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Kenya's National Parks

Explore 23 premier protected areas representing Kenya's most spectacular wildlife destinations. From the Great Migration in Maasai Mara to the legendary elephants of Amboseli, our national parks preserve Africa's most iconic ecosystems.

0
National Parks
0
km² Protected
0
Species Protected
N/A
First Established
Aberdare National Park
Forest
Active

Aberdare National Park

Nyeri, Central
Size: 766 km²
Est.:
Species: 2+
High-altitude biodiversity hotspot
Key Wildlife
Species_list Count
Waterfalls
moorlands
forest
Amboseli National Park
Savannah
Active

Amboseli National Park

Kajiado, Rift Valley
Size: 392 km²
Est.:
Species: 2+
Home of the African Elephant
Key Wildlife
Species_list Count
Swamps
Mt Kilimanjaro view
Arabuko Sokoke National Park
Forest
Active

Arabuko Sokoke National Park

Kilifi, Coast
Size: 6 km²
Est.:
Species: 2+
100% endemic bird forest
Key Wildlife
Species_list Count
Rare coastal forest
Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Savannah
Active

Buffalo Springs National Reserve

Isiolo, Eastern
Size: 131 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Connected to Samburu with natural springs ecosystem
Key Wildlife
Elephant Buffalo Leopard Grevy's Zebra
Natural springs
riverine forest
Central Island National Park
Savannah
Active

Central Island National Park

Turkana, Rift Valley
Size: 5 km²
Est.:
Species: 2+
Breeding nesting site
Key Wildlife
Species_list Count
Crater lakes
Chyulu Hills National Park
Forest
Active

Chyulu Hills National Park

Makueni, Coast
Size: 471 km²
Est.:
Species: 2+
Scenic hiking, volcanic features
Key Wildlife
Species_list Count
Lava caves
hills
Hell's Gate National Park
Savannah
Active

Hell's Gate National Park

Nakuru, Rift Valley
Size: 68 km²
Est.:
Species: 5+
Unique walking and cycling park with geothermal features
Key Wildlife
Buffalo Zebra Eland Hartebeest Baboon
Geothermal activity
rock formations
gorges
Kora National Park
Savannah
Active

Kora National Park

Tana River, Eastern
Size: 1,787 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Remote wilderness with George Adamson conservation history
Key Wildlife
Lion Leopard Cheetah Lesser Kudu
George Adamson legacy
rocky outcrops
Lake Kanyaboli
Wetland
Active

Lake Kanyaboli

Siaya
Size: 41 km²
Est.:
Species: 0+
National park in Siaya county protecting Kenya's wildlife and ecosystems
Lake Nakuru National Park
Wetland
Active

Lake Nakuru National Park

Nakuru, Rift Valley
Size: 188 km²
Est.:
Species: 8+
Famous for flamingo spectacle and rhino conservation
Key Wildlife
Rhino Leopard Black_rhinos Flamingo White_rhinos
Rhino sanctuary
Important Bird Area
Alkaline lake
Malindi Marine National Park
Marine
Active

Malindi Marine National Park

Kilifi, Coast
Size: 6 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Complete protection marine area with coral diversity
Key Wildlife
Coral Reef Fish Sea Turtles Dolphins
Pristine coral reefs
marine sanctuary
Malka Mari National Park
Savannah
Active

Malka Mari National Park

Mandera, Eastern
Size: 876 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Cross-border conservation with seasonal migrations
Key Wildlife
Elephant Lion Lesser Kudu Gerenuk
Border park
seasonal wildlife movement
Marsabit National Park & Reserve
Protected Area
Active

Marsabit National Park & Reserve

Kenya
Size: N/A km²
Est.: N/A
Species: 0+
Official KWS conservation area: Marsabit National Park & Reserve
Meru National Park
Savannah
Active

Meru National Park

Meru, Eastern
Size: 870 km²
Est.:
Species: 5+
Home of Elsa the lioness with strong conservation legacy
Key Wildlife
Elephant Rhino Lion Leopard Cheetah
Rhino sanctuary
Elsa's legacy
riverine forests
Mombasa Marine National Park
Marine
Active

Mombasa Marine National Park

Mombasa, Coast
Size: 10 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Urban marine park near Mombasa city
Key Wildlife
Reef Fish Corals Dolphins Sea Turtles
Urban marine park
coral reefs
Mount Elgon National Park
Forest
Active

Mount Elgon National Park

Bungoma, Western
Size: 169 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Cross-border park with unique montane biodiversity
Key Wildlife
Elephant Buffalo Antelope Primates
Mountain ecosystem
caves
hot springs
Mount Kenya National Park
Forest
Active

Mount Kenya National Park

Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Central
Size: 2,124 km²
Est.:
Species: 6+
UNESCO World Heritage Site with alpine biodiversity
Key Wildlife
Elephant 130+ Bird Species Colobus Monkey Elephants Colobus_monkeys
glaciers
UNESCO World Heritage
Water tower
Mount Longonot National Park
Forest
Active

Mount Longonot National Park

Nakuru, Rift Valley
Size: 52 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Dormant volcano perfect for hiking and crater exploration
Key Wildlife
Buffalo Zebra Giraffe Hartebeest
Dormant volcano
crater lake
hiking trails
Mt. Kenya National Park
Forest
Active

