Price-free emotions are those that each of the top 10 safari parks in Kenya can transmit and leave as a token for eyes and heart. Every park, every safari, every game drive, at any time of the day or night, brings with it the palpitation from the sustained rhythm that spread in the air and is added to those of the hearts of travelers. So where do you feel these vibrations? In the 10 best safari parks in Kenya of course. Let’s get to know them one by one.
Masai Mara National Reserve
The National Reserve of Masai Mara is the park of Kenya par excellence: it is here that the largest number of safaris is held in which the sighting of the big5 is almost guaranteed. Lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos are present here in large numbers and can be seen in every season.
The park covers more than 1500 square kilometers of boundless prairies that we usually identify with the name of Savannah, interspersed with characteristic groups of African acacias. In these immense spaces, wild flora and fauna live in perfect symbiosis and offer an unforgettable show on every game drive. Crossed by the river Mara, the Reserve, which from it and the Masai population takes its name, borders to the south with the Serengeti national park on Tanzanian territory. It is this continuity that allows the man to see one of the most impressive spectacles of nature: the great migration of herds of wildebeests, zebras, antelopes and gazelles from south to north in the months of July to October and vice versa between January and February.
The meeting with the Masai, the approach to their tribe and their traditions certainly completes the safari experience also on a cultural level.
Inside the Reserve, you can also take a special safari: a balloon flight (balloon safari) that allows you to see the unfolding of the life of the savannah from above. It is from the skies of Kenya that we have a global idea of the interactions between wild animals and flora, their movements, the great circle of life that we can see here in total and natural fulfillment.
If you land in Nairobi you must choose only one park in which to go on a safari, the Masai Mara Reserve that stands along the Great Rift Valley is the spot not to be missed.
Amboseli National Park
The Amboseli National Park was made official in the 1970s southeast of Nairobi, near the border with Tanzania. It is a very rich park of waters that filter from the volcanic rocks and originate from the sources of the most mountainous of all Africa: the Kilimanjaro. In addition to these, Lake Amboseli is also a source of life for animals and flora that live there. Here there are large herds of wildebeests, elephants, zebras, giraffes, impalas, and leopards that inhabit the savannah at over 1000 meters of altitude. The possibility of meeting lions and hyenas is not to be excluded and it is certainly the charm of the 370 different species of birds settled here.
Its uniqueness is given by the postcard background guaranteed by the presence of Kilimanjaro. Each game drive facing south has this incredible background: the great mountain covered with snow, sometimes surrounded by clouds, others shrouded in mist. Who would not want a shot of the savannah with Kilimanjaro in the background?
And what about the presence of the Masai. This is their land, here culture and traditions of this ethnicity are so close that they can be scrutinized, deepened and lived with them.
Easily accessible from both Nairobi and Mombasa, Amboseli Park is open all year round. During the dry season that goes from May to October and from January to March aridity reaches high peaks and Lake Amboseli dries up. in his bed, new tracks for game drives are available to reach the heart of the park through an undoubtedly unusual setting. However, the rainy season should not scare: it is mostly medium-long showers that leave room for clear skies and clear immediately afterward.
Aberdare National Park
North Aberdare National Park is located in the north of Nairobi. It is a mountainous park with many different landscapes, as the altitude here ranges from 2000 to over 4000 meters. The change of land, environments, and scenarios are the true richness of this park: the variety ensures lively and never tired interests.
The safaris that take place at Aberdare are unique to the altitudes reached, the animals encountered here are rare elsewhere, such as Blocher (giant forest pig), the Potamogeton (bush pig), the irises, the Genetta tigrina and the bongo ( a very rare antelope). Are all names ever heard? It is here that they are discovered and remain forever etched in the mind.
Obviously, the park is also populated by the most famous African animals such as elephants, rhinos, leopards, hyenas, baboons, colobus monkeys, wild dogs, warthogs and many others that will satisfy visitors in search of wildlife. Between a waterfall, a passage in the equatorial forest, a picnic in the endless prairies you can also enter a guided walking safari or why not fishing in mountain streams or bird watching. For enthusiasts, accompanied by expert guides, it is possible to do equitation: riding in a landscape as unique as lush is a must for lovers of the genre.
Boredom here, as it is perceived, is a term banned so many are the opportunities for sighting and sports offered by the Aberdare National Park. A couple of days of safari are due to be able to fully enjoy all that the park has to offer.
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu is certainly not the most famous park in Kenya and for this reason, it is the one that has to be explored far and wide, because it reserves many surprises.
Usually once landed in Nairobi we head towards the parks of the south, in this case instead we go north to the Samburu Game Reserve. Infinite skies, dry expanses, and palm-lined rivers are the amazing landscape that awaits visitors.
Its surface stretches impressively from the center of the country to Lake Turkana and its vastness collects a succession of different landscapes ranging from flat and rocky areas with dry rivers to more green areas surrounded by hills. The safaris that take place here are suitable for those with the spirit of the explorer and those who do not want to miss some uniqueness, such as the presence of a colony nourished by Grévy zebras, leopards, and the rare oryx beisa.
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Here live the Samburu, a population belonging to the Maasai, which has been told a lot in novels such as ” La Masai Bianca ” or ” Sognavo l’Africa “. The charm of such traditional and culturally rich ethnic groups is certainly a plus of this Reserve.
