A Wildlife Safari In Kenya : Kenya is one of the leading tourism destination in Africa, the country is a land of many contrasts ranging from varied traditions to culture of the people, superb beaches along the coastal area, equatorial glaciers of Mount Kenya standing at an altitude of more than 4,573 meters and different types of animals including Big Five and birdlife.
Kenya is listed among Africa’s top safari tour destinations with unmatched wildlife, the country’s flora and fauna are notably diverse. Kenya’s different vast plains of the south are characterized by distinctive acacia trees and savannah grasslands supporting a huge variety of animals, birds and insects.
Great Wildebeest Migration
One of the wonders of nature of Kenya
The Great Wildebeest Migration is the most extra-ordinary wildlife safari experiences in Kenya, following the season rains over 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras and gazelles migrate on a loop path through Tanzania’s Serengeti and Masai Mara in Kenya.
The wildebeest move in search for greener pasture and the journey comes with danger, the migration route crosses many rivers including the iconic Mara River (most of these rivers are filled with giant Nile crocodiles).
In Kenya, the great migration is witnessed in Masai Mara National Reserve from July to October.
Where to Go for Kenya Wildlife Safari Experience
The best places to visit on a Kenya safari.
Kenya is often referred to as the capital of Africa’s wildlife safari experience, the country is home to the Big Five and has incredibly beautiful national parks with savannah grasslands, a beautiful collection wild animals, stunning landscapes and the most picturesque views of scenery.
These protected areas protect Kenya’s flora and fauna, each of these has a unique character and feel which you will enjoy during your wildlife safari experience in Kenya. Below is a list of destinations to visit on a Kenya wildlife safari experience.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve is the most popular wildlife safari destination in Kenya situated south west of Kenya in Narok County, the reserve is contiguous with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park in Tanzania both forming the oldest ecosystem in the world – The Serengeti – Mara Ecosystem.
Originally established in 1948 as a wildlife sanctuary and later upgraded to a Game Reserve in 1961, the Trans-Mara County Council was formed in the western part of the reserve and shares control with the existing Narok County Council. In May 2001, the Mara Conservancy – the not-for-profit took over management of the Mara Triangle.
Masai Mara National Reserve has an area of 1,510 square kilometers comprising of mostly open flat grassland with long but thin grass and spotted with acacia trees, the western edge of the reserve is formed by a geological fault throwing up the Esoit Escarpment. The Sand, Talek and Mara rivers are the main rivers that drain the area. It is at the crossing of these rivers that the famous documentaries and photo of the Great Migration have been taken.
Wildlife in Masai Mara include all the members of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino. Other animals include wildebeests, gazelles, topis, elands, impalas, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, cheetahs, jackals among others.
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park often referred to as the “Land of the Giants” is the second popular wildlife safari destination in Kenya, the park is popular for its large herds of elephants and the scenic backdrop Mount Kilimanjaro the tallest mountain in Africa.
Amboseli National Park is situated 260 km from Nairobi, towards the south West and on the border with the neighboring Tanzania. The park is located in Loitoktok District, Rift Valley Province of Kenya.
Amboseli was declared as a national reserve in 1968 and later in 1974, it became a national park.
The park covers an area of 392 square kilometers comprising of plains, woodlands, rocky thorn bush, swamps and marshes. Amboseli’s landscape is crowned by the snpw-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro creating a breathtaking backdrop.
Amboseli National Park is famous for being home to large herds of elephant with the most impressive tusks in Africa, other animals found in the include leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, buffaloes, rhinos, giraffes, Zebra, Lion, Crocodile, Mongoose, Hyrax, Dik- dik, Lesser Kudu, Porcupine and over 400 bird species.
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is a unique wildlife destination as it is the only national park in the world found in the capital city, located about 7 km from the Nairobi’s center. Nairobi National Park is also the first game reserve to be established in Kenya.
Nairobi National Park is home to a range of wildlife and some of them include buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, baboon, zebra, wildebeest and cheetah.
Nairobi National Park is also one of the most successful of Kenya’s rhino sanctuaries with over 100 mammal species and 400 migratory and endemic bird species.
