National parks in Kenya

Kenya is one of the best safari countries in Africa, not least least due to its amazing national parks and game reserves.

All manner of unique safari animals and the most beautiful savannahs are to be found here.

Read about the national parks and nature reserves in Kenya at the top of our list below.

Samburu & the scenic landscapes

Samburu National Reserve has two main attractions: the “special five” and its scenic landscapes.

The landscape is dry, and consists of flat plains and mountain areas. There are also a number of freshwater sources that, together with the “brown river”, Ewaso Ng’iro, create green oases with palm trees in the otherwise arid landscape. Naturally, these green oases attract a wealth of wildlife, such as the special five: the Beisa oryx, the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, the Gerenuk antelope and the Somali ostrich.

The narrow-striped Grevy’s zebra is often seen with the common zebra, and here the difference in their stripes really becomes clear. The Gerenuk antelope stands on its well-developed hind legs when it eats leaves from the trees like the giraffe, and the pattern of the reticulated giraffe is completely different from the more common Masai giraffe.

In addition to the special five, there are also elephants, lions, cheetahs and leopards. The cheetah thrives particularly well in the open plains.

If you’re not already in love with Kenya, you will be when you see the scenery in Shaba. Samburu National Park consists of three reserves: Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba. Buffalo Springs is the smallest of the reserves and, together with Samburu, has the largest number of animals. Shaba, on the other hand, has the landscapes.

In the small communities in the reserves, you will encounter the Samburu people and all their camels. The Samburu people are related to the Masai and, like the Masai, are dressed in colourful clothing.

You should visit Samburu if you want to experience:

• The “special five”
• The scenic landscapes
• The Samburu people

Tsavo & the red earth

Tsavo National Park is located in south-eastern Kenya and, covering an area of 22,000 km², it is Kenya’s largest national park.

Tsavo actually consists of two national parks: Tsavo East and Tsavo West,

Tsavo East being the largest of the two. The earth here is bright red, and the red elephants that live in the park are also an absolute highlight. Tsavo also has the largest number of elephants in Kenya – around 15,000 of them. In addition to elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, hippos and many other animals live in Tsavo East. And 500 different bird species have been recorded in the park.

The landscape of Tsavo East is flat and dry, while in Tsavo West there are both mountains and springs, such as the famous Mzima Springs. In Tsavo West, you can also experience varied and exciting wildlife with the big cats, giraffes, kudus and hundreds of different bird species. It was also here in Tsavo that two man-eating lions killed around 100 people in the late 1800s – dramatised in the film The Ghost and the Darkness.

You should visit Tsavo if you wish to experience:

• The red soil and the red elephants
• The bush as an interlude in a beach holiday
• Mzima Springs

Lake Naivasha and its abundant bird life

Lake Naivasha is not a national park, but the lake, which is located in the Great Rift Valley, is included because it is a fantastic contrast to many of Kenya’s national parks.

Many of Kenya’s national parks are characterised by dry grasslands or plains with thorny acacia bushes, only broken up by a fresh spring here and there. Seen in this light, this contrast makes Lake Naivasha a fantastic place to visit.

Lake Naivasha is an outstanding freshwater lake, and you should come here to experience the abundant wildlife the lake has to offer. A boat trip on the lake is also an absolute must. Birds and hippos outnumber all the rest by the water, and on the small Crescent Island, you can get right up close to giraffes and zebras.

Crescent Island is located in the middle of Lake Naivasha, and the only way to get around the island is on foot, so you get to experience a completely authentic type of safari. Giraffes, wildebeests, waterbucks, zebras and impalas inhabit the island, so when you wander around, you will feel at one with nature. If you walk along the island’s beaches, you may also be lucky enough to spot herons, pelicans and African ospreys.

You should visit Lake Naivasha if you wish to experience:

• The contrast to the bush
• The abundance of animals and birds in and around the lake
• A trip to Crescent Island, located in the middle of Lake Naivasha

Masai Mara and its large herds of animals

Masai Mara National Reserve hardly needs any introduction.

Masai Mara is part of the vast Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania, and the wildlife here is incomparable.

You should visit Masai Mara if you want a guarantee of the most wonderful animal experiences! Elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, lions, cheetahs, leopards – they’re all here!

You can’t talk about Masai Mara without mentioning the great migration, when the animals cross the Mara River to get from Serengeti to Masai Mara.

But does this mean that there are no animals outside the migration period? No, there are animals in Masai Mara all year round. You might not see the wildebeest crossing the Mara River if you come here in November, for example. On the other hand, you won’t have to share your animal experiences with as many other guests as you will during the great migration from July to October.

No matter when you come, Masai Mara will take your breath away!

