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MAJOR NATIONAL PARKS in Kenya
Kenya, just the name enough to evoke the most stirring wild images
of millions of wildebeest storming across the Masai Mara plains,
a herd of migrating zebra fording a crocodile ruled river; a young
elephant enveloped in it's mother's tender embrace! All these are
memories you'll have once you visit our National Parks and Game
Reserves.
National Parks occupy an area
of 44, 359sq km or 7.6% of the whole country. The parks hold 80
major animal species ranging from the Big Five to the tiny antelopes
such as the dik-dik - slightly larger than a rabbit.
There are approximately 1500
species in bird-life which makes Kenya perhaps the finest country
in Africa for bird watching. The major game reserves and parks are
as follows: -
The Masai Mara Game Reserve
It is the world's famous game reserve due to the annual wildebeests
migration. It is part of Serengeti National park in Tanzania. Often
described as the greatest of natures stages, the Masai Mara, with
its huge dramatic skies, is the most popular of all Kenya's game
parks.
The landscape which is mostly savanna, hosts approximately 22 families
of lions and 3000 elephants. This park is famous for herds of elephants,
buffaloes, wildebeest and zebras that roam its plains. The Mara
river is one of the best places to observe hippos and crocodiles.
Amboseli National Park
This park is south of Nairobi. It is found at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro
which is 5896m where vast herds of elephants can be spotted feeding
on the lush green grasses of the Amboseli swamps. Mt. Kilimanjaro,
also the ' Shining Mountain' is the highest freestanding mountain
in the world and is topped by a fifth of all the ice in Africa.
In all game reserves &
parks, the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro is the 'guaranteed elephant spot'.
Keep an eye on the large matriarch since elephants are like human,
they're very protective of their families.
Samburu and Shaba Reserves
This is to the north of Nairobi and is set in the lands of the colorful
Samburu pastrolists. The Shaba National Reserve is a rugged wilderness
featuring bubbling hot springs, rolling savannah, miles of scrub
& desert and the Ewaso Nyiro River which supports a diversity
of wildlife.
It is famed for rare game
species such as the grevy's zebra, long naked gerenuk, reticulated
giraffe and beiza oryx.
Lake Nakuru National Park
This game park is two hours drive from Nairobi. This park is famous
for the millions of pink flamingos on the shores of Lake Nakuru.
The park was named as ' the world's greatest bird spectacle'. In
the park, the big five and other wild animals.
Lake Nakuru National park
also offers a rhino sanctuary, some remarkable tree climbing lions
and a large leopard population. You might get three out of five
big ones, all in one go!
Hells Gate National Park
Hells Gate is one of the few remaining places in Kenya where you
can walk unguided and it's principal feature is the Njorowa Gorge,
the ancient outlet for Lake Naivasha, long since dried up and now
famous for its huge eroded cliffs.
Mount Kenya National Park
Home to the highest [5, 199m] mountain in Kenya, Mount Kenya National
Park contrasts warm savanna with glaciers and snow storms. Both
the Kikuyu and Masai regard the mountain as the home of their supreme
being, Ngai. It is also one of only small number of great mountains
whose summit [Point Lenana , the 3rd highest peak] is accessible
to non-climbers.
The Aberdares National
Park
Was gazetted in 1950, this is one of the oldest parks in the country
and is famous as the place where Princess Elizabeth became Queen
Elizabeth II of England while staying at in the original Treetops
Lodge. It is also famous for its prized in habitant, The Bongo Antelope
and home to the second largest population of indigenous black rhino.
It features miles of high moorland scenery, tumbling waterfalls
and sensational views.
Tsavo National Park
This national park is divided in two - Tsavo East & West. Elephants
can be spotted in Tsavo National park by looking for a large gray
shape. The largest herds are reputed to have been found in this
park. Tsavo elephants can confuse you easily by covering themselves
with the local deep red, iron-oxide soil to keep off insects!
As for the highly endangered
rhino, these great, grey, prehistoric creatures are best found in
the thick, scrubby bush. Particularly in sanctuaries that have been
founded to protect them, like Tsavo park itself, Solio and Lewa
Downs in Laikipia.
Tsavo East - is a true wilderness and evokes vivid memories of Africa's
forgotten grandeur. Encompassing miles of arid plains, savanna &
scrubland and sheltering over 8000 elephants. Tsavo entered 'frontier
lore at the turn of the century when two maverick 'man-eating' lions
devoured over 50 Indian laborers on the Kenya Uganda Railway.
Tsavo West - also offers a glorious diversity of habitats but the
biggest attraction is Mzima Springs. This is a fount of cool clear
water that gushes hundreds of miles from below Mt. Kilimanjaro.
It bursts out at a rate of 250 million liters a day, from the rocks
at Mzima.
Mombasa
The coastal strip of Kenya is a great tourist attraction; with its
white sand beaches & diverse cultures that fascinate the visitors.
Walk barefoot on the powdery
sand beside a turquoise ocean that beckons you to relax in its gentle
sea breeze that soothes. The ocean waters are safe for windsurfing,
diving or even fishing.
Swahili cooking at the coast,
like so many things that have been blown up on to the sapphire and
silver sands of the Kenyan coast. It is a distillation of the myriad
influences swept there by the lilting Kazkazi and Kuzi monsoon winds.
Marine Parks and Reserves
Kenya now has seven (7) Marine National Parks and Reserves and was
the first African Country to offer protection to these sensitive
aquatic ecosystems.
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