Lake Nakuru National Park
Scenic Lake Nakuru is Kenya’s most popular national park. It offers good wildlife viewing with four of the Big Five present. The small park doesn’t support elephants, but rhinos are particularly easy to see. Lake Nakuru NP’s main feature is a large, shallow lake, which was famous for large flocks of flamingos. However, since 2012, conditions have become unfavorable for the flamingos and most have moved to other Rift Valley lakes. The lake still supports great birdlife, including big flocks of pelicans.
Best Time to Go June to March best for wildlife viewing (Little rain)
High Season July to March (The park gets very busy)
Size 188km² / 73mi²
Altitude 1,755-2,053m / 5,758-6,736ft
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli is classic Africa. Often called the ‘Land of Giants’ – due to the impressive elephants here carrying massive tusks – the animals are set against breathtaking vistas of Mt Kilimanjaro, which makes an awesome backdrop to the small park. Aside from elephants, many plains animals are easy to spot (as are other visitors, it’s a popular place). Fantastic photo opportunities are possible, and early mornings are best for clear views of Kilimanjaro.
Best Time to Go June to September and January to February
High Season December to March and July to October (Busy)
Size 390km² / 151mi²
Altitude 1,124-1,169m / 3,688-3,835ft
Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Buffalo Springs, Samburu and Shaba are a trio of similar, adjoining reserves. Buffalo Springs offers good wildlife viewing of most big safari animals, and is particularly renowned for its excellent leopard sightings. Nearby Samburu pastoralists live a semi-nomadic lifestyle and occasionally they might temporarily drive off wildlife as they pass through the reserve with their cattle. The encroachment is worst in times of drought when they are desperate for water available inside the reserve. However, their movement is usually restricted to the peripheries of the reserve.
Best Time to Go June to September and January to February
High Season December to March and July to October (Busy)
Size 165km² / 64mi²
Altitude 835-994m / 2,740-3,261ft
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu is the most popular reserve in northern Kenya. Wildlife viewing is good, and most big safari animals are easily spotted. The arid environment is home to a variety of north Kenya specials – both birds and mammals.
Nearby Samburu pastoralists live a semi-nomadic lifestyle and occasionally they might temporarily drive off wildlife as they pass through the reserve with their cattle. The encroachment is worst in times of drought when they are desperate for water available inside the reserve. However, their movement is usually restricted to the peripheries of the reserve.
Best Time to Go June to September and January to February
High Season December to March and July to October (Busy)
Size 165km² / 64mi²
Altitude 842-1,064m / 2,762-3,491ft
Maasai Mara National Reserve
The Maasai Mara is one of Africa’s most famous parks. The wildlife viewing is superb throughout the year. The park’s abundant vegetation and regular rainfall supports a huge population of herbivores, in turn attracting many predators. All three big cats are relatively easy to see. The yearly wildebeest migration coming through the park is one of the world’s most amazing wildlife spectacles. Just outside the Masai Mara NR are a number of conservancies and private reserves run in partnership with local Masai communities.Best Time to Go June to September and January to February .
The Wildebeest Migration, the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is home to the annual wildebeest migration where over 2million wildebeest, zebra and gazelles follow the rains in search of new grass. They make their way from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara somewhere around July and August, and usually arrive in September. The crossing of the Mara River along the way is one of the highlights of this spectacular event. They slowly head back into the Serengeti again around October.
Best Time to Go June to October and September to October
High Season June to October and December to March
Size 1,510km² / 583mi²
Altitude 1,435-2,143m / 4,708-7,031ft
Tsavo National Park(East and West)
Tsavo West, together with its expansive Tsavo East neighbor, combine to equal a massive 4% of Kenya forming one of the largest national parks in the world. The park is home to the Big Five, but wildlife viewing can be a bit slow at times. There are, however, several landmarks worth visiting including Mzima Springs with its underwater observation chamber for close-up views of hippos, recent lava flows and a rhino sanctuary.
Best Time to Go June to September and January to February
High Season December to March and July to October (Busy)
Size 7,065km² / 2,728mi²
Altitude 419-1,677m / 1,375-5,502ft
Tsavo National Park(East and West)
Tsavo East and Tsavo West together form one of the world’s largest national parks, covering 4% of Kenya. Tsavo East NP feels wild and undiscovered; its vast open spaces are mesmerizing. The huge, semi-arid wilderness is home to most safari animals, and although wildlife densities aren’t large, spotting animals is always possible here due to the lack of foliage. The park is a stronghold for elephants, and you’ll commonly find them with a reddish appearance from the distinctive red soil of the area.
Best Time to Go June to September and January to February
High Season December to March and July to October (Not busy)
Size 13,747km² / 5,308mi²
Altitude 171-845m / 561-2,772ft