National parks of Kenya

Lake Nakuru is one of the lakes found in the Rift Valley and lies to the south) is one of the lakes found in the Rift Valley and lies to the south of Nakuru and is protected by Lake Nakuru National Park. Due to the abundance of algae in the lake, a vast quantity of flamingos is lined at the shore. About 550 different plant species including the unique and biggest euphorbia forest in Africa, picturesque landscape, and yellow acacia woodlands. Lake Nakuru National Park is ideal for bird watching, hiking, picnic, and game drives. The park hosts over 56 different species of mammals including white rhinos, waterbuck, buffaloes, giraffes, and zebras. The park is regarded by avid birders as the greatest World ornithological spectacle on the Earth home to greater and lesser flamingos and other water birds including a variety of terrestrial birds numbering about 450 species in total.

Maasai/Masai Mara National Reserve is situated in southwest Kenya and is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves. Mara means “spotted” due to the short bushes found in the park. Locally known as the Mara is a large national park in Narok county, Kenya contiguous with Serengeti National Park. Masai Mara National Reserve is home to the big five; the Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephants, and Rhino. The park hosts the great migration and is known as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and one of the ten wonders of the world. The climate is gentle, rarely too hot, and well-spread rainfall year-round. The reserve is also home to smaller groups of elephants, giraffes, zebras, and gazelles from the Serengeti in northern Tanzania crossing the great Mara River into Kenya in search of fresh feeding grounds, which takes place in late July-September. Solitary leopards haunt the acacia trees lining the Mara River, while the lions and Cheetahs prowl the savannah plains. The park is also home to 450 different species of birds.

Samburu National Reserve is found on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Kenya. It is located in Samburu County, and on the other side of the river is Buffalo Springs National Reserve. The National Reserve was one of the areas where George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness. The Elephant Watch Camp lies within the park; Saba Douglas-Hamilton is the director. It is one of Kenya’s most protected areas and home to species only found north of the equator; the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa Oryxes, Gerenuk, and the Somali Ostrich. Wild dog sightings are common in this unique reserve and birdlife abundant with over 450 species recorded.

Amboseli National Park is a national park in Kajiado South Constituency in Kajiado county. Amboseli (Empusel) comes from a Maasai word meaning ‘salty dust’. The park is home to the Maasai people who are nomads. The park is situated beneath the foot of the majestic snowcapped Mt. Kilimanjaro. It has large herds of wildebeest, zebras, African bush elephants, giraffes, lions, and a variety of other animals and bird species that are attracted to this park due to its permanent supply of water. The park protects two of the five main swamps and included a dried-up Pleistocene lake and semiarid vegetation. The park is famous for being the best place in the world to get close to a free-ranging elephant. Other attractions include the view of Mount Kilimanjaro the highest free-standing mountain in the world and a visit to the Maasai Village. Amboseli was home to the iconic bull elephant Tim. It quickly became one of the major attractions due to its size and ionic tusks. Amboseli was the location around which famous writers such as Sir Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark tailored their stories of big game hunting in the wilds of Africa.

Tsavo national park is divided into two parks, the Tsavo East National park and Tsavo West National Park. Tsavo West National Park is located in the Coast Province of Kenya. The park has a more magnificent scenery, that is the Mzima Springs, wildlife, Rhino Reserve and rock climbing. It has a variety of wildlife such as the eastern black rhinoceros, Buffalo, Leopard, Lions and a variety of bird species.

Tsavo East National Park is one of the largest and oldest parks in Kenya. It is located near the town of Voi in Taita-Taveta County. It borders the Chyullu Hills National Park and the Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania. It is famous for the Tsavo Lions (lack manes). The park is home to the Yellow Baboon, Cape Buffalo, caracal, southeast African Cheetah, Gerenuk, African Civet and different species of birds. The park has major attractions; the Mudanda rock which is an inselberg rock that acts as a water catchment area that supplies water to the natural dam. The Yatta Plateau that is the world’s longest lava flow, from Ol Donyo Sabuk Mountain. The Lugard Falls, named after Fredrick Lugard is a rapid of white water on the Galana River. The Aruba Dam, which was built in 1952. The dam attracts different species of animals.

Nairobi National Park is a park in Kenya that was established in 1946, about 7KM south of Nairobi. This is the only park found in a city in the whole world. The park is home to the big five except the elephants. It is also home to some animals such as Impalas, lions, leopards, cheetahs, Giraffes, Rhino, Buffalo, and different species of birds. Other attractions in the park are the Burning Site Monument, the Nairobi Safari Walk, and the animal orphanage.

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