The beauty of Kenya is hidden in its raw and rustic national parks which are home to many endangered species. This east-African country is named the wildlife capital for having numerous national parks and reserves within its boundaries. For all the wildlife lovers, here are the 8 best Kenya National Parks that will leave you spell bounded as you explore the wildlife of Africa with your naked eyes and feel the thrill of staying close to these wild beasts.

With a vast array of incredible things to see and do, it is unsurprising that Kenya Safari Tours welcomes so many visitors from around the world each year. Beautiful beaches, cosmopolitan cities, and of course the unbelievably breath-taking scenery all combine to entice travelers to Kenya.

Maasai Mara National Reserve

• Best Time To Visit: July-October
• Major Attractions: Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Olare Orok Conservancy, Mara Triangle, Mara River
• Must Experiences: Witness the wild beast migration, Jungle safari
• Where To Stay & Eat: Elephant Pepper Camp, Enkewa Camp, Mara Bush Camp
• How To Reach: The national reserve in Kenya is at a distance of 270 kms from Nairobi city which usually takes 4-5 hours by road and 40-45 minutes by flight.

Amboseli National Park

• Best Time To Visit: July-September (January and February)
• Major Attractions: Elephant Research Camp, Lake Amboseli, Sinet Delta
• Must Experiences: hiking at Mt. Kilimanjaro, visiting the Observation Hill, meeting the Masai Tribe
• Where To Stay & Eat: Ol Tukai Lodge, Amboseli Serena Lodge, Kimana Lodge, Tortilis Camp
• How To Reach: The national park is easily accessible by road. The route from Nairobi to Namanga is quite rough whereas from Namanga to Meshanani gate leads to experiencing potholes in the journey. And the flight also connects from Nairobi to Amboseli.

Tsavo National Park

• Best Time To Visit: June-October and January and February
• Major Attractions: Tsavo East, Epiya Chapeyu Tented Safari Camp, Agenzia Safari Vera Africa
• Must Experiences: Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Mzima springs, Ngulia Hills, Lake Jipe
• Where To Stay & Eat: Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, Voi Wildlife Lodge, Voyager Ziwani Camp
• How To Reach: One can take personal transport or bus from Nairobi, Mombasa, and Malindi. Chartered flights can also be used which will land at one of the six airstrips in the south or 13 airstrips in the north.

Aberdare National Park

• Best Time To Visit: June-September and also January and February
• Major Attractions: Thompson Falls, Kereita Cave, and Waterfall, Soysambu Conservancy
• Must Experience: Bird watching, trout fishing, visiting the Lesatima and Kinangop peaks, hiking to the elephant hills and twin hills
• Where To Stay & Eat: The Ark Lodge, Outspan Golf and Country Club
• How To Reach: The Aberdare national park is at a distance of 160 kms from Nairobi city. Whereas the easy-to-access routes to reach the park is from the town of Nyahururu and Naivasha.

Lake Nakuru National Park

• Best Time To Visit: June-March
• Major Attractions: Lake Nakuru, Hyrax hill prehistoric site, Makalia waterfall
• Must Experiences: Watching flamingos on lake Nakuru, wildlife safari
• Where To Stay & Eat: Lake Nakuru lodge, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
• How To Reach: The park is located at a distance of 156 kms from the northwest of Nairobi. The easiest access to the park is via the main gate which is 4 kms away from the Nakuru Town Centre.

Mount Kenya National Park

• Best Time To Visit: December-March
• Major Attractions: Mount Kenya, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
• Must Experiences: Mountain climbing, camping, and caving
• Where To Stay & Eat: Kinondoni campsite, Austrian head campsite, Like North Hut
• How To Reach: The park is located at a distance of 175 Kms from Nairobi, the park can be reached on Nanyuki-Isiolo road via Sirimon Track or Nyeri-Nanyuki road near Naro Moru.

Nairobi National Park

• Best Time To Visit: June-September
• Major Attractions: Nairobi Mosque, Galleria Mall, Ivory Burning Site Museum
• Must Experiences: picnic, camping, the sight of black rhino, walking trails at hippo pools
• Where To Stay & Eat: Twiga Campsite
• How To Reach: The national park is located at a distance of 10 kms from the Nairobi city center. The nearest airports to the national park are Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airports.

Samburu National Reserve

• Best Time To Visit: December-March and July-October
• Major Attractions: Samburu National Reserve, Shaba National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve
• Must Experiences: Wildlife safari, Bird watching, and Samburu cultural tours
• Where To Stay & Eat: Samburu Sopa Lodge, Samburu Serena Lodge, Sarova Shaba
• How To Reach: The national park is located at a distance of 345 kms from Nairobi whereas the reserve is also accessible by road via Isiolo and Archer’s Post. There are also chartered flights connecting from Nairobi to the Samburu national park.

Kenya National Parks FAQs

1. How many national parks are there in Kenya?

There are currently 54 national parks in Kenya.

2. Which is the most visited national park in Kenya?

Maasai Mara National Park

3. Which is the biggest park in Kenya?

Tsavo East National Park (13747 square km)

4. Which is the oldest national park in Kenya?

Nairobi National Park

5. What is the international entrance fee to Nairobi National Park?

For foreigners, the adult fee is USD 50 and half the price for children.

Kenya’s Game Reserves and National Parks are some of the best safari parks in the world. An essential part of any holiday to Kenya, game safaris are an unforgettable Kenya Travel Guide & experience that you won’t want to miss.

There’s plenty of choice on offer and so much to see and do but don’t forget to also make time to relax on Kenya’s beaches before you leave too. Let our African Experts help you start planning your Kenya Safari Tours today.