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Kenya
National Parks & Game
Reserves
Aberdare N P Amboseli N P
Lake Nakuru N P Marsabit N P
Masai Mara Game Reserve Meru N
P Mt Kenya N P Nairobi N
P Samburu Nature Reserve Shaba National Reserve Sibiloi N P
Tsavo East N P Tsavo West N
P
Kenya is famous for its game viewing and many
operators offer varied ways of experiencing this. The Wildebeest migration is
one of the most amazing natural spectacles. Game can be seen year round, but
migrates in May/June, July/August and again in September/October.
| The Africa Guide's recommended video
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Video Visits -
Kenya Safari - Essence Of Africa VHS (amazon.com) - USA (amazon.co.uk) - UK A tour of Kenya by safari taking in
the game reserves of Aberdare, Masai Mara, Amboseli, and Samburu-Isiolo.
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ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
The Park is part of the Aberdare Mountain Range which forms the steep eastern
edge of the Rift Valley. It lies approx 180kms north of Nairobi and has an
altitude of 7,000 to 14,000 ft. The scenery in this region is spectacular and
impressive as is the range of wildlife. Due to the dense forest vegetation, you
will need to do some searching for the wildlife, but there are also many
purposes built game viewing lodges. Game to be found in the park includes;
elephant, lion, black rhino, waterbuck, gazelle, giant forest hog, genet cats,
leopard, buffalo and the rare spiral-horned antelope known as the bongo.
Accommodation: includes two
loges, Treetops and the Ark which both provide night game viewing facilities.
There are also three self-catering sites ("bandas"), eight tented campsites and
one public campsite.
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
Amboseli National Park, although small, at approx 395 sq km, is one of Kenya's
most popular parks. The views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak,
coupled with the variety of game to be found, draws the visitors in. The park
which lies approximately 140kms south of Nairobi on the border with Tanzania,
is most famed for its' large herds of elephants. A combination of drought,
increased tourism, and over-grazing has had a hard-hitting effect on the
western side of the park, the land has become dry, dusty and barren and the
animals that were once there have moved into areas of shrub forest and
marshland. Accommodation:
| Amboseli Lodge |
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inside Amboseli National Park Accommodation: 36 traditional cottages
& 76 modern accommodation units all well spaced in beautiful gardens. Rooms
have bathrooms and are surrounded by an electric fence. Facilities: Swimming
pool with full view of Mt. Kilimanjaro Nightly traditional Masai dances. Main
restaurant & 2 Bars CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Ol Tukai Lodge |
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Located inside the National Park having80 twin rooms with a view of
Mt. Kilimanjaro Africas highest mountain. Facilities: The elephant Bar
offers a wide range of cocktails while watching elephants frolicking or gracing
in the Wilderness, Also pool bar has a wide range of snacks and drinks. Acacia
tree shaded swimming pool, Board game are available, daily lecture from the
elephant research station CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Amboseli Serena Lodge |
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Situated in Shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, the lodge is at the centre of
Amboseli National Park. Guest rooms, individually appointed with authentic
Africana and murals painted by a renowned local artist, convey a distinctive
Masai Manyatta mood. Traditional feasts and tribal dancing overlooking the
waterhole where big game gathers. Swimming pool. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Tortillis Located on the edge of Amboseli
National Park. 17 tents under thatch on wooden paltforms - 7 with twin beds, 10
with king - sized beds. Facilities: Comfortable open plan bar, lounge and
dining room under thatch. Swimming pool and Pool bar. Gift shop CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
The park entrance lies 6km from Nakuru town and the main attraction is Lake
Nakuru, a shallow alkaline soda lake set beneath the high cliffs of the eastern
Rift Valley. It is an ornithologists' paradise offering the spectacular view of
up to 2 million flamingos at one time (during the season) along with hundreds
of other species including birds of prey. An area of 190 sq km around the lake
is fenced in as a national park and has been made a sanctuary for Rothschild
giraffes and black rhinos. Accommodation:
There are two campsites, both
with running waters and long-drop toilets. Just inside the park gate is the
Backpacker's Camp Site and further in there is Njoro Camp Site
MARSABIT NATIONAL PARK The Marsabit National
Reserve lies in northern Kenya in a densely forested mountain park, being home
two beautiful crater lakes. The park was once famous for it's large tusker
elephants but that was before the poachers slaughtered most the large ones.
