Southern Sky Safaris of Kenya

Abedares National Park.
This Park consists of high Alpine moorland and primeval forest. Rarely visited beyond the lower salient, most visitors stay at one of the two tree hotels, Treetops and the Ark. Both are situated in forest glades and overlooking waterholes. Salt deposits lure the animals out from the forest and at dusk floodlights are switched on so that guests can view in comfort through the night. Many species pass through with some sightings of the elusive Leopard and the rare Bongo Antelope. Each forest lodge is served by its base hotel, the Outspan and Aberdare Country Club. Both are delightful country hotels with facilities and outdoor activities.

Amboseli National Park
A small, scenic and popular Park situated at the foot of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, game are easily spotted making Amboseli popular with children. Elephant herds are found in large numbers in the swamps feeding on the lush grass and Cheetah and hyenna can be found on the salt flats. Giraffe wander through the acacia wooded areas whilst Zebra and Wildebeest feed on the open plains. Kilimanjaros snow-capped peak forms a magnificent backdrop, making it a photographers' paradise. Accommodation in the park and adjoining conservancy is in various camps and lodges

Chyulu National Park
Opened in the early eighties to protect the vital catchment area and unique habitat the Chyulu National Park includes the south west corner of the volcanic mountain range with interesting volcanic cones. One cone is known as The Devil, Shetani in Swahili, and has widespread barren lava flows. Game is somewhat sparse but includes buffalo, zebra, giraffe, oryx, lion, leopard and many species of bird and plant. Activities include horse riding, hiking, camping, archaeological and geological safaris with caves to explore. Fantastic views across the plains with views of Kilimanja. Home to one small specialised luxury Campi ya Kanzi a masai owned community project.

Hells Gate National Park
Close to Lake Naivasha, this has impressive soaring red cliffs, isolated volcanic plugs and a deep gorge where visitors may walk. The grassland supports some plains game. Numerous camps, lodges and luxury home stays close by.

Laikipia
The Laikipia is a huge chunk of central Kenya where people live and work. It offers diverse scenery from the edge of the Great Rift Valley, to the peaks of Mount Kenya, with dusty plains and verdant grasslands, interspersed with rocky hills, rivers, and waterholes. The ecosystem is second only to Tsavo in size and has more wildlife than many parks and reserves. The Laikipia plateau in central Kenya spans over two million acres of wild savannah, a vast area that straddles the saddle between Mt. Kenya and The Abedares Mountains northwards for over one hundred miles. The Big 5 rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo can be found. The Laikipia is home to more endangered mammals than anywhere else in East Africa, protecting half of Kenya’s black rhino in the Solio, Lewa, Ol Jogi, Ol Pejeta and Ol Ari Nyiro Sanctuaries. Laikipia also boasts over 5000 elephant and is the only place to view the endangered Jackson’s Hartebeest. Wild dog, leopard, lion, cheetah and other predators hunt the plentiful plains game: impala, gazelle, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx (endemic to the north of Kenya) and gerenuk. Fed by the Ewaso Nyiro and Ewaso Narok rivers, Laikipia’s plains support wheat farms, livestock ranching, wildlife conservation and tourism. More than 40 private ranches camps or lodges are to be found. You can stay on private ranches and experience an old romantic way of Kenya life. Some of the huge open ranches, shadowed by snow-capped Mount Kenya, are home to the Mukogodo Maasai and Samburu tribespeople who have joined together in partnership with the settlers and ranchers to create a conservation haven.

Lake Nakuru National Park
A soda lake frequented by hundreds of thousands of Greater and Lesser Flamingos as well as pelicans that line the shore in a pink mass. It is also a sanctuary for the Black and White Rhinos and a small herd of rare Rothschild's Giraffe. There are two lodges inside the Park.

