The beauty of Kenya is hidden in the rustic and raw national parks. It can be claimed to be the wildlife capital of the world and has lots of reserves and national parks.
5. Meru National Park
Meru National Park earned its fame after the release of the autobiography – Born Free. Penned by Joy Adamson, she talks about how she raised Elsa, the lion, along with her husband. The park is relatively smaller. It is filled with wildlife and tall grasses and amazing greenery. The park is known for the white and the black rhinos, which can be seen in large numbers. The park is quiet and the rivers and streams do not leave it dry like the southern parks.
4. Tsavo East and West National Park
The two of the largest parks in Kenya are actually huge. The Tsavo East and West are among the least visited parks and also the wildest. A railway line had to be constructed to Mombasa, which required splitting the park into two. The mammals get lots of space to roam carelessly.
The parks are quite hot and dusty. Tsavo is famous for elephants who bathe themselves in the red dust and spray in the Galana river. These sights are something that you will never find somewhere else.
3. Samburu National Reserve
Though the Samburu tribe is not as famous as the Maasai, it is more of a hidden gem. It is not as popular as the other parks, but it is definitely home to all the Big 5. The reticulated giraffe, long neck gerenuk and the Beisa onyx are some of the other animals that can be spotted here. The fossils of the Homo Erectus and the Homo Habilis were found in this reserve in the 60s and the 70s. The park is managed by the local Samburu and taking some time to know about their customs would be a good idea.
2. Amboseli National Park
The Amboseli National Park is referred to as ‘salty dust’ by the Maasai. The park is dustier and drier, attracting the large herds of elephants. The most iconic pictures of Amboseli include the elephants grazing in the park against the Kilimanjaro backdrop. The park is one of the best places to find large herds of elephants and would offer the perfect opportunity to interact with Maasai Mara villages that live on the outskirts of the park. The park offers a home to the Big Five. It is easier to spot wildlife in the drier ecosystem of the park. Driving on the dried Amboseli river bed and watching the mirages is definitely a thrill.
1. Maasai Mara Game Reserve
There isn’t much that can compare to a stay in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The park is teeming with wildlife – lions, zebra and wildebeest. The park would offer some memorable views. The Great Migration takes place in the Mara and the Serengeti. The Maasai Mara is definitely the Queen of all parks and offer the best game viewing in the continent. It is one of the easiest parks to travel to in Africa and is served by lots of scheduled flights. These are some of the most extraordinary parks that can be found in Kenya. Take out some time to enjoy the pleasures of an amazing safari and enjoy the mesmerising wildlife in the country.
