary, Brimstone; Chat, Blue-shouldered Robin; Chat, Hill; Chestnutwing; Chiffchaff; Cisticola, Chubb's; Cisticola, Hunter's; Citril, African; Coucal, Blue-headed; Coucal, White-browed; Creeper, Spotted; Crimson-wing, Abyssinian; Crow, Pied; Cuckoo, Emerald; Cuckoo, Klaas'; Cuckoo, Red-chested; CuckooShrike, Grey; Dove, Blue-spotted Wood; Dove, Dusky Turtle; Dove, Red-eyed; Dove, Tambourine; Drongo; Duck, African Black; Eagle, Ayres' Hawk; Eagle, Bateleur; Eagle, Crowned; Eagle, Long-crested; Eagle, Tawny; Eagle, Verreaux's; Eagle, Wahlberg's; Falcon, Cuckoo; Finch, Grey-headed Negro; Finch, Oriole; Flycatcher, Black; Flycatcher, Blue; Flycatcher, Dusky; Flycatcher, Mountain Yellow; Flycatcher, Paradise; Flycatcher, Spotted; Flycatcher, White-eyed Slaty; Francolin, Montane; Francolin, Scaly; Goshawk, African; Greenbul, Olive-breasted; Greenbul, Yellow-whiskered; Hammerkop; Hawk, Harrier; Hobby, African; Hobby, European; Honeyguide, Greater; Honeyguide, Lesser; Honeyguide, Scaly-throated; Honeyguide, Thick-billed; Hoopoe, White-headed; Hornbill, Black; Hornbill, Crowned; Kestrel; Kestrel, Lesser; Kite, Black; Lammergeyer; Lanner; Malimbe, Red-headed; Mannikin, Black and White; Mannikin, Bronze; Martin, African Rock; Martin, African Sand; Mousebird, Speckled; Nightjar, Abyssinian.

COMMON VEGETATION

The vegetation varies with altitude. The mountain slopes are covered with olive Olea hochstetteri and Aningueria adolfi-friedericii wet montane forest. At higher altitudes, this changes to olive and Podocarpus gracilior forest, and then a Podocarpus and bamboo Arundinaria alpina zone. Higher still is a Hagenia abyssinica zone and then moorland with heaths Erica arborea and Philippia trimera, tussock grasses such as Agrostis gracilifolia and Festuca pilgeri, herbs such as Alchemilla, Helichrysum, Lobelia, and the giant groundsels Senecio barbatipes and Senecio elgonensis.

The botanical diversity of the park includes giant podocarpus, juniper and Elgon olive trees cedar Juniperus procera, pillarwood Cassipourea malosana, elder Sambucus adnata, pure stands of Podocarpus gracilior and many orchids.

Of the 400 species recorded for the area the following are of particular note as they only occur in high altitude broad-leaf montane forest: Ardisiandra wettsteinii, Carduus afromontanus, Echinops hoehnelii, Ranunculus keniensis (previously thought endemic to Mount Kenya), and Romulea keniensis

 

Mount Kenya National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mt. Kenya is an imposing extinct volcano dominating the landscape of the Kenyan Highlands, East of the Rift. Mt. Kenya lies about 140 km North, North-East of Nairobi with its Northern flanks across the Equator. The mountain has two main peaks - Batian (5200m) and Nelion (5188m). The mountains slopes are cloaked in forest, bamboo, scrub and moorland giving way on the high central peaks to rock, ice and snow. Mt. Kenya is an important water catchment area, supplying the Tana and Northern Ewaso Ngiro systems.

The park includes a variety of habitats ranging from higher forest, bamboo, alpine moorlands, glaciers, tarns and glacial morains.

The park, which was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997 ans is also a Biosphere Reserve, covers 715 km2, and includes the Peaks consisting of all the ground above 3200m with two small salients extending lower down to 2450m along the Sirimon and Naro Moru tracks. Surrounding the park is Mount Kenya National Reserve with an area of approximately 2095 km2.

Climate:
Climate, flora and fauna on Mt. Kenya varies with altitude.

HOW TO GET THERE

Access Roads:
175 kms from Nairobi, the park can be reached on Nanyuki-Isiolo road via Sirimon Track or Nyeri-Nanyuki road near Naro Moru. The park is also reachable via Chogoria on the Embu - Meru road, about 150km north of Nairobi.

