The enchanting wilderness and big game of Kenya has always attracted explorers from all corners of the world. Kenya gives wildlife adventure seekers the chance to experience an incredible range of landscapes, unique natural features and species as well as an endless array of ecosystems.
With 27 national parks and 33 national reserves hosting over 4 million animals, Kenya is a paradise for the wildlife enthusiast. From the internationally acclaimed Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration to East and Central Africas greatest concentration of flamingos wading in Lake Nakuru, Kenya offers some of the best wildlife safari adventures in the world.
Many visitors from the entire world, for example, travel to Masai Mara every year to observe the great wildebeest migration. Between July and October, around 2 million wildebeest and over 400,000 Thompson gazelles and zebras cross from Serengeti national park in Tanzania to Kenya's Masai Mara game reserve. The rainfall patterns in the two game reserves determine the migration pattern as the ungulates move in search of greener pastures and water. In the Serengeti, the dry season starts at the end of May, and the animals start their northward journey towards the Mara.
With or without the great migration, the Mara is a fascinating wildlife watching destination throughout the year. Many people nevertheless like taking a Masai Mara safari at the time of the wildebeest migration. However, timing the migration is a tricky matter because the migration schedule is dictated by the rains.
Placed in Kenya's southwest, the Mara is approximately 300km from Nairobi and is operated and managed by the local Maasai community. Traveling to the Mara will take you about 45 minutes by flight from Nairobi and 5 hours by road. You can find scheduled flights to Masai Mara at either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson airport in Nairobi. You can also charter a place at Wilson airport. Many tour operators in Kenya offer organized safari packages to the Mara.
A popular and convenient wildlife safari destination for visitors who do not want to travel much across the country is the Nairobi National park. The park is situated about 7km from Nairobi city center, making it the only game reserve in the world located in a major city. Nairobi national park was established in 1945 and was the first national park in Kenya.
The park is a sanctuary to a large variety of game and bird life. The big five are well represented in the park, with exception of the elephant. Other animals include the hippo and crocodile, found in the Athi River pools, large herds of wildebeest, giraffe, eland, Thompson's gazelle, cheetah, monkeys, hyrax, antelope, warthog, waterbuck, hyena amongst others. More than 400 species of birds, both migratory and local, which include ostrich, secretary birds, doves, African hawk and martial eagles, hornbills, crowned cranes, marabou storks and many more.
The park has an Orphanage where young and/or injured or deserted animals are kept, studied, treated and released back into the wild when they are ready. A rhino sanctuary was started off in the park making it one of the few places where you are sure to spot a black rhino in its natural environment. There are also walking trails near hippo pools, a Nairobi Safari walk and spacious picnic sites.
Visitors frequent the park any time of the year, as there is a permanent population of game and carnivores. However, the best times are during the July/August period when large herds of wildebeest, eland and zebra migrate into the park, and during the dry season, when animals flock in the northern part of the park in search of water made available from the man-made dams.
Tsavo National park, famed for the movie 'man eaters of tsavo', is yet another good wildlife destination. Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya, and is located about 300 km from Nairobi. The park is divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks, with the Mombasa-Nairobi highway separating the two parks. Tsavo West neighbors the Serengeti plains on the south, and has many wild animals owing to the favorable altitude. Tsavo's major attractions include the underwater hippos and crocodiles observation point in Mzima springs.
Wild animals found in Tsavo include all the big five, plus cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and zebras. There are several smaller animals including dik dik, hyrax, and mongoose. Getting to Tsavo is easy both by road and flight. Accessible airstrips in Tsavo include Tsavo Gate, Kamboyo, Kilaguri and Maxtar.
Other popular wildlife safari destinations in Kenya include the Amboseli National Park, Aberdares National Park, Samburu Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and Mount Kenya National Park.
With 27 national parks and 33 national reserves hosting over 4 million animals, Kenya is a paradise for the wildlife enthusiast. From the internationally acclaimed Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration to East and Central Africas greatest concentration of flamingos wading in Lake Nakuru, Kenya offers some of the best wildlife safari adventures in the world.
Many visitors from the entire world, for example, travel to Masai Mara every year to observe the great wildebeest migration. Between July and October, around 2 million wildebeest and over 400,000 Thompson gazelles and zebras cross from Serengeti national park in Tanzania to Kenya's Masai Mara game reserve. The rainfall patterns in the two game reserves determine the migration pattern as the ungulates move in search of greener pastures and water. In the Serengeti, the dry season starts at the end of May, and the animals start their northward journey towards the Mara.
With or without the great migration, the Mara is a fascinating wildlife watching destination throughout the year. Many people nevertheless like taking a Masai Mara safari at the time of the wildebeest migration. However, timing the migration is a tricky matter because the migration schedule is dictated by the rains.
Placed in Kenya's southwest, the Mara is approximately 300km from Nairobi and is operated and managed by the local Maasai community. Traveling to the Mara will take you about 45 minutes by flight from Nairobi and 5 hours by road. You can find scheduled flights to Masai Mara at either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson airport in Nairobi. You can also charter a place at Wilson airport. Many tour operators in Kenya offer organized safari packages to the Mara.
A popular and convenient wildlife safari destination for visitors who do not want to travel much across the country is the Nairobi National park. The park is situated about 7km from Nairobi city center, making it the only game reserve in the world located in a major city. Nairobi national park was established in 1945 and was the first national park in Kenya.
The park is a sanctuary to a large variety of game and bird life. The big five are well represented in the park, with exception of the elephant. Other animals include the hippo and crocodile, found in the Athi River pools, large herds of wildebeest, giraffe, eland, Thompson's gazelle, cheetah, monkeys, hyrax, antelope, warthog, waterbuck, hyena amongst others. More than 400 species of birds, both migratory and local, which include ostrich, secretary birds, doves, African hawk and martial eagles, hornbills, crowned cranes, marabou storks and many more.
The park has an Orphanage where young and/or injured or deserted animals are kept, studied, treated and released back into the wild when they are ready. A rhino sanctuary was started off in the park making it one of the few places where you are sure to spot a black rhino in its natural environment. There are also walking trails near hippo pools, a Nairobi Safari walk and spacious picnic sites.
Visitors frequent the park any time of the year, as there is a permanent population of game and carnivores. However, the best times are during the July/August period when large herds of wildebeest, eland and zebra migrate into the park, and during the dry season, when animals flock in the northern part of the park in search of water made available from the man-made dams.
Tsavo National park, famed for the movie 'man eaters of tsavo', is yet another good wildlife destination. Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya, and is located about 300 km from Nairobi. The park is divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks, with the Mombasa-Nairobi highway separating the two parks. Tsavo West neighbors the Serengeti plains on the south, and has many wild animals owing to the favorable altitude. Tsavo's major attractions include the underwater hippos and crocodiles observation point in Mzima springs.
Wild animals found in Tsavo include all the big five, plus cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and zebras. There are several smaller animals including dik dik, hyrax, and mongoose. Getting to Tsavo is easy both by road and flight. Accessible airstrips in Tsavo include Tsavo Gate, Kamboyo, Kilaguri and Maxtar.
Other popular wildlife safari destinations in Kenya include the Amboseli National Park, Aberdares National Park, Samburu Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and Mount Kenya National Park.
About the Author:
The author works with Africapoint.com, reputable online travel agents for Africa. Visit Africapoint.com to book your wildlife safari in Kenya, and also make reservations for hotels and lodges in Kenya and flights from Kenya.
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