Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Kenya's landscape ranks among the most fascinating and diverse the world over. From the low-lying coastlands to the snow capped Mt. Kenya. From the tree dotted plains to the jaggered escarpment that marks the sudden drop into the floor of the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley with it's alkaline lakes.

Only seven kilometres away from Nairobi's city centre and a little over 112 square kms. Nairobi National Park is Kenya's oldest park. Its location provides the unique opportunity of being in the midst of wild game and still within sight of the city's skyline. An abundance of game includes lion, cheetah, a variety of Antelope, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Rock Hyrax, Hippo, Eland and Gazelle.

Masai Mara National Game Reserve is at times the most densely game-populated place on earth. Lying on the Kenya-Tanzania border, it forms part of the Serengeti ecosystem and hence hosts the annual spectacle of the great migration from July to September. However, animals abound in this park throughout the year. Masai Mara is home to the renowned Black-manned Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Cheetah, Buffalo, along with the Black Rhino.

Masai Men Tsavo National Park

With 21,000 square kms of rolling plains and scrubby vegetation, Tsavo national Park is Kenya's largest park. It is home to approximately 60 species of mammals and hundreds of species of birds. Large herds of elephants, lions, Burchell's zebra, the beautiful Lesser Kudu, a variety of Antelope and Cheetah can be spotted here. Two other natural attractions are the Shetani lava flow and the famous Mzima springs. The northern area of Tsavo west which is the most developed offers great scenery that is best enjoyed at the end of the rainy season when nature has bloomed.

  Shetani lava flow and Mzima springs

South of Nairobi, Amboseli spreads its 3,225 square kms at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro. Home to the proud and brightly painted Maasai tribe, the acacia woodlands and grasslands of the park attract an abundance of game, including Buffalo, Lion, Cheetah, Spotted Hyenas, Zebras and Wildebeest. Watching herds of elephants crossing the plains with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the backdrop leaves a lasting impression and Amboseli is the best place for a chance to spot a Black Rhino.

Mount Kilimanjaro over the Amboseli Reserve

This park which covers much of the Aberdare (renamed Nyandarua) range of mountains, is predominately forested and spreads over 584 square kms, some of which is moorland. The latter is home to the Druiker, Rhino, Buffalo, Eland, Elephant, Suni and the very rare nocturnal Bongo. One of its distinctive feature are the Gura Falls which drop down a full 300 meters.

The Marsabit National Park is home to a wide variety of the larger mammals including Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Wart hog, Grevy's zebra, the reticulated giraffe, hyena and gazelle. However because of the thick forest covering most of its surface, animals are not always easily seen.

Home of the Samburu pastoralists, Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves are characteristic of the environs of northern Kenya. The dry grasslands dotted with volcanic peaks offer a refuge to rarely found species such as the Beisa oryx, blue-necked Somali ostrich, Gravy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk, all of which have adapted to the arid environment. However, its permanent river insures a wide variety of game and close up sightings of elephants are frequent.

Mt. Kenya National Park and Mt. Kenya on a clear day

Just below the Equator, clad in permanent glaciers, Mt. Kenya is the country's highest mountain. The park covers an area of approximately 492square kms and rises 5,199meters above sea level. Dominated by the twin peaks of Batian and Nelion, Mt. Kenya is a dream for trekkers. Its terrain is covered by forest, bamboo, moor lands and glaciers. Though many mammals live there, they are not easily spotted, except at the water hole by the Mountain Lodge tree hotel. However, the breathtaking scenery and the unique flora provide ample attractions to safariers.

358kms from Nairobi lies Meru National Park. Located east of Mt. Kenya, this was home to the lioness Elsa, of Born Free fame. The drier north side of the park with its open plains are home to the oryx, eland, Burchell's and Grevy's zebras, Maasai and reticulated giraffes and even lions. The Tana River and numerous streams are inhabited by hippos and crocodiles and provide a habitat for lesser kudu, gerenuk and cheetah.

Help Me Get it Right

  About the Author