NATIONAL PARKS AND GAME RESERVES

1. Masai Mara Game reserve:
The Masai Mara is regarded as the most favourite and is definitely the most popular game reserve in Kenya, having over 140,000 visitors per year. The reserve lies approx 270km (168 miles) west of Nairobi and covers an area of approximately 1,510 sq km, bordering with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The landscape is mostly open Savannah grasslands and acacia scrubland. Starting any time from late July the wildebeest follow the rains and grazing to the wide and open grasslands of what has come to be known as the “Mara great migration". They may be late, but they will always make the trip, driven by dry conditions in the Serengeti and led by the lightning and thunder to the north. Come November they start the homeward leg, bound again for the Serengeti.


At this time of the year you will see a large number of lion, hippo, crocodile and vultures all of which prey on the weak and young migrating animals. Other Game to be found in the Masai Mara at any time of the year include; elephants, cheetahs, baboons, gazelles, giraffes, jackals, leopards, hyenas, water buffalo, ostriches, and a large variety of antelopes all surrounded with birdlife.

2. Aberdare National Park:
The Park is part of the Aberdare Mountain Range, which forms the steep eastern edge of the Rift Valley. It lies approximately 180 kilometres (112 miles) north of Nairobi and has an altitude of 7,000 to 14,000 ft. The scenery in this region is spectacular and impressive as is the range of wildlife. Game to be found in the park includes; elephant, lion, black rhino, waterbuck, gazelle, giant forest hog, genet cats, leopard, buffalo and the rare spiral-horned antelope known as the bongo.

3. Amboseli National Park:
Amboseli National Park, although small, at approx 395 sq km, is one of Kenya's most popular parks. The views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, coupled with the variety of game to be found, draws the visitors in. The park which lies approximately 140kms (87 miles) south of Nairobi on the border with Tanzania, is most famed for its large herds of elephants.

4. Lake Nakuru National Park:
The park entrance lies 6km (4 miles) from Nakuru town and the main attraction is Lake Nakuru, a shallow alkaline soda lake set beneath the high cliffs of the eastern Rift Valley. It is a bird watcher's paradise offering the spectacular view of up to 2 million flamingos at one time (during the season) along with hundreds of other species including birds of prey. An area of 190 sq km around the lake is fenced in as a national park and has been made a sanctuary for Rothschild giraffes and black rhinos.

5. Marsabit National Park:
The Marsabit National Reserve lies in northern Kenya in a densely forested mountain park, being home two beautiful crater lakes. The park was once famous for it's large tusker elephants but that was before the poachers slaughtered most of the large ones. Elephants are still in abundance along with large herds of kudu and many birds of prey.

6. Meru National Park:
The Park is situated approximately 360km (223 miles) northeast of Nairobi and covers an area of 870 sq kms. This park was the setting for Joy Adamson's book "Born Free" and it remains one of Kenya's most unspoilt parks. The scenery is varied, wild and beautiful, from woodlands at 3,000 ft on the slope of Nyambeni Mountain Range to wide open plains with many rivers running through. Game found here includes; lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant, antelopes, and buffalo. In the many rivers hippo and crocodile are found in abundance. You may be lucky to spot Kenya's only colony of the rare white rhino.

There are several other parks, which can be visited from here within a day, they include Bisandi National Reserve, Kora National Park, Rahole National Reserve and Mwingi National Reserve.

7. Mt. Kenya National Park:
The National Park lies approximately 176kms (109 miles) northeast of Nairobi and covers an area of approximately 700 sq kms, with a landscape consisting mainly of forest and bare rock. Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano straddled across the equator, and is Africa's second highest peak. The altitude ranges from between 11,000 to 17,058ft, with the highest peaks being Batian at 17,058ft and Nelion at 17,022ft. These are regularly climbed by experienced climbers though very few actually make it to the top. The more popular peak for climbers is the easier Lenana, which reaches a height of 16,354ft., and can be climbed without the use of specialist equipment. Climbers are often accompanied by a guide, with ports being available. There are climbers' huts to rest in, but plenty of food and warm clothes should be taken with you. The best time of the year for climbing is from mid-January to late February and from late August through September.

The scenery is stunning and quite breathtaking. It is also a botanist's paradise, with a wide variation in flora as the altitude changes.