Airstrips:
The closest commercial airstrip to the park is at Nanyuki.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Pristine wilderness, lakes, tarns, glaciers and peaks of great beauty, geological variety, forest, mineral springs, rare and endangered species of animals, High altitude adapted plains game, Unique montane and alpine vegetation with 11 species of endemic plants.

FACILITIES

Huts:
Liki North Hut; Minto's Hut; Austrian Hut; Mackinders Hut (managed by Naro Moru Lodge); Judmare Hut; Shiptons Hut (managed by Mountain Rock Hotel).

Bandas:
Sirimon Bandas, Warden's Cottage

Lodges:
Mountain Lodge (Serena Hotels); Rutundu Fishes Lodge (book through Lets Go Travel)

ACTIVITIES

Mountain climbing, game viewing.

WILDLIFE

Reptiles:
Alpine Meadow Lizard; lizards and skinks; montane viper.

Major animals:
Baboon, Olive; Bat, Banana; Bongo; Buffalo African; Bushbuck; Cat, African Wild; Civet, African; Colobus, Black and White; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Black-fronted; Duiker, Bush; Duiker, Red; Elephant, African; Genet, Large-spotted; Hare, African; Hog, Giant Forest; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal, Side-striped; Klipspringer; Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Slender; Monkey, Sykes; Otter, Clawless; Pig, Forest Bush; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Crested; Rat, Mt Kenya Mole; Reedbuck, Chanler's; Rhinoceros, Black; Serval; Shrew, Mole; Suni; Zebra, Common.

Major Birds:
Owl, Mackinder's Eagle; Owl, Cape Grass; Owl, African Wood; Owl, African Marsh; Owl, Abyssinian Long-eared; Oriole, Black-winged; Nightjar, Abyssinian; Martin, African Sand; Martin, African Rock; Lanner; Lammergeyer; Kite, European Black; Kite, African Black; Kingfisher, Grey-headed; Kingfisher, Giant; Kestrel, Lesser; Kestrel, European; Ibis, Green; Hornbill, Silvery-cheeked.........

 

Nairobi National Park

Background Information

The 117 km² Nairobi National Park is unique by being the only protected area in the world with a variety of animals and birds close to a major city. As expected, the park is a principal attraction for visitors to Nairobi. The park also serves many residents and citizens living in the city.

The park has a diversity of environments with characteristic fauna and flora. Open grass plains with scattered acacia bush predominant. The western side has a highland dry forest and a permanent river with a riverine forest. In addition, there are stretches of broken bush country and deep, rocky valleys and gorges with scrub and long grass. Man-made dams have also added a further habitat, favourable to certain species of birds and other aquatic biota. The dams also attract water dependent herbivores during the dry season.

The park has diverse birdlife with 400 species recorded. However all species are not always present and much depends on season. Northern migrants pass through the park primarily during late March through April.

Nairobi National Park is one of the most successful of Kenya's rhino sanctuaries that is already generating a stock for reintroduction in the species former range. Due to this success, it is one of the few parks where a visitor can be certain of seeing a black rhino in its natural habitat.

To the south of the park is the Athi-Kapiti Plains and Kitengela Migration Corridor. These are vital areas for herbivores disperse over them during the rains and concentrate in the park in the dry season.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

• Annual wildebeest and zebra migration in July/August
• Black rhinoceros
• Diverse birdlife
• Large predators
• Aggregations of large herbivores
• Ivory Burning Site Monument
• Walking trails.
• Nairobi Safari Walk & the Orphanage.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
Located only about 7 km from the city centre, the park is easily accessible on tarmac roads, mainly through Langata Road.

Park Roads:
There is an adequate administration and viewing road network with satisfactory signage.

Park gates:
The park has six gates, the main gate at KWS headquarters, East Gate, Cheetah Gate, Lang'ata Gate, Maasai Gate and Banda Gate. The last two are service gates and therefore not used by tourists.

FACILITIES

There are no accommodation facilities in the park. But a wide range of well developed accommodation facilities are available in the city. Further, there is also the Masai Safari Lodge near the park.

