Amboseli National Park
Amboseli means ‘the place of water’ in Maasai language. The park has an endless supply of water which is filtered through thousands of meters of volcanic rock from Mount Kilimanjaro. Animal species seen include elephant, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala and leopard. The birdlife seen here includes pelican, bee eater, kingfisher, African fish eagle and pygmy falcon. Amboseli is one of the most popular parks and offers excellent accommodation facilities. There are five lodges and two campsites inside the park. Kilimanjaro forms the backdrop of this game sanctuary and it is a sight to see and marvel at. The nomadic richly decorated Maasai who are deeply steeped in Maasai culture entertain visitors with enchanting dances of ageless Africa.

Aberdares and Mt. Kenya National Parks
These parks are part of the most fascinating sanctuaries in terms of scenic spread out and the great variety of wildlife found here. Mount Kenya National Park lies at an altitude of 3,400 to 5,199m. It offers excellent mountain climbing and scenery that includes glaciers, tarns and ice caves, as well as mineral springs. According to local folklore, Kenya owes its name to this mountain which is the second highest in Africa after Mt. Kilimanjaro. Part of the mountain’s attraction is the variation in flora and fauna found at different attitudes. Dry upland forest covers the lower slopes while true mountain forest begins at 2,000 meters and comprises of cedar, Meru oak and podo trees. At 2,500 meters a belt of bamboo that merges with smaller trees interspersed with glades begins. The forest is home to a variety of animals and rare plant species. The mountain also features in the local people folklore as being the home of the Supreme Being ‘Ngai’ (God). It is therefore treated as a holy shrine. The “wildlife in the park includes colobus monkey, sykes monkey, bushbuck, buffalo, elephant, olive baboon, waterbuck, black rhino, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cat, hyena and the elusive bongo. There is one game lodge within the park, seven mountain climbers’ huts as well as self help bandas.

The Aberdares ranges lie at an altitude of 2,134 to 4,268 meters. It is home to the first tree hotel in Africa and harbors significant memories in world history. In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II learnt of her accession to the British throne while she was a guest at Treetops lodge following the death of her father, King George II. It is also at the nearby town of Nyeri that lie the remains and tomb of Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the worldwide Boy Scouts movement. There are two lodges, self help bandas and several campsites within the park.

Lakes Baringo and Bogoria
The two lakes lie on the floor of the Great Rift Valley and are an ornithologist’s paradise. Bogoria is a salt water lake and contains flamingoes while there are hot springs and geysers, evidencing the area’s volcanic origin. At Baringo, over 350 species of birds have been recorded of both migratory and resident composition. A boat ride on the lake is a worthwhile complement to your visit.

Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake on the edges of Nakuru town and lies a distance of 160 kilometers from Nairobi. The lake is world famous as home to millions of flamingoes. The number of flamingoes depends on the water level which determines the quantity of algae on which the birds feed. Flamingoes are known to migrate to other Rift Valley lakes whenever the water level is low. The National Park surrounds the lake and was gazetted to protect the colony of flamingoes as well as provide sanctuary for endangered species such as the rhino. There are about 25 white and black rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country. Predators are also residents to this park while Rothschild’s giraffe have been trans-located into the park for safety. Accommodation includes two lodges, a KWS guest house, campsites, self help bandas and two picnic sites.

Mount Longonot and Hell’s Gate National Park
Mount Longonot National Park is only ninety kilometers from Nairobi and lies at an altitude of 1,900m to 2,800m. It is a young volcano which rises to 2,776m above sea level and is a captivating sight for visitors wishing to view the Naivasha basin, the volcano and crater, as well as the Great Rift Valley. Hell’s Gate is an ideal get-away for a day trip from Nairobi as well as a stop over enroute to Lake Nakuru. It is famous for natural hot springs, as well as eagle and vulture breeding grounds. Special locations for viewing include Fischer’s Tower, Central Tower and Njorowa Gorges. The game that can be viewed includes buffalo, giraffe, eland, coke’s hartebeest, lion, leopard and cheetah. About 103 species of birds have been recorded here. Accommodation is available in hotels, lodges and home- stays around Lake Naivasha.

