5 Best National Parks and Reserves in Kenya

Kenya has a rich wildlife and spectacular ecosystems within its national parks and reserves.

Some of the parks have been stand-out tourist destinations with international profiles.

These are the best 5 parks in Kenya that you have to visit;

1. Maasai Mara 

1. 1. Maasai Mara is without doubt the face of Kenya’s wildlife.
   2. The annual wildebeest migration is designated as one of the world’s greatest spectacles.
   3. Happening between July and October every year, there is no other place to see other than The Maasai Mara and Serengeti.
   4. Maasai Mara has a capacity of 32,000 visitors per month according to Kenya’s Tourism and Wildlife Ministry.
   5. It is also equipped with plush accommodation facilities as well as numerous Safari services.
   6. The Maasai Mara is located in Narok County, southwest Kenya, about 225 kilometers from Nairobi.
   7. It is a smooth 5-6 hours drive from Nairobi to the Sekenani Gate of Maasai Mara.
   8. You can also take a direct flight into Maasai Mara from Nairobi, Mombasa, Diani, and Malindi.
   9. Some of the wild animals found in Maasai Mara include;
      1. 1. Lions
         2. Buffalos
         3. Cheetahs
         4. Hyenas
         5. Giraffe
         6. Elephants
         7. Rhino
   10. Click here for more information about Maasai Mara.

Also read: List of Marine National Parks in Kenya And Their Locations

2. Nairobi National Park

1. 1. Nairobi has a unique profile by being the only capital and major city in the world having wildlife.
   2. The priceless view of extensive grasslands against the backdrop of Nairobi’s Skycrappers is the biggest attraction at the Nairobi National Park.
   3. In 2020, Nairobi National Park was the most visited National Park in Kenya clocking slightly over 200,000 visitors.
   4. Some of the attractions at Nairobi National Park are;
      1. 1. The Big cats such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
         2. Hyenas
         3. Zebras
         4. Giraffes
         5. Buffalos
         6. The endangered Black Rhino
         7. More than 400 recorded species of birds.
         8. Picnics and campsites.
   5. You can access the park in just a short drive south of Nairobi’s city center.

3. Tsavo East National Park

1. 1. Tsavo East National Park also located in Taita Taveta County is much larger than Tsavo West measuring in excess of 13,000 square kilometers.
   2. Tsavo East National Park offers a breathtaking view of the 300-kilometer Yatta Plateau and an abundance of wildlife.
   3. The park emerged as the fourth most visited park in Kenya in a 2020 survey.
   4. You can access Tsavo National Park through the Mtito Andei Gate about 233 kilometers south of Nairobi and 250 kilometers north of Mombasa.
   5. It can also be accessed via Sala Gate using the western road from Malindi town.
   6. The following wildlife are found in Amboseli National Park;
      1. 1. The Big cats such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
         2. Elephants
         3. Zebras
         4. Wild dogs
         5. Buffalos
         6. Rhino
         7. Waterbucks
         8. Lesser Kudu
         9. Gerenuk
         10. Hirola

4. Nairobi Animal Orphanage

1. 1. The Nairobi Animal Orphanage is a facility within the Nairobi National Park.
   2. It is a refuge center that is used for the treatment and rehabilitation of wild animals.
   3. In a 2020 survey, the orphanage was ranked the second most visited park in Kenya with an excess of 120,000 visitors.
   4. Some of the animals hosted at the orphanage include;
      1. 1. Lions
         2. Cheetahs
         3. Hyenas
         4. Jackals
         5. Monkeys
         6. Leopards
         7. Baboons
         8. Buffalo
         9. Rare Sokoke cats
         10. Parrots
   5. You can various animals up close at the Nairobi Animal Orphanage.
   6. You can access the orphanage in just a short drive south of Nairobi’s city center.

Also read: List of National Reserves in Kenya and Their Locations

5. Nairobi Safari Walk

1. 1. Nairobi Safari Walk is a raised wooden boardwalk where you can walk and behold Kenya’s rich wildlife.
   2. The Safari Walk is more of a starting point or precursor, showcasing what you expect to see in the rest of Kenya’s parks.
   3. As of 2020, the Nairobi Safari Walk was the third most visited park in Kenya.
   4. Some of the attractions at the Safari Walk include;
      1. 1. Large predators such as hyenas, lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
         2. Herbivores such as buffalo, Zebra, and Wildebeest
         3. Hippo pools
         4. Picnic sites
   5. The park is located just 7 kilometers south of Nairobi’s Central Business District off Lang’ata Road, at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) headquarters.