What are the Best National Parks in Kenya?

KENYA

The Top National Parks in Kenya

The Ultimate Guide to Kenya’s Best National Parks for Safari

For a quintessential African safari experience, look no further than Kenya. Its sprawling plains and varied big game make for spectacular safaris, no matter which national park you visit. Explore the vast Masai Mara or Samburu National Reserves, where a local tribe member might lead you as your expert guide. Or, check out Amboseli National Park, at the foot of towering Mount Kilimanjaro. You’ll find an abundance of wildlife in these thriving ecosystems, including big cats like leopards, cheetahs, and black-maned lions, along with astonishingly huge migratory herds.

best parks in Kenya

Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve blends arid landscapes with rare wildlife found only in northern Kenya, like Grévy’s zebra, the reticulated giraffe, and the East African oryx. The rugged beauty of this remote reserve is also home to rich cultural heritage, namely that of the Samburu people. On WT’s Kenya safari you’ll look for Kenya’s northern species, meet Samburu people, and maybe even see elephants bathing in the river from your camp.

When to Go

June to October, January to February

Reasons to Visit Samburu National Reserve

Spot wildlife rarely seen elsewhere. From elephants to big cats, the game-viewing opportunities in Samburu National Reserve are unmatched. It also features six special big game species rarely seen anywhere else: Grévy’s zebra, the reticulated giraffe, the Somali ostrich, the gerenuk, Günther’s dik-dik, and the East African oryx.
Meet Samburu warriors. The Samburu warriors are semi-nomadic pastoralists related to but distinct from the Maasai. Today, they are integral to protecting their communities and livestock from predators and other threats. On WT’s Private Kenya Safari, travelers will have the opportunity to meet and learn from this incredible community.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Kenya Private Safari

A herd of wildebeest cross a river, splashing through the water with dust rising around them during a migration—an unforgettable scene on safari in Kenya’s best parks.

best parks in Kenya

Masai Mara National Reserve

For a true experience of Kenya’s magic, head to the Masai Mara National Reserve, one of the most renowned wildlife destinations in the world. The Masai Mara is famed for its expansive plains and the dramatic Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras. It’s also a premier location for spotting Africa’s Big Five.

When to Go

July to October, January to February

Reasons to Visit Masai Mara National Reserve

Witness the Great Migration. The Mara offers fantastic game viewing throughout the year, and especially during the seasonal wildebeest migration from July to October. Resident lion prides hold and defend territories, and the open grasslands provide ideal hunting terrain for cheetahs, the planet’s fastest land mammal.
Enjoy Big Five wildlife sightings. It’s hard to convey the abundance of wildlife in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. In addition to almost-guaranteed sightings of the Big Five, visitors often spot giraffes, cheetahs, hippos, zebras, and antelope.
Set off on hot air balloon safaris. There’s nothing quite like gliding over the open grasslands of the Masai Mara from above and getting a bird’s-eye view of the reserve’s vastness and biodiversity. On both WT’s Kenya Private Safari and Masai Mara National Reserve Trip Extension, travelers have an opportunity to take a morning balloon safari.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Kenya Private Safari | Masai Mara National Reserve Extension

A group of zebras graze on a grassy plain dotted with acacia trees in one of Kenya’s best parks, with Mount Kilimanjaro rising in the background under a clear blue sky—a perfect safari scene.

best parks in Kenya

Amboseli National Park

At the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, near Kenya’s border with Tanzania, sits Amboseli National Park—a UNESCO site with incredible biodiversity throughout its savannas, marshlands, and acacia woodlands. One of the most popular Kenya safari destinations, it’s known for its healthy African elephant population. In fact, you can see four of the Big Five here—elephants, buffalos, lions, and leopards.

When to Go

June to October, January to February

Reasons to Visit Amboseli National Park

Capture fantastic Kili views. You’ll have direct, clear views of Africa’s tallest mountain from Amboseli, giving you a breathtaking backdrop for photos. Runoff from Kili’s ice cap feeds springs in the park, too, contributing to Amboseli’s biodiversity hotspot status.
See dozens of elephant herds. There are tons of elephants here—you can see up to 50 herds of African elephants in one safari in Amboseli. Capture incredible views of elephant herds backed by Kili’s towering profile, then look for the other large mammals here like lions, leopards, zebras, hyenas, and giraffes.
Meet the Maasai people. The Maasai are a large, semi-nomadic group of people from East Africa’s Nile Valley. The local Maasai culture adds authenticity to Amboseli National Park excursions—you can meet and interact with Maasai folks at established cultural centers.

Three African elephants with reddish-brown dust on their skin walk together through Kenya’s dry, brushy landscape—an iconic safari scene in one of the country’s best parks, with red soil and sparse vegetation.

best parks in Kenya

Tsavo East National Park

The larger of the two parts of the Tsavo Conservation Area (Tsavo West is the other), Tsavo East National Park is one of Kenya’s oldest parks. This vast, biodiverse reserve is characterized by dry, wide-open plains and snaking rivers. It’s home to endangered black rhinos along with Kenya’s largest elephant populations, and its geological wonders are many.

When to Go

June to October, January to February

Reasons to Visit Tsavo East National Park

Safari in seclusion. You can spot the Big Five in Tsavo—the park has incredible biodiversity, but it sees a fraction of the visitors that other popular safari parks in Africa see. The vast savannas of the park provide an uncrowded, authentic safari experience, and the park’s luxury tented camps give you true immersion in Tsavo’s remoteness.
See the famous “red elephants.” The elephants in Tsavo East aren’t born red—rather, they cover themselves in dust from the park’s red-earth plains to protect themselves from the sun and to stay cool. The iron-rich soil gives the park’s landscapes their red hue, made even more dramatic by the contrast of scattered green oases.
Witness stunning geological wonders. You’ll find more than just incredible wildlife viewing opportunities in Tsavo East. The park is home to the Yatta Plateau, one of the world’s largest lava flows, along with Lugard Falls, a series of rapids along the Galana River, and accessible salt licks where large mammals gather to supplement their diets.

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