Where to go on a safari in Kenya
Kenya is one of the biggest safari destinations on the continent of Africa, Kenya has diverse and beautiful landscapes habiting a variety of wildlife and birdlife.
Because of the variety of ecosystems, there are a number of protected areas including national parks and reserves which are visited while on Kenya safari. There is a number of destinations to go to for a perfect safari in Kenya, this article lists sites to go to for a safari in Kenya.
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Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is a must-visit site for a safari in Kenya, Giraffe Manor is a small beautiful hotel situated in Lang’ata suburb of Nairobi famous for a number of endangered Rothschild’s giraffes.
This hotel is a Scottish hunting lodge-like Mansion sitting in the heart of 12 acres of private land and 140 acres of Langata forestry.
Giraffe Manor is famously loved for the unique experience of having breakfast with the giraffes which share residence with visitors of the hotel, Giraffe manor operates a breeding program to reintroduce breeding Rothschild’s giraffe.
These giraffes are nurtured within the 140 acres of the estate until they are ready to be reintroduced into various protected areas of Kenya.
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Solio reserve and conservancy
Solio reserve and conservancy is one the finest wildlife destination in Africa as well as Africa, this sanctuary is a premier rhino breeding sanctuary situated in Laikipia plateau 5 minutes away from the Rhino Watch Safari Lodge.
This conservancy is a privately-owned wildlife conservancy founded in 1970 when the owner turned it from a Solio cattle ranch to a conservation area.
Solio reserve and conservancy hosts a variety of wildlife species including the world’s largest population of white rhinos, other animals living in this conservancy such as black rhino, buffaloes, lions, hyenas, leopards, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, Oryx, waterbucks, impalas, cheetah, Thompson gazelles, warthogs and many more. There are over 300 species of birds present in Solio reserve and conservancy and these include European rollers, flycatchers, and birds of prey such as vultures, eagle owls, Montagu’s Harriers, long-crested eagles, buzzards, crowned cranes, European stork, and many more.
Solio reserve and conservancy offers amazing safari such as game viewing, bird watching, and guided nature walks.
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Masai mara national reserve
Masai Mara national reserve is the most popular safari destination in Kenya famous for the great wildebeest migration and the big 5, Masai mara national reserve is located in the south of Nairobi along the border of Kenya and Tanzania and lies in the Great Rift Valley.
Masai Mara national reserve a world-famous wildlife safari covering an area of 1,510 square kilometers, the park is composed of open plains, rolling hills and it is traversed by 2 two rivers that are Mara River and Talek River flowing in the northern direction.
Masai mara national reserve is divided into 3 sections that are Mara Triangle, Sekenani, and Musiara, the Park inhabits a variety of wildlife species such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, cheetahs, wildebeests, topis, elands, antelopes, giraffes, and many more. There are over 470 bird species in Masai Mara national reserve such as Abdim’s stork, African Finfoot, African wood owl, Ayres’s hawk eagle, Cinnamon-breasted bunting, Denham’s bustard, Giant kingfisher, Grey-crested helmet-shrike, Grey penduline tit, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Jackson’s widowbird, Lazy cisticola, Ostrich, Purple grenadier, Red-throated tit and many more.
Masai Mara national reserve offers amazing safari activities such as game viewing, hot air balloon safari, guided nature walks, cultural safaris, and guided walking safaris.
Learn More about Masai Mara National Reserve
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Amboseli national park
Amboseli national park is a very popular safari destination in Kenya known as the land of the giants, Amboseli national park is located in Kajiado couth in the south of Kenya along the border of Kenya and Tanzania.
Amboseli national park is famously known for its stunning backdrop created by mountain Kilimanjaro the tallest free-standing mountain on the African continent with a snow-capped summit. The park is also known for hosting large herds of elephants with impressive tusks.
Amboseli national park covers an area of 392 square kilometers with its landscape inhabited by acacia woods, open grasslands, marshland, scrub steppe, and swamps which inhabit a variety of animals and birds.
Animals found in Amboseli national park include wildebeests, grants and Thomson gazelles, burchell’s Masai giraffe, impalas, and many more. Birds present in the park are over 420 species and they include African Swamphen, Common redshank, Dickinson’s kestrel, Eurasian thick-knee, Greater flamingo, Hartlaub’s bustard, and lesser flamingo, Long-toed Lapwing, Pangani longclaw, Rufous chatterer, Rufous-bellied heron, Spike-heeled lark, Steel-blue whydah, Taveta golden weaver, Von der Decken’s hornbill, Yellow-necked Spurfowl and many more.
