The Top 10 Game Parks and National Reserves in Kenya

Did you know that tourism is the second-largest source of foreign exchange revenue after agriculture? Kenya is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. It is known for its remarkable diversity, landscape, wildlife, and culture.

Each year, Kenya receives at least 2 million visitors. This figure does not include domestic tourists. There are numerous tourist destinations like national parks where you can take a safari with your loved ones.

With all these options, you may feel overwhelmed choosing the right holiday destination in Kenya. We are here to relieve you of the stress and hassle. We can guarantee you quality and memorable moments once you visit these destinations. You will not have to break your bank to visit the destinations.

National Parks in Kenya

National Park /Game Reserve	Attraction Features & Activities	Wildlife
Maasai Mara National Reserve	The great wildebeest migration The Maasai culture The hot air balloon Big game Walking safari Bird watching	Baboons, Wildebeests, Lions, Cheetahs, Ostriches, Crocodiles, Hippos, Monkeys, Wild dogs, Hyenas, Assortment of birds, Zebra, antelopes
Amboseli National Reserve	The large herd of big tusked elephants Great view of Mt. Kilimanjaro in TZ (highest peak in Africa) Game drives	Lions, Elephants, Buffalos, Giraffes, Hyenas, Wild dogs, Antelopes, Gazelles Zebra
Tsavo National Park	Game drives Bird watching Big 5 Explore Chaimu caves Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary	Rhino, Buffalos, Elephants, Gazelles, Lions, Cheetahs, Baboons, Hyenas
Samburu Buffalo Springs & Shaba National Reserve	Game Drives Bird watching	Lions, Leopards, Zebras, Antelopes, Buffalos, Elephants, Crocodiles, Baboons, Giraffes
Lake Nakuru National Park	Pink flamingo gathering View-points such as Baboon cliff, Lion hill Makalia waterfall Honeymoon Hill	Rhino, Monkeys, Zebra, Baboons, Antelopes, Waterbucks, Flamingoes, Lions, Pelicans
Meru National Park	View of Mt. Kenya Tana river Adamson’s Falls	Giraffes, Antelopes, Zebras, Bats, Guinea fowls, Lions, Buffaloes, Cheetahs, Hippos, Wild birds, Ostriches, Monkeys
Mt. Kenya National Park	Pristine Wilderness Views of Mt. Kenya Diverse flora and fauna	Leopards, Zebras, Tree hyrax, Bushbucks, Waterbucks, Black rhinos, Buffalos, Moles, rats, mongoose
Hell’s Gate National Park	Plants and wildlife Rock features & caves Hot Springs -Olkaria Geothermal Station Nature Trails	Zebras, Antelopes, Giraffes, Hyenas, Eland, Gazelles, Assortment of wild birds
Olpojeta Conservancy	Diverse wildlife Equator Line	Black rhinos, White rhinos, chimpanzees
The Aberdare National Park	Wild animals Beautiful scenery Waterfalls	Buffalo, Hyena, Kurdu, Elephants, Warthogs, Baboons, Monkeys, birds

1. Maasai Mara National Reserve

The Maasai Mara National Reserve, popularly known as Mara, is a must-visit. It is one of the most popular safari destinations in Kenya. The reserve is located in the must-visit part of Kenya along the Great Rift Valley.

It is adjacent to the Serengeti National park in Tanzania. The reserve was named after the ancestral inhabitants- the Maasai people.

The word Mara means spotted circles of trees, savannah, scrub, and cloud shadows hence the name Maasai Mara. It is 180km from Nairobi city. Here are the top attractions you enjoy when you visit Maasai Mara:

• The great wildebeest migration
• The Maasai culture- it is one of the untapped cultured on the planet
• The hot air balloon
• Big game
• Walking safari
• Bird watching

The entry fees for the park are as tabulated:

CATEGORY	NON-RESIDENTS INSIDE PARK OUTSIDE PARK		EAST AFRICAN RESIDENT	KENYAN CITIZEN
Adult	US$ 70	US$ 80	Ksh 1,200	Ksh 1,000
Child	US$ 40	US$ 45	Ksh 500	Ksh 300
Student	US$ 40		Ksh 500	Ksh 300

2. Amboseli National Reserve

The national park is a top tourist destination in Kenya after Maasai Mara. Amboseli is a Maasai name that means salty dust, which is a true description of the park’s parched conditions.

