Safaris in kenya are cheaper than anywhere else in africa, but you can also enjoy an exclusive experience. Explore all of americas national parks right here with npf. You can book your tour in the park here and theyll pick you up from your hotel. The national parks are administered by the kenya wildlife service kws as. Things should be much more complicated, and the best way to complicate them was an electronic chip debit card. The move follows kenya governments decision to exempt entry fees to national parks and reserves from value added tax vat, which has now been ratified following the assent of finance act, 2016. A safari is an integral part of the kenya experience that you dont want to miss. This land contains 22 national parks, 28 national reserves and 5 national sanctuaries. The official guide to americas national parks travel guide. Kenya s top ten wildlife parks and reserves are listed below and reflect my personal opinion. National parks have existed in canada for well over a. By law, they are protected for public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment, while being maintained in an unimpaired state for future generations. It gives visitors a chance to indulge in pure african safari at the footsteps of a major urban center.
Kenya national parks and reserves overview and information. Apr 19, 2015 kenya safari facts about kenyan parks april 19, 2015 january 30, 2016 when you think of safaris images of a vast african savanna with roaming herds of zebra and gazelle with lounging prides of lions relaxing under the trees often spring to mind. A morning or afternoon game is possible when one has other businesses to attend to in th. All masai mara park entrance fees are paid using your credit card either in nairobi city or to the. The kenya wildlife service kws conserves and manages kenyas wildlife for the kenyan people and the world. Its the quality of kenyas parks and reserves that make kenya the most popular safari destination in africa, and each has their own best times to visit. Popular national parks of kenya national parks in kenya for. With a desirable global reputation, kenya is home to the big five and has incredibly beautiful national parks with savannah grasslands, majestic animals, unique plants and the most picturesque views. The national parks and reserves are administered through kenya wildlife service and some are administered by county councils. Park fees and accommodation kenya wildlife service. You will also find a bird guide, mammals guide and a map of the country quite. In early may, my wife and i arrived at nairobi airport on the way to two wonderful weeks of safari travel in kenya and tanzania, but we had a day and a half before actually leaving nairobi.
Inside kenyas nairobi national park your ultimate guide. The uganda wildlife authority tariffs for 2018 and 2019 remain largely unchanged the exception being that promotional or discounted gorilla permits ended in november of 2017 the gorilla habituation experience is now listed where it was not before. Kenya s national parks and game reserves are where people kenyans, visitors and tourists go to experience the best kenyan safaris. In the year 2000, some genius at kenya wildlife service kws thought this was way too easy. Within the nairobi city, the nairobi national park, nairobi mini orphanage and nairobi safari walk recorded 714,400 visitors in 2011 and 600,600 visitors in 2015 which represents a decline of 16%. Grevys zebra is native to east africa and is the most threatened among the three species of zebra, the other two being the plains zebra and the. But there is much more to kenya than just its most famous reserve. A year in americas national parks by mark woods flames by ginny l. Climbing to 5,199 meters, mount kenya is the second tallest mountain in. Kenya national parks and game reserves africa guide. Kws manages about 8 per cent of the total landmass of the country. These are the current uganda wildlife authority tariffs activity fees for january 2018 to june 2020.
National parks are a countrywide system of representative natural areas of canadian significance. The ultimate guide for a vacation in the wild one of the greatest wildlife reserves in africa, the masai mara reserve is situated at the southwest of kenya. Your tour includes transfers, guiding, and game drives. Discover our most treasured places, supported by people like you, and start your travel planning here. Its the quality of kenya s parks and reserves that make kenya the most popular safari destination in.
Kenya national parks map about 8% of kenyas land area is protected for wildlife viewing with over 50 national parks and reserves throughout the country. Kws reverses park entry fees increase after uproar. Electric fences to stop invasion of kenya nature parks. Masai mara park entrance fees is a community administered national reserve hence not included in the kenya wildlife authority. The national park system of kenya is maintained by the kenya wildlife service. There are two main types of terrestrial protected areas in kenya. Kenya hosts various national parks like the popular masaimara national reserve, samburu and amboseli national parks. Introduction to kenya national parks the kenya national parks are the places where the safaris take place and kenya has some of the finest safari parks in the whole world. This information has been taken from the kenya wildlife services website on tsavo east and west national park. The park fees between citizen and foreigners are exorbitant at almost 1o times more expensive. Kws manages most of the national parks and reserves in kenya, the most popular exception being the maasai mara national reserve, which is managed by local authorities.
The groundwater forest surroundings at lake manyara offer. Information on masai mara park and mara conservancy entry fees, payment methods. Outdoor activities in kenya doing sports in kenya what to do in. National reserves, run by local councils, tend to be less strict on the question of human encroachment. Lake manyara national park, a guide by tanzania national parks and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Tsavo national park is the largest park in kenya and consists of two separate parks, tsavo east and tsavo west. We visited 6 parks and conservancies in kenya and all were wonderful with great game viewing. Top 10 best national parks in tanzania overview bookmundi. Learn the best of masai mara national park, nairobi national park, lake nakuru. Experiencing a massive renaissance after poachers decimated animal numbers and waged allout war on park wardens, meru is not only a beautiful reserve where you can spot the big five among increasingly good numbers of plains game and slightly rarer animals, but because it was virtually offlimits for so many years. Kenyas top ten wildlife parks and reserves are listed below and reflect my personal opinion.
