Kenya, known for its world famous national parks, including the iconic Masai Mara, holds an incredible wealth of wildlife wonders. Alongside these famous, and sometimes quite busy wildlife areas, are some lesser known gems which are just as wildlife rich, and showcase the country’s diverse landscapes and incredible biodiversity.
Meru National Park
Nestled in the heart of Kenya, Mt Meru National Park features stunning landscapes and wildlife. It’s also famous as the setting for the heart-warming tale of Joy and George Adamson in ‘Born Free.’ This enchanting park spans approximately 870sq km and boasts a rich tapestry of habitats and wildlife.
Home to over 400 bird species and a diverse array of wildlife, including elephants, Grevy’s zebra, cheetah, reticulated giraffe, lion and gerunuk, Mt Meru National Park offers a truly immersive experience. With limited annual visitors, it remains a hidden gem, a must-visit on your Kenyan safari.
Wildlife drive from Elsa’s Kopje
Samburu National Park
An arid and semi-arid ecosystem are the hallmarks of this large national park. Located in northern Kenya, the park extends to approximately 165 square kilometres with the Ewaso Nyiro River forming the border to the south, which separates it from the Buffalo Springs National Park.
Despite its more arid terrain the park plays host to plentiful wildlife including all the key species such as lion, elephant and leopard. Among the rarer species found here are Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and Besia oryx. Boasting over 450 bird species, Samburu promises a unique safari experience, perfect for those seeking unusual wildlife encounters.
Grevy’s zebra seen on a wildlife drive from Sasaab Camp, Samburu National Park.
Chyulu Hills
The Chyulu Hills National Park to the east of Nairobi sits between Tsavo West and Amboseli. It’s a stunning mountain range and volcanic field, and offers a wonderful combination of scenic beauty and excellent wildlife viewing. Lush rolling hills stretch as far as the eye can see and on clear days, the views of Mount Kilimanjaro are superb. The landscape, formed by ancient volcanic activity, is both dramatic and serene and characterised by dome-topped hills, open acacia woodlands, dense forests and plains.
Wildlife viewing here is both productive and peaceful, with only a handful of camps in the area and many on their own private conservancy. Elephant, lion, zebra, giraffe, hyena and much more besides can all be seen on game drives, walking safaris or, for experienced riders, from the back of a horse.
Wildlife viewing from Ol Donyo, Chyulu Hills
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Whilst not strictly a national park, this conservancy is a haven for wildlife. Located in Central Kenya, in the Laikipia region, it is nestled between the foothills of Mt Kenya and the Aberdares. Previously a cattle ranch, the conservancy was bought in 2004 by a UK based conservation organisation, Fauna and Flora International, with financial backing from a private international philanthropic organisation.
The conservancy has gone from strength to strength ever since and now has one of the largest populations of rhino in East Africa. It is also home to the last two northern white rhino in the world. Both females, they live in a sanctuary. Necessarily all of the rhinos are heavily protected, and this is just one of the more unusual activities which visitors can learn more about.
In addition to the key wildlife species such as elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, zebra and giraffe which can be seen, there are some other more rare species as well. These include cheetah, wild dog, serval, oryx and Jackson’s hartebeest. Ol Pejeta is also home to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the only place in Kenya where chimps can be seen. All of the chimpanzees at the 24,000 acre sanctuary have been rescued and live in a natural enclosure.
Elephants, Sanctuary Tambarare, Ol Pejeta
Kenya really has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to wildlife viewing; scenically beautiful, with iconic views and rarer wildlife species. These four areas work well for first timers or experienced safari travellers. For more information about holidays to Kenya or if you would like to discuss other destinations and options, please give us a call or email Lucinda. We would be delighted to help you put together a fabulous holiday.