Picnic Sites:

• Impala Observation Tower;
• Ivory Burning Site;
• King Fisher Gorge;
• Leopard Cliffs;
• Mokoiyet;
• Hippo Pool;

Nature Trails:

·         The park has one nature trail at the Hippo Pool

WILDLIFE

Reptiles:
Python, Cobra, Monitor Lizard, Crocodile Terrapin, Tortoise, Lizard

Insects/arthropods:
Grasshopper, Butterfly, Moth, Beetle, Scorpions.

Major Animals:
Aardwolf; Ant Bear; Bat, Angola Free-tailed; Baboon, Olive; Bat, Banana; Bat, False Vampire; Bat, Hollow-faced; Bat, Lander's Horseshoe; Bat, Rousette Fruit; Bat, White-bellied Free-tailed; Bat, Yellow-bellied; Bat, Yellow-winged; Buffalo African; BushBaby; Bushbuck; Caracal; Cat, African Wild; Cheetah; Civet, African; Colobus, Black and White; Dik-dik, Kirk's; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Bush; Eland; Fox, Bat-eared; Galago, Greater; Gazelle, Grant's; Gazelle, Thomson's; Genet, Large-spotted; Genet, Small-spotted; Giraffe, Masai; Gnu, White-bearded; Hare, African; Hare, Spring; Hartebeest, Coke's; Hedgehog, East African; Hippopotamus; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyaena, Striped; Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Impala; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal, Side-striped; Klipspringer; Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Slender; Mongoose, Marsh; Mongoose, Slender; Mongoose, White-tailed; Monkey, Black-faced Vervet; Monkey, Sykes; Otter, Clawless; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Cane; Rat, Giant; Reedbuck, Chanler's; Rhinoceros, Black; Serval; Shrew, Giant White-toothed; Shrew, Short-snouted; Squirrel, Bush; Squirrel, Striped Ground; Steinbok; Suni; Warthog; Waterbuck, Common; Waterbuck, Defassa; Zebra, Common

Major Birds:
Dove, Emerald-spotted; Dove, Laughing; Dove, Namaqua; Dove, Pink-breasted; Dove, Red-eyed; Dove, Ring-necked; Dove, Tambourine; Drongo; Duck, African Black; Duck, Fulvous Tree; Duck, Knob-billed; Duck, Red-billed; Duck, White-backed; Duck, Yellow-billed; Eagle, African Fish; Eagle, Ayres' Hawk; Eagle, Bateleur; Eagle, Black-chested Harrier; Egret, Great White; Eremonela, Yellow-bellied; Falcon, Cuckoo; Finch, African Fire; Guinea-fowl, Helmeted...........

COMMON VEGETATION

The vegetation is primarily dry savanna, open grass plains with scattered acacia bush predominate. The park also has a permanent river with a riverine forest.

The western upland areas has an upland dry forest with stands of Olea africana and Croton dichogamus/Brachylaena hutchinsii and calodendrum. The lower slopes are a grassland composed of such species as: Themeda, Cyprus, Digitaria, and Cynodon with scattered yellow-barked acacia, Acacia xanthophloea. In addition there are stretches of broken bush country and deep rocky valleys and gorges with scrub and long grass.

There is gallery forest in the valleys, predominantly Acacia spp., and Euphobia candelabrum. Other tree species include Apodytes dimidiata, Canthium schimperanum, Elaeodendron buchananii, Newtonia sp., Ficus eriocarpa, Aspilia mossambicensis, and Rhus natalensis.

Several plants growing on the rocky hillsides are unique to the Nairobi area including Euphobia brevitorta, Drimia calcarata, Murdannia clarkeana and the crassula sp.

 

Shaba National Park

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Shaba is part of three small adjoining savanna national reserves that lie on either side of the Northern Ewaso Ngiro River, 340km North, North East of Nairobi (Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba). They were established in 1948 as the Samburu Isiolo Game Reserve, part of the once extensive Marsabit National Reserve. Now they are managed by their respective county councils, Samburu and Isiolo. The reserve consists of a low lying, semi arid plain on the southern bank of the Northern Ewaso Ngiro river. It lies 9 km east of buffalo springs national reserve, from which it is separated by the main road from isiolo to marsabit. The reserve was gazetted in 1974 and is administered by the Isiolo CC. Its Northern section includes a 34km stretch of the Ewaso Ngiro river; here and elsewhere in the reserve are numerous springs and swampy areas, although some have bitter tasting water. The starkly beautiful landscape is dominated by Shaba hill to the south, at the foot of which is a rugged area with steep ravines. The sandy soils are volcanic in origin.