Elephants are still in abundance along with large herbs of kudu and many birds
of prey. Accommodation: The
park has a lodge and camping facilities.
MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
The Masai Mara is regarded as the most favorite and is definitely the most
popular game reserve in Kenya, having over 140,000 visitors per year. The
reserve lies approx 270km west of Nairobi and covers an area of approximately
1,510 sq km, bordering with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The
landscaped is mostly open Savannah grasslands and acacia shrubland.
Starting any time from late July the wildebeest follow the rains and
grazing to the wide and open grasslands of what has become known as "the Mara".
They may be late, but they will always make the trip, driven by dry conditions
in the Serengeti and led by the lightning and thunder to the north. Come
November they start the homeward leg, bound again for the Serengeti.
At
this time of the year you will see a large number of lion, hippo, crocodile and
vultures all of which prey on the weak and young migrating animals. Other game
to be found in the Masai Mara at any time of the year include; elephants,
cheetahs, baboons, gazelles, giraffes, jackals, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas,
water buffalo, ostriches, and a large variety of antelope and birdlife.
Accommodation:
| Mara Hippo Lodge |
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Located near the Ololaimutiek gate on the south -eastern end of the
Mara Triangle Accommodation: Six types of tents to choose from, the lodge
offers choice of families, single and couples tents. All tents and cabins are
fitted with aprivate hot water shower and a WC Facilities: A swimming pool
within the compound. The dining and the bar is both casual in the interior and
in the open air. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Mara Fig Tree Camp |
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On the banks on Talek river, on the periphery of Maasai Mara Game
Reserve, About 270 Kms from Nairobi. A 140 - beds in permanent luxury tent each
with twin beds. Facilities: Two bars, an open air dining area and a tree house
coffee deck. A video room guest lecture room, swimming pool and curio shop,
Balloon Safaris and Game drives. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Siana Springs |
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Situated at the base of the Ngama Hills, on the eastern edge of the
Maasai Mara National reserve. The luxurious tented camp offers 38 Spacious
tents. The tents boast the very latest in luxury camping, with large single or
double beds, personal closets and writing desks, and ensuite bathrooms with
flush toilets and steaming hot showers. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Sarova Mara Camp |
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Located inside Masai Mara Game Reserve having 75 tents with permanent
floors and roofs including private bathes hot or cold running water and
electricity Facilities: A restaurant and 2 bars. Swimming pool, Hot air balloon
safaris followed by a champagne breakfast in the wilderness. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Kichwa Tembo Camp |
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Situated Oloololo Escarpment, Masai Mara. Accommodation: Permanent
tented Camp with twin beds and an ensuite bathroom with hot shower toilet and
electrical hurricane lamp. Facilities: A restaurant and a well stocked bar.
Swimming pool CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Mara Intrepids Club |
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30 tents making a number of mini-Camps within the Club grounds. They
are furnished with custom milled African Mahogany furniture, oversize four
poster bed ensuite bathroom with showers, running hot and cold water, flush
toilets and electricity. A small sparkling swimming pool, 3 game drives a day,
wildlife library, gift boutique, nature walks with resident Club naturalist
followed by a bush breakfast or a sundowner cocktail. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Mara Serena |
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set on the saddle of a hill where it overlooks the 1800 square Km of
rolling plains, woodlands, anf rivers that make up the masai Mara triangle.
