With almost 50 national parks and reserves showcasing Kenya’s natural beauty and stunning wildlife, it’s no surprise that the country rates among the top safari destinations in the world. These wilderness spaces come in many different forms and sizes, providing an array of land and seascapes, ranging from towering sub-arctic mountains to dense, steamy jungles, vast open savannahs, and underwater tropical paradises.
But with so many choices, first-time travelers are often perplexed at which parks to visit and which ones to leave out of their safari itineraries. To make your life easier, I have narrowed them down to just seven of the best places to go on safari in Kenya.
Masai Mara National Reserve
No game park in Africa evokes a more genuine sense of adventure and raw wilderness than the Maasai Mara National Reserve, situated in southwestern Kenya. Forming part of the Maasai/Serengeti Ecosystem, which stresses across the border of Kenya and Tanzania, these regions co-host the Great Migration, regarded as ‘the greatest show on earth’.
The most popular time to view the migration is in August and September, when two million wildebeests, zebras, and antelope cross the crocodile-infested Mara River and pour onto its plains. Only the Mara River separates the Maasai Mara from the Serengeti, making it possible to visit both iconic parks and various others on a single combined Tanzania-Kenya safari itinerary.
But don’t disregard Masai Mara if you can’t visit during the height of the migration – it remains a sensational safari destination throughout the year. In fact, this national reserve lays claim to the world’s densest concentration of big cats.
Moreover, in addition to big cats and the Big Five, you can expect to see most of Africa’s charismatic animals, including cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, giraffes, impalas, numerous gazelle species, and over 500 species of birds.
The best time to visit the Maasai Mara and virtually all the East African parks is during the dry season between June and October. During this period, the weather is at its finest, with sunny skies and little chance of rain, plentiful game, and the great migration in full swing. The reserve can get a little crowded, but the numerous privately run concession areas dotted across it offer more private and quieter safaris, albeit a little more expensive.
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli is also situated in the south, touching the Tanzanian border along the northern foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The park is known as ‘The Home of the African Elephant’ and is one of the best places on earth to see large herds of elephants. It has some of the oldest and largest elephants in the world. Known as the ‘Super Tuskers,’ some of these African giants possess tusks so large that they touch the ground and may weigh over 50 kg (100 lbs).
Tragically, the majestic Super Tuskers are occasionally the victims of trophy hunters in neighboring Tanzania. Hunting is inexplicably still allowed there, putting the animals at risk when they cross the border. Elephant lovers can do their part in determining this beautiful animal’s future by supporting local tour groups, conservation groups, and charities.
Apart from elephants, which are the big stars here, Amboseli also boasts a dense population of lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, tons of antelope, and hundreds of bird species. Leopards are, however, scarce, and rhinos are absent, having been poached to almost extinction.
Despite being hotter and drier than the Maasai Mara, the vast wetlands and seasonal lake provide a varied landscape that is one of the most photogenic parks in Kenya. Better yet, the imposing snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro makes a breathtaking backdrop to almost every photograph, especially with a herd of elephants and other iconic animals grazing in the foreground. The best views can be enjoyed from the high Observation Hill, conveniently situated in the middle of the park, which looks at the wetlands and park surroundings. The wetlands teem with thousands of pink flamingos, pelicans, kingfishers, and various other colorful aquatic bird species. Nature photographers will be in their element on Observation Hill and the rest of this breathtaking region.
Meru National Park
Made famous by the 1960s book and film ‘Born Free’ by Bill and Joy Adamson, Meru National Park is located just east of Mount Kenya, about a 7-hour drive from Nairobi. This magnificent landscape covers an area of 870 km2 (336 mi2), comprising everything from mountain slopes and dense woodlands to open savannahs crisscrossed by numerous rivers and streams. All these environments combine to create the perfect habitat for a wide range of wildlife.
Not only does Meru National Park contain the Big Five, but it’s also one of the few places where you’re pretty much guaranteed to see black and white rhinos, which guards take great care to protect within the rhino sanctuary.
Other animals commonly sighted here include cheetahs, hippos, the rare Grevy’s zebra, giraffes, warthogs, elands, hartebeests, waterbucks, and various other antelope, as well as over 400 species of birds. Meru National Park is less visited than other famed parks and, with its remote and rugged landscapes, provides a more authentic and wild safari experience than some of Kenya’s more well-known destinations.
Alongside superb game viewing, camping, picnicking, and hiking, the park offers terrific and informative cultural tours to several fascinating tribal communities that reside nearby. It is an excellent safari destination and, in my book, one of Kenya’s most underrated safari parks.
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu is another national reserve, made famous by the Adamsons’ lioness, Elsa, and is located a short distance to the northwest.