Climate:
The climate is hot and dry. Rainfall averages 250-300mm per year.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
The reserves are reached by tar road via Isiolo from Nairobi, a total distance of 343 km.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Scenic landscape and riverine forest, Permanent Springs. Shaba has 17 springs at which animals congregate during the dry season, Reticulated giraffe, Somalia ostrich, Grevy's zebra, Joy Adamson's monument.

WILDLIFE

Reptiles:
Crocodile, Python, Puff Adder, Gecko.

Insects/arthopods:
Grasshopper, Beetle, Buttefly, Scorpion.

Major Animals:
Baboon, Olive; Buffalo, African; BushBaby; Bushbuck; Caracal; Cheetah; Dik-dik, Kirk's; Duiker, Bush; Eland; Elephant, African; Gazelle, Grant's; Giraffe, Reticulated; Klipspringer; Leopard; Mongoose, Banded; Monkey, Sykes; Oryx, Beisa; Warthog; Waterbuck, Common; Zebra, Common; Zebra, Grevy's.

COMMON VEGETATION

The vegetation in the reserve includes; thicket with patches of Acacia tortilis woodland; riverine woodland and forest dominated by patches of Acacia elatior and doum palm, Hyphaene coriacea; bushland and open areas of lava rock with scattered grass and shrubs, dominated by communties of Commiphora spp. with Ipomoea, Grewia, Acacia senegal and Salvadora; and Sporobolus spicatus alkaline grasslands dotted with springs and swamps.

 

Shimba Hills National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Shimba Hills were gazetted as a National Forest in 1903, grassland areas were incorporated in 1924 and several subsequent extensions took place to bring the Reserve to its present size. In 1968 most of the Reserve was double gazetted as the Shimba Hills National Reserve. Two smaller areas to the west adjoining the reserve and almost entirely forested remain as Forest Reserves; Mkongani North and Mkongani West Forest Reserve. A fenced elephant corridor connects the Shimba Hills with Mwaluganje Forest Reserve to the North.

The Shimba hills are a dissected plateau that ascends steeply from the coastal plains, 30 km south west of Mombasa and just south of Kwale town. The surrounding escarpment rises from around 120m to 300m across the bulk of the plateau and as high as 450m at Marare and Pengo hills. The underlying rocks are the Triassic Shimba Grits and in the north central part near Kwale town Pliecone Magarini sands. Rivers flowing from the hills supply fresh water to Mombasa and the Diani/Ukunda area.

Location:
The reserve is approximately 33 km South of Mombasa, in Kwale district of Coast Province.

Climate:
The climate is hot and moist but is cooler than that at the coast with strong sea breezes and frequent mist and cloud in the early morning. Annual rainfall is 855mm-1682mm. Mean annual temperatures is 24.2 degrees Centigrade.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
The reserve's main access is via Diani. - 56 kms from Mombasa.

Airstrips:
The reserve has one airstrip.

Park Roads:
Inside the Reserve is a 153 km road network.

Park Gates:
Main gate, Kivumoni Gate, Kidongo Gate, Shimba Gate.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

• Scenic landscape comprising of hills and valleys extending beyond the reserve boundaries
• Sheldricks Falls
• Sable antelope
• Coastal rainforest
• Potential for bird-shooting outside the Reserve

FACILITIES

Shimba Hills Lodge; KWS Bandas; 2 campsites

WILDLIFE

Reptiles:
Python, Cobra, Lizard, Gecko.

Insects:
Butterflies, Mosquito, Beetle.

Major Animals:
Antelope, Roan; Antelope, Sable; Buffalo, African; BushBaby; Bushbuck; Colobus, Coastal Black and white; Duiker, Blue; Duiker, Bush; Duiker, Red; Elephant, African; Galago, Greater; Leopard; Lion; Monkey, Black-faced Vervet; Monkey, Sykes; Serval; Shrew, Black and Red; Shrew, Knob-bristled; Suni.

Major Birds:
Eagle, African Hawk; Falcon, Cuckoo; Guinea-fowl, Kenya Crested; Honeyguide, Greater; Hornbill, Crowned; Quail, Blue; Sunbird, Uluguru...