Lake Naivasha Area ( not a park)
A beautiful fresh water lake it is the highest of the Great Rift Valley lakes, at 5,900 feet, higher than Nairobi. With large floating papyrus islands and a large hippo population its shores are lined with yellow barked fever trees and there is abundant bird life. The small Crescent Island is part of a submerged volcano crater rim and has a private game sanctuary that may be visited by boat. The Crater Lake Sanctuary, at the western edge of the lake, is a vivid green lake that formed in the caldera of an extinct volcano creating a remote peaceful spot with lovely views. Large number of luxury private home stays as well as camps and lodges. Activities include game walks, boat rides and visiting Hells Gate.

Lake Baringo (Not a park)
A Great Rift Valley fresh water lake in northern Kenya, Baringo is remote and peaceful with a timeless quality. In a hot arid region it is best known for its wonderful birdlife with more than 450 plus a huge hippo and crocodile population. This is not Big 5 country but is popular with birders and wonderful as an urban escape. There are a small number of lodges and camps including a camp on an island.

Lake Bogoria National Park
Close to Baringo this small narrow lake is unspoilt and beautiful, dominated by high hills, it has impressive hot springs and migratory flocks of flamingo. Also home to the Greater Kudu.

Masai Mara National Reserve
The Mara Reserve forms the northern end of the Serengeti eco-system and is a land of undulating hills, permanent rivers and rolling grassland. Not as large as the Serengeti, the Mara is still a huge reserve that supports a huge and diverse animal population. Arguably the best game viewing in Kenya and the best all year round. Home to the big cats, a visitor may see a large group of lions, with the handsome black-mane male taking pride of place or a Cheetah roaming the plains to run down its prey or a Leopard with its kill in the lower branches of an Acacia Tree. The Mara is also home to easily found Hippos and Crocodiles often seen sunning themselves on the river banks. Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe, Gazelles, Topi Antelope are permanent residents and from July to September the Wildebeest and Zebra migrations flow into the Mara as part of the worlds greatest wildlife spectacle.

Masai Mara Group Ranches
Not all camps and lodges in the ‘Mara’ are within the national reserve and numerous group ranches support some large and small camps. From these group ranches or conservancies game drives can be taken on the property or inside the reserve but a park fee has to be paid. Many group ranches are now charging game viewing fees and their existence is a relief to the main reserve. Accommodation varies from stylish lodges, to luxury and standard tented camps as well as a few ranch homesteads. Most lodges offer the opportunity to take a Hot Air Balloon Safari in the early morning.

Meru National Park
Meru,in the Northern Frontier district of Kenya, is untamed Africa at its most alluring with a wild landscape and shy animals unused to humans. Accommodation is available in Elsa's Kopje named after Elsa, the orphaned lioness reared by Joy and Goerge Adamson who eventually returned her to the wild in Meru. This park is singled out as the driest in the country with little rainfall although it is, in fact, criss-crossed with numerous rivers and streams running off nearby mountains. The landscape is blessed with dense ribbons of vegetation with magnificent stands of Baobab trees, and doum and raphia palms running though dry valleys.

Mount Kenya National Park
The Park was created on the slopes of Mt. Kenya, Africa's second highest mountain. It is popular with trekkers and serious mountain climbers. The Forest and lower slopes abound with Elephant, Cape Buffalo and fantastic birdlife, as well as Giant Forest Hog. There is one 'Tree-hotel', the Mountain Lodge, which is 165 kms from Nairobi. Further north is the famous Mount Kenya Safari Club set on the edge of the Forest leading to the lower slopes of the Mountain. The Laikipia plateau and surrounding areas stretch northwards and include some of Kenya’s game ranches and home stays.

Nairobi National Park
Unique because it is so close to the city this small park is good value for the first time visitor and allows a wide variety of game to be seen in a short time. This park is under pressure from land use and expanding human population and industry. The Animal Orphanage is always worth a visit.

Ol Donyu Wuas Conservancy
Located between Amboseli and Tsavo at the western foothills of the Chyulus volcanic mountain range the name means spotted hills. The 100,000 hectare group ranch is a community project shared with the local massai. Cattle herders with their herds are to be seen amongst the wild animals. The project leader Richard Bonham pays the massai not to kill predators through compensation. The setting is wonderful with endless views across undulating hills to the towering peak of Kilimanjaro. Predator and elephant populations have stabilized. This is not Big 5 country and the unique features are game walks, horse riding, sheer escapism and the fountain of wildlife knowledge to be gleaned from your special host.