Despite its tiny size of only 165 km2 (64 mi2), it holds the Big Five, including many big cats and over 900 elephants. Other animals you can expect to see in abundance include hyenas, hippos, crocs, giraffes, the rare Grevy’s zebras, wildebeest, and over 400 species of birds. Its small size also gives the park a high density of wildlife, allowing you to spot many animal species in a relatively short period and increasing your chances of spotting a leopard, one of the most elusive animals in the bush.
Samburu is famous for having some of Africa’s rarer species, like the weird blue-flesh Somali Ostrich, Beisa Oryx, African wild dogs, and gerenuk. This strange creature has a tiny head, massive ears, a gazelle’s legs, and a giraffe’s neck. No wonder people often call it a ‘giraffe gazelle’!
Like Meru, Samburu’s terrain is also ruggedly beautiful, consisting of rocky hills, valleys, and vast open plains fed by several rivers and streams. Because it is less visited, Samburu provides a more enjoyable and peaceful safari experience than some of the more famous parks.
Nairobi National Park
A few minutes’ drive from the capital’s city center, Nairobi National Park is often the first game park travelers visit upon arrival in Kenya. Another trademark of this unique park is that it is the only place where you can see lions in the wild with the city’s skyscrapers towering in the distance as a backdrop, and somehow, it doesn’t look odd.
Despite its small size—only 117 km2 (45 mi2)—Nairobi houses four members of the elite Big Five Club (lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos) and many other popular African animal species. Zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, elands, impalas, and baboons can all be seen on a single game drive, as can hundreds of bird species.
Picnic sites, walking trails, and camping sites inside the park offer a wildlife safari experience in the middle of a bustling city. Visitors can experience a taste of Kenya’s natural beauty and rich wildlife, which awaits them across the country.
On the edge of the park, the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage is a fantastic place to visit, especially if you have children. Here, you can see baby orphaned elephants and rhinos playing in the mud and being cared for so they can one day return to the wild, where they belong.
Laikipia Region
The Laikipia Region, located in the northwestern foothills of Mount Kenya, is a three-hour drive from Nairobi. It is home to numerous conservancies, which play a vital role in protecting and conserving a number of rare and endangered species in Kenya. The region also contains nearly half of Kenya’s rhino population and is one of the best places in Kenya to see African wild dogs.
Among the many conservancies, Ol Pejeta may be the smallest, but it is home to a large number of black and white rhinos, pretty much guaranteeing multiple sightings on every game drive. It is also home to the world’s last two remaining northern white rhinos and is the closest place to Nairobi, where you can see the Big Five. Other animals you’re bound to see here include cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, eland, impalas, hippos, wild dogs, Grevy’s zebras, oryx, and chimpanzees, which are kept in a separate sanctuary.
Other popular conservancies include the Ol Jogi, which has over 100 rhinos and Africa’s largest Grevy zebra population. It also has lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, wild dogs, and numerous other species. Meanwhile, the Mugi Conservancy is one of the prettiest, with a large lake that is a magnet for 280 bird species, alongside Laikipia’s other usual wildlife. In addition to game drives, this conservancy offers walking safaris, camel rides, and canal safaris across the lake.
The entire Laikipia Region is ideal for self-drive safaris as it has a well-maintained road system and provides a wide range of lodging options, including campsites. At an altitude of over 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above sea level, the Laikipia Region is one of the few malaria-free zones in the country.
With the imposing Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-tallest mountain, visible from almost everywhere, Laikipia is one of the most scenic regions of Kenya.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lying next to the Laikipia Region, Lake Nakuru National Park is one of Kenya’s smallest but most scenic parks. The picturesque lake covers most of the park, and its shores are fringed with dense forests, lush grasslands, rolling hills, and rocky ledges that hide waterfalls and a wide range of wildlife.
Except for elephants, all the other key animals, like lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, buffalos, hippos, giraffes, zebras, baboons, warthogs, and numerous buck species, can be seen in abundance in a relatively short period. You’ll find most of the wildlife congregating around the lake shoreline. If you’re very fortunate, you may spot one of Africa’s largest pythons, typically spotted slithering amongst the rocky ledges.
The lake offers terrific canoe safaris, allowing you to get close to the rich birdlife and animals lining its shores. Bird species you’ll come across include fish eagles, kingfishers, Goliath herons, pelicans, crowned cranes and thousands of flamingos. This scenic and wildlife-rich park is ideal for photographic safaris with specially modified boats.
The western shoreline provides several high lookout points, offering fantastic views of the lake and park below. Various lodging options are available around the lake, and being close to the main highway makes Lake Nakuru National Park a convenient and popular Kenya safari destination.
Conclusion
Having narrowed down your options to just these seven national parks and reserves, I hope this post has helped make planning your Kenya safari adventure a little easier. No matter where you choose to go, you can rest assured that virtually all parks in Kenya will provide you with some of your most unforgettable memories.