ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
Established in 1950 in Central PnovinceNyandarua, Nyeriand Muranga districts, encom
Passing 767 square km.
Special Features:
Karuru Waterfalls - the highest in Kenya, plung ing 273m in thneesteps.
40 species of animals- lions, rhinos, forest hogs, leopards, colobus monkeys,elands, bongo elephants, etc., and over 200 bind species. Noted as a rhino sanctuary.
Acceess:
Open the year round, 215km north of Nairobi and 17km from the town of Nyeri,then through the Ruhuruini, Kiandogoro and Wandare gates 48km from Naivasha on thewest, through the Mutubio gate.
Accommodations:
World-famous Tneetops, off the Nyeri-Mweiga Road; Ark Lodge, deepin the mountains; and Kiandogoro Fishing Lodge, where visitors must provide their ownbedding and food - nights are cold, with temperatures often below freezing.
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Located on the Kenya-Tanzania border, under the slopesof Mt. Kilimanjaro, with a size of 390
square km, it was established in 1974.
Special Features:
Famous for its spectacular views of Africa's high est peak, snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro. Two springs provide year-round water - befit tiny the Masai meaningof Amboseli -"place of water." Thousands of water fowl and flamingos are attracted to thelakes there are also elephants, and numerous other animals.
ACCESS:
On-road driving must be observed on the 216km network of roads and tracks.
Accommodations:
The only avalbble stopping place is at of Tukai.
CHYULU NATIONAL PARK
Established in 1983 in the Chyulu Hills, the park is
471 square km in size.
Special Features:
Many unique scenic features, including volcanic geology, and high tropical plants.
Animal life encompasses giraffes, elephants, lions, monkeys, buffalo and crocodiles atUmanyi Springs, and a rich variety of bird life. The Western slopes outside the park area game conservation area
Access:
Entered via Tsavo on the west on the AmboseliTsavo road, or from Makutano orKibwezi
Accommodation:
There are no facility es within the park, but Bonham Camp in the northwest organismshorse back trips into the Park.
KAKAMEGA PARK :
Centrally located in western Kenya, includes Mount Elgon and SaiwaSwamp National Parks near Kitale Ndere Island National Park near Kisumu, and RumaNational Park; was consolidat ed in 1985.
Special Features:
_ offers a canopy of tropical rain forest, genera tions old, stretching from Central Africainto the Rift Valley.
_ Popular among bird-watchers and nature with 330 species of birds, and 145 that areunique to the forest Many rare butterflies some of which have never been identified
_ Wildlife includes many species of monkeys and baboons, over 30 varieties of snakes -for example the deadly Gaboon viper, Jameson's Mamba and the black mamba Bush pigs,civets, claw less otters, the ground pangolin and occa signal porcupines are to be seen.
_ Many huge, ancient indigenous trees; orchids in abundance.
Access
_ The gate is located 2km off the main Kakamega-Webuye Road, 20km from the town ofKakamega.
Accommodations:
_ KWS self-service camp 1km from the Park Kakamena Golf Hotel with many amenitiesForest Hotel in Kakamega town; campsites in the southwest part of the forest.
KISITE MARINE NATIONAL PARK
land, and 1 11 square km of marine park.
Special Features:
_ The most colorful coral gardens in East Africa.
_ The nearby Pemba Channel fishing grounds are world-famous for marlin, tuna, andsailfish. Colorful coral fish, dolphin, mackerel and bonito are common.
_ Marine and land birds, such as fish eagle, alba boss, gulls herons, storks and ibis.Historic caves used by slave traders are easily accessble.
Access:
From Shimoni there is a road of 1 15km also
shows and motorized boats to Kisite leave daily
from the Shimoni jetty.
Accommodations:
In addition to the Pemba Channel Fishing Club there are facilities at Shimoni, Wasini Island and Funzi Island.
KORA NATIONAL PARK
Kora has a common boundary with the southeastern border ofMeru National hark, and stretches
for 65km along Kenya's largest river, the Tana
Comprising 1 700 square km, the Park was desig
nated a National reserve in 1973.
Special Features:
The Reserve became a National Park in 1 gag after the death of "Lion Man George Adamson. He and his game warden brother, Terence founded the reserve.
There is a great wealth of animal, bird and plant life for the discerning naturalist.
The river presents an area of exceptional beauty with a scattering of acacia trees anddourm palms.