The region is home to a variety of wildlife including some unique species, such as Black and White colobus and Sykes monkeys, bushbuck, buffalo, elephant, Olive baboon, waterbuck, black rhino, leopard, hyena, bongo and at high altitudes zebra and eland can be found.

8. Nairobi National Park:
The National Park lies approximately 176kms (109 miles) northeast of Nairobi and covers an area of approximately 700 sq kms, with a landscape consisting mainly of forest and bare rock. Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano straddled across the equator, and is Africa's second highest peak. The altitude ranges from between 11,000 to 17,058ft, with the highest peaks being Batian at 17,058ft and Nelion at 17,022ft. These are regularly climbed by experienced climbers though very few actually make it to the top. The more popular peak for climbers is the easier Lenana, which reaches a height of 16,354ft., and can be climbed without the use of specialist equipment. Climbers are often accompanied by a guide, with ports being available. There are climbers' huts to rest in, but plenty of food and warm clothes should be taken with you. The best time of the year for climbing is from mid-January to late February and from late August through September.
The scenery is stunning and quite breathtaking. It is also a botanist's paradise, with a wide variation in flora as the altitude changes.
The region is home to a variety of wildlife including some unique species, such as Black and White colobus and Sykes monkeys, bushbuck, buffalo, elephant, Olive baboon, waterbuck, black rhino, leopard, hyena, bongo and at high altitudes zebra and eland can be found.

9. Samburu Nature Reserve:
The Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves lie northeast of Nairobi halfway to Lake Turkana and cover an area of approximately 300 sq kms. The area is arid and largely semi-desert, but has a large concentration of game including some species not found elsewhere; such as the Oryx,, gerenuk, Reticulated giraffe and gravy's Zebra. Other game includes ostriches, elephants and leopards that are lured into the lodges with bait, so that the tourists can get a glimpse.

10. Shaba National Reserve:
It is situated 314 km (195 miles) from Nairobi in Central Kenya, off the Uwaso Ng'iro River and is a semi-desert. It is the natural habitat for the Gravy Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, and Gerenuk, only found in this part of Kenya. There are also herds of Elephants, plenty of Lions, Cheetah, Crocodile, hundreds of species of birds and other game.

11. Sibioli National Park:
This is Kenya's most remote national park, lying right in the north of the country bordering with Lake Turkana. The region is hot, dry and windswept, but surprising has a large variety of wildlife and birds. These include Gravy's zebra, ostrich, gerenuk, Oryx, tiang and a large population of Nile crocodile in the lake. The park's Petrified Forest is proof that this region was once lush and densely forested. Due to the remoteness and inhospitable terrain most people visit this area in organised groups.

12. Tsavo East National Park:
This is one of Kenya's oldest and largest park, but huge areas, mainly to the north of the Galana River, are completely closed to the public. The southern accessible area of the park includes the Kanderi Swamp and the Aruba Dam on the Voi River and has large concentrations of game including hippo, giant crocodiles, lion, leopard, waterbuck, kudu, zebra and ostrich. It is also home to the largest herds of elephant in Kenya, usually covered in red dust. The park provides for excellent photography with its spectacular views such as Mudanda Rock and Yatta Plateau.

13. Tsavo West National Park:
The park is located approx 230kms (142 miles) from Nairobi off the main Mombasa-Nairobi road and has three rivers flowing through it; the Galana, the Athi and the Tsavo attracting large concentrations of game including buffalo, rhino, giraffe, zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah crocodile and many varieties of antelope.
In the north-western corner of the park is Shetani Lava Flow, a massive lava bed created by an eruption in the Chyulu Hills where the raw cone at the centre can still be seen. Rain falling in these hills is purified as it soaks through the porous volcanic ash, running underground for 50km, resurfacing at the lush Mzimba Springs, which is one of the parks main attractions. This is haven to crocodiles and hippo and a waterhole for a large variety of other game.

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 game.

 
ANIMALS & 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 their annual quest to find new pastures.
Every July (or sometimes August), the wildebeest travel over 600 miles (960km) from Tanzania's Serengeti plains, northwards to the Masai Mara and the Mara River is the final obstacle. In October or November, once they have feasted and the grass has all but gone, they turn around and go back the other way.
The Mara birds come in every size and colour including common but beautiful ones like the lilac breasted roller and plenty of large species like eagles, vultures and storks. There are 53 different birds of prey.

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.

FACTS
This is a malarial area
The reserve covers an area of ??m² (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.

Ecological Development