AMBOSELI
NATIONAL PARK
170 kilometers S. East of Nairobi
390 Sq Km
Affectionately
refered to as 'Ambo,' this park is brimming with elephants. Snow-peaked
Kili in neighbouring Tanzania (which the park shares a border with ) makes
the perfect backdrop when photographing the huge herds. The terrain is a
beautiful mixture of extensive sulphur swamps teeming with water birds,
hedged by dense palm thickets and endless dusty, salt ridden flatlands and
Acacia forest scorched by the sun . Hippo, lion, cheetah, hyena and most
plains game including Wildebeest, and zebra, with their distinctive stripes
stand out in shimmering heat.
Back to top
|
 |
TSAVO
EAST & WEST NATIONAL PARKS
230 kilometers S. East of Nairobi
Over 20,000 Sq Km
Tsavo East National
Park covers an area of about 12,000 sq.kms, 40% of Kenya's total park area.
It lies in low semi arid country at the eastern edge of the inland plateau,
north of the main Mombasa-Nairobi road and railway. Open country with scattered
rocky ridges and outcrops, the park is one of the world's wildlife and biodiversity
strongholds due to its size. The Yatta plateau, a long, flat topped lava
ridge, runs along the western boundary of the park and below flows the Athi
river which joins the Tsavo river, just above the Lugard falls, to become
the Galana river, a permanent river that cuts right across the park. The
seasonal Tiva and Voi rivers are important features of the Northern and
Southern sectors. There are scattered seasonal pools, swamps and dams, but
relatively few sources of permanent water, however the Mudanda rock between
Voi and Manyani - a 1 1/2km long outcrop is a water catchment area which
supplies a natural dam at its base. In the dry season, hundreds of elephants
come to drink and bathe here.
Tsavo West
national park covers 9000 km2, approximately 30% of Kenya's parks area
and is a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous scenic landscape.
The park is a vast expanse of savanna stretching from the Athi river,
North of the Mombasa-Nairobi road and south to the Tanzanian border. The
North Eastern boundary along the Athi adjoins Tsavo East National Park,
but Tsavo West has a more varied topography and a more diverse array of
habitats than its neighbouring, sister park.
The park's habitats
include open plains alternating with Savannah bush and semi desert scrub,
acacia woodlands; rocky ridges, outcrops and more extensive ranges and
isolated hills; belts of riverine vegetation; palm thickets and on the
Chyulu hills, mountain forest. There are numerous rocky outcrops and ridges
and part of the park, towards the Chyulu Hills, is of recent volcanic
origin with lava flows and ash cones including the Shetani (Devil in Swahili)
lava flow, an example of a recent volacano.
In the far
south western corner on the Kenya Tanzania border is Lake Jipe, part of
which is in the park. This very attractive lake is fed by runoff from
Mt. Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains. At
Mzima Springs, in the North of the park, water that has filtered underground
from the Chyulu Hills gushes from below a lava ridge into a series of
clear pools.
Back
to top
|
|
SHIMBA
HILLS NATIONAL PARK
AND NEIGHBOURING MWALUGANJI RESERVE
35 Km South West of Mombasa
250 Sq Km
A
misty-cool 400 meters above the palm fringed beaches of Kenya's coastline,
Shimba Hills is a unique blend of woodlands and grasslands. Consisting
of waterfalls and liana sprung jungle within a coastal rainforest, it
is home to the magnificent Sable antelope, elephant, lion, leopard, and
most plains game. Neighbouring Mwalunganji is a special reserve connected
to one of the last remaining wildlife corridors to Tsavo, and is best
described as an elephants haven. Secretive forest cathedrals shading
these huge giants, secret migration paths, and rivers full of petrified
wood make it exciting for visitors looking for a close 'safari experience'
close to the Kenya coast.
Back to top
|
|