Many kinds of antelopes, along with crocodiles, giraffe, ostriches, oryx and buffalo arepreva lent.
Access:
Permission to visit the Park must be obtained from the KWS headquarters at Lang'ata,Nairobi.
An easy approach to the Park is at the extreme eastern end at Mojo on the Tana River,where the KWS park is located.
Campsites
LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
Established in 1961 this ' 86 square km Park is
situated in the Rift Valley south of Lake Nakuru
Special Features:
_ World famous for its countless flamingos, also 450 species of other birds.
_ High concentration of water buck, the Park is also a sanctuary for black and whiterhinos.
_ The Park is a Ramsar site - an area of intern tonal importance where wetlands areprotected there are also two educational resource centres
ACCESS:
_ Three gates to the Park are reached by air, and by road off the Nairobi-Nakuru road.
Accommodations: Two hotels and camp sites are situated in the Park; hotels ale locatedin the town of Nakunu.
LAKE TURKANA K NATIONAL NATIONAL
Central Island An island park located betweenthe northern and southern shores of Lake Turkana, only 5 square
km in area; established in 1983
Special Features:
_ The island is actually a dormant volcano that occasionally emits sulphurous steam andsmoke. It is a symbolic relic of the massive upheavals that occurred in the earth's crust10 0 million years ago, opening a huge geological divide stretching over 3,500 milesfrom Ethiopia's northern Red Sea coastline to Mozambique, and that is now known as theGreat Rift Valley.
_ The island is uninhabited, and is famous as a breeding around for crocodiles: LakeTurkana which is Africa's largest Rift Valley lake, has a world's record population ofover 10,000 croco diles The lake is also noted for being the only known location of agenetically pure species of tilapia.
ACCESS
_ An hour's boat ride from Lake Turkana Fishing Lodge near Kalokol on the westernshore. Kalokol is reachable from Kitale, via Lodwar, by air or motor The remote butworld-famous Sibiloi National Park, source of the historic findings of early
man, can be reached by boat or air from Kalokol,
30 miles across the lake.
nc wiridswept spots on the planet. Uninhabited except by birds, snakes and croco diles itis occasionally visited by fishermen and particularly handy adventurers. Volcanic vents,rising 1,000 feet above the lake, emit a ghostly luminous glow at night.
ACCESS:
The island features bush airstrip, and is also accessible by boat fromLoyangalani Lodge on the southeastern shore of the lake.
MALINDI and WATUMU MARINE PARKS These areas, declared a biosphere", one of fivein Kenya, in 1979 are located on the Malindi
Watumu shore line, 199km from Mombasa.
Special Features:
Hundreds of species of fish, including huge
groupers and rock cod, and some not yet identi
fled, abound in a bewildering variety of shapes
and colours.
Numerous categories of marine fauna flora and
shells, and three main types of coral.
Glass-bottom boats are available at the park
entrance, and scuba diving and fishing are popu
lar.
Big Three-Caves lie at the mouth of Mida Creek,
Watami.
T dal wetlands are a mecca for crustacea
palearctic waders and crab plover
Whale Island features the world's largest nesting site of the roseate tern; nearby are the Gedi ruins.
Access:
By airfrom Nairobi, or by road from Mombasa.
Accommodations:
Beach cottages and hotels are in the town.
MASARBIT NATIONAL PARK
Established in the Marsabit district in 1940,
the park is 360 squane km.
Special Features;
_ Mt. Mansabit is 1,000m high Lake Paradise and little Lake, an indigenous forest and desert combine to produce the most compelling landscape on earth.
Elephants and Greater Kudu abound.
Access:
I n a powerful vehicle, the road from Isiolo to Marsabit is tolerable. Anotherroute is via Lake Turkana through the blisteringly hot Chalbi Desert on the west side ofMarsabit
Accommodation:
_ Lodges are prevalent all the way from Naro Moru to Lake Turkana, with petrol available in the major towns.
MERU NATIONAL PARK
an 870 square km Park, located in the Eastern
Province, north of Mt. Kenya, formed in 1966. Special Features:
_ Situated on the Equator, with a great range of vegetation - forests, savannahs, and dryscrub traversed by many streams. The Tana River forms the eastern bonder.
The home of Joy and George admson of "Born Free" and "Living Free" fame.
ACCESS:
Drive around Mt. Kenya to the town of Menu on the mountain's northern slope towithin 35km of the park's Murera gate.