Accommodation: 74 rooms, pool. Breakfasts, cocktail parties and dinners on the
terrace overlooking a waterhole where big game come to feed. Hippo pool
breakfasts. Evening enertainment includes musicians, Masai dancers, wildlife
films, and talks given by resident naturalist. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW |
Mara Sopa Lodge located in Maasai Mara Game
Reserve. The lodge has 200 beds with only 77 rooms, 12 suites and 1
Presidential suite, all of which are 'rondavel' style and have en-suite
bathroom facilities which provide shaving sockets and hairdryers. Every room
and suite has a private, elevated verandah with splendid views across the
valley and on which guests can relax, sunbathe and watch resident birds and
wildlife. Mini-bars are also available in each room CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
Migration
Camp eco-friendly traditional tented camp is in the North-West
Maasai Mara, tucked in the hills adjoining the major dispersal plains of the
Great Migration of wildebeest from the Serengeti. It is situated on the Lemek
/Koiyaki Wildlife Trust Conservation Area and is put up seasonally to ensure
regeneration of the area during the long rains. Accommodation is in 7 tents. 5
large with queen size and single bed in each, 2 twin and 1 single. All tents
are shaded under the trees. Each tent has en suite toilet and shower and a
large verandah. Facilities includes : bar tent and spacious dining tent look
out over lawn. fully stocked non profit bar CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
Keekorok Lodge Located inside Masai Mara Game
Reserve. Bungalows single storey blocks and comfortable shaded chalets all with
158 beds. Facilities: A restaurant and a fully stocked bar. Swimming pool, log
fires in the lounge, Maasai dancing, cultural and wildlife lectures, Game
drives organized from the Lodge. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
Kicheche Camp located on the Aitong plains in the
northern Koiyaki Lemek region of the famous Masai Mara reserve. The camp is
hidden in a grove of wild olive and croton trees in a prime wildlife area. Game
viewing starts right from the camp itself. Accommodation: Spacious, fully
insect - proof selous style tents 2 singles and 9 doubles/twins. Equipped with
proper beds, linen, bedside tables, luggages racks and rugs. Bathrooms are
ensuite and are equipped with a dresser, shower and flushing toilets. Tents can
be converted into triple on request. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
Little Governors Camp Located on the Mara river
in the game reserve. Accommodation: 12 Twins, 5 double tents, Tent No. 17
recommended for honey mooners, the camp has a total of 17 tents(34 beds)
Spacious luxurious safari tents. 220 volt plugs at the reception. Facilities:
En suite shower, open bar and dining tent with view over the waterhole and the
plains. Room service on request, tea and coffee is served at the rooms with
wake up cll. Laundry service at No extra cost, telephone, fax and email
service. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
Mpata
Safari Club perched on a hiltop with breathtaking views of Masai
Mara reserve. Guests stay in individual cottages well spaced along the top of
the escarpment offering panoramic views. There are 11 suites and 12 Deluxe
units each with separate bedroom, bathroom and verandah with emphasis on
comfort and a unique combination of interior design, the suites have a lounge,
kitchenette and best of all an out door Jacuzzi. Facilities: The sunken rock
bar ignites pleasure and satisfaction, offering sensational views of Mara
river. Our Sundowner bar will further enhance the pleasure of your drinks.
CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
Mara
Safari Club located outside the park in the Ol- Choro Ol Roua
conservation area. 80 beds in luxury tents with their own private river
frontage with four poster beds verandah, electricity modern ensuite facility
with hot and cold running water Pool, wildlife library. Lounge Bar and dinning
room, the Club pool, Al Fresco buffet, lunches & nightly activities of
Masai dancing, Masai Culture. Black tie dinners, balloon safaris, bush
breakfasts, weddings, walking safaris ,swimming, game drives, wildlife library.
CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
MERU NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
The park is situated approximately 360km northeast of Nairobi and covers an
area of 870 sq kms. This park was the setting for Joy Adamson's book "Born
Free" and it remains one of Kenya's most unspoilt parks. The scenery is varied,
wild and beautiful, from woodlands at 3,000 ft on the slope of Nyambeni
Mountain Range to wide open plaints with many rivers running through. Game
found here includes; lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant, antelopes, and buffalo.