Maasai Mara Game Reserve
The Maasai Mara Game Reserve is arguably Kenya’s most popular game sanctuary. It is the most famous and most visited game reserve in Kenya. The film ‘Out of  Africa’ was made to a great extent in this reserve. Virtually every type of  wildlife can be seen at the Mara. A spectacle worth seeing is the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle from Serengeti plains across the Tanzania border and the Mara River to reach Maasai Mara grazing fields from late June. The dramatic crossing of the river and the preying on the migrants by predators can be viewed from early July to August. The reserve abounds with birdlife since dose to about 452 species have been recorded. Hot air balloon safaris are readily available in this park. Accommodation is plentiful in Maasai Mara and ranges from five star lodges to luxury tented camps and campsites within the reserve.

Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs Reserves
The highlights of these reserves are the spectacular scenic beauty, rivers and forests. It is an area where the local people have a rich and colorful heritage. The reserves have numerous permanent springs and a wealth of wildlife which includes leopard, hippo, elephant, lion, reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra and crocodile in the Ewaso Nyiro river. Over 365 species of birds have been identified in the sanctuaries. There are lodges and campsites managed by mobile tented camp operators. Shaba National Reserve is home to the monument of Joy Adamson who, together with her husband George, contributed greatly to Kenya’s wildlife as an author, conservationist and artist. The film ‘Born Free’ is based on Joy’s book of the same title. Shaba was the setting for the film ‘Sheena Queen of the Jungle’.  Shaba reserve is home to the rare blue-shanked Somali Ostrich.

Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is the oldest of Kenya’s National Parks and Game Reserves. It was gazetted in 1946. This game sanctuary is a stretch of Savannah that is  set against the dramatic skyline of Nairobi. Its main entrances are merely a stone’s throw away from the city’s outskirts, making Nairobi the only city in the world that borders a natural game protection area. The park contains over 100 species of mammals, mainly plains game. The big five are also found here except the elephant. The park’s advantage is that visitors do not have to travel far to view game in its natural habitat. Th e Animal Orphanage and Safari walk at the main gate should not be missed. The orphanage is home to injured and orphaned animals. Here they are nursed back to health before being released to the wild. The park is also ideal for ornithological safaris. Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Chyulu Hills Tsavo National Park is the largest game sanctuary comprising Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Chyulu Hills. It is over 21,000km2 and is located halfway between Mombasa and Nairobi. Its awe inspiring landscape and proximity to Kenya’s coast makes the park a popular safari destination.

The park is one of the world’s leading bio-diversity areas. It is ideal for photography on account of its unlimited sunlight and the expanse of the Yatta plateau, the world’s larges lava flow. One of the outstanding features of this sanctuary is its huge population of red elephants which derive their red coloring from the rich red earth of the park. Other species seen include buffaloes, rhinos, lions, hippos, leopards, crocodiles, waterbucks, kudus, gerenuks, zebras, hartebeests and the hirola antelope that has been trans-located to Tsavo East. Tsavo occupies its place in the frontier folklore as a place where two lions killed and ate close to 40 engineers and their crew who were constructing the Kenya-Uganda railway in the early 1900’s. The man - eaters of Tsavo nearly brought the construction work to a halt. The park has over 500 species of birds which include ostrich, buzzards and migratory Kestrel. Chyulu Hills and Mt. Kilimanjaro can be viewed from the park in clear weather. Other outstanding features include cave and geological formations, Shaitani lava flows and Mzima springs underwater observatory. Accommodation in Tsavo is available in a variety of game lodges, tented camps, campsites and self services bandas.

Mount Elgon and Saiwa Swamp National Parks
Mt. Elgon lies 2,500m to 4,200m above sea level and is 470 km from Nairobi. The National Park here is one of the most beautiful and truly wild sanctuaries. The park provides a home to numerous elephants, buffalos, Columbus and blue monkeys, giant forest hog and other types of antelopes. Over 240 species of birds have been recorded here. There are four caves that can be explored which are popular meeting places for elephants that go to lick the mineral content in the caves. There is a lodge, two hotels, campsites and one picnic site. The Saiwa Swamp National Park completes the Western Tourist Circuit and was opened to provide a home to the rare semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope.

Northern Parks, Maralal, Sibiloi, Lake Turkana and Marsabit Game Reserves
The northern circuit includes Maralal, Sibiloi, Lake Turkana and Marsabit. The circuit is ideal for the adventure loving visitors as it includes some of the most challenging terrain. Sibiloi is credited as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ as the proof of mans origin has been unearthed in this area. The park was established to protect these unique prehistoric and archeological sites. Lake Turkana is home to the world’s largest surviving colony of crocodiles. The safari trips available emphasize observing the desert landscape and the nomadic tribes that inhabit the northern part of Kenya.