You should visit Masai Mara if you wish to experience:

• The Big 5
• The great migration
• The vast plains

Amboseli and Kenya’s biggest elephants

Amboseli National Park is as flat as a pancake.

In a way, the landscape is reminiscent of the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania with its flat plains, surrounded by extinct volcanoes. Kilimanjaro is, of course, the highest of them all, and there’s not much that screams Africa in the way that the image of a herd of elephants crossing the flat plains with Kilimanjaro in the background does.

It is incredibly dry and dusty here. In between all the dryness, there are areas of swamp, which are supplied with water from the surrounding mountains. Naturally, the water attracts animals, and thanks to the sparse vegetation, it is very easy to spot them here.

Amboseli is especially famous for its elephants, which are some of the largest in all of Africa – and with the biggest tusks. Otherwise, there are zebras, wildebeest and antelopes galore. The swamps attract a wealth of birds, and you may even be lucky enough to come across a pride of lions.

You should visit Amboseli if you wish to experience:

• The biggest elephants in Kenya
• The view of Kilimanjaro
• The most stunning of sunsets

Lake Nakuru and the endangered rhinos

Lake Nakuru National Park is a true gem in Kenya’s Rift Valley region, famous for its alkaline Lake Nakuru, surrounded by lush forests and vegetation.

Lake Nakuru is home to an impressive array of wildlife, including both white and black rhinos, considered one of the park’s greatest conservation stories. In fact, Lake Nakuru is one of the best places to see the endangered black rhinoceros, and we’d go so far as to say that you’re guaranteed to see rhinos in the national park.

The park also offers a spectacular experience in the form of thousands of flamingos – more than a million at certain times of the year – painting the shores of the lake in shades of pink. This sight has made Lake Nakuru an iconic image of the African wilderness. But the flamingos are only the tip of the iceberg. Lake Nakuru is an important refuge for more than 450 bird species, making it a birdwatcher’s dream.

The terrain in Lake Nakuru National Park is highly varied, from the open plains along the lake to the steep cliffs and wooded hills that offer fantastic vantage points. In addition to the flamingos, the water in the lake also attracts abundant wildlife including waterbuck, impala and even the occasional leopard, making the park a must-visit for nature lovers. Oddly enough, you won’t see elephants in the national park though, because the park is surrounded by an electric fence that limits the migration necessary for the elephants to survive.

You should visit Lake Nakuru if you wish to experience:

• The endangered rhinoceros
• A birdwatcher’s paradise with more than 450 species of birds and thousands of flamingos along the shores of the lake
• A varied landscape that offers everything from open plains to wooded hills

Hell’s Gate National Park

Located in the impressive Rift Valley of Kenya, Hell’s Gate National Park is a unique destination that offers a completely different experience to the country’s better-known, savannah-based national parks.

With its dramatic landscape featuring steep rock formations, deep canyons and hot springs, the park is a testament to the powerful forces of nature that have shaped the earth over millennia.

Hell’s Gate is also known for its opportunities for adventure and outdoor activities. It’s one of the few places in Kenya where, like Crescent Island in Lake Naivasha, you can walk or cycle without having to be in a vehicle. This is possible because there are no large predators here.

In addition to its dramatic landscape and geothermal phenomena, Hell’s Gate is home to a wide variety of wildlife. You won’t find the big carnivores here, but the park is inhabited by zebras, gazelles, giraffes and buffaloes that roam freely in the open landscape, allowing you to experience Kenya’s wild animals in a far more up-close-and-personal way.

You should visit Hell’s Gate if you wish to experience:

• Geothermal wonders such as hot springs and geysers.
• The possibility of cycling or walking close to wild animals.
• Outstanding bird life and scenic landscapes.

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park is a natural gem, unique in that it is the only wildlife park in the world located so close to a city. This makes the park an easily accessible escape from the hustle and bustle of the city where visitors can experience true wilderness just kilometres from the centre of Nairobi.

The national park is 117 km2, but despite its relatively small size, it is home to an abundance of wildlife.

The national park houses more than 100 different species of mammals, including lions, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and a host of antelope species, allowing visitors to experience African wildlife without leaving the city limits. Nairobi National Park is also a rhino reserve and one of the most important places for breeding rhinos, among other things to populate other rhino populations.

The landscape in the national park consists of dense forest and open grasslands with the big city in the background, which makes a safari here a completely different experience from Kenya’s other national parks.

You should visit Nairobi National Park if you wish to experience:

• The unique combination of wild animals and the big city skyline.
• One of the largest concentrations of the black rhinoceros in Kenya.
• The opportunity to experience the wild animals with the city as a backdrop.

Have you been captivated by the stunning and unusual scenery and unique wildlife in Kenya?

Then charge your camera, pack your bags and head off on a unique adventure to Kenya.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller