Kenya is a vast country that possesses golden beaches and massive wilderness areas. It’s often seen as the first port of call for any African safari. Or stepping stone to subsequent ones in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, e.t.c. Because it has such a historic tourism development background, sophisticated infrastructure networks can cater to all styles’ tastes and budgets. Hence, you don’t have trouble finding what suits your needs best! The national parks maintain high standards with sufficient accommodation available.
Masai Mara National Reserve
The 1,600 sq km ‘Mara’ is one of East Africa’s most famous reserves, home to diverse species in Africa, if not the world. The ‘Mara’ always has a game, although it changes with the seasons.
Game-viewing is limited when the grass is high, but the countryside is green and scenic. Game-viewing improves when the countryside dries out. Migrating herds from western Serengeti from July through October cross the Mara River. During this time, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, Eland, Topi, and hartebeest fill the plains, along with elephants, buffalo, and giraffes. Naturally, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and other predators and scavengers follow.
Many animals don’t survive their annual treks owing to weariness or the perilous river crossings, where crocodiles wait. Early morning balloon safaris, wandering in the village areas abutting the main park, and certain resorts’ wildlife education programs for youngsters are among the highlights of the Mara.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru is not just a soda lake; it’s an oasis for wildlife. The most famous of the Rift Valley lakes and home to thousands upon flamingos during their annual migration season when they flock here in droves! Their pink hue makes this destination highly sought-after by tourists who want nothing more than to sit on one side and watch these magnificent birds swim around lazily while taking up space under waterbirds like black heels. Other animals that can be seen at any time include rhinos blazed across its savannah landscape; Rothschild giraffes, rare even.
Lake Naivasha
The scenic freshwater lake is a favorite weekend haunt for Nairobi residents, who enjoy fishing and sailing on some 900 sq km. There are many boat trips, or perhaps you would like to visit Crescent Island where its gentle walk will be perfect! Nearby Hell’s Gate can also catch the eye, especially since such dramatic scenery is nearby, including Mt Longonot with its looming shadow over everything in sight.
A very picturesque piece of water that has been home not only to fish but people since prehistory as well, making this trip quite an experience
Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba National Reserves
These three adjacent reserves total around 535 square kilometers and are located north of Mt Kenya. This is a lowland location. Thus it is generally hot, arid, and dusty. It is watered by the muddy Uaso Ngiro River and natural springs. It’s also very picturesque, with acacia and doum palms dominating the ravine sections. The volcanic rock cones and rugged slopes that run across various park portions are also worth seeing. There is a lot of gerenuk in this location, but there are also a lot of other species. To list, Crocodiles, hippos, gazelles, Beisa oryx, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, elephant, and vervet monkey. In addition, cheetahs, leopards, and lions are among the animals that still inhabit its acacia woodlands, ravines, and grasslands. In the riverine woodlands, you can also see some fantastic birds.
Meru National Park
Meru lies in northern Kenya, east of Mount Kenya. It has a size of 870 square kilometers and is still relatively unspoiled by tourism, which makes it appealing. The animals are plentiful, yet they are shy. This park is one of the driest in the country, even though it is crisscrossed by several rivers and streams that flow from adjacent mountains. The scenery is wild, with lush ribbons of flora characterized by beautiful stands of baobab trees, doum palms, and raphia palms that meander across the arid valleys. Elsa, the orphaned lioness raised by Joy and George Adamson and subsequently reintroduced to the wilds of Meru, is famed in the area.
Amboseli National Park
One of Kenya’s most popular parks, we believe it is a true gem. The park is only 392 square kilometers in size and is located at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. This magnificent mountain serves as the backdrop for many photographs. On a clear day, the snowy top of Kibo may be seen. Elephants are abundant in the forest and wetlands, where they eat the luxuriant papyrus and other grasses. Cheetah, lion, and numerous hyenas can be observed on the salt flats and in the woodlands. Giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest are frequently sighted on the broad plains or congregating along the swamp’s border.
Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks
This massive park is divided by the main Nairobi to Mombasa highway. It encompasses an area of around 2,000 square kilometers. Although the park is barren, with only two permanent rivers, its flat landscape is studded with hills and baobab trees, making it incredibly appealing. Tsavo is still famed for its legends of man-eating lions and red elephants. They are so named because they shower themselves with red murram soil. Most of the wildlife congregates around the acacia and raphia palms that line the riverbanks. Common sightings are elephants, buffalo, ostriches, gazelles, giraffes, zebras, and predatory cats. Gerenuk, fringe-eared oryx, and Hunters hartebeest are less common sightings. The park’s most popular features include the Lugard Falls, the Yatta Plateau (the world’s longest lava flow), and Mzima Springs. There is an underground observation platform where you may see crocodiles, hippopotami, and other fish.
