nimals like Lions, Giraffes, Zebras, Gazelles, Buffaloes, Waterbucks, Impalas among others.
TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK
Tsavo West National park is in the southern circuit, its current size is 9065km², the name Tsavo means Slaughter in Kamba language.
This parks offers tremendous views and diverse habitats ranging from mountains, river forests, plains, lakes and wooded grassland there are varieties of landscapes, from swamps and natural springs to rocky peaks, extinct volcanic cones, to rolling plains and sharp reddish outcrops. It is especially attractive at the end of the rains when the countryside turns green. Mzima Springs is pool of natural spring water that attracts a lot of game and there is even an underwater hippo-viewing hide.
Tsavo west national park is also known for its ‘Roaring Rocks’, which if climbed gives good view to see eagles and buzzards that whirl around these cliffs. It has also volcanic formations (Shetani Lava Flow) Mzima Springs where Hippos, Fish and Crocodiles are seen from the underwater hide, there is the Rhino Sanctuary. You will spot Elephants, Giraffes, variety bird life, and of course the Rhino and beautiful mountains. This park is known for its maneater lions who ate the labourers who were building the iron bridge across the river (next to the highway between Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park).
ABERDARES NATIONAL PARK
Aberdare national park is in the central circuit, it was named aberdares by Joseph Thomson who was an explorer in honor of Lord aberdare who at that time was the president of Royal geographical society
It is a high altitude national park created to protect the slopes and moorland of the Aberdare Mountains. This park is a perfect location for topography enthusiasts and for viewing Kenya’s animals and birds. It is a home for elephants, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthogs and bushbucks among others. It homes 250 bird species like Jackson’s Francolin, Sparrow hawks, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds and plovers etc. In this park there are different attractions like beautiful mountain scenery is one of the highlights of a visit to this National Park, the park has several picturesque waterfall, Rare animals – Black Serval, Black Leopard (seldom seen) and the Eastern Bongo (a huge forest Antelope), Watching animals come to the waterhole at the famous Treetops Lodge and The Ark Hotel gives an excellent game viewing at night over the watering hole. Trout fishing and Hiking also done here.
OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY
This park is situated at the foothill of cental Nanyuki and Aberdares. It is a home for largest black rhino in East africa also houses remaining northern white rhino in the world which were moved here from Dvurkralove Zoo. It holds the big five game among large selection of African animals. Sweetwaters chimpanzee conservation is still situated here the only place in Kenya where this highly endangered and remarkably intelligent species can be seen. Other rare animals that can be found here are Africa wild dog, oryx, jackson’s hartebeest, grevy’s zebra, serval, cheetah and bat-eared fox. The common African wildlife can be found here are giraffes, vervet monkeys, baboon hippopotamus, impala, eland, giant’s gazel.
This Sanctuary provides a haven for orphaned, abandoned and rescued chimpanzees. It is the only place in Kenya where these great apes can be seen. It receives and provide life, long refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees from west and central Africa. At the Sweetwaters Sanctuary, chimpanzees are nursed back to health, taken care of and enjoy the rest of their days in the safety of a vast natural enclosure.
MERU NATIONAL PARK
Meru National Park is wild and beautiful. Straddling the equator and bisected by 13 rivers and numerous mountain-fed streams, it is an especially beautiful area of Kenya. It has diverse scenery from woodlands wide open plains with meandering riverbanks dotted with doum palms. In this park you will see lion, elephant, cheetah, leopard black rhino, zebra, gazelle, oryx