Here is a brief description of all the major lakes, parks and reserves we cover in our Kenya safari tours that you can browse through. If you’d rather skip straight to the destination you are interested in then simply click on the corresponding link from this list……
Amboseli National Park | Aberdare National Park | Lake Bogoria | Lake Naivasha | Lake Nakuru | Maasai Mara | Samburu Tsavo West
With mighty Mount Kilimanjaro providing a stunning backdrop; this magnificent park is famous for bountiful bird life and a large elephant population. Just a few hours’ drive south of Nairobi, there is more to Amboseli than incredible elephant encounters thanks to sparse vegetation that makes it easier to spot the other plentiful residents such as lion, buffalo, cheetah, zebra and hyena.
Our Kenya safari tours featuring Amboseli National Park include:
Ultimate Kenya & Tanzania | The Big Five Parks & Reserves | Just Amboseli
This breathtaking park is set within the soaring peaks and deep valleys of the Aberdare Mountains. The waterfalls, moorlands, rain and bamboo forests support a diverse ecosystem; in addition to the ‘big five’ one can also find eland, wild dog, giant forest hog and over 250 species of bird. The region came to fame in 1952 when King George VI died; Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were staying at Treetops Lodge so the Princess became a Queen in Aberdare. Other notable past guests at this iconic safari lodge include Charlie Chaplin, Joan Crawford and Sir Paul McCartney.
Our Kenya safari tours featuring Aberdare National Park include:
Treetops, Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara
Bogoria, an East Rift Valley soda lake, is home to one of the largest flamingo populations in the world. Geothermal features include several frequently erupting geysers and hot springs. Visitors to this park can enjoy the unique spectacle of watching flamingos in huge numbers and spouting geysers at the same time. The location, so close to the equator, makes it easy for most visitors to combine a trip to this invisible line that will bring you closer to the sun than any other latitude on Earth, and serves to divide the Northern and Southern Hemispheres so you really can have a foot in both worlds.
Our Kenya safari tours featuring Lake Bogoria include:
One of only three fresh water lakes in the East Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha is positively brimming with hippos and flamingos. Over 400 species of bird are known to frequent the area, making this an ideal destination for bird watching. Historically the lake was a stop for Imperial Airways flying boats making the long journey between South Africa and Cape Town from the late 1930s to the 1950s. Another claim to fame is that Joy Adamson, author of the iconic African novel Born Free, had a home on the lake shore until the 1960s. There are numerous options for visitors to enjoy Lake Naivasha, such as boat trips to view the hippos, cycling, fishing and nature walks.
Our Kenya safari tours that feature Lake Naivasha include:
Ultimate Kenya & Tanzania | The Big Five Parks & Reserves | Treetops, Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara | Maasai Mara & Lakes
This soda lake, brimming with thousands of flamingos and a large population of hippos, forms the center of the national park but there is a lot more to be discovered in the surrounding area. This is a great location to see both black and white rhino, thanks to its designation as a rhino sanctuary in the 1980s and subsequent efforts to protect the dwindling population of these wonderful animals. Known as a region of scenic beauty, this park also has a robust resident population of lion, cheetah, leopard, waterbuck and giraffe, with the latter two known to frequent the grounds of the various lodges in the area along with grazing hippos that come out at night.
Our Kenya safari tours that feature Lake Nakuru National Park include:
Ultimate Kenya & Tanzania | The Big Five Parks & Reserves | Maasai Mara, Ngorongoro & Manyara | Maasai Mara & Lakes
Treetops, Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara
World-famous for good reason and home to the spectacular Great Migration when more than a million animals move between here and the Serengeti between July and October. Year-round the Mara is a great place to see the ‘big five’ and is renowned for having a strong population of big cats such as lion, leopard and cheetah. This beautiful reserve also boasts large numbers of hippo and crocodile along with numerous bird species. Located within Kenya and bordering Serengeti National Park, the Mara is easily accessible from Nairobi and promises an incredible safari experience.
We have numerous safaris featuring Maasai Mara National Reserve including:
Ultimate Kenya & Tanzania | The Big Five Parks & Reserves | Maasai Mara, Ngorongoro & Manyara | Just Maasai Mara
Treetops, Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara | Maasai Mara & Lakes
This serene and beautiful reserve is bisected by the Ewaso Ng’iro river, providing much-needed water that attracts a variety of wildlife such as big cats, elephant, oryx, hippo, zebra and giraffe. The area also boasts over 350 bird species, including bee-eaters, eagles and secretary birds. Like many of Kenya’s wildlife areas, Samburu has come to the world’s attention several times, but perhaps most notably as one of the two locations where George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa, the lioness featured in the book and movie Born Free. Another well-known Sambura lioness is Kamunyak who made international headlines when she adopted some oryx calves. And if you ever watched BBC’s Secret Life of Elephants you might recognise some of the landscapes because Samburu was home to Elephant Watch Camp, a key feature of this acclaimed documentary series.
Our Kenya safari tours featuring Samburu National Reserve include:
At over 9,000 square kilometres, Tsavo West is one of the largest national parks in Kenya and is also known to be one of her most beautiful. Steep mountains are cloaked with forest, except for their striking rocky peaks that make this area a favorite with rock climbers. The vegetation is perhaps more dense and lush than many of Kenya’s parks, however an abundance of waterholes and grassy areas still provide ample opportunity for superb game viewing. The park includes a rhino reserve and is also home to elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo, meaning you have every chance of seeing the ‘big five’. Perhaps the most well-known feature is Mzima Springs, a network of natural springs that attract all kinds of animals and make for particularly good sightings of hippo and crocodile.
Our Kenya safari tours that feature Tsavo West National Park include:
Original text by CW Copywriting. Header image by Stephen Michel from Wikimedia Commons