5 Best Safari Parks and Game Reserves in Kenya

Any time you hear the topic about African Safari, then Kenya must come into your mind as one of the best destinations to visit. Of great interest is that Kenya is considered the birthplace of African Safari and, the first country to introduce the Big 5 concept. If you are enthusiastic about experiencing a wide array of animals, then Kenya is a must-visit destination for you. However, knowing the best parks and reserves you can travel to may be a challenge. Keeping that in mind, it is essential that you know some of the best game parks and reserves in Kenya, to make your safari as easy.

Here are the Top 5 game parks and national reserves in Kenya:

▶ MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE :

5 Best Safari Parks and Game Reserves in Kenya - Blog by Safarihub

This reserve is considered the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife viewing areas, and rightly so. It lies within a varied land of woodland savannah, wide grassland, and riverine forest. Therefore, it acts as a home to the largest predator population all year round. By implication, in this reserve, you will be able to see a pride of lions and cheetahs executing their hunt in open plains. Additionally, you will see leopards stalking in the forests, making your safari more attractive.

Perhaps you are wondering the best time to visit the Masai Mara National Reserve. You should know that the ultimate time is from July through to September, when thousands of wildebeests will be migrating across the Masai Mara River, in what is considered the Great Migration. Nonetheless, in Masai Mara, you will also find some of the best camps and lodges such as the famous Governor’s camp lying along the Mara River. Such camps allow you to track wildebeest migration effectively.

▶ LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK :

5 Best Safari Parks and Game Reserves in Kenya - Blog by Safarihub

If you are a birder, then Lake Nakuru Park is the perfect destination for you. Here, you will be able to see thousands of flamingos gathering at the lake as well as many other bird species that call the park home. It is said that currently, the number of flamingos found here has reduced significantly. Nonetheless, the number is known to rise up to about 1.5 million. This park is a paradise to birders!!

If you are not a bird enthusiast, it does not imply that you should not visit this park. There is ideally something for everyone in the park. Starting from 1983, Lake Nakuru National Park has been declared a rhino sanctuary. Currently, the park is home to impressively healthy populations of both white and black rhino. Additionally, you may opt to move southwards past Flamingo Hill to a known lion spotting region from where you will see several lionesses sleeping in trees. By chance, you may also see a few leopards.

▶ LAIKIPIA NATIONAL RESERVE:

5 Best Safari Parks and Game Reserves in Kenya - Blog by Safarihub

If you visit the northwest region of the snow-capped Mount Kenya, you are bound to see Laikipia plains which are considered one of the top premier tourist destinations in Kenya. The wildlife view found in this plane is considered extraordinary when compared to other regions in the country.

In terms of wildlife population, Laikipia is considered second after Masai Mara. It also serves as a home to the most endangered mammals than any other reserve in East Africa. Supposing you want to see some of the endemic species of animals such as the reticulated giraffe and Gravy’s zebra, then plan your trip and visit Laikipia plains. If that is not enough, then you should know that the Laikipia reserve is home to 50% of the total rhino population in Kenya.

▶ MERU NATIONAL PARK:

5 Best Safari Parks and Game Reserves in Kenya - Blog by Safarihub

In the early 1990s, this park experienced massive poaching which led to a decrease in wildlife species. However, with the current poaching controls, it is becoming one of the most fascinating wildlife viewing destinations in Kenya. Although it has remained to be one of the least visited wildlife destinations, that works in its favor because its vast land stretching to an area of about 870 km remains unspoiled, waiting to be discovered.

Despite the low number of visitors compared to other established parks, you should note that the game viewing opportunities and the animal population here match that of any other park in Kenya. The most common wildlife you will view in this park includes the Big 5, cheetah, and other savannah species. To an advantage are the numerous streams running through the park, facilitating an excellent view of hippo, African fish eagles, and crocodiles.

▶ SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE:

5 Best Safari Parks and Game Reserves in Kenya - Blog by Safarihub

The name of this reserve is derived from the occupant people, the Samburu. It is a smaller park in Kenya. However, the fascinating wildlife viewing experience it offers makes it rank as one of the best destinations. Within its unrestricted savannah grasslands passes the Ewaso Nyiro River which attracts many animals such as the Nile crocodile. It is also vital to understand that this park acts as a home to the “Samburu Special 5,” which includes beisa oryx, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, and the Grevy’s zebra.

Hope you liked the content – 5 Best Safari Parks and Game Reserves in Kenya by Safarihub experts.

Browse Safarihub Kenya Packages – https://safarihub.com/kenya/