Tsavo East National Park
Tsavo East Park is the largest protected area in Kenya and, together with Tsavo West, is closest to the Indian Ocean coast. Easily accessible from the seaside resorts on the coast like the famous Diani, Watamu, and Malindi is recommended for those who want to enjoy a safari combined with a relaxing holiday on the white beaches of Kenya.
The red and dusty earth covers every street in the park, creating a very suggestive and characteristic atmosphere. Another natural element distinguishes this protected area: the lava plateau called Yatta Plateau, almost 300 km long, which runs from north to south along the river that runs through the park.
The life of the fauna that lives here flows wild and free as well as protected as never elsewhere. At Tsavo East one senses harmony between species and the power of nature at the same time: the big5 are all present, as well as other animals such as giraffes or impalas, bisons, sky monkeys and flocks of the most disparate birds. The best possible safari is with the jeep for the vastness of the park, but also on foot for small stretches, near the lakes, in the plains, accompanied by guides and guards for the safety of visitors.
Due to its well-preserved biodiversity, research and scientific studies are carried out within a protected and confidential area. This is the testimony of an exceptional habitat for flora and fauna, unique in the world.
Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo West is adjacent to Tsavo East and is ideal for a safari when staying on the east coast of Kenya. Here the savannah and the areas alternate with verdant expanses that are vast enough to make you lose your gaze. There is no shortage of typical African acacias and hill climbs and even the marshes covered by equatorial forest. All the big 5 are present in the Park and it is said that just at Tsavo West it is possible to make one of the most beautiful safaris in the world, so much is the magnificence of nature.
Even springs and natural pools are a must-see because they become the habitat of hippos and Nile crocodiles, whose population here is well nourished. A safari is therefore ideal for enjoying so much variety and beauty.
Hell’s Gate National Park
Hell’s Gate National Park is just a short distance from Nairobi, which is easily accessible by day. The name suggests the treasure it preserves: the park is named the mouth of hell for the irrepressible geothermal activity that is here freed. Famous are its geysers, the geothermal vapors that vent from the ground, the rocky towers and the canyons with a surreal atmosphere.
The setting is crazy and also encourages a slow approach and exploration through safaris on foot or by bike, rock climbing and, why not, natural spas in the thermal waters present here. At the same time, we are in an excellent African park also for its fauna mainly composed of African bisons, zebras, Thomson gazelles, baboons, antelopes, eagles, vultures and hundreds of different species of birds. It is a well-stocked list of fauna that together with the surrounding flora and lunar environments creates a unique background for exploration, which has 35 million years and does not show them so much is well preserved.
From here to the Lake Nakuru the step is short, the visit can then continue to the north to the pink water mirror so much is covered by the massive presence of flamingos.
Meru National Park
Meru National Park is located in the geographic heart of Kenya, about 4 hours from Nairobi. Today it is one of the best-known parks in Kenya thanks to its recent re-evaluation and the elimination of poaching problems. Despite this, due to its location away from the more touristy areas, it is not very beaten and this makes it very wild. Nature is green and lush, rivers run through vast grasslands and animals have a life as free as wild.
Zebras, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, antelopes, pythons and cobras are just some of the protagonists of the fauna of the Meru National Park.
With the guide, you can organize a walking safari in the forest, reach the great river Rojewero and its observation point of hippos and crocodiles, among other river species. For those who love rhinoceroses, however, within the Park, there is what is called the sanctuary of the rhinos, a protected area and a high concentration of this species.
Mount Kenya National Park & Reserve
The National Park of Mount Kenya and the Forest Reserve that contains it are UNESCO World Heritage sites for the exceptional biodiversity still intact. Its peculiarity lies in its development in altitude, you can access the park at about 1500 m above sea level and you can reach the highest point of Mount Kenya at 5.199 masl
Nature here is surprising because it is unusual for the African continent. The alpine flora integrates perfectly with the African fauna and the ecosystem becomes unique in its perfection. At the lowest altitudes, there are elephants, herbivorous irises, white-tailed mongooses, small antelopes and also bushbucks (African antelopes very common in Kenya). Leopards, lions, rhinos, bongo, and warthogs are rarely seen, but mountain environmental conditions do not prevent them from living there.
The National Park of Mount Kenya is ideal for mountain lovers at any latitude, for trekking enthusiasts, for those who want to climb the second highest mountain in Africa. Because of its majesty and its position along the Equator line, Mount Kenya is a sacred mountain for the local populations and a myth for the explorers who, since the nineteenth century, have gone to these areas of Africa. Here one breathes a sense of submission to nature, of prostration and respect in the presence of a still intact heritage.
Sibiloi National Park
Extremely remotosia compared to Mombasa that in Nairobi, the Sibiloi National Park is located in northern Kenya, and borders on the east bank of Lake Turkana. Worth a visit not only for its semi-desert and volcanic geographic conformation and for the wildlife, but also for its historical origins and the important archaeological discoveries made here. The human and animal fossil remains found here have been the basis of studies of the evolution of the human species. Nothing more fascinating.
A tour in this area with a dry and hot climate puts a strain on the body, but it gives great emotions. The safaris must be properly organized with all the livelihood equipment available: entry to this park is allowed only if the safety and autonomy measures of the travelers are respected.
One of the most intense emotions offered by Sibiloi Nation Park is certainly the meeting with primitive and traditionalist populations who have always settled here. On all that of the Turkana.
Tags: KENYA, National Reserve, PARKS, SAFARI
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