COMMON VEGETATION

The Shimba Hills hold one of the largest areas of coastal rain forest in East Africa after Arabuko Sokoke. The vegetation consists of forested scarp slopes and undulating grasslands interspersed with woodland clumps and ribbons of riverine forest in the steeply cut valleys.

The biggest single patch of the forest is in the south western sector. Tall milicia forest is found on the deep soils of the plateau top and the western escarpment and mature Afzelia erythrophloeum forest cover much of the eastern and southern escarpment where the plateau drops to a low-lying area. On steep scarp slopes to both east and west is forest dominated by Chlorophora and Paramacrolobium, a relic forests from an era of much heavier rainfall in Kenya.

Further east and north the forest breaks up into a a mosaic interspersed with scrubland dominated by Lantana and Vernonia, wooded grassland with Syzygium and Hyphaene and open grassland with numerous species including orchids. In the lower western sector of the plateau is coastal bushland with Manilkara Combretum forest.

A total of 1100 plant taxa are recorded, around 280 of which are endemic to the area and 19 threatened tree species. Notable tree species include polyceratocarpus sp, uvariodendron sp, cephalosphaera usamabarensis, diospyros shimbaensis, phyllanthus sacleuxii, pavetta tarennoides, synsepalum kassneri, bauhinia mombassae.

 

Tsavo East National Park

Background Information

Tsavo East National Park covers an area of about 12,000 km2, 40% of Kenya's parks' total area.

This vast park lies in low semi arid country at the eastern edge of the inland plateau, north of the main Mombasa-Nairobi road and railway. Much of the park is level, open country with scattered rocky ridges and outcrops. Due to its size, the park is one of the world's wildlife and biodiversity strongholds.

The Yatta plateau, a long, flat topped lava ridge, runs along the western boundary of the park. Beneath it flows the Athi river which joins the Tsavo river, just above the Lugard falls, to become the Galana river, a permanent river that cuts right across the park. The seasonal Tiva and Voi rivers are important features of the Northern and Southern sectors respectively. There are scattered seasonal pools, swamps and dams, but relatively few sources of permanent water.

One of the great spectacles of the park is the Mudanda rock between Voi and Manyani. This 1 1/2 km long outcrop is a water catchment area which supplies a natural dam at its base. In the dry season, hundreds of elephants come to drink and bathe here.

Location:
Southeast Kenya, inland from Mombasa; Taita District of Coast Province.

Climate:
The weather in Tsavo is pleasant most of the year. There are two rain seasons. The long rains generally come in March - May and the short rains from October - December.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
From Nairobi via Voi through the Voi gate or Manyani gate. Similarly, from Mombasa via Bachuma gate. From Malindi, via Sala gate.

Airstrips:
There are six airstrips in the southern part of the park and thirteen in the Northern part.
There are no scheduled flights to the park but chartered light planes can be used.

Park gates:
Bachuma, Sala, Manyani.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

• Large herds of elephants and other wildlife.
• Popular legend of Tsavo "The man-eaters of Tsavo".
• Yatta plateau - it is about 290 Km long and is one of the worlds longest lava flows.
• Lugards Falls on the Galana river - This is not a true falls but a series of rapids. Visitors can walk down to the river to view the rapids.
• Mudanda rock - This is a long rock outcrop that is about 1.6Km long. There is a dam at the base. Animals can be seen drinking. Visitors can walk along the rock and enjoy a cool breeze as well as view wildlife at the base.
• Aruba Dam - was built in 1952 across the Voi river. The dam attracts many animals and water birds can be seen at this dam.
• Tsavo/Athi rivers confluence - when the two rivers join they form the Galana river.

FACILITIES

Lodges:
Voi Safari Lodge.

Tented Camps:
Sala; Westerveld; Galdessa Camp; Epiya Chapeyu; Tsavo Safari; Mukwanju.

Campsites:
Kanderi; Sobo; Roka; Ndololo; Aruba; Ithumba; Rhino Bend; Kyulu Lugga; Tundari; Makoka; Mukwanju

ACTIVITIES

Game viewing; Walking Safaris along the Galana; Bird watching.

WILDLIFE

Reptiles:
Crocodile, Python, Gecko, Lizard, Puff Adder.

Insects:
Grasshopper, Butterfly, Beetle, Bee.

