Kenya
Kenya is in East Africa and is one of the best places in the world to see the big 5 and other wildlife. It is the most preferred of Africa’s safari destinations and is famous for the ‘big migration’ in the Masai Mara, where millions of zebras and wildebeests migrate between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania. Kenya as a tourist destination has a lot to offer in its game parks, reserves and other wildlife protection areas.
Kenya has many tourist attractions in different game parks and reserves, which include:
The Masai Mara
The Masai Mara is one of the most famous game reserves in Kenya and is well known for its great migration. It is split in two by the famous Mara River where over 1.5 million migrating wildebeest and zebras make a spectacular attempt to cross the river safely. The most common activity in the Masai Mara is the game drives where you will see a huge amount of wildlife like lions, Buffaloes, Zebras, Elephants, Wildebeests, and many others. Another activity is the hot air balloon safari where you can view wildlife from above.
The Samburu National Reserve
The Samburu National Reserve is another attraction in Kenya that is located at the south-eastern corner of Samburu District in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It is bordered to the south by Ewaso Nyiro River, which separates it from the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. The reserve is rich in wildlife, and a game drive in the reserve will enable you to see various animal species like the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and the Beisa Oryx. There are also large predators like lions, Leopards, and Cheetahs. Birdlife is also abundant, with over 450 species recorded. Birders will sight the African Darter, Great Egret, White-headed Vulture, Martial Eagle, and the Yellow-billed Oxpecker in the reserve.
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is also known as “Home of the African Elephant” is situated in the South-east of Kenya bordering Tanzania. It is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants. There are five different habitats that can be explored, i.e. the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulphur springs, the savannah, and woodlands. Wildlife in the park includes Leopard, Cheetah, Wild dogs, Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Lion, Crocodile, Mongoose, Hyrax, Dik- dik, Lesser Kudu, and Nocturnal Porcupine. There are also over 600 species of birdlife. Travellers can also visit the local Maasai community who live around the park and experience their authentic culture.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park is located on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. Travellers to the park can enjoy the wide ecological diversity and attractions ranging from Lake Nakuru to the wildlife. There are Flamingo (Greater and Lesser) and other water birds numbering about 450 species in total, 56 different species of mammals including white rhinos, waterbuck etc. Lake Nakuru National Park is ideal for bird watching, hiking, picnic and game drives.
Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park is home to various wildlife which includes elephants, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthogs, and bushbucks among others. Rare sightings in the park include the African wild cat, African civet cat and the blue duiker. Some of the activities that visitors can indulge in include picnics, trout fishing in the rivers and camping in the moorlands. Bird viewing is also a common activity, with over 250 species of birds in the park, including the Jackson’s Francolin, Sparrow hawks, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds, and plovers.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta Conservancy is one of the most unrestricted reserves in Kenya where visitors can go for game drives to view or see wildlife. It is part of the much larger Laikipia Plateau national reserve and forms a natural border between the central highlands and the northern desert areas of Kenya. Ol Pejeta is the biggest protected area for the rhinos in East Africa with 80 black rhinos and at least 10 white rhinos.
Diani Beach
Diani Beach is a resort area on the Indian Ocean in Kenya, 30 km south of Mombasa. The beach is a popular destination that attracts a diverse crowd, from honeymooners and backpackers to party people and water-sports enthusiasts. Some of the attractions at the beach include the colobus conservation, the Slave and Kamboza caves, Bora Bora Wildlife Park, and many others. Common activities include Golf, Quad Trips where you take guided trips through small villages on quads, Kite surfing, diving, Snorkelling, Sky diving, etc.
At Heritage Explorers, we will arrange your African holiday safari to Kenya according to your interests. Are you interested in following the great migration in Masai Mara, wildlife tours, Birding safaris, Culture and community safaris, Photography, beach holidays, Mountain Hiking/mountaineering or Forest Hikes? Do you prefer a ‘calm’ safari or an adventurous safari? Whatever it is, you will find it here!
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