For those who follow world-famous marathons, they might have noticed that the fastest finishers are always Kenyans. Could it be because Kenya has vast coastal plains where they could practice? Or could it be because they can emulate most of the animals that run free in most parts of the country? Experts say it’s simply genetics: Kenyans have shorter torsos, longer and more slender limbs. They are bird-like.
If there are two things Kenya is famous for, it’s their runners and famous wild safaris.
Kenya is a country in Africa that covers 580,367 square kilometers (143 million acres) of land with a population of 52.2 million people. The country is named after Mount Kenya, the highest peak in the country. Its highest elevation is at 5,199 meters. It is the second-highest peak in Africa after Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro.
While most people equate Kenya with safari, there is so much more to this country than just lions and elephants (the Big Five comprising lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros, and buffalo are common in the nation). It also has some 536 kilometers of coastline and some stunning beaches. With vast plains, agriculture is also a major economic driver in the country. Kenya is among the top exporters of coffee and tea.
The best thing about Kenya, of course, is its natural resources. Kenya is also an important route for wildlife migration, particularly blue wildebeests and other bovids. With a significant number of species of different kinds of animals living in this country, it was important to preserve significant wildlife habitats. The country is home to 54 national parks, national reserves, and marine parks and reserves.
The most famous of Kenya’s national parks are the Maasai Mara National Park and Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. But other parks are stunning and home to a large population of wildlife that is still undiscovered. Here is a list of the top 10 unexplored national parks in Kenya:
1. Arabuko Sokoke National Park
It is a given that most visitors in Kenya will do the safari—it is like a rite of passage. But for those who want to complement their Big 5 experience with some smaller animals, this park is the perfect place for them. For one, this park is really small, at just six square kilometers (1,482 acres). It is nestled within the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve. The forest reserve was established because, in the 1980s, a lot of locals were eyeing the place for homesteading. The government, though, didn’t want to disturb the wildlife in the forest and consequently, the park.
Part of the reason for the protection of the area is because it is home to a lot of endemic species. There are at least three forest types in the park, each with its wildlife population. One bird considered completely endemic to the park and the forest as a whole is Clarke’s weaver. There are also those endemic to the park as well as part of the neighboring Tanzanian forest: Sokoke scops owl, Sokoke and Amani sunbirds, and spotted ground thrush.
Among the common residents of the park are the African civets, baboons, endemic elephant shrews, Savannah elephants, sokokes, and vervet monkeys. There are also Ader’s duikers and Sokoke bushy-tailed mongooses, but they are rarely seen.
2. Central Island National Park
This island in the middle of Lake Turkana is also known as Crocodile Island. The park is composed of volcanic craters and cones totaling more than a dozen. The craters have been filled with small lakes, adding to the attraction of the park. Sometimes the smell of sulfur permeates the park due to the active volcanoes. There are also fumaroles in some parts of the park, which was established in 2001.
Lake Turkana is considered the world’s largest permanent desert lake and the world’s largest alkaline lake. The park also has some other smaller Crocodile Lake, Flamingo Lake, and Tilapia Lake. The park is also known as Crocodile Island because the lakes have some of the largest concentration of Nile crocodiles.
Aside from crocodiles, other animals found in the park are gazelles, giraffes, hippopotamuses, topi, and zebras. There are also some 350 species of birds in this small park—only five square kilometers (1,235 acres)—making it ideal for birding.
3. Malka Mari National Park
This is probably the least visited parks in Kenya, although it is quite large at 1,500 square kilometers (370,000 acres). It is along the Dawa River, which borders Kenya and Ethiopia—although the perennial river is really under Ethiopian territory.
The park is described as semi-arid bushland, scrubby grassland, and riparian woodland. Because of its unique topography, there are also plants in the park that are endemic. The vegetation is enough for wildlife to thrive. The wildlife population is the reason why the park was established in 1989. Among the animal residents of the park are the antelopes, dik-diks, gazelles, genets, giraffes, Nile crocodiles, spotted hyenas, and zebras.
Because of its vast landscape, the park is also a great venue to experience hot air ballooning. It’s a different kind of wild safari experience.
4. Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
Remember when it was mentioned that Kenya also has some 536 kilometers of coastline and stunning beaches? Well, this park is just one example of that coastline and amazing beach. This marine park is also known as the Home of the Dolphins, as they are known to playfully jump around its waters. Some 70 dolphins have been identified in the marine park.
The park on the southern coast of the country was established in 1973 to protect the natural marine habitat of a large variety of marine life. A lot of the species are endemic to the island.
It is a wonderful place to dive and snorkel, as it has a beautiful and colorful corals from 56 genera. Among the abundant marine life in the park are angelfish, butterflyfish, damselfish groupers, dolphins, green sea turtles, moray eels, parrotfish, pufferfish, scorpionfish, snappers, triggerfish, and wrasses. Some humpback whales and whale sharks have also been spotted in the park on some occasions.