There are many amazing safari activities offered in Amboseli national park that is why it is listed among the must-visit sites for a safari in Kenya, these activities include game viewing, bird watching, guided walking safaris, photography and scenic viewing safari
Learn More about Amboseli National Park
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Lake Nakuru national park
Lake Nakuru national park is a bird watcher’s paradise in Kenya and a must-go destination on a safari in Kenya, Lake Nakuru national park is located in the south of Nakuru County with Nakuru as the largest town. This park derives its name from Lake Nakuru which is also the major tourist attraction in the park, Lake Nakuru is a rift valley soda lake with a surface area of about 45 square kilometers and a maximum depth of 6 feet.
Lake Nakuru national park covers an area of 188 square kilometers, the park is famously known for being an excellent destination for bird viewing most especially the fuchsia pink flamingoes which are over 2 million. These flamingoes are found on the shores of Lake Nakuru and they are attracted to the area because of the algae, apart from flamingoes there are over 400 other bird species found in Lake Nakuru national park, these birds include Madagascar Pond-Heron, Lesser Flamingo, Pallid Harrier, Greater Spotted Eagle, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike along with large congregations of Greater Flamingo, Black-necked Grebe, Little Grebe, Great White Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, African Spoonbill, Black-winged Stilt, Grey-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern and many more.
Lake Nakuru national park is also a rhino sanctuary hosting about 100 white rhinos and about 50 rare black rhinos, there are also other animals present in the park such as African wild dog, zebra, eland, buffaloes, lions, waterbucks, and many more.
In Lake Nakuru national park many amazing safari activities are offered such as game viewing, boat safaris, bird watching, and guided nature walks.
Learn More about Lake Nakuru National Park
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Mount Kenya national park
Mount Kenya is a hiker’s paradise and a must-visit destination on a Kenya safari, Mount Kenya is the second tallest mountain on the African continent standing at an altitude of 5,199 meters above sea level coming second to Mountain Kilimanjaro found in Tanzania. Mount Kenya is protected and found in Mount Kenya national park located in the east of the Great Rift Valley in about 175 kilometers northeast of Nairobi, the park covers an area of 2800 square kilometers.
Mount Kenya national park is an excellent destination for game viewing, mountain climbing, scenic sightings, and photography, this park has some of the best scenic sights in Kenya and Africa which are created by breathtaking lakes, tarns, moorland rock and ice, mountain rivers, glaciers, springs and the twin peaks of Batian and Nelion.
Mount Kenya national park is home to diverse species of wild animals and birdlife, animals inhabiting the park include black rhinos, white-tailed buffalo, leopards, African elephant, genet cat, black-fronted duikers, giant forest hog, antelopes, bongo, bush pig, and many more. Birdlife present in Mount Kenya national park includes Abbott’s Starling, Lesser Kestrel, Jackson’s widowbird, Sharpe’s Longclaw, Olive Ibis, Lammergeier, Ayres’s hawk-eagle, African Crowned Eagle, African Grass Owl, Cape Eagle-Owl, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Long-tailed Widowbird, Abyssinian Owl, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Kenrick’s Starling and many more.
As already noted, Mount Kenya national park’s highlight activity is mountaineering done various hiking tracks that are summit circuit, Nelion normal route, Burget route, and Timau track, These hiking routes lead to the peaks of Mount Kenya, these peaks include Nelion at 5,188 meters, Batian at 5,199 meters and Point Lenana at 4,985 meters. Other safaris activities to do in Mountain Kenya national park include game viewing and bird watching.
Learn more about Mount Kenya National Park
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Samburu national reserve
Samburu national reserve is a stunning Kenya destination listed among the best destinations to go to for a safari in Kenya, Samburu national park lies on the banks of Ewaso Ng’iro River and located in the northern region of Kenya in a desert.
Samburu national reserve is popular for being one of the locations where George and Joy Adamson raised Else the lioness and this was brought to fame in a Hollywood movie “born free”.
Samburu national reserve has a breathtaking and stunning landscape composed of rust-red terrain, sparse greenery and the landscape is crossed by Ewaso Nyiro River which flows from the Kenyan highlands. Apart from the stunning landscape dominated by acacia, doum, and fig trees, Samburu national reserve habits many wildlife species such as zebras, antelopes, beisa Oryx, elephants, reticulated giraffe, leopard, cheetahs, generuk, impalas, waterbucks, dik-dik, and many more.
To add to the great scenic landscape and wildlife, there are a variety of bird species living in the reserve, these birds include golden breasted starling, white-headed mousebird, Sulphur breasted bush shrike, blue-necked Somali ostrich, martial eagle, Egyptian vulture, vulturine guinea fowl, Kori bustard, yellow-billed hornbill, secretary bird and many more.
Samburu national reserve offers amazing safari opportunities which you will enjoy while on a Kenya safari, these activities include game drives, bird watching, guided nature walks, and cultural visit to the neighboring communities.