The park is located in southeast Nairobi. It only takes four hours to travel to Amboseli from Nairobi via road. The park has an airstrip if you use air to reduce the time you take to access it.

While in Amboseli, you are guaranteed a perfect view of large herds of big-tusked elephants. You will hardly get such a perfect opportunity in other national parks in Kenya. The Amboseli is famous for two things:

• The large herd of big tusked elephants
• The great view of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania- the highest peak in Africa.

 Also, in Amboseli, you are bound to spot big cats, such as lions and cheetahs. Other wild animals like giraffes, impalas, elands, waterbucks, gazelles, and more than 600 species of birds are also scenery to behold.

The entry fees for Amboseli National Park are as follows:

Category	Non-residents	Residents	Kenyan Citizens
Adult	US$ 60	Ksh 1030	Ksh 850
Child/students	US$ 30	Ksh 515	Ksh 215

If you love everything to do with nature, then this place is for you. In Amboseli, there are 5 natural habitats to explore. They include; a dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulfur springs, savannah, and woodlands

3. Tsavo National Park

This is one of the largest national parks in Kenya. It is sliced into two; Tsavo West and Tavo East. The park is situated in a semi-arid area previously known as the Taru desert.

Tsavo East and Tsavo west account for 4% of the total country area. This safari destination gives you the best sceneries- rivers, waterfalls, savannah, volcanic hills, a massive lava-rock plateau, and wildlife.

 Tsavo East allows you to capture the best photo moments of elephants rolling and bathing in the red dust. You also have an opportunity to see the Yatta Plateau, one of the world’s longest lava flow, Mudanda Rock, and Lugard Falls.

The entry charges for Tsavo East for Kenyan citizens, residents, and non-residents are as shown below:

Category	Non-residents	Residents	Kenyan Citizens
Adult	US$ 52	Ksh 1030	Ksh 515
Child/students	US$ 35	Ksh 515	Ksh 215

Tsavo West is a bit wetter. Here, you have an excellent opportunity to enjoy Mzima Springs, Chaimu Crater, and Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. You hardly get any wildlife here because of the denser vegetation.

4. Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba National Reserves

This national park is located in the arid region in the remote north of Kenya.

Have you heard of Elsa the lioness that was made famous in the film Born Free? Well, it was raised at Shaba national reserves by George and Joy Adamson. The wildlife in the three reserves is adapted to northern Kenya’s climatic conditions.

The park fees for Shaba, Samburu, or Buffalo National Reserves are as follows:

Category	Non-residents	East Africa Citizens	Kenyan Citizens
Adult	US$ 70	Ksh 1000	Ksh 500
Child/students	US$ 40	Ksh 1000	Ksh 500

 The most common animals in the park are Grevy’s zebras, Somali ostriches, gerenuks, and long-necked antelope. A top attraction at the Samburu National Reserve is the Sarara Singing Wells. This is where locals sing as they haul water for their cattle to drink.

5. Lake Nakuru National park

Lake Nakuru National park is located at Nakuru along the Great Rift Valley. This national park is famous for the huge flocks of pink flamingos. They flock to Lake Nakuru, one of the soda lakes found in Rift Valley.

When you visit the park, elation is not a gamble. The park has a rich diversity of wildlife. You might sight Lions, leopards, warthogs, waterbucks, pythons, and white rhinos. Also, the park plays a significant role in protecting the largest Euphorbia candelabrum forest in Africa.

The entry fees for Lake Nakuru are tabulated below:

Category	Non-residents	Residents	East Africa Citizens	Kenyan Citizens
Adult	US$ 60	Ksh 1030	Kes 860	Ksh 860
Child/students	US$ 35		Ksh 215	Ksh 215

6. Meru National Park

Complete Wilderness, the park is located along the slopes of Mt. Kenya. The park boasts one of the best-undisturbed environments.