Samburu National Reserve
There are three adjoining reserves, the Shaba Reserve, the Buffalo Springs Reserve and the Samburu Reserve covering more than 100 square kilometers situated in arid country north of Mt. Kenya, but watered by the Uaso Ngiro River and natural springs. Very scenic with craggy hills and everywhere the Doum palm trees following the water courses. Some unusual animal species can be found here: the Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Grevy' Zebra and long-necked Gerenuk. Leopard and Crocodile can be seen most nights at the lodges where bait is set to attract them Accommodation is available in 3 lodges and 3 tented lodges/camps.

Selenkay Conservancy
Located close to the edge of the northern boundary of the Amboseli National Park the Selenkay Conservation Area, is a 15,000-acre private game reserve within a vast tract of land owned by the Kisonko clan of the Maasai people. The community project is for the benefit of the local people and is a genuine eco-tourism success started by Jake Grieves Cook who is a long experienced Kenyan hand. The one small exclusive permanent camp is designed as an old style hunting camp that can be removed without leaving a trace and is staffed by members of the local Maasai community apart from the management couple who act as your hosts throughout your stay. Apart from big game like elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe and zebra, there are several less common species such as caracal, African wild cat, civet, gerenuk, lesser kudu and striped hyena. Wonderful views of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Shimba Hills National park
This small but attractive park is not to be overlooked and is only one hours drive from the beautiful powder white beaches of Diani Beach. Well grassed and often green it is home to tropical forests and the Sable and Roan antelope, the only place where they are to be found in Kenya. The elephant population was recently considered to have been too high causing wildlife human conflict and the Kenya wildlife services captured and relocated 400 elephants to Tsavo. The Shimba Hills Tree Lodge is built at the edge of a waterpool and is perfect for a short one night excursion.

Shompole Conservancy
The Shompole Group ranch is a 35,000 acre conservancy owned jointly by the local massai and the private developers. It is uniquely placed on the western side of the Great Rift Valley where the valley is a wild open space about 80 kilometers wide. Named after the Shompole peak of the hills close to Lake Natron in Tanzania it is one of Kenya’s community projects that is producing positive results in regenerating local wildlife as well as providing income and benefits for the local massai. The nearby plains at the floor of the valley are sun baked and bone dry, but the group ranches higher elevation provides cool shade and panoramic vistas. Bee keeping, beadwork, schools and clinics are all spin-offs from tourism. Pre-historic sites are nearby and Flamingos are an attraction at Lake Natron and lake Magadi. Wildlife is interesting and varied.

Taita Hills Sanctuary
A private 110 square kilometer game sanctuary started by the Hilton Group but now managed by a tour company is located south of the Taita Hills. The sanctuary is well managed and for most of the year is full of wildlife. The rangers know the area so well that they are able to show you the resident game fairly easily. Elephant are attracted to the salt Lick and can be viewed from an underground tunnel. Accommodation is available in a small tented camp, or at the main Taita Hills Lodge and also at the unique Salt Lick Lodge which is built on stilts.

Tsavo National Park. East & West
The largest Park in Kenya measures over 2,000 square kilometers and is an area of unreliable rainfall and sparse vegetation and is split in two by the main Nairobi/Mombasa highway. Once famous for killer lions its large herds of over 60,000 Elephants had been depleted due to poaching and drought. In recent years a strong drive by the Kenya Wildlife Services has brought peace to their lives and the populations are on the increase again. Tsavo is an area of huge panoramic vistas. In Tsavo West the Mzima Springs has an underwater hide from where Hippo and Crocodile can be viewed. Further south, adjoining the Park is the Taita Hills Sanctuary. Numerous lodges and camps are in both Tsavo East and West.