Taita Hills Conservancy
The Taita Hills Conservancy, located south of the Taita Hills on the major Voi to Taita route, creates a game corridor to Tsavo West National Park. It was once a sisal plantation but has since been turned into a 113-square-kilometer reserve with fascinating meadows and forests. The area is currently home to many zebra, buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, reedbuck, impala, eland, gazelle, and other animals. The birdlife is equally spectacular. The park has two lodges: Taita Hills Safari Lodge and the renowned Salt Lick Lodge, situated on stilts and providing a panoramic view of the Conservancy and animals.
Mount Kenya National Park
The park was gazetted around Africa’s second-highest peak. It crosses the equator and covers an area of more than 715 square kilometers. The Kikuyu people regard Mount Kenya as sacred because divinity is claimed to reside there.
On clear days, the mountain’s snow-capped peaks can be seen, but they are frequently obscured by low cloud cover. It has diverse subalpine vegetation, low-lying forests, bamboo zones, moorlands, and tundra. There is a diverse spectrum of plants at altitudes ranging from 1,600m to 5,200m. The vast forest hog, tree hyrax, white-tailed mongoose, elephant, buffalo, Suni, duiker, leopard, black rhino, bushbuck, bongo, and a form of ‘golden cat’ are all common. Mountain buzzards, tinker birds, and numerous louries can also be found here.
Aberdere National Park
Aberdare National Park, slightly larger than Mount Kenya National Park, has a similar ecosystem. Its mountain ranges reach over 4,001m and are mostly covered with tropical high-alpine vegetation; the park is around 766 square kilometers. Rain and bamboo forests, moorlands, waterfalls, rivers, and dams teem with trout in the lower-lying regions. The most prevalent species include the giant forest hog, black rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, serval cat, and various monkeys and birds.
The Kenyan Coast
Kenya has 536 kilometers of coastline in the Indian Ocean’s warm waters. Much of the coastline remains undeveloped. However, there are several developed regions stretching from Lamu Island in the north to Wasini Island near the Tanzanian border in the south. The coast is served by airstrips near Lamu, Malindi, and the Ukunda Airport in Diani, on Mombasa’s south coast. Moi International Airport is located in Mombasa, where guests can take a short journey to the Mombasa North Coast resorts. Passengers arriving at Moi International can also drive to the South Coast Diani resorts via the Likoni Ferry — a short ride across the half-kilometer distance between the north and south coasts.
Island of Lamu
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Kenya’s first villages, dating back to 1370. It is a cultural and historical site. It is well-known for providing excellent lodging.
Malindi
We arrive in Malindi after traveling south from Lamu. Malindi is 120 kilometers north of Mombasa and may be reached by car from Mombasa or by flying into Malindi Airport. The region is also rich in Swahili culture and has several notable resorts. In the Malindi area, there are a variety of popular resorts.
Watamu
Watamu is located just a few kilometers south of Malindi. The superb beaches here are protected by offshore coral, allowing for swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, and deep-sea fishing. Watamu has a variety of resorts, including the five-star Hemingways Watamu Resort.
Kilifi
Kilifi is the next destination on our trek south. In brief, Kilifi, located 53 kilometers north of Mombasa, has magnificent beaches and a small selection of resorts.
Mombasa
Mombasa is divided into three sections. The north and south beaches, as well as the city center. The city is located on an island connected to the mainland to the northwest by a bridge. A bridge also connects the city to the north shore, which has a variety of resorts. The island is linked to the south coast via a ferry. There are several beaches here, including the famed Diani Beach. They are swarming with resorts of every size, standard, and budget imaginable.
Laikipia
Laikipia County, located on the equator in the Great Rift Valley, is one of Kenya’s most minor counties, having an area of 9,462 square kilometers. Laikipia, which means “treeless plain” in Maasai, is a vast plain where various types of wildlife, including the Big Five, graze freely on the Laikipia rangelands.
Loisaba
Loisaba is a 57,000-acre wildlife conservancy in Northern Kenya’s Laikipia region. With plentiful wildlife, luxurious accommodations, and exciting activities,
Ol Pejeta Conservancy Nanyuki
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a non-profit wildlife reserve covering 360 km2 (140 sq mi) in Central Laikipia. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy strives to conserve wildlife, create a sanctuary for great apes, and generate conservation and community development revenue through wildlife tourism and complementing ventures.
The Conservancy is home to the Big Five. It has a flourishing community development program that provides financing to nearby villages for health, education, water, and infrastructure initiatives.
Solio Ranch
Solio is a privately owned wildlife conservation organization dedicated to rhino conservation. The reserve is vital to the preservation and breeding of black rhinos in Kenya. The animals coexist with other wildlife such as buffalo, zebra, giraffe, and other plains game.