KENYA

KENYA

Located in the heart of Africa, Kenya shares borders with the Indian Ocean to the East and 5 countries; Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. The Great Rift Valley runs through the country from North to South. The country is named after Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest peak, and is also home to Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world. Thousands of visitors flock to Kenya every year attracted by the stunning landscapes that sweep the country, from the beautiful white sand beaches of the Indian Ocean to the arid deserts on the Lakeshores to the rolling plains of the Maasai Mara. The National Parks of Kenya are home to thousands of animal species and the Great Migration of millions of wildebeest from the Serengeti in Tanzania into the Maasai Mara in Kenya, across the pulsing Mara River, is one of the greatest spectacles on earth. The predominant religion in Kenya is Christianity. However, other faiths practised include Baha’i, Hinduism, Islam and traditional African religions. Swahili and English are the official languages of the country but many indigenous languages are still spoken widely. Throughout the country, old cultures meld with new, and ancient traditions sit alongside modern customs in a country that indeed is a thriving multi-cultural centre. 

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN VISITING KENYA:

  • Witnessing hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra traversing the Masai Mara with predators in pursuit has no parallel on the planet!
  • Amboseli, with Mount Kilimanjaro as the impressive scenic backdrop, offers superb game-viewing, especially for elephant.
  • At Lake Nakuru, you can witness the spectacle of thousands of shimmering pink flamingos lining the shores of the lake.
  • The Samburu Reserve is home to several rare species of game and is another must-not-miss on any Kenyan safari.
  • Straddling the equator at 5199m, Mount Kenya is the second-highest mountain in Africa and offers a picturesque climb.
  • An unforgettable Balloon Safari is a fantastic way to take in the vastness of the Masai Mara's untamed wilderness.
  • Kenya’s coastline is also stunning with its white sand and turquoise ocean, not to mention Lamu Island, one of the world’s unique islands.

NATIONAL PARKS

Kenya has 54 National Parks and Game Reserves. The National Parks are managed by the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS), who are also responsible for protecting all Kenya wildlife animals and species. Kenya National Reserves, on the other hand, are managed by the local county councils within their jurisdiction.

Masai Mara National Reserve

The most visited of Kenya’s Reserves is the Maasai Mara National Reserve. It offers breathtaking views and world-class game viewing opportunities year round. Situated in the south-west of Kenya and forming part of the Serengeti ecosystem, The Mara is the best park in Kenya from which to enjoy the spectacular Great Migration.


Amboseli National Park 

Amboseli is Kenya’s most famous park after the Mara. Located 160 miles from Nairobi, it offers a stunning view of both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. In addition to the beautiful sunsets and sunrises,  guests can enjoy an eclectic array of animals and wildlife habitats from atop The Observation Hill.


Nairobi National Park 

Nairobi National Park is a major attraction for visitors to Nairobi, offering them a chance to enjoy Kenya’s wildlife from within the city.  Located less than 10 miles from the city itself, the National Park is also a rhino sanctuary, and guests can enjoy buffalo, zebra and wildebeest sightings as well as a host of birdlife. 


Tsavo East National Park 

Now separated from the original Tsavo, Tsavo East is popular with tourists from Kenya’s coast. Less than 100 miles from Mombasa, it is served by several airstrips and guests can see the infamous “Man-Eaters of Tsavo” lions, as well as elephant, rhino and a variety of other bird and wildlife.


Tsavo West National Park 

Occupying 30 % of Kenya’s total park area, Tsavo West is one of the largest parks in Kenya. It is easily accessible from the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and borders Tanzania to the south. Tsavo West offers tremendous views of a landscape packed with diverse wildlife habitats; rocky ridges, acacia woodlands, isolated hills, semi-desert scrubs and mountain forest.


Lake Nakuru National Park 

95 miles northwest of Nairobi, Nakuru is famous for the pink flamingoes that inhabit the lake, alongside white rhino and over 400 bird species. 


Ol Pejeta Conservancy

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 90,000-acre (360 km2) not-for-profit wildlife conservancy in 

Central Kenya’s Laikipia County. It is situated on the equator west of Nanyuki, between the foothills of the Aberdares and Mount Kenya.  The Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, provide a sanctuary for great apes and three species of rhino to generate income through wildlife tourism, conservation and community development.  The Conservancy boasts the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. It also houses the three remaining northern white rhino in the world as well as a population of southern white rhino. The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is situated here and provides a haven for orphaned, abandoned and rescued chimpanzees. It is also the only place in Kenya where these great apes can be seen.


Samburu National Park 

Located in the Samburu, the Samburu Reserve, a rugged, semi-desert park that has remained almost undisturbed by humankind. The reserve is home to the rare northern rhino, gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe.

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