Major Animals:
Aardwolf; Ant Bear; Baboon, yellow; Bats (several); Buffalo; BushBaby; Bushbuck; Caracal; Cat, African Wild; Cheetah; Civet, African; Dik-dik, Kirk's; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Blue; Duiker, Bush; Duiker, Red; Eland; Elephant, African; Fox, Bat-eared; Galago, Greater; Gazelle, Grant's; Genet, Large-spotted; Genet, Small-spotted; Gerenuk; Giraffe, Masai; Hare, African; Hare, Spring; Hartebeest, Coke's; Hartebeest, Hunter's; Hedgehog, East African; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyaena, Striped; Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Impala; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal, Side-striped; Klipspringer; Kudu, Lesser; Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Banded; Mongoose, Dwarf; Mongoose, Large Grey; Mongoose, Marsh; Mongoose, Slender; Mongoose, White-tailed; Monkey, Black faced Vervet; Monkey, Sykes; Oryx, Fringe-eared; Otter, Clawless; Pangolin, Lesser Ground; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Cane; Rat, Giant; Rat, Naked Mole; Ratel; Reedbuck, Bohor; Rhinoceros, Black; Serval; Shrew, Spectacled Elephant; Squirrel, Bush; Squirrel, East African Red; Squirrel, Striped Ground; Squirrel, Unstriped Ground; Steinbok; Suni; Warthog; Waterbuck, Common; Zebra, Common; Zebra, Grevy's.

Major Birds:
Starlings, weaver birds, kingfishers, hornbills secretary bird and other raptors, rollers, herons, and stocks.

COMMON VEGETATION

Though the vegetation can generally be categorised as bushed grassland, the park has open plains alternating with savanna bush and semi-arid acacia scrub and woodlands. There are also belts of riverine vegetation. The vegetation is generally denser in the west where rainfall is around 450mm per year than in the drier east, which may receive only around 250mm. Along the rivers is a narrow fringe of woodland and thicket dominated by Acacia elatior, the Doum palm - Hyphaene compressa and the shrub, Suaeda monoica. The northern part of the park is predominantly more or less dense Acacia commiphora woodland. South of the Galana, the park has been opened out over the years by fire and elephants to form open bushed grassland. Common shrubs here include species of Premna, bauhinia and sericocomopsis and scattered trees such as Delonix elata and Melia volkensii. The Yatta plateau has a cover of dense bushland with strands of Baobab - Adansonia digitata.

 

Tsavo West National Park.

Background Information

Tsavo West national park covers 9000 km2, approximately 30% of Kenya's area under parks, and contains a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous scenic landscape. The park is a vast expanse of savanna stretching from the Athi river, North of the Mombasa-Nairobi road and south to the Tanzanian border. The North Eastern boundary along the Athi adjoins Tsavo East National Park, but Tsavo West has a more varied topography and a more diverse array of habitats than its neighbour.

The park's habitats include open plains alternating with Savannah bush and semi desert scrub, acacia woodlands; rocky ridges and outcrops and more extensive ranges and isolated hills; belts of riverine vegetation; palm thickets and on the Chyulu hills, mountain forest. There are numerous rocky outcrops and ridges and part of the park, towards the Chyulu Hills, is of recent volcanic origin with lava flows and ash cones including the Shetani lava flow, an example of a recent volacano.

In the far south western corner on the Kenya Tanzania border is Lake Jipe, part of which is in the park. This very attractive lake is fed by runoff from Mt. Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains.

At Mzima Springs, in the North of the park, water that has filtered underground from the Chyulu Hills gushes from below a lava ridge into a series of clear pools.

Location:
South Eastern Kenya, inland from Mombasa, and the altitude ranges between 200 - 100m.

Climate:
Temperature ranges from 20 - 30^o C and rainfall from 200mm - 700mm. Two ran seasons: Long rains - March/April & Short rains- Nov/December.

HOW TO GET THERE

Roads:
The main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Mtito Andei Gate from Nairobi (240 km) and Mombasa. Visitors from Mombasa also use Tsavo Gate near Manyani. The park can also be reached via Taveta-Jipe road.

Airstrips:
Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gate and Maktau airstrips are in good condition.