Samburu National Reserve
Located in North Central Kenyaclose to Isiolo, Shaba and Buffalo Springs, Samburu National Park is an amazing destination for wildlife safari experience in Kenya.
The reserve was established in 1948 as part of the enormous Marsabit National Reserve under the national park ordinance. When Marsabit National Reserve was gazetted in 1961, the Senior Game Warden of Samburu District Rodney Elliot suggested to the Samburu County Council that an area north of the river be set aside as a game reserve.
Samburu National Reserve was formed in 1962 with financial help from Elsa Trust and in January 1963, the Minister for Local Government recommended Samburu National Reserve to be administered by the African District Council of Samburu. The reserve is named after the local people – the Samburu who are the residents of the area and are closely related to the Masai People.
Samburu National Reserve covers an area of 165 km², the reserve is located on the banks of the Ewaso Ngi’iro river on the other side of the river is the Buffalo Springs National Reserve in Northern Kenya. From Nairobi, it is a drive of 350 kilometers.
Wildlife in the Samburu National Reserve include the Big Five – lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos and elephants and The Samburu Special 5 – Somali Ostrich, Gravy Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Reticulated Giraffe and Gerenuk. Other animals in the reserve include the endangered Wild Dog and Pun cake Tortoise. There are also a range of reptiles and aquatic species in the Waso Nyiro River.
Wildlife in Tsavo West National Park include leopards, cheetah, buffalo, rhino, red skinned elephant, giraffe, zebra, mongoose, hyrax, dik-dik, lesser Kudu, and Nocturnal Porcupin and over 600 bird species.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park is a birder’s paradise in Kenya famous for its huge concentration of pink flamingoes on the shores of Lake Nakuru, the park is situated on the floor of the Great Rift Valley surrounded by wooden and bushy grassland.
The main feature in the park is a large, shallow lake – Lake Nakuru supporting great birdlife including big flocks of pelicans and variable flocks of flamingoes.
In addition to flamingoes, the park is home to the famous Rothschild giraffes, white and black rhinos, buffaloes, lions, zebras, gazelles rare long-eared leaf-nosed bat, colobus monkey, rock hyrax, hippo, leopard, waterbuck, impala, gazelle, striped hyena, bat-eared fox, wild cat, reedbuck, golden cat, warthog, baboons and over 450 species of terrestrial and water birds which you will see during your Kenya wildlife Safari.
Tsavo East National Park
As part of the biggest park in Kenya, Tsavo East National Park is a great destination to visit for wildlife safari experiences in Kenya, the park lies on the eastern side of the Nairobi Mombasa road, 240 km from Nairobi, South East, inland from the coast.
Tsavo East National Park covers an area of 13,747 km² encompassing of arid bush and rock outcrops such as the Mudanda Rock outcrop which is 1.6 km long, the spectacular Yatta Plateau which is about 290 km long, a series of rapids popularly known as Lugard Falls on the Galana River meandering through the park. The Athi River that begins from Nairobi flows through the park.
Wildlife in Tsavo East National Park include red elephants, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopards, crocodiles, waterbucks, lesser kudus, gerenuk and hirola among others. There are also over 500 bird species in the park.
Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo West National Park is one of the oldest parks in Kenya located in the South East near Voi Town in Taita – Taveta County, the park covers an area of about 9,065 km² forming about 30% of the entire Tsavo ecosystem.
The park is famously known for its magnificent scenery, rich and varied wildlife and a good road system. The habitats include open plains alternating with savannah bush and semi-desert scrub, acacia woodlands, rocky ridges and outcrops and more extensive ranges and isolated hills, belts of riverine vegetation, palm thickets and on the Chyulu hills and mountain forest.
Best Time to Visit For a Wildlife Safari Experience in Kenya
Kenya is an all year round destination, however the best time to visit for a wildlife safari experience is the dry season from July to September. The dry season is considered to be the best time as it corresponds with the Great Migration as millions of wildebeests and thousands of zebras and gazelles cross Mara River to enter the plains of Masai Mara from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
