Maasai Mara National Reserve

Location and Size: Maasai Mara is located in southwestern Kenya, covering an area of about 1,510 square kilometers. It forms part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, which stretches into Tanzania.
Wildlife: Maasai Mara is renowned for its diverse wildlife, particularly the Big Five (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos). It is most famous for the Great Migration, where over 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles cross the Mara River annually.
Accessibility and Activities: The reserve is easily accessible by road and air from Nairobi. Activities include game drives, hot air balloon safaris, cultural visits to Maasai villages, and witnessing the Great Migration during its peak months from July to October.

Amboseli National Park

Location and Size: Amboseli National Park is located in southern Kenya near the border with Tanzania, covering an area of 392 square kilometers. It sits at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain.
Wildlife: Amboseli is famous for its large herds of elephants, often seen against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro. Other wildlife includes lions, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, and giraffes.
Accessibility and Activities: Amboseli is accessible by road and air from Nairobi. Popular activities include game drives, bird watching, guided nature walks, and cultural visits to Maasai communities. Visitors also enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tsavo National Park (East and West)

Location and Size: Tsavo is Kenya’s largest national park, covering over 22,000 square kilometers. It is divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West, located in southeastern Kenya.
Wildlife: The park is known for its large elephant populations, lions (including the famous maneless lions), leopards, rhinos, and diverse birdlife. Tsavo East is more open, while Tsavo West features more dramatic landscapes with hills, rivers, and lava flows.
Accessibility and Activities: Tsavo is accessible via road and air, being located between Nairobi and Mombasa. Activities include game drives, visits to Mzima Springs, bird watching, and exploring the Shetani lava flows in Tsavo West.

Nairobi National Park

Location and Size: Nairobi National Park is located just 7 kilometers from Nairobi’s city center and covers an area of 117 square kilometers.
Wildlife: Despite its proximity to the city, the park is home to a variety of wildlife, including rhinos, lions, leopards, zebras, and giraffes. It is also a sanctuary for endangered black rhinos.
Accessibility and Activities: The park is easily accessible from Nairobi. Visitors can enjoy game drives, bird watching, and picnics with the city skyline as a backdrop. It’s a popular choice for a day safari.

Samburu National Reserve

Location and Size: Samburu National Reserve is located in northern Kenya, covering an area of 165 square kilometers along the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
Wildlife: Samburu is known for its unique species, including the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, and Beisa oryx. It is also home to large predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Accessibility and Activities: Samburu can be reached by road or air from Nairobi. Visitors can enjoy game drives, guided walks along the river, and cultural visits to the nearby Samburu communities.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Location and Size: Lake Nakuru National Park is located in central Kenya, covering 188 square kilometers, including the shallow soda lake it is named after.
Wildlife: The park is famous for its flamingo populations and serves as a sanctuary for black and white rhinos. Other wildlife includes lions, leopards, giraffes, and buffaloes.
Accessibility and Activities: Lake Nakuru is accessible by road from Nairobi. Popular activities include game drives, bird watching, and picnicking near the lake’s shores while viewing the stunning birdlife.

Hell’s Gate National Park

Location and Size: Hell’s Gate National Park is located in the Great Rift Valley, covering an area of 68 square kilometers.
Wildlife: While the park is known more for its dramatic landscapes than for abundant wildlife, visitors can still spot zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and various antelope species. It is also home to over 100 bird species.
Accessibility and Activities: The park is accessible by road from Nairobi. Visitors can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and exploring geothermal springs and gorges, offering a more adventurous experience than traditional safaris.

Mount Kenya National Park

Location and Size: Mount Kenya National Park is located in central Kenya, surrounding Africa’s second-highest mountain, Mount Kenya. The park covers an area of 715 square kilometers.
Wildlife: The park features diverse ecosystems, including montane forests, alpine moorlands, and glaciers. Wildlife includes elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, and various primates, as well as unique bird species like the sunbird.
Accessibility and Activities: The park is accessible by road from Nairobi and other nearby towns. Activities include mountain climbing, hiking, bird watching, and wildlife viewing.

Aberdare National Park

Location and Size: Aberdare National Park is located in central Kenya, covering an area of 766 square kilometers, primarily consisting of forested hills and mountains.
Wildlife: The park is home to elephants, leopards, buffalos, and colobus monkeys, among other species. Its dense forest also supports a variety of birdlife.
Accessibility and Activities: The park is accessible by road, though 4×4 vehicles are recommended. Activities include game drives, bird watching, and visiting scenic waterfalls like Karuru and Chania.

Meru National Park

Location and Size: Meru National Park is located in eastern Kenya, covering 870 square kilometers of pristine wilderness.
Wildlife: Meru is home to lions, cheetahs, elephants, and hippos, with diverse habitats ranging from savannah to swamps. The park was made famous by Joy Adamson’s book, “Born Free.”
Accessibility and Activities: Accessible by road and air, Meru offers game drives, bird watching, and guided walks. Its less-crowded atmosphere makes it ideal for visitors seeking a more secluded experience.

Chyulu Hills National Park

Location and Size: Chyulu Hills National Park is located in southeastern Kenya, covering 741 square kilometers. It features rolling hills and ancient lava flows.
Wildlife: Wildlife includes elephants, giraffes, leopards, and buffaloes. The park is also known for its bird species and stunning landscapes.
Accessibility and Activities: The park is accessible by road and air. Visitors can enjoy game drives, hiking, and caving, as well as spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mount Elgon National Park

Location and Size: Mount Elgon National Park straddles the Kenya-Uganda border and covers an area of 1,279 square kilometers.
Wildlife: The park is home to elephants, buffalos, leopards, and various bird species. Its unique feature is the caves, where elephants dig for salt.
Accessibility and Activities: The park is accessible by road. Visitors can explore the caves, hike the mountain trails, and enjoy bird watching in the forested areas.

Kora National Park

Location and Size: Kora National Park is located in northeastern Kenya, covering an area of 1,787 square kilometers. It is part of the larger Meru ecosystem.
Wildlife: The park is known for its rugged terrain and is home to lions, elephants, cheetahs, and various bird species.
Accessibility and Activities: Kora is remote and less visited, accessible by road from Meru. Activities include game drives and visiting the former home of George Adamson, the renowned conservationist.