In the many rivers hippo and crocodile are found in abundance. You may be lucky
to spot Kenya only colony of the rare white rhino. There are several
other parks which can be visited from here within a day, they include Bisandi
National Reserve, Kora National Park, Rahole National Reserve and Mwingi
National Reserve. Accommodation: Meru National Park has a number
of Lodges and campsites that need to be pre-booked and one public campsite.

MOUNT KENYA - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
The National Park lies approximately 176kms northeast of Nairobi and covers an
area of approximately 700 sq kms, with a landscape consisting mainly of forest
and bare rock. Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano straddled across the equator,
and is Africa's second highest peak. The altitude ranges from between 11,000 to
17,058ft, with the highest peaks being Batian at 17,058ft and Nelion at
17,022ft. These are regularly climbed by experienced climbers though very few
actually make it to the top. The more popular peak for climbers is the easier
Lenana which reaches a height of 16,354ft. and can be climbed without the use
of specialist equipment. Climbers are often accompanied by a guide, with ports
being available. There are climbers huts is rest up in, but plenty of food and
warm clothes should be taken with you. The best time of the year for climbing
is from mid-January to late February and from late August through September
The scenery is stunning and quite breathtaking. It is also a botanist's
paradise, with a wide variation in flora as the altitude changes. The
region is home to a variety of wildlife including some unique species, such as
Black and White colobus and Sykes monkeys, bushbuck, buffalo, elephant, Olive
baboon, waterbuck, black rhino, leopard, hyena, bongo and at high altitudes
zebra and eland can be found. Mountain
Climb...Mt. Kenya The "Classic" Route (Up Sirimon / Down Chogoria)
- A must for lovers of high altitude trekking. Designed for optimum time on the
mountain to acclimatise, as well as getting away from the bulk of hikers. It is
run as a camping trip - with all equipment supplied. Top quality mountain
tents, thick mattresses, campstools, rain awning, good food, a cook, and
qualified guides are supplied, as well as a porter for your pack Click to
view full Itinerary
Mount Kenya Clean Up 1998 Contains detailed information
on Mount Kenya hiking routes, accommodation and the environment.
Accommodation Available at the Mountain
Lodge in the heart of the rainforest. and there are three self catering (banda)
sites within the park.
| The Africa Guide's recommended book
|
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Kilimanjaro & Mount Kenya : A Climbing
and Trekking Guide (amazon.com) - USA (amazon.co.uk) - UK by Cameron M. Burns Pre-trip
planning, finding and hiring outfitters, and thorough information on dozens of
trails are included in this comprehensive guide to the 30 top climbing and
trekking routes on Mount Kilimanjaro and her sister peak, Mount Kenya color
insert. 30 b&w photos. |
NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK Nairobi National Park is
only 20 minutes drive from the city and is ideal if you only have a stopover in
the city and want to experience some of Africa's game. Because of it's
location, there are many visitors, both tourists and residents but you are
guaranteed to see an abundance of game, seemingly unaware and unafraid of
humans. The elephant is the only one of the 'big five' not found here, but
leopard, lion, buffalo, rhino, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, antelope, wildebeest,
eland, zebra and Thompson's gazelle as well as many other species are here in
abundance. At the western end of the park is an Animal Orphanage,
dedicated to young animals who are injured or deserted in the wild. Here they
are studied and cared for until they can be returned to the reserve.
There are no accommodation facilities within the park as it is located so close
to the city centre.
