Slightly larger than Mount Kenya National Park, the Aberdares offers an ecosystem that is fairly similar. Its mountain ranges climb to over 4,200m and consist mainly of tropical high-alpine vegetation. The park is about 766 sq km in size. In the lower-lying regions, you will find rain and bamboo forests, moorlands, waterfalls, rivers and dams filled with trout. The most common wildlife species include giant forest hog, black rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, serval cat and a variety of monkeys as well as spectacular birds. With lovely forest walks, it is a haunting place at night when the canopy is alive with nocturnal creatures noisily crying out till the early hours.

Amboseli

One of the most popular parks in Kenya, we think Amboseli is a real gem. Forming part of a massive ecosystem, the park is only 392 sq km and is situated at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. This mountain forms the backdrop to most photographers’ favourite pictures and on a clear day, the snowy peak of Kibo is seen. Elephants abound in the forest and swamps, feeding on the lush papyrus and other grasses. Cheetah, lion and many hyena can also be seen on the salt flats or in the forests. Giraffe, zebra and wildebeest are always spotted on the open plains or congregating at the edge of the swamps.

Chyulu Hills

Framing the vast plains and valleys of Western Tsavo and lying within view of the majestic Kilimanjaro, Chyulu Hills are considered to be some of the youngest volcanic mountains in the world, being just 500 years old. Filled with many local legends and myths, the Sheitani (an expanse of black lava flow), forests and streams are a paradise for herds of elephants, plains game, cheetah and other big cats. With several community projects and private wildlife concessions here, the experience always feels personal.

Hell's Gate covers an area of around 69 sq km and is situated close to Lake Naivasha, a short drive from Nairobi. The main characteristic of the park is its diverse topography and geological scenery, with some spectacular gorge walks, scenic landscape and hot springs to enjoy. It is also an important home to the lammergeyer vulture.

Lake Nakuru

The most famous of the Rift Valley lakes, Nakuru is a soda lake set within the 62 sq km park, renowned for its magnificent array of spectacular birdlife. It is the migratory flocks of thousands of greater and lesser flamingo that really create the attraction here, when the lake’s shallow waters turn pink with their vast numbers. Black and white rhino, the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, a small herd of buffalo, dik dik, klipspringer, eland, the occasional leopard and many other plains game are also found here.

Lake Baringo

About 100km north of Nakuru, this 170 sq km tranquil freshwater lake is host to some rare bird species seen nowhere else in Africa. Boat trips on the lake are popular to view the hippo, crocodiles and birdlife. One can also visit rocky islands, Njemps tribal villages or watch local fishermen fish from frail papyrus boats.

Lake Bogoria

Lying between Baringo and Nakuru, Bogoria was initially created to protect the greater kudu, found on the western Laikipia escarpment. Bushland and forest ravines surround the 30 sq km shallow soda lake, also a favourite nesting site for flamingo. Another fascinating attraction is a visit to the hot sulphur springs, which bubble and shoot hot jets of water from the ground.

Lake Elmenteita

Most of this shallow 18 sq km soda lake is on private land and forms part of the Delamere Estate’s Soysambu property. There is some game in the bush around the lake, with flamingo and pelicans congregating along the shores. Some very pleasant escorted nature walks around the lake’s shores are available.

Steeped in 19th century settler history, this is a very picturesque 900 sq km freshwater lake and a favourite weekend haunt for Nairobi residents. Here, you can fish, sail and visit Crescent Island where gentle walking is popular. Nearby is the dramatic Hell’s Gate, overshadowed by the mysterious Mount Longonot.

Lake Turkana

Lake Turkana is one of the natural wonders of the world, a massive inland sea that is classified as the largest desert-lake in the world and covers 6,405 sq km. The lake is a source of life to some of Kenya's most remote tribes and is also believed to be 'the Cradle of Mankind' due to the 1.6 million year old ‘Turkana boy’ (Homo erectus) found here. It’s a very remote destination, but one that repays the intrepid traveller with rich rewards.

Lake Victoria

Being the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, Lake Victoria covers an area of nearly 70,000 sq km and is one of the chief sources of the Nile. Life here has not changed for centuries and fishing is a major industry. The cultures are fascinating, the people beautiful and the scenery spectacular.

Laikipia

Covered by large privately-owned ranches across much of central western Kenya, Laikipia is wild, sparsely populated and considered the gateway to Kenya's northern territory. Linked with ever-evolving community programmes, visitors to this region have some of the best opportunities to experience culture and farming, traditional home-stays, proactive conservation and the flexibility of walking, camel, horse, camping and cycling safaris. The group of ranches extends well over 8,000 sq km and has become a sanctuary for elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, chimpanzees, wild dog and a wealth of plains game, including many endemic northern species. Game-viewing tends to be more intimate and adventurous here, where exploring is at your own pace with community guides who know the area intimately.

Mount Longonot

With stunning views over the shores of Lake Naivasha and the Rift Valley, this massive 2,886m dormant volcano dominates the landscape for miles around. It is a hulk of a mountain and is lined with spectacular fissures and lava canyons. Its vast crater is an awesome sight, where jagged edges surround a broad expanse of vegetation and geothermal streams, with buffalo and other plains game wandering the crater floor.

Masai Mara

One of world’s most famous reserves, the 1,600 sq km ‘Mara’ consists of undulating hills and great rolling grasslands that sustain some of the most varied wildlife in Africa, if not the world. There is always game in the ‘Mara’, however, it changes its character dramatically with the seasons. When the grass is fairly high in many areas, game-viewing is restricted, but the countryside is incredibly green and at its most scenic. As the countryside dries out, game-viewing improves. Game concentrations are at their greatest from around July to the end of October, when the migrating herds filter across the Mara River from western Serengeti. During this period, you will find vast plains, filled as far as the eye can see, with wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, eland, topi and hartebeest as well as the normal resident herds such as elephant, buffalo and giraffe. Naturally, these are all followed by great prides of lion, hyena, cheetah and the various other predators and scavengers. Many animals do not survive these annual trips due to exhaustion or the treacherous river crossings, where some of the world’s largest crocodiles await their feast. Other highlights of the ‘Mara’ include the early morning balloon safaris and some of the lodges’ fascinating programmes orientated towards children’s wildlife education. In the Greater Mara, walking and camping safaris through these expansive community areas are a great attraction. Here, it’s not uncommon to find elephant, lion, buffalo and Maasai cattle all living in one valley.

Meru National Park

Meru is in the northern frontier, east of Mount Kenya. It covers an area of 870 sq km and is still relatively untouched by tourism. This alone makes it an alluring destination. The animals are found in good numbers, but are still relatively shy. This park is one of the driest in the country, though it is criss-crossed by numerous rivers and streams running off nearby mountains. The landscape is wild, blessed with dense ribbons of vegetation and dominated by magnificent stands of baobab trees, doum and raphia palms which run through the dry valleys. The area is famous for Elsa, the orphaned lioness reared by Joy and George Adamson and eventually returned to the wilds of Meru.

Mount Kenya

The park was created around Africa’s second-highest mountain. It straddles the equator and covers more than 715 sq km. Mount Kenya is seen as sacred by the Kikuyu people, as there is said to be a god who lives here. The mountain’s snow-capped peaks can be seen on clear days, but are often enclosed in low cloud cover. With altitudes ranging from 1,600m to 5,200m, the summit is a difficult technical climb, but the lesser peak of Point Lenana (4,985m) can be reached by fit trekkers. This trek takes between three and five days through a fascinating world of low-lying forests, unique montane vegetation and one of the world’s rarest sights, equatorial snow. Common species found on the hills are giant forest hog, tree hyrax, white-tailed mongoose, elephant, buffalo, suni, duiker, leopard, black rhino, bushbuck, bongo and a type of ‘golden cat’. Mountain buzzards, tinker birds and various louries are also found here. For those who do not want to climb the mountain, its highlands are a lovely place to explore.

Nairobi

Just 10km from the city centre and only 117 sq km in size, this is Kenya’s oldest park, established around 1946. With over 500 varieties of birds recorded and more than 100 mammal species, it makes a great early morning or afternoon’s excursion from the city centre. Common sightings include zebra, giraffe, buffalo, ostrich, gazelle, eland, hippo, vulture and lion. It is also a great place to see black rhino.

Surrounded by some of the country's most awe-inspiring views through the highlands of the north Rift Valley, wildlife enthusiasts rave about this very remote, tiny 3 sq km park that was set up to protect the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope. There are several walking trails here and other common species include the endangered De Brazza monkey, otters, giant forest squirrel, black and white colobus monkey, bushbuck and grey duiker. The bird-watching is also excellent. Perhaps the real beauty of this region is the solitude, peace and isolation found in the surrounding hills.

Salt Lick

Situated on the main Voi to Taita road, south of the Taita Hills, Salt Lick creates a game corridor to Tsavo West National Park. Formerly a sisal plantation, it has been transformed into a 113 sq km reserve with some interesting grasslands and woodlands. The area now attracts a good quantity of zebra, buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, reedbuck, impala, eland, gazelle and much more. The birdlife is also excellent.

Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba

These three adjoining reserves are situated north of Mt. Kenya and total around 535 sq km. Watered by the muddy Ewaso Ngiro River and natural springs, this is classified as a lowland area, so generally hot, arid and dusty. It is also extremely scenic, with ravine areas dominated by acacia and doum palms. Also of interest are the volcanic rock cones and craggy hills, which spread through certain areas of the park. Large numbers of gerenuk make this area exciting but plenty of other species are also common. These include crocodile, hippo, gazelle, Beisa oryx, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, elephant, vervet monkey, cheetah, leopard and lion that still roam its acacia woodlands, ravines and grasslands. There are also some amazing birds to spot in the riverine forests.

Shimba Hills

Shimba Hills runs parallel to the coast and is approximately one hour’s journey from Mombasa. Located at 500m above sea level, Shimba is covered by beautiful forest foliage and makes a refreshing break from the sticky humidity of the coast. There is not a great deal of big-game within the 310 sq km reserve but common species include elephant, buffalo, roan and giraffe and for the lucky few, the rare sable antelope. The forests are also home to a number of unusual species including the black and white colobus monkey, serval cat, red duiker and suni antelope, while some of the more popular birds are the honey guides, turacos, woodpeckers and sunbirds.

Located on the remote shores of Kenya's far northern coast, the mighty waters of the Tana River meet the sea in a massive delta system. This region is rather isolated but a truly unique location, where the great inland wilderness of the north meets the beauty of the coast. The delta encompasses spectacular views, with scrubland teeming with wildlife and birds and picturesque deserted beaches beyond. Here, you can explore a delta filled with hippo and crocodile and then swim in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean afterwards.

Tsavo East And West

This huge park is split into two by the main Nairobi to Mombasa highway and covers a total area of around 2,000 sq km. The park is arid with only two permanent rivers but its flat landscape is dotted with hills and baobab trees, making it extremely attractive. Tsavo is still famous for the legends of man-eating lion and its ‘red’ elephants, so called because of the red murrum earth with which they spray themselves. Most game congregates among the acacia and raphia palms, which line the riverine areas. Common species include elephant, buffalo, ostrich, gazelle, giraffe, zebra and the accompanying predatory cats. Less frequent sightings are gerenuk, fringe-eared oryx and Hunters hartebeest. Popular attractions in the park are the Lugard Falls, Yatta Plateau (which is the world’s longest lava flow) and Mzima Springs. Here there is an underground viewing platform to observe crocodile, hippo and the various fish under water.