KENYA SAFARI TOURISM
Kenya is divided into small tourism destinations which are called the tourism circuits. It has over 40 parks and reserves with 24 national parks, 15 national reserves, 6 marine parks, and private conservancies as listed below.
1. Nairobi Tourism Circuit
Nairobi is Kenya’s capital city. It is situated in South Central Kenya,south of the Equator. Nairobi has quite a number of attractions to be explored by anyone visiting Kenya, with only one national park – Nairobi National Park.
2. Central Kenya Tourism Circuit
Central Kenya is a land of mountain peaks, picturesque waterfalls, and remote alpine moors that offer a quirky and breathtaking African landscape. This circuit’s highlight activities include hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, game viewing; with high chances of seeing all the Big 5, the endangered black rhino, and the rare forest antelopes like the bongo, scenic views of hills, and spectacular waterfalls. This circuit has three national parks, namely; Aberdare National Park, Mount Kenya National Park,and Mount Longonot National Park.
3.South Rift Tourism Circuit
This circuit is the most popular and has the best-known attractions in Kenya. It consists of the top-ranked destinations in the nation. It is the perfect circuit for nature lovers, wildlife safaris, and photography. It is filled with breathtaking sceneries and a huge population of animals. This circuit has four national parks, namely; Hell gate National Park – located very close to Naivasha, Lake
Nakuru National Park – famed for its large flamingo population and its rhino sanctuary, Maasai Mara National Reserve – located on the northernmost point of the famous wildebeest migration across the Serengeti plains, and The Mara Triangle
3.North Rift Tourism Circuit
This circuit institutes the most remote and often beyond reach attractions that are considered adventurous forthose seeking to explore this nature at its most rugged. This circuit appeals to tourists because of its hot springs, lakes, and bird sanctuaries. This
circuit has three national parks and four national reserves, namely; Sibiloi National Park, south and Central National Park, Marsabit National Reserve, Laikipia National Reserve, Nasalot National Reserve, and South Turkana National Reserve.
4.Eastern Tourism Circuit
The Eastern Tourism Circuit stretches through the dry areas of eastern Kenya, covering the areas of Samburu and the eastern foothills of Mount Kenya. This circuit is made up of picturesque sceneries, iconic physical features such as the slopes of Mount Meru,and a wide range of wildlife.This circuit has 3 national parks and 4 national reserves, namely; Meru National Park, Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, Kora National Park, Sheba National Reserve, Bisanadi National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Mwea National Reserve, Mwingi National Reserve, and Samburu National Reserve.
4.Southern Tourism Circuit
The southern tourism circuit is dominated by Tsavo, Kenya’s largest national park. This is the best circuit for scenic view lovers and
wildlife addicts. It consists of four national parks, namely; Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Chyulu Hills National Park, and Amboseli National Park.
5.Western Tourism Circuit
The western tourism circuit is the least visited and usually lesscrowded in Kenya. The western Kenya region consists of rich forests, swamps, and some of Kenya’s rarest animal species. The most fascinating attraction in this circuit is Lake Victoria, the biggest lake in East Africa. It has four national parks and one national reserve, namely; Ruma National Park, Ndere Island National Park, Saiwa Swamp National Park, Kakamega Forest National Reserve, and Mount Elgon National Park. Other attractions include the Kisumu Impala Sanctuary and Lake Simbi National Sanctuary.
5.Coastline Tourism Circuit
Also known as the underworld paradise, this circuit is a well-known destination for beach holidays. Boasts with beautifu beach resorts, ideal for boat rides, snorkeling, windsurfing, deep-sea diving, and dhow trips – or just lazing around on the beach. The key tourist attractions along the Kenyan coast include beaches,cultural heritage, and marine-based habitats.This circuit has various underwater
reserves and two coastal forest reserves, namely; Watamu Marine National Reserve, Malindi Marine National Reserve, Kiunga Marine
National Reserve, Mombasa Marine National Reserve, Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Reserve, Arabuko Sokoke Forest, and Shimba Hills National Reserve.