Accommodations:
Leopard Self-Service Lodge on a very attractive riverside setting - but watch out forcrocodiles! Rooms have kitchens and verandahs. Linen, cut lery gas and electric lightare available.
Kenya Wildlife Service campsites: On the Bwathorongi River, four clearings with eightsites each with a lockup Banda and standpipes and a communal shower. Sites can besecured by paying a non-refundable deposit for a maxi mum of seven nights for oneparty Firewood is provided. Definitely a camper's paradise!
T ELGON NATIONAL PARK
Established in 1968, a 169 square km park on the
Kenya-Uganda border.
Special Features:
Unspoiled mountain forest home to over 200 elephants, buffalo, leopards, colobus andblue monkeys, the giant forest hog, waterbuck and many species of antelope; over 240species of birds
Four explorable caves - Ngwarisha, Makinyen, Chepnyali and Kitum, which is knownas the place of ceremonies, and extends 200m into the
Mountain climbing on Mt. Elgon (4 200m) at Koitobos, features a moor land and hotsprings.
_ The Kitale Museum is located in Kitale town.
Access:
_ A sign posted road network approaches to within 1 15km of the Park. Acwmmodaflons:
_ Guest House on Mills Farm, four public camp sites, Kit ale Club in Kitale town, and Mt.Elgon Lodge.
MOUNT LONGONOT and HELL'S GATE NATIONAL
PARKS
Hell% Gate 68.25 square km, established in 1984
and Longonot 52.1 square km, founded in 1983,
are located at Naivasha in the Nakuru District.
special Features:
Ol-Njorowa Gorge in Hell's Gate.
Obsidian black glass rock is found everywhere.
Mt. Longonot, an extinct volcano of great geo
logical significance, is 3,321m high, and being
easy to climb, does not require complex equip
meet.
Hot springs and steam seep through vents in
the solidified lava.
Home to over 300 bird species, buffalo, lions,
elands, leopards and antelopes.
ACCESS:
Via the Narasha, Olkaria or main Elsa gates.
Accommodations:
The Lake Naivasha Hotel, the Safariland Hotel,
Elsamere, Longonot Game Ranch, and two
campsrtes in Hell's Gate. Carry clean drinking
water.
MT. KENYA NATIONAL PARK
At Mt. Kenya, established in 1949 consisting of
71 ,500 hectares above 10 500 feet, and 130,000
hectares of forest preserve.
Special Features:
From the mountain top on a clear day one can
see Mt. Kilimanjaro to the south, Mt. Elgon to
the west, Marsabit Mountain to the north, and
the Indian Ocean to the west.
A motor road goes halfway up the mountain to a
popular picnic site, amid towering forests of
podo cedar, and dense bamboo.
Of interest to the botanist, rare plants grow 100
times bigger than in a garden! Big game
abounds.
Home of the Kikuyu God, Ngai.
Best weather is from January 1 through March
1 5, and from August 1 through October 15; April
and May are bad.
Day trips are best made in the morning.
Walking alone is forbidden; guides are recom
mended. Some not accustomed to high altitudes
may experience headaches over 11,000 feet
Access:
Contact tour experts: Savage Wilderness,
Tropical Ice, and Bush buck Adventures.
Accommodations:
_ Mt. Kenya Safari Club (5 star), Mountain Lodge (4 star), Naro Moru River Lodge 3star), Bantu Lodge, Mt. Kenya Meru Bandas at Chogona, Teleki 'valley.
_ Dozens of climbing huts, camps and caves Camping is permitted at any gate, road headmountain track, main route or near any hut.
NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK Established in 1946,117 square km park in the Lang'ataarea of Nairobi.
Special Features:
Over 100 species of animals: rhino under 24hour surveillance, lions, cheetahs, over400 bird species including helmeted guinea fowl, francol ins, kori white and black-bellied bustards, que lea turacos, mouse binds and ostriches, In March and early April,European marsh and palled her riers move northward overhead, and flocks of migratingcommon kestrel. Also game birds and birds of prey. ACCESS:
_ Five gates; the main gate is on the Lang'ata road opposite the Lang'ata Cemetery.
Accommodatlons:
_ No camping sites because of the proximity to the city, but there are six picnic sites.
NDERE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK
Nestled on the northern shore of Lake Victoria'sWinam Gulf a volcano-inflicted break in a 1,000km meandering shoreline. Establishedin 1986, the Park is 4.2 square km.
special Features:
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