Best Game Reserves & National Parks in Kenya
Kenya is full of incredible things to do, but what is it famous for? The game reserves and national parks of course. A safari is on a lot of people’s bucket lists, and if it’s been sitting on yours for years with no real plans manifesting to life, take this blog post about the best game reserves in Kenya as a sign to don your safari hat and book your once in a lifetime trip to Kenya. These game reserves are full of the type of animals you’ve probably only ever seen behind bars, and seeing them in their own natural habitats, doing as nature intended is an exhilarating experience. Understandably, walking safaris are prohibited in most of the national parks and game reserves, but if getting up close and personal is what you’re after, there are several conservancies and wildlife concessions that permit walking safaris. Whether you choose a walking safari in a nearby reserve or a game drive in one of these national parks, you’ll need to do a guided tour, if your plans don’t include being eaten by a lion. If that’s on your bucket list, we’d suggest you scribble it out!
When Is The Best Time To Visit Kenya?
The best time to visit Kenya is during the country's dry season, between July and September. If you visit during this season, you'll be in for a treat, as the wildebeest and zebra migrate during this time. If you visit earlier in July, you'll find there are fewer crowds.
Saying that, if you want to visit without crowds, December is also a great time to visit. Although it is within the rainy season, during December the rain showers are short, the vegetation thrives, and it's the best chance you'll have to spot newborn animals.
The worst time to visit Kenya is between March and May when the country is extremely wet.
What Is The Weather Like?
Kenya does not experience summer and winter. Instead, it experiences a wet and a dry season. During the dry season between June and October, daytime temperatures in the parks range between 23-28°C. The mornings can be quite chilly in the parks in these months, as low as 10°C. The wet season, between November and May, has an average daytime temperature of around 30°C.
Rainfall depends on which part of the rainy season you visit. During November and December, you can expect short rain showers often in the afternoon or evening. January and February can be a little drier, but March through May experiences the most rainfall and the highest humidity.
Which Animals Can You See In Kenya?
While we wish it did, trawling around one or even multiple game reserves in Kenya does not guarantee that you’ll see any animals at all. Although, saying that, you would have to be pretty unlucky to come home without seeing a single exotic creature. Whilst the season you travel to Kenya plays an important factor, there are many animals you can see throughout the year.
So, what Kenya see? You’ll have the opportunity to see Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Crocodiles, Hippopotamuses, Warthogs, Giraffes, African Elephants, Rhinoceroses, Zebras, Giraffes, Buffalo, Gazelles, Wildebeest, Ostriches, Topis, and Wild Dogs, all in their natural habitats.
What Are The Big 5?
If you go on a safari in Kenya, you'll hear 'the big 5' on everyone's lips. You'd think this would refer to the biggest mammals you could see in the game reserves, that's not the case. It actually refers to the animals that hunters find the most elusive to hunt on foot. These days the term is widely used by tour operators as these are the animals that tourists are often most interested in seeing. The big 5 animals include the African leopard, African lion, Cape buffalo, African rhinoceros, and African elephant.
When Is The Best Time Of Day To Visit A Game Reserve?
Animals are always most active during the early morning and early evening, so, whilst dragging yourself out of bed before dawn might be a struggle, it will pay off when you are greeted by all of the noises of the wild. You can also organize a nighttime game drive where you stand a chance of seeing different animals than those you could see during a morning or afternoon game drive, such as aardvarks, bat-eared foxes, and zorillas. If you’re extremely lucky, you might see a lion hunt.
Is Kenya Good For Solo Female Travelers?
Kenya is an excellent place to travel solo, as there are ample opportunities to meet like minded individuals. Safaris usually take place in groups, and if you’re worried about awkward small talk, there’s no need to be, as the many animals around you will create a great talking point.
If you’re choosing to travel solo for a bit of time away from the chatter, you can book a private safari. This is also a great option if you wish to have 1-on-1 experience with a guide and ask more detailed questions about the wildlife you see on your game drive.
Kenya is also a safe destination for female travelers, although the usual travel precautions, such as not walking alone at night in poorly lit areas, and keeping valuables tucked away, still apply here.
7 Best Game Reserves In Kenya
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad game reserve in Kenya (do those words even go together?!), but these are the 7 best game reserves in Kenya for spotting an abundance of wildlife. It helps that they all have stunning views, for when the animals are hiding.
Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve is arguably the most famous game reserve in Kenya. It’s located in the southwest of the country and the vast Savannah covers an expanse of 1,510 km². It also borders Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. The main reserve is where the magic happens when it comes to the ‘great migration’. Every year, over a million wildebeest, as well as other animals such as zebras, and even some of the big cats, migrate from the Serengeti up into the Masai Mara National Reserve. The great migration happens between July and August every year, and if you’re lucky enough to catch it, it is truly a spectacle to behold.
In the Masai Mara National Reserve, you can see all of the big 5, which includes the African leopard, African lion, Cape buffalo, African rhinoceros, and African elephant.
Some things to do in the national park, aside from the obvious game drives, include hot air balloon rides, visits to the Mara river, or visiting the semi-nomadic Maasai tribes, who live in villages in or around the game reserve, and are extremely friendly to visitors, greeting them with songs and dances.
Samburu Game Reserve
Forget the big 5, in Samburu Game Reserve, it’s all about ‘the special 5’. These are a collection of rare animals that one wouldn’t usually see in other areas of the country or other game reserves in Kenya. The special 5 includes the gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, and Beisa oryx. The reserve is located in the southeastern corner of the Samburu district and is 165 km squared. If you’re looking for big predators, you’ll find lions, leopards, and cheetahs in the park.
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park has 4 of the big 5, only missing the African Rhino, but has a great variety of animals you can see, including lions. What it’s famous for though, is its abundance of African elephants (the largest herds in Kenya), numbering at over 1600. In fact, the Amboseli National Park is the best place in the world to get close to African elephants in the wild.
For lovers of scenery, Amboseli does not disappoint- it provides views of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, which is the highest mountain in Africa, and the highest single free-standing mountain in the world at 5985 meters above sea level.
Mount Kenya National Park
Mount Kenya is the second-highest peak in Africa, standing at 5,199 meters. It is a World Heritage Site, and the scenery around it is the dream of all nature lovers.
In this national park, you'll see forests, glaciers, lakes, and more. In terms of wildlife, Mount Kenya National Park is home to 2 of the big 5, the Cape buffalo, and the leopard, however, leopards are only spotted very rarely.
Visitors can also see African elephants, mongooses, water bucks, and tree hyrax among other wildlife. Alongside safari's, tourists can also enjoy hiking in the area or climbing the mountain.
Tsavo National Parks
Does this count as a cheat? Tsavo is actually made up of 2 national parks, Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park.
If Tsavo is ringing a bell, that may be because of the man-eating lions the park was famed for. When constructing the railway line, back in 1898, dozens of workers were killed by a pair of man-eating lions, however, those days are long gone, and it's not a reason to prevent you from visiting this wildlife haven.
The Tsavo parks make up the largest national park in Kenya at 22,000 km² and are also some of the oldest. The reason there are 2 parks is due to the aforementioned railway line that was built and separates them.
The big 5 do exist here, although it can be a game of 'Where's Waldo' to spot them, which we think adds to the fun. In Tsavo West, visitors love seeing elephants bathing in red sand.
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru National Park sits in the Great Rift Valley and is known for the flocks of flamingos that reside there. In fact, there are often over a million flamingos on the lake. At some points, you'd be forgiven for thinking this clear blue lake was actually pink in color. The park has 4 of the big 5, including lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, and buffalo. It is an especially good area for bird watching and is 188 km².
Other wildlife that visitors can enjoy viewing include pythons, African wild dogs, and zebras. Lake Nakuru is also known as a great camping spot, and tourists can also enjoy fishing.
Nairobi National Park
We couldn't miss Nairobi National Park, as the most unique safari spot on our list. What sets this national park apart from the others is its close proximity to the city of Nairobi. The park is set on a backdrop of skyscrapers. You'd think this would drive animals away, but that's not the case. In this 117 km² national park, you'll find many different mammals, including some of the most sought out wildlife by tourists, such as all of the big 5, as well as giraffes, hyenas, and 400 species of birds.
Nairobi is the only city in the world to have a national park and is a great option for those who want to incorporate a safari into their city break.
Final Thoughts
Kenya is one of the best choices for planning a safari, and, whilst we think these are the best game reserves in Kenya, there are plenty more to choose from. If you have been on an African safari on these game reserves or any others, we would LOVE to see your pics, hear your stories and any other tips or suggestions you have. Our community brings together like-minded female travelers from around the world. Find out more about our community here.
Depending on how interested you are in particular wildlife, it's a good idea to research whether a national park is home to the big 5, and what other animals you might be able to spot there before booking your trip, as each national park is home to a slightly different array of creatures.