Mt. Kenya National Park

Meru
Size: 715 km²
Est.:
Species: 0+
National park in Meru county protecting Kenya's wildlife and ecosystems
Nairobi National Park
Savannah
Active

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi, Nairobi
Size: 117 km²
Est.:
Species: 6+
World's only wildlife capital with city skyline backdrop
Key Wildlife
Lion Leopard Cheetah Rhino Buffalo
City skyline backdrop
rhino sanctuary
Ndere Island National Park
Wetland
Active

Ndere Island National Park

Kisumu
Size: 4 km²
Est.:
Species: 0+
Official KWS conservation area: Ndere Island National Park
Oldonyo Sabuk National Park
Savannah
Active

Oldonyo Sabuk National Park

Machakos
Size: 18 km²
Est.:
Species: 0+
National park in Machakos county protecting Kenya's wildlife and ecosystems
Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
Savannah
Active

Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

Machakos, Eastern
Size: 21 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Small montane park with historical significance
Key Wildlife
Buffalo Bushbuck Colobus Monkey Baboon
Kilima Kiu mountain
forest ecosystem
Proposed Marsabit National Park
Forest
Active

Proposed Marsabit National Park

Marsabit
Size: N/A km²
Est.:
Species: 0+
National park in Marsabit county protecting Kenya's wildlife and ecosystems
Ruma National Park
Savannah
Active

Ruma National Park

Homa Bay, Nyanza
Size: 120 km²
Est.:
Species: 3+
Last refuge for roan antelope in Kenya
Key Wildlife
Roan Antelope Oribi Jackson's Hartebeest
Grassland ecosystem
rare antelope species
Saiwa Swamp National Park
Wetland
Active

Saiwa Swamp National Park

Trans-Nzoia, Rift Valley
Size: 3 km²
Est.:
Species: 3+
Kenya's smallest park specializing in sitatunga antelope
Key Wildlife
Sitatunga Antelope Otter Bird Species
Swamp ecosystem
elevated walkways
Shaba National Reserve
Savannah
Active

Shaba National Reserve

Isiolo, Eastern
Size: 239 km²
Est.:
Species: 5+
Dramatic landscapes with rock formations and river
Key Wildlife
Leopard Lion Cheetah Grevy's Zebra Crocodile
Rocky outcrops
Ewaso Ng'iro River
Sibiloi National Park
Savannah
Active

Sibiloi National Park

Marsabit, Rift Valley
Size: 1,570 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Important paleontological site with fossil hominid discoveries
Key Wildlife
Crocodile Hippo Venomous Snakes Birds
Fossil sites
paleontological discoveries
Lake Turkana
South Island National Park
Savannah
Active

South Island National Park

Marsabit, Rift Valley
Size: 150 km²
Est.:
Species: 3+
Important paleontological site with fossil discoveries
Key Wildlife
Crocodile Birds Lizards
Volcanic island
fossils
paleontological sites
Tsavo East National Park
Savannah
Active

Tsavo East National Park

Taita Taveta, Coast
Size: 11,747 km²
Est.:
Species: 7+
Vast wilderness with iconic red-dusted elephants
Key Wildlife
Rhino Leopard Red-Dusted Elephants Elephants Lion
Largest park in Kenya
Lugard Falls
Red elephants
Tsavo West National Park
Savannah
Active

Tsavo West National Park

Taita Taveta, Coast
Size: 9,065 km²
Est.:
Species: 8+
Diverse landscapes from plains to mountains
Key Wildlife
Hippo Rhino Leopard Elephant Black_rhinos
lava flows
Rhino sanctuary
Mzima Springs
Watamu Marine National Park
Marine
Active

Watamu Marine National Park

Kilifi, Coast
Size: 10 km²
Est.:
Species: 4+
Critical turtle nesting site with diverse marine life
Key Wildlife
Green Turtles Hawksbill Turtles Reef Fish Corals
Turtle nesting beaches
coral gardens
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National Parks Map

Explore the locations of Kenya's national parks and plan your conservation journey.

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Map Legend
Conservation Area Types
National Parks
National Reserves
Conservancies
Marine Protected Areas
Ecosystem Types
Savannah Grasslands
Montane Forests
Coastal & Marine
Arid & Semi-Arid
Map Controls
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Parks at a Glance

Ecosystem Distribution

Distribution of Kenya's ecosystem types across conservation areas

Ecosystem Types

Savannah Grasslands
80%
Montane Forests
12%
Coastal & Marine
5%
Arid & Semi-Arid
3%

Key Statistics

Total Coverage
600,000 km²
Largest Ecosystem
Savannah Grasslands
80% of total area
Protected Areas
217
Across all ecosystem types
Biodiversity Hotspots
4
Critical conservation areas
About This Data

Ecosystem distribution is calculated based on the primary ecosystem type of each conservation area, weighted by area coverage.

Last updated: January 2024

Conservation Insights

92%
Conservation Effectiveness
National parks maintain the highest conservation standards with strict protection protocols.
1.2M
Annual Visitors
Supporting local economies through sustainable tourism while funding conservation.
23
Research Centers
Active research facilities advancing wildlife science and conservation knowledge.

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