The park’s establishment was not just meant to preserve marine life but also those of seabirds. The area is also a popular breeding place for migratory birds. There are certainly a lot of reasons why tourists should drop by this unspoiled park.
5. Mount Elgon National Park
This park has two sides: the Kenyan part, which was established in 1968, and the Ugandan side, which was established in 1992. The latter is much larger, though, at 1,110 square kilometers (274,287 acres). The Kenyan national park is only 169 square kilometers (41,761 acres).
This park is named after Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano on the border of both Kenya and Uganda. Because of its elevation, the park is home to different ecosystems. Almost every part of the park is covered in green plants and trees. Around 400 species of plants have been documented in the park. The high density of trees makes it an ideal nesting areas for birds.
There are around 144 species of birds found in the park. Among the species that interest birders are an eastern bronze-naped pigeon, Hartlaub’s turaco, Jackson’s francolin, and Tacazze sunbird. Other animal residents of the park are antelopes, buffaloes, duikers, and monkeys.
6. Ol Donyu Sabuk National Park
Named after the mountain Ol Donyo Sabuk, the park was established in 1967. The name means a large mountain in Maasai as it has a peak of 2,145 meters. The peak has a great panoramic vista of Nairobi and other beautiful parts of lowland Kenya. The park also provides viewpoints for Africa’s highest peaks: Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The park is great for hiking and sightseeing. The Fourteen Falls is one of the most beautiful bodies of water in Kenya. It is large and the sound of its cascade is like music to every visitor’s ear. The waterfall also has a spiritual aspect to it as Asian immigrants use the area for their religious rites. It is also a favorite spot to sprinkle cremated ashes in the belief that the ashes will be led to the Indian Ocean.
Among the wildlife in this park are baboons, buffaloes, bushbucks, duikers, impalas, and monkeys.
7. Ruma National Park
The park is also known as the Last Retreat of the Roan Antelope because it is home to the indigenous population of roan antelopes, which are rare in Africa. The population of roan antelopes, one of the largest species of antelopes, are on the verge of extinction. The Kenyan population of roan antelopes is just around 40 years old. It’s a surprise why this is still one of the most undiscovered places in Kenya when it is the only place roan antelopes can be seen.
But while the park is meant to protect roan antelopes, it is also home to a number of animals that freely roam the area: African leopards, Bohor reedbuck, bush pigs, cape buffaloes, eastern black rhinoceros, honey badgers, hyenas, Lelwel hartebeest, olive baboons, orbis, servals, topis, Rothschild’s giraffes, and vervet monkeys.
The park is also home to some 400 species of birds including the blue swallow, which is considered as a globally threatened species of bird. The blue swallows migrate to Kenya from neighboring Tanzania between April and September.
8. Saiwa Swamp National Park
At only three square kilometers (741 acres), this the smallest national park in Kenya. It is located in Rift Valley Province. The park was established in 1974 specifically to create a refuge for sitatunga or a rare species of antelope that loves swamps.
The park is generally a forest area with trees, some of which are endemic, exotic flowers, and a variety of bird species. But a large part of the small park is a wetland that provides a wading area for the sitatunga. Incidentally, the park has also become a haven for the rare De Brazza’s monkey. As a wetland, the park is also a favorite among water birds including African black duck, grey heron, and lesser jacana.
The park has some boardwalks to see wildlife, but there are also botanical safaris available for those who want to cover a large part of the park.
9. Sibiloi National Park
This is a different kind of national park in Kenya, as it was established in 1973 to protect not just the natural resources, but also the paleontological sites covered in this 1,570-square-kilometer (387,955 acres) protected land on the northeast shore of Lake Turkana.
Because of its paleontological significance, the park was also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Among the fossils found in the park are those of Australopithecus, which play a significant part in human evolution. This genus of African apes evolved some four million years ago but became extinct two million years ago. There were also early Homo fossils found in the park.
The park is also home to the Mount Sibiloi, a group of volcanic formations. Despite being preserved for its paleontological significance, the park is still home to many species of wildlife: cheetahs, gazelles, leopards, lions, striped hyenas, northern topi and zebras.
10. Watamu Marine National Park
Established in 1968, this is one of Kenya’s first marine parks. It is located in the small town of Watamu, where the park got its name. It is known for its compact marine habitat that is home to a large population of marine life. The coral gardens in the Watamu waters are just around 300 meters, but it is home to some 600 species of fish and 110 species of other marine lives (corals, crustaceans, invertebrates, mollusks).
Diving and snorkeling, for obvious reasons, are the most popular activities in the park. Tourists are more likely to spot some barracudas, manta rays, turtles and whale sharks while diving. The park is also known as a nesting site for some endangered sea turtles like the green, hawksbill, and Olive Ridley turtles. The park is also surrounded by white sand, which is great for those who don’t dive and snorkel. They can stay on the shore and do some swimming—the view from the shore is also beautiful.
Because of its rich marine resources as well as its beautiful underwater view, the park was also designated as a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations.