Kenya National Parks and Reserves.


Kenya has some 54 national parks and reserves, together with private conservancies and sanctuaries, covering over 10% of the land area, as well as seven marine national parks and reserves.
The responsibility for managing the national parks and the country’s protected wildlife species comes under the jurisdiction of the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS).

Country councils are responsible for the management of national reserves in their administrative area. Other conservancies and sanctuaries are managed privately and often work in close association with KWS.

The first national park was Nairobi National Park, formed in 1946, a foresight remarkable to this day when you see the Nairobi city skyline etched along the park boundary.

Other early reserves were Marsabit, West Chyulu and the Mara, formed in 1948, and Ngong in 1949, while Mount Kenya National Park was gazetted in 1949 and the Aberdare National Park in 1950.

The difference between national park and national reserve status can be confusing. The National Park Trustee’s report of 1951 describes the difference:

A National Reserve...is a local term denoting area preservation where the reasonable needs of the human inhabitants living within the area must take preference. It is in the nature of a compromise between a National Park and a Game Reserve, where the establishment of a National Park – although eminently desirable – is not easily possible.

Kenya National Parks:
Aberdare National Park
Amboseli National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park
Meru National Park
Mount Kenya National Park
Nairobi National Park
Tsavo East National Park
Tsavo West National Park


Kenya National Reserves:
Kakamega Forest National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve
Marsabit National Reserve
Mount Elgon National Reserve
Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves
 
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