In pictures: the call of the wild in Kenya
Kenya’s nature reserves show a country as diverse as it is extraordinary, where lions stalk through ancient lava flows, and flocks of bubble gum-pink flamingos skim vast, silent lakes. From camel-riding to mountain climbing, adventures abound in Kenya.
Kenya’s vast national parks are a paradise for intrepid travellers. To the north of Nairobi, Laikipia and Samburu play host to giraffes and zebras, while the superlative Mount Kenya has unique hiking opportunities, and Lake Nakuru is a photographer’s paradise of bubble-gum-pink flamingos. South of the capital, the Tsavo national parks are a must for birdwatchers, while the Maasai Mara is a lesson in indigenous culture, and Amboseli is the best place to witness neighbouring Kilimanjaro.
Location: Tsavo East
Samburus have used camels as transport for thousands of years. By joining a camel safari, visitors gain a closer connection to nature while respecting the environment. The only sounds are the soft pad of feet and the tinkle of camels’ bells, so it’s easy to get up close and personal with antelopes, zebras, elephants and giraffes. Camels are generally even-tempered and each safari is led by experienced tribesmen who will steer clear of big cats.
Location: Laikipia and Samburu
Laikipia County is known for the alternative Big Five, which includes the beisa oryx, a powerful and elegant antelope; the striking reticulated giraffe with its polygonal pattern; the gerenuk, a tall, slender antelope resembling a gazelle; the large, flightless Somali ostrich; and the Grevy’s zebra. The latter (pictured) can be distinguished from plains zebras by its longer legs, narrower stripes and larger ears — it’s also the largest wild equid, weighing up to 450kg.
Location: Laikipia and Samburu
Tsavo East, one of the largest and oldest national parks in Kenya, is a semi-arid expanse that is flatter and drier than its western neighbour. It’s recognisable for its paprika-red volcanic soil, which turns the local elephants a vibrant vermilion colour, too. While the northern part of the park is largely closed, the section below the Galana River is a great place to relax and watch elephants drinking at watering holes while listening to the song-like twitter of the Tsavo Sunbird, among 500 other avian species.
Location: Tsavo East and West
While Tsavo East and West are less popular than the Maasai Mara and Amboseli due to lower wildlife density, both have the Big Five — lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo — with a more off-the-beaten-track experience that makes the rewards all the sweeter. Tsavo West has one of the highest densities of leopards in Africa so sightings are common; be sure to look up as well as down, as they can often be found lazing on tree branches.
Location: Tsavo East and West
Known globally for their distinctive scarlet and multi-coloured robes, the Maasai are one of the only African tribes to have retained most of their traditions and culture. Their lifestyle is based around cattle herding, with women responsible for milking the cows while men herd them. They are nomadic people, moving around each season to allow grass to regrow. There are over a million Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania; the name means ‘people who speak Maa’.
Location: Maasai Mara
One of the best safari spots in the world, the Maasai Mara offers opportunities to glimpse zebras, lions, leopards, rhino and Cape buffalo. A bike trek from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara typically takes seven days and is one way to soak up the culture with bush camping or lodge accommodation and unparalleled game-viewing. Don’t miss the wildebeest migration between July and October, when these humble beasts make their perilous journey towards pastures new.
Location: Maasai Mara
Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya is known for its large elephant numbers, with more than 1,600 roaming the wetlands, savannah and woodland. Though these animals are threatened by poaching and habitat destruction, they benefited from a baby boom when tourism dropped due to the pandemic and rainfall was high. Witnessing up to 100 elephants drinking from the springs of underground water from Mount Kilimanjaro’s ice cap is a sight to behold.
Location: Amboseli
Beyond its vast elephant population, Amboseli’s claim to fame is the view of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the highest freestanding mountain in the world at a whopping 19,340ft above sea level. Located just south of the border in Tanzania, Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped summit rises above the mist and clouds, creating a picture-postcard backdrop to Amboseli’s roaming herds of elephants. Kilimanjaro isn't always visible, so be sure to rise early for the clearest views.
Location: Amboseli
Mount Kenya, 93 miles north-northeast of Nairobi in the Kenyan Highlands, is the highest mountain in the country and the second highest in Africa after Kilimanjaro. The extinct stratovolcano is made up of multiple layers of magma and last erupted an estimated 2.6 million years ago. Its ragged peaks are capped with snow while its slopes are dense with forest and provide an important source of water for Kenya, as well as an adventure playground for outdoor enthusiasts who bike and hike its mountain paths year round. Batian, the peak, sits at more than 17,000ft.
Location: Mount Kenya
Located within Mount Kenya National Park, the mountain offers several challenges for climbers. Only advanced mountaineers should attempt to reach the highest points of Batian and Nelion at 17,057ft and 17,021ft respectively, and technical gear is essential. Regular hikers and novices should aim for Point Lenana, at 16,354ft, a still-challenging but less-technical feat. The trek takes around five days, and the summit offers inimitable views of Batian and Nelion, as well as Kenya’s central plains.
Location: Mount Kenya
Home to the greatest bird show on earth, Lake Nakuru is the place to see the lesser flamingo, with its pink plumage and deep red, black-tipped bill, and the taller greater flamingo, with its light pink, black-tipped bill. While rising water levels sent them away in 2013, causing a drop in tourism, the birds have now returned. With up to a million gathered around the shore, they create a vivid colour pop of pink akin to a burst of paint powder. To watch them in collective flight is a true spectacle.
Location: Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru National Park is home to Kenya’s first rhino sanctuary, which opened in the 1980s to address a sharp decline and protect this endangered species from illegal poaching through close tracking and monitoring. It’s home to the country’s largest black rhino population and also houses white rhinos, both with impressive (and powerful) horns. A car-driven safari through the national park is a sure-fire way to see both rhinos up close, as well as glimpsing flamingos, buffalos, baboons and zebras.
Location: Lake Nakuru
British Airways and Kenya Airways fly daily between Heathrow and Nairobi, and various carriers offer one-stop services from the UK to Nairobi, including Ethiopian Airlines, KLM and Air France.
Average flight time: 8h 40m, direct to Nairobi.
Transfers from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara can be done by road, taking five to six hours, or by internal flight, taking between 45 minutes and an hour.
For more information and to book your trip, go to magicalkenya.com
Location: Maasai Mara
This content is created for Kenya Tourism Association. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveller (UK) or its editorial staff.