ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
The park covers an area of 767 km2 and is known for its raging waterfalls that plunge from cloudy heights into spray-filled gorges. The magnificent Karuru Falls, whose ice-cold, crystal-clear waters plunge an impressive 300 meters, the spectacular Gura Falls, which cascade from the opposite side of the same gorge, the steep-sided Chania Falls and the enchanting Magura Falls, which spill over the yawning mouth of the Queen's Cave.
Worth knowing
- A belt of bamboo vegetation is a favorite hideout for the rare and elusive forest antelope.
At 10,000ft.
The bamboo vegetation blends seamlessly into the moorland landscape, which is reminiscent of the European highlands. - Rare wildlife species include black rhino, black serval, black leopard (rarely seen) and the eastern bongo (a giant forest antelope).
There are also elephants, buffalo, giraffe, blue and colobus monkeys, leopards, lions, warthogs, giant forest hogs, bushbuck, red duiker, suni, reedbuck and eland.
The landscape above the tree line is spectacular, as the mountainous terrain is covered with dense, misty tropical forests. - This is also a paradise for birdwatchers.
There are over 250 bird species, including the majestic African fish eagle, the African goshawk and many others.
Lodge: The Ark
is nestled in the Aberdares chain. Arriving at the lodge is a special experience, via a drawbridge that is raised when all guests are "on board". The numerous viewing balconies are accessible via a wooden walkway, the "Cat Walk", and are ideal places to observe the game. On request, guests can be woken up at night by a signal as soon as wild animals approach the waterhole.
MERU RESERVE
Meru Reserve with an area of 870 km2 is a hidden gem. Wonderfully remote, rugged and largely untouched, Meru lies in a little-visited wilderness and is surrounded by unspoiled natural beauty. It is wild and beautiful, lying on the equator and crossed by 13 rivers and numerous mountain-fed streams. The landscape is very varied, ranging from forests at 3,000 meters on the slopes of the Nyambene mountain range northeast of Mount Kenya to wide open plains with meandering riverbanks lined with doum palms.
Worth knowing
- Wildlife: the park is home to a variety of wildlife species, including elephant, Grevy's zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard, hartebeest, hippo, buffalo and reticulated giraffe.
The rivers are rich in hippos, crocodiles and fish.
Meru is home to a rhino sanctuary where the endangered black and white rhinos live.
As the rhinos are threatened with extinction, they are guarded around the clock.
The sanctuary offers one of the best opportunities to observe rhinos in the wild. - Birds: the birdlife is also exceptionally diverse, with over 400 bird species counted.
These include Peter's finfoot, which inhabits the Murera and Ura rivers, Pel's fishing owl, kingfishers, water rails, bee-eaters, starlings and weaverbirds. - The park is famous as the setting of the book "Born Free" by Joy Adamson, the life story and research of the Adamsons among lions and cheetahs.
Elsa, the lioness, was the most famous and her grave is marked in the park.
Rhino River Camp ****
7 tents
is situated in a 60-acre conservation area on the edge of Meru National Park near the secured rhino sanctuary. The camp has a total of seven tents, two of which are in the forest and five on the banks of the seasonal Kindani River. The tents are made of canvas and hardwood and exude a rustic elegance that blends harmoniously into the surroundings. The raised wooden platforms on which the tents stand offer guests the opportunity to watch the calm flow of the Kindani River, adding to the tranquil atmosphere of the camp.
SAMBURU RESERVE
Samburu National Reserve covers an area of 165 km2 and is bordered to the south by the Ewaso Nyiro River, which separates it from Buffalo Springs National Reserve. The reserve lies in the ecological zone classified as arid and semi-arid, with a moisture index of 42 to 57, meaning that evaporation is greater than the available moisture. The days are extremely hot while the nights are cool. The Ewaso Nyiro River is the main source of water for the reserve and surrounding communities.
Worth knowing
- Wildlife: the reserve is rich in wildlife and famous for its abundance of rare northern specialist species such as the Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and beisa oryx.
The reserve is also popular with at least 900 elephants.
Large carnivores such as lion, leopard and cheetah are a major attraction (Kamunyak, the wonder lioness who adopted the baby oryx, is a resident of the reserve).
Wild dogs are also a common attraction in this unique reserve. - Birds: the bird life is rich with over 450 recorded species.
The birds of the dry northern bushveld are joined by a number of species from the riverine forests.
The lesser kestrel and the taita falcon are species that are protected worldwide and both use the reserve.
Five species classified as endangered have been recorded in the reserve.
These are the African darter, the little egret, the white-headed vulture, the martial eagle and the yellow-billed woodpecker.
The pancake tortoise (malacochersus tornieri), which is classified as critically endangered, is found in the reserve.
Elephant Bedroom Camp ****
is situated on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River under shady doum palms and other trees that form this green belt of riverine forest in the Samburu National Reserve. The spacious tents with integrated bathrooms offer every comfort. Each tent has a paddling pool. The complex has regular animal visitors and offers an authentic safari atmosphere.
Elephant Watch Camp ****
6 tents
is an eco camp made from all-natural materials, including trees felled by elephants, and is situated in a wooded area on the Ewaso Nyiro River. The spacious, netted tents are specially designed to catch the breeze and provide maximum privacy and shelter. Each tent hangs under a wide thatched roof with its own veranda and breathtaking views. Inside, soft, flowing sheets fall to the floor, which can be pulled in front of the windows at night. The walls are made of a mixture of canvas and netting, keeping out bugs but letting in the sounds and smells of the wilderness. The unfenced camp with the animal visitors gives a real, rustic, safari experience.
BUFFALO SPRINGS
Buffalo Springs with an area of 131 km2 is situated next to the Samburu National Reserve, on the opposite, northern side of the Ewaso Nyiro River. The reserve is home to a variety of animals and birds, similar to the Samburu Reserve, including many elephants. The reserve is less visited, which makes exploring the flora and fauna a pleasure. The reserve lies at an altitude of between 850 m and 1,230 m above sea level and is a gently undulating lowland plain with ancient lava flows and volcanic soils of olivine basalt. The main feature is the Champagne Ride in the southeast, an ancient lava terrace. The climate is hot, dry and semi-arid.
Worth knowing
- Wildlife: wild animals include the Grant's zebra and the endangered Grévy's zebra.
Other mammal species include the reticulated giraffe, the African bush elephant, the oryx antelope, the gerenuk, the African buffalo, the lion, the leopard, the cheetah and the hyena.
Hippos and crocodiles live in the river. - Birds: over 365 bird species have been counted in the reserve.
The Somali ostrich is widespread in the reserve.
It is larger than the Masai ostrich and is characterized by its indigo legs and neck.
Ashnil Samburu Camp ***(*)
19 tents
is a spacious tented camp set against the spectacular backdrop of the mighty Ol Olokwe Mountain on the Ewaso Nyiro River. All tents are dotted along the shady banks of the river under a dense stand of dum palms. Each tent has a covered deck overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River. The camp has an outdoor swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers, a garden and a lounge bar overlooking the African savannah.