Meru National Park has numerous species of birds, thus a perfect destination for bird watching. The park fees for Kenyan citizens and non-residents are as follows:

Category	Non-residents	Residents	Kenyan Citizens
Adult	US$ 52	Ksh 300	Ksh 300
Child/students	US$ 35	Ksh 215	Ksh 215

There are several species of snakes in the park. In the grassland vegetation, you will see beautiful zebra paintings grazing with gazelles.

Carry your essentials when visiting the park to take advantage of the spectacular environment.

7. Mt Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National Park is found in the central highlands, east of the central valley. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. The tallest mountain in Kenya and the second-largest mountain in Africa.

It was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions. Mt Kenya has three peaks; the highest is Batian, followed by Nelion and Lenana.

The entry fees for Mt. Kenya National Park are:

Category	Non-residents	Residents	Kenyan Citizens
Adult	US$ 52	Ksh 430	Ksh 430
Child/students	US$ 20	Ksh 250	Ksh 250

Sceneries vary from glaciers, lakes, alpine forests to dense pockets of bamboo. You may also sight animals such as elephants, black and white Colombus monkeys, buffalos, hyenas, and leopards.

8. Hells Gate National Park

Hells Gate National park is one of the few parks in Kenya that allows you to engage in camping activities. Also, you can explore on your own by foot or bicycle. How awesome is that?

Enjoy excellent hiking and climbing opportunities at the park with two extinct volcanoes; the red cliffs of Hell’s Gate Gorge, Obsidian Caves, and Fischer’s Tower.

The fees for Helps Gate National Park are tabulated below:

Category	Non-residents	Residents	Kenyan Citizens
Adult	US$ 30	Ksh 300	Ksh 300
Child/students	US$ 20	Ksh 215	Ksh 215

Olkaria Geothermal Station, a unique African project, sits in Hells Gate National park. The park has various wildlife, which includes leopards, baboons, hartebeest, eland, ostriches, gazelles, and more than 100 species of birds.

The Oloor Karia Maasai Cultural Centre within the park is an excellent place to familiarize yourself with the Maasai culture.

9. Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ole Pejeta Conservancy is located 200km north of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. It is a few kilometers from Mt Kenya National Park. The park’s aim is conservancy and sustainability.

Here, you are guaranteed a perfect sight of the big five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo). Other animals, such as cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, and hartebeests, are also found in the park. The Conservancy is a habitat for northern and southern rhinos.

The charges for Ol Pejecta Conservancy are as follows:

Category	Non-residents	East Africa Residents	East Africa Citizens
Adult	US$ 90-$110	Ksh 2600-Ksh 3500	Ksh 1400-Ksh 2000

10. The Aberdare National Park

The park is located 150km (93 miles) east of Nairobi. You can access this place from Nyeri and Naro Moru. Here are the top attractions at Aberdare National Park:

• The beautiful mountain scenery
• Picturesque waterfalls
• Rare animals – Black Serval, Black Leopard (seldom seen), and the Eastern Bongo (a huge forest Antelope)
• Watching animals come to the waterhole at the famous Treetops Lodge
• Trout fishing
• Hiking

Here are the charges for Aberdare National Park:

Category	Non-residents	Residents	Kenyan Citizens
Adult	US$ 60	Ksh 500	Ksh 500
Children/Students	US$ 20	Ksh 215	Ksh 215

You should consider several factors before deciding on a tourist destination to visit. One of those factors is cost. Ensure you have enough resources to facilitate travel, accommodation, and game park fees.

These national parks are located in different regions with different climatic conditions. It is crucial to ensure the climatic conditions of the area you choose do not negatively affect your health.

National Parks in Kenya FAQs

1. Which is the largest game park in Kenya?

Tsavo East & West National Parks form the largest game park in Kenya. The two cover an area of more than 21,000 square kilometres, making it among the largest in the world.

2. How many game parks are there in Kenya?

Kenya has one of the highest number of game parks in the world, at 54. Almost every county has a game park or reserve.

3. Which is the most popular national park in Kenya?

Nakuru National Park stands out because of its diversity. Therefore, it receives the highest number of visitors from across the world. 

4. What is the entry fee into a game park in Kenya?

Although prices differ from one game park to another, the cost is around ksh. 500 for residents and $40 for non-residents. The prices may vary a little bit from one reserve to another.