Park Gates:
Chyulu, Mtito Andei, Tsavo, Jipe, Maktau Gate, Kasigau Gate.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Recent volcanoes, lava flows and caves with potential for geological and cave exploration, and hiking. Mzima Springs & underwater hippo watching, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Jipe, Mt. Kilimanjaro, elephant and rhino.

FACILITIES

Lodges:
Lake Jipe Safari Lodge; Ngulia Lodge; Kilaguni Lodge; Bobby's Camp.

Campsites:
Lake Jipe (public); Kamboya (public); Royal Little (special); Lake Jipe; Chyulu Gate; Diani Camp; Finch Hattons Camp.

Bandas:
Lake Jipe; Kitani; Ngulia.

Picnic Sites:
Poachers look out; Chaimu Crater; Shetani caves; Roaring Rocks.

WILDLIFE

Reptiles:
Python, Cobra, Tortoise, Lizard.

Major Animals:
Aardwolf; Ant Bear; Baboon, yellow; Bats (several); Buffalo; BushBaby; Bushbuck; Caracal; Cat, African Wild; Cheetah; Civet, African; Dik-dik, Kirk's; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Blue; Duiker, Bush; Duiker, Red; Eland; Elephant, African; Fox, Bat-eared; Galago, Greater; Gazelle, Grant's; Genet, Large-spotted; Genet, Small-spotted; Gerenuk; Giraffe, Masai; Hare, African; Hare, Spring; Hartebeest, Coke's; Hartebeest, Hunter's; Hedgehog, East African; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyaena, Striped; Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Impala; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal, Side-striped; Klipspringer; Kudu, Lesser; Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Banded; Mongoose, Dwarf; Mongoose, Large Grey; Mongoose, Marsh; Mongoose, Slender; Mongoose, White-tailed; Monkey, Black faced Vervet; Monkey, Sykes; Oryx, Fringe-eared; Otter, Clawless; Pangolin, Lesser Ground; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Cane; Rat, Giant; Rat, Naked Mole; Ratel; Reedbuck, Bohor; Rhinoceros, Black; Serval; Shrew, Spectacled Elephant; Squirrel, Bush; Squirrel, East African Red; Squirrel, Striped Ground; Squirrel, Unstriped Ground; Steinbok; Suni; Warthog; Waterbuck, Common; Zebra, Common; Zebra, Grevy's.

Major Birds:
Starlings, weaver birds, kingfishers, hornbills secretary bird and other raptors, rollers, herons, and stocks.

COMMON VEGETATION

Most of the northern sector is Acacia commiphora bushland with scattered trees such as baobabs - Adansonia digitata and Delonix elata. In the Ngulia area, a range of craggy hills reaches around 1800m and is heavily wooded. The southern sector consists of open grassy plains. The permanent tsavo river runs through the northern part of the park with a fringe of riverine Acacia elatior and Hyphaene compressa woodland. Lake Jipe is bordered by extensive beds to Typha and has large permanent swamps at its eastern and western ends. Mzima springs, is fringed by Raphia farinifera and Phoenix reclinata palms

 

Masai Mara Game Reserve.

 

The Masai Mara is one of the best known and most popular reserves in the whole of Africa. At times and in certain places it can get a little overrun with tourist minibuses, but there is something so special about it that it tempts you back time and again.

Seasoned safari travellers, travel writers, documentary makers and researchers often admit that the Masai Mara is one of their favourite places. So why is that? Perhaps it is because of the 'big skies', the open savannahs, the romance of films like 'Out of Africa' and certainly because of the annual wildebeest migration, the density of game, the variety of birdlife and the chance of a hot air balloon ride. Also because of the tall red-robed Masai people whose lifestyle is completely at odds with western practices, and from whom one learns to question certain western values.

A combination of all these things plus something to do with the spirit of the place - which is hard to put into words - is what attracts people to the Mara over and over.

The Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long, from Ethiopia's Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and into Mozambique. Here the valley is wide and a towering escarpment can be seen in the hazy distance. Most of the game viewing activities occur on the valley floor, but some lodges conduct walking tours outside the park boundaries in the hills of the Oloololo Escarpment. The animals are also at liberty to move outside the park into huge areas known as 'dispersal areas'. There can be as much wildlife roaming outside the park as inside. Many Masai villages are located in the 'dispersal areas' and they have, over centuries, developed a synergetic relationship with the wildlife.