Kenya national park is located to the east of the great rift valley and is the second highest peak in africa. Oct 31, 2017 fees at 17 popular national parks may soon be rising sharply. Its the quality of kenya s parks and reserves that make kenya the most popular safari destination in africa, and each has their own best times to visit. One of the kenya national parks in the rift valley, saiwa swamp national park is 3 sq km and lies below the cherangani hills in kitale. Serengeti national park, empakaai center, mount kilimanjaro. Uganda wildlife authority tariffs activity fees 20182019. The national park service carries out its responsibilities in parks and programs under the authority of federal laws, regulations, and executive orders, and in accord with policies established by the director of the national park service and the secretary of the interior. The complete guide to all 59 national parks second edition paperback january 1, 2017.
Altogether, tsavo measures 21,000 square kilometers. Poaching fears rise after coronavirus empties kenyas. The two parks are one of the largest national parks in kenya. About eight per cent of kenya is formally protected for wildlife and environment conservation, either as national parks there are 23 on land and another four marine parks or as national reserves 28, plus six marine ones. Read about itineraries, activities, places to stay and travel essentials and get inspiration from the blog in the best guide to the national parks and mombasa highway. That was all, as it still is for national parks in most countries of the world. According to the cabinet secretary for tourism and wildlife najib balala. May 18, 2016 the number of visitors to national parks and game reserves declined from 730,700 visitors in 2011 to 345,000 in 2015 representing a drop of 53%. Tsavo national park is divided into west and east national parks. Tsavo river flows through the national parks from west to. The money collected as entrance fees in the parks is used to help the conservation of the plants and animals within the parks. Kenya is the home of the safari with 54 national parks and game reserves scattered in various parts the country. See ke to book these directly with the reserve park.
There are so many ways to enjoy a kenyan safari, including visiting national parks to see animals in their natural habitats. A personal topography of americas national parks by terry tempest williams the chief ranger by rebecca winters lassoing the sun. Kenya national parks and reserves are major tourist attractions. Tsavo national parks is divided into two tsavo west and tsavo east by a109 road and railway. Elsa became famous in the bestselling book born free. Masai mara park entrance fees maasai mara national reserve. Plan your visit to the national parks and mombasa highway, kenya. Search by each park individually or browse a full list of parks in the national park system. Tour to either of the two tour parks is the best decision to make, whether on a short or long coastal holiday. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. A road crosses the park through the lower slopes up to the moorlands to connect with another one from naivasha on the western side. Merged with the serengeti national park, this place is a home to around 95 species of mammals and 570 bird species, this place gives an incredible view of the wildlife which one cannot miss. Kenya is one of the worlds premium safari destinations with great opportunities of wildlife viewing all year round. Thus all entry fees to kws managed national parks and reserves have been capped at usd 60 for adult non residents and ksh.
Nov 27, 2012 the official guide to americas national parks travel guide fodors on. May 09, 2009 kenya is planning to erect thousands of miles of electric fencing around its key national parks and to double the number of armed guards to protect water sources and stop impoverished people. The uganda wildlife authority tariffs for 2018 and 2019 remain largely unchanged the exception being that promotional or discounted gorilla permits ended in november of 2017. It is tiny in comparison to many of kenya s other national parks, and shows how kenya was in its natural state, when the city of nairobi was just becoming established over 100 years ago. The national parks are administered by the kenya wildlife service kws as total sanctuaries where human habitation, apart from the tourist lodges, is prohibited. There are two premium parks in kenya, amboseli and lake nakuru national park. Policies are designed to improve the internal management of the national. A practical guide to kenyas best parks and conservancies.
Kenya is an important water tower in the country as it provides water for about 50% of the countrys population and produces 70% of kenyas hydroelectric power. The kenya wildlife service kws tuesday withdrew a notice increasing park fees by up to 300 percent for kenyans across the country from july following public uproar. Dec 26, 2019 these are the current uganda wildlife authority tariffs activity fees for january 2018 to june 2020. While the national parks and reserves aim to protect flora, fauna and ecosystems, the private conservancies give our guests distinctive wholesome experiences that kenya offers culturally, historically and ecologically. Nairobi national park is a short distance from the city centre. The park is readily accessible on tarmac from nyeri and naro moru on the eastern side and its 150 kms from nairobi. Wikimedia commons has media related to national parks of kenya. The country has 23 national parks and 15 national reserves managed by either the kenyan wildlife services or private companies, like in the case of parts of the maasai mara game reserve. Can i pay my park entrance fees in advance, what mode of payments should i use. Entry fees could double at some national parks the new york. Nairobi national park nairobi, kenya activities lonely planet. Kenya national parks and game reserves are some of the biggest tourist. Nairobi national park 2020 all you need to know before you.