Mwingi National Reserve
Eastern Region
Contact details: www.kws.go.ke
Mwingi National Reserve is one of four protected and contiguous areas that comprise the 4,400 sq km Meru Conservational Area (MCA). The other three are Meru National Park, Bisanadi National Reserve and Kora National Park.
+254 0720 401641
Contact person: Senior Warden Location: Mwingi District, East-
ern Province
Distance from Nairobi: 350 km
Mwingi borders all three and is the least accessible. Mwingi has been designated a Wilderness Activity Zone by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) which allows for fly camping, camel and horseback safaris as opportunities for traditional game viewing are extremely limited. Formerly known as Kitui National Reserve and located in Kitui District, Mwingi covers 745 sq km and is little visited by tourists. However, efforts are under way to improve the area’s road access.
north-east of Nairobi
Size: 745 sq km Park fees: Go to www.kws.go.ke
Access: Roads: The reserve can be accessed via Thika to Mwingi then north-east through Kyuso village, or from Meru National Park through Adamson’s Bridge via Kora National Park. Accommodation: There is cur-
or contact tour operator.
rently no accommodation in the reserve
Climate: The climate is hot and
Best time to visit: All year round
dry.
Major attractions: Wilderness
habitat; game viewing; Adamson’s Falls; fishing and boating on Tana River; Kampi ya Simba – former home of Joy and George Adamson and the grave of Elsa the lioness.
The reserve is administered by Mwingi County Council. Wildlife populations are low, but there are hippo, crocodile, buffalo and warthog. Areas of the reserve have been encroached by settlements and permanent agriculture.
Wildlife: Caracal, elephant, hippo, leopard, lion and several antelope species among others.
Activities: Game viewing, fishing in River Tana, birdwatching, boating.
Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park A rugged, hump-backed outcrop of ancient rock jutting high above the Athi Plains and hazily visible from Nairobi, Ol Donyo Sabuk is a densely forested mountain known to the local Kikuyu as ‘The Mountain of the Buffalo’, and to the Maasai as ‘The Big Mountain’. Just one road leads to its summit, which offers magnificent 360° panoramas over the Athi River, the pineapple fields of Thika and the snow-capped peaks of both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Within easy reach of Nairobi, the lush vegetation and cool air of this compact and scenic national park make for an ideal day trip or camping weekend.
Ultimate panoramic experience
Contact details: www.kws.go.ke Contact person: Senior Warden Location: Machakos District, Eastern Province
Distance from Nairobi: 85 km north-east of Nairobi
Size: 20.7 sq km Park fees: Go to www.kws.go.ke
or contact tour operator.
Climate: Hot and dry Major attractions: Fourteen
Falls; scenic views of Mount Kenya from the summit; the grave of Sir William Northrup McMillan (1872-1925) and his wife Lady Lucie; camping facilities.
Access: Road: From Thika proceed 22 km along the main Garissa road to Makutano junction. At Makutano follow the KWS sign and turn right, proceeding 3 km on all-weather murram road to Donyo town. At Donyo turn right
46
and proceed a further 2 km to the main gate.
Accommodation: Kenya Wildlife Service Self-Catering Accommodation: Sabuk House. Best time to visit: All year round Activities: Game viewing, bird
watching, camping and picnicking.