The Kenyan government carefully protects the nature of the country, because in recent years it has suffered greatly from poaching. Protected areas occupy about 8% of the country’s area (62,000 sq. km).
The largest national park in Kenya – Tsavo, its area is 21000 sq. km. The park is divided into two parts – Western and Eastern. Tourists visit mainly the Eastern part of Tsavo. The landscapes of the park include mountains and hills covered with dense forest, and plains covered with savannahs. More than 60 species of mammals and 400 species of birds live on the territory of Tsavo. Here you can see elephants, Burchel zebras, caracals, spotted antelopes, lions, cheetahs and ostriches. In the northwestern part of the park are the springs of Mzima, where crocodiles and hippos are found. Tourists are invited to visit the Shetani lava plateau with an area of 50 square meters. km, the Ngulia Canyon, the Yatta Plateau and the Tsavo River Valley, on the banks of which huge flocks of birds found shelter. Many tourists go to Tsavo in order to raft on the Tsavo River.
According to TOP-MEDICAL-SCHOOLS, the most popular park in Kenya is Masai Mara National Reserve. It borders the world-famous Tanzanian Serengeti National Park and is located 275 km west of Nairobi. at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level. Masai Mara park area – 320 sq. km. The park got its name from the ancient African tribes of the Masai, who in the 17th century came to East Africa from the banks of the Nile. One of the most unique spectacles that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world is the Great Migration of Animals. Between July and September, hundreds of thousands of wildebeests, gazelles and zebras move from the Serengeti north to the Masai Mara in search of food, followed by predators. In addition to migration, the Mara River is interesting in the park, on the banks of which crocodiles and hippos live, a unique population of black lions, as well as more than 500 species of birds, including ostriches, larks, sunbirds and about 57 species of birds of prey.
Between the Masai Mara and Tsavo is the Amboseli National Reserve. 392 sq. km. The reserve is located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa. Within the park are savannahs and swamps inhabited by baboons, lions, cheetahs, black rhinos, wildebeest, hippos, gazelles and elephants. The park offers many hiking trails that pass through the Maasai settlements. In these small villages you will see how the ancient African tribes live and get acquainted with their culture. The most daring tourists can climb the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Kenya National Park is located 150 km north of Nairobi. Reaching 5199 m, Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa. This is an ancient extinct volcano, which today is covered with glaciers. The entire park has a mountainous terrain, where you can go rock climbing and hiking. Elephants, black rhinos, Cape buffaloes and antelopes live in the vicinity of Mount Kenya. Some of the park’s inhabitants are unique to the area, such as the Colobus and blue monkeys, the Bongo antelope and the giant wood pigs.
Mountain parks include Aberdare National Park., which is located on the slopes of the volcanic massif of the same name. It covers an area of 584 sq. km, its highest point is the peak of Ol Doinyo Satima (3998 m). The entire park is covered with tropical rainforests, which are shrouded in fog or haze almost all the time. Numerous waterfalls are interesting in these forests, the largest of which is Gura. The Gura waterfall drops its waters from a height of 300 m.
A little to the north in the semi-desert zone lies the Samburu National Reserve, which protects representatives of the desert flora and fauna. Grass and rare thorny bushes grow here, and in the valley of the Brown River, which flows in the south of the park, there are palm trees and acacias. Elephant, impala, hyena dog, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, grevy zebra, gerenuk (giraffe gazelles), oryx (antelope with long straight horns) and reticulated giraffe are found in the park. By the river you can see crocodiles and hippos. Birds in Samburu include eagles, falcons, storks, the rare blue Somali ostrich, ibis and marabou. The Kakamega Forest Reserve is a protected rainforest with relic trees and a variety of wildlife, including one of the largest populations of monkeys in the country. About 60 species of local birds can be seen only on the territory of Kakamega. In the north of Kenya
it is worth visiting the Marsabit National Reserve, home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, African boars, zebras, giraffes, hyenas and gazelles. Most of the reserve is covered with dense forest, on the territory of which there are many hiking trails.
Interesting Lake Nakuru National Park. Once upon a time, half of all pink flamingos living on Earth lived here. Now the population of pink flamingos of the park is considered one of the largest in the world. Also, about 450 other species of birds live here – pelican, cormorant, heron and others.
Not far from Mombasa is the Shimba Hills National Reserve. Here on an area of 192 sq. km stretches dense forest, which is home to a large number of leopards and the only one in Kenya population of black antelopes. The National Marine Park stretches along the entire coast of the Indian Ocean. It consists of several parts and protects the underwater world of coral reefs surrounding the coast, and coastal mangrove forests. SAFARI You can make an exciting safari through the numerous National Parks of the country. Most often it is arranged on small minibuses “vans”, with a capacity of up to 8 people. In the parks of Samburu and Turkana, you can travel on camels, and in the Masai Mara – on a small plane or in a hot air balloon. Safaris are arranged both during the day and at night, when large predators come out to hunt. The duration of the safari – from one day to several weeks. An indispensable attribute of a safari, as a rule, is a visit to the Masai settlement – one of the few African tribes that still retain their identity. Kenya ‘s most famous safari parks are Masai Mara, Tsavo and Amboseli.