SAMBURA & BUFFALO SPRINGS - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
The Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves lie northeast of Nairobi
halfway to Lake Turkana and cover an area of approximately 300 sq kms. The area
is arid and largely semi-desert, but has a large concentration of game
including some species not found elsewhere; such as the oryx,, gerenuk,
Reticulated giraffe and grevy's Zebra. Other game includes ostriches, elephants
and leopards who are lured into the lodges with bait, so the tourists can get a
glimpse. Accommodation: In
Samburu accommodation consists of two lodges ; the Samburu Lodge and the River
Lodge. And in Buffalo Springs there is the Buffalo Springs Tented Lodge: Tel
+(254) 165 2234, which offers permanent tents, cottages and self-catering
bandas.
Samburu Safari Lodge CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
SHABA GAME RESERVE
Situated 314 km from Nairobi in
Central Kenya, off the Uaso Nyiro River, being a semi-desert. It is the natural
habitat for the Grevy Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, and Gerenuk, only found in
this part of Kenva. There are also herds of Elephants, plenty of Lions,
Cheetah, Crocodile, hundreds of species of birds and other game
SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK This is Kenya's most
remote national park, lying right in the north of the country bordering with
Lake Turkana. The region is hot, dry and windswept, but surprising has a large
variety of wildlife and birds. These include Grevy's zebra, ostrich, gerenuk,
oryx, tiang and a large population of Nile crocodile in the lake. The park's
petrified forest is proof that this region was once lush and densely
forested. Due to the remoteness and inhospitable terrain most people
visit this area in organised groups.

TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
This is one of Kenya's oldest and largest parks, but huge areas, mainly to the
north of the Galana River, are completely closed to the public. The southern
accessible area of the park includes the Kanderi Swamp and the Aruba Dam on the
Voi river and has large concentrations of game including hippo, giant
crocodiles lion, leopard, waterbuck, kudu, zebra and ostrich. It is also home
to the largest herds of elephant in Kenya, usually covered in red dust. The
park provides for excellent photography with it's spectacular views such as
Mudanda Rock and Yatta Plateau.
Accommodation
Voi Wildlife Lodge - Tsavo East This beautiful
lodge is right within the boundaries of the mighty Tsavo East National park.
Accommodation: The lodges offers 20 large beautifully furnished & decorated
rooms. 4 family rooms cum suites and special rooms for handicapped. Facilities:
A swimming pool with Jacuzzi, Breezy romantic well ventilated open air
restaurant "The Tembo" restaurant with a capacity of 200 people. Sundowner bar,
"Mandari Bar" with a view of the game park. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK The park is located
approx 230kms from Nairobi off the main Mombasa-Nairobi road and has three
rivers flowing through it; the Galana, the Athi and the Tsavo attracting large
concentrations of game including buffalo, rhino, giraffe, zebra, lion, leopard,
cheetah crocodile and many varieties of antelope. In the northwestern
corner of the park is Shetani Lava Flow, a massive lava bed created by an
eruption in the Chyulu Hills where the raw cone at the centre can still be
seen. Rain falling in these hills is purified as it soaks through the porous
volcanic ash , running underground for 50km, resurfacing at the lush Mzimba
Springs, which is one of the parks main attractions. This is haven to
crocodiles and hippo and a waterhole for a large variety of other game.
Accommodation:
Ngulia
Lodge- Tsavo West situated spectacularly on the edge of Ndawe
Escarpment, offering a vast panorama of Tsavo's sweeping plians. Ngulia is an
Ideal base from which to explore Tsavo West, one of the world's largest
national parks. All rooms are luxurious facing the park surroundings.
Facilities: The lodge has a swimming pool, a strategically located restaurant,
2 bars and a viewing bay for the wildlife. The lodge has been constructed to
blend in with the environmet, in the best tradition of ecologically sensitive
archicture CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW
Kilanguni Lodge- Tsavo West located in Tsavo west
National park. 37 Kms form Mtito Andei the nearest town. Altitude 850 metres.
Accommodation: The lodge provides 56 rooms (5 suites and 51 standard rooms).
All rooms Fans/Mosquito Nets/Power points/Hot water. Showers, balcony and
Laundry services. CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK
ONLINE NOW

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