There are four main types of topography in the Mara: Ngama Hills to the east with sandy soil and leafy bushes liked by black rhino; Oloololo Escarpment forming the western boundary and rising to a magnificent plateau; Mara Triangle bordering the Mara River with lush grassland and acacia woodlands supporting masses of game especially migrating wildebeest; Central Plains forming the largest part of the reserve, with scattered bushes and boulders on rolling grasslands favoured by the plains gameANIMALS & BIRDS

In a short stay during the wildebeest migration you could see thousands of animals, at other times there are still hundreds. The plains are full of wildebeest, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson's gazelle. Also regularly seen are leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes. Black rhino are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance.

Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, who lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on pastures

SEASONS

Altitude is 4,875-7,052 feet (1,500-2,170 metres) above sea level, which yields a climate somewhat milder and damper than other regions. The daytime rarely exceeds 85°F (30°C) during the day and hardly ever drops below 60°F (15°C) at night.
Rainy Season: It rains in April and May and again November and this can cause some areas of the Mara to be inaccessible due to the sticky 'black cotton' mud.
Dry Season: July to October is dry and the grass is long and lush after the rains. This is a good time to come and see the huge herds of migratory herbivores.
Hottest time: The warmest time of year is December and January.
Coldest Time: June and July are the coldest months.

MASAI MARA SPECIALITIES

· Wildebeest Migration
· Hot Air Ballooning
· Huge savannahs of golden grasslands
· Big skies
· Rift Valley escarpment
· Lion sightings

 

Samburu National Reserve

FACTS

This is a malarial area
The reserve covers an area of (1,510 km²)
There is no night driving and vehicles must be back at the lodge by 6pm.
Several lodges are located outside the park's boundaries, but as there are few fences you may not be aware of this.
This is a Reserve rather than a National Park and it belongs to the Masai people

Samburu National Reserve. When you see a camel train walking single file along a dry riverbed, you realise you are in a pretty parched area. The three National Reserves of Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba are at the beginning of the dry north where camels become commonplace.

However, it is not a completely parched area as it is watered by the Uaso Nyiro River or 'River of Brown Water' in Samburu. This is an essential and sometimes erratic water source for all the inhabitants, including a considerable amount of wildlife in the reserves and Samburu cattle and goats. Out of the north Kenyan tribes of Samburu, Rendille, Turkana and Borana, the Samburu dominate this area. To the uninformed eye they could be confused with the Maasai - for they are closely related and wear similar bright clothing and jewellery and have the same cultural beliefs. They continue their nomadic pastoralist lifestyle as they have done for hundreds of years.

The scrub desert, desiccated savannah and small hills of this region create overriding colours of muted greens, dusty creams, sand yellow, earthen ochre and every shade of brown. Perfect camouflage colours for the many animals that inhabit these parks

 

ANIMALS & BIRDS

The reserves are relatively small and animals are easy to find, with a number of weird and wonderful species endemic to this area. Notably the gerenuk - also known as the 'giraffe necked antelope' because of its ridiculously stretched neck adapted for browsing high into the bushes. Another local inhabitant is the Grevy's zebra, which resembles an ass with wide stripes that don't quite go all the way under the belly. Reticulated giraffes are different from their southern cousins in their perfectly arranged pattern. A very common dwarf antelope in these parts is the tiny dik dik, who is devoted to its mate for its entire lifetime.

Many other species exist in these reserves and large crocs and hippos inhabit the river. Leopard, lion, cheetah and hyena are found here and an unusual treat is that leopards are commonly seen in daylight.

Birds are numerous and 365 species have been recorded in Buffalo Springs reserve. SEASONS

Temperatures reach 104°F (40°C) in the day with a low of 68°F (20°C) at night
Rainy Season: It may rain anytime during the hot months of April to June, then again in November and December. November is usually the wettest month.
Dry Season: January through to March are very hot and dry, and again from July to October. July is normally the driest month.

SAMBURU-SHABA-BUFFALO SPRINGS SPECIALITIES

· Gerenuk 'giraffe necked' antelope
· Reticulated giraffe
· Grevy's zebra
· Riverside lodges
· Leopards in daylight
· Samburu people

FACTS

The altitude of this area is between 2,500-4,000 feet (762-1,219 metres)
This is a malarial area