63
Kenya Game Parks
Map locations are approximate and are not intended to be definitive.
Tsavo
East
Mt Kenya
Aberdares
Amboseli
Mombasa •
Nakuru
Lake Naivasha
• Nairobi
Shaba
Samburu &
Buffalo Springs
Tsavo
West
Masai
Mara
Lake Nakuru
National Park
This fenced park provides
sanctuary to one of the
largest populations of rhinos
in Kenya, plus lions,
Rothschild giraffes and
leopards.
Lake Naivasha
Over 450 species of birds have been recorded in and around
this freshwater lake, with the highest concentrations
between October and March, when migrating birds from
Europe are resident. The shores of the lake are fringed with
papyrus and yellow-barked acacia tress. A range of plains
game are often spotted.
Masai Mara National
Reserve
The most popular safari
destination in Kenya,
the reserve is home
to countless species
including the ‘big five’,
and stages the Great
Wildebeest Migration.
Further details about the
Masai Mara can be found
on pages 74-75
Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks
Combined, these two parks form one of the world’s
largest game sanctuaries. Tsavo East is famous for its
large number of elephants and spectacular herds of
buffaloes that roam across the open savannah. Tsavo
West, in contrast, has very dramatic landscape with
extinct volcanoes, rocky outcrops, mountains, river
forests and plains. The ‘big five’ can be found along
with a range of antelope species.
Meru
Q
Q
Meru National Park
Close to the equator,
northeast of Nairobi. The
park is famous as the
area where Joy Adamson
raised lion cub, Elsa and
orphaned cheetahs. The
permanent streams offer
an environment of tall
grasses and dense
swamps. This can make it
challenging to spot
wildlife, but a wide range
including
elephants,
hippos, lions, leopards,
cheetahs,
reticulated
giraffes and zebras reside
here.
Mount Kenya National
Park
Mount Kenya, Kenya’s
highest mountain, sits
astride the equator with
its snow-capped summit
rising to nearly 5,200
meters. The vegetation
alters dramatically, from
bamboo
jungle
and
mountain forests to glaciers
and snowfields. The forests
are home to elephants, and
prolific birdlife.
Shaba National Reserve
Situated very close to Samburu National
Reserve, Shaba has reserved its place in
the history of conservation as the area
where Joy Adamson experimented with
the release of hand-reared leopards. The
nearby Ewaso Nyiro River supports a
variety of wildlife.
Samburu National Reserve & Buffalo Springs
Samburu National Reserve and Buffalo Springs started
life as one park but are now adjacent to each other. The
Ewaso Nyiro River runs through both reserves and in
parts acts as a border between them. Samburu is not as
well known as some of the other national parks in Kenya
and therefore is less crowded. The dramatic and rugged
landscape is home to the colorful Samburu people.
Game includes species rarely seen elsewhere, such as
Grevy’s zebras and reticulated giraffes and the Somali
ostrich.
Aberdare National Park
The park features parts of the
Aberdare Mountain Range, an area of
natural beauty. It is full of rich
vegetation, clear streams, waterfalls
and lakes, along with unique fauna
and flora, creating an ideal habitat for
a wide variety of mammals and birds.
Elephants and rhinos roam the park
and other residents include leopards,
spotted hyenas and bongos.
Amboseli National Park
A popular national park with a spectacular backdrop
of the impressive Mount Kilimanjaro. Home to an
abundance of mammals and over 400 species of
birds. The flat and dusty landscape provides good
opportunities to see a large variety of wildlife
including buffaloes, lions, gazelles, cheetahs,
wildebeest, zebras and large herds of elephants.
