TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK

The vast, final frontier of Kenya’s great wildernesses, home to Kenya’s largest population of elephants.

Park size: 13,747 square kilometres

Tsavo East is a rare, magical place where wildlife still reigns. Framed by the hulking Yatta Plateau, red plains stretch as far as the eye can see. Although it is home to all manner of African species, Tsavo East is known for being elephant country at its purest. It is also inextricably linked with the SWT’s past, present, and future. In 1948, David Sheldrick was appointed the founding warden of Tsavo East. It remains Kenya’s largest national park and the place where the SWT focuses the majority of its field projects. Guests at the Sheldrick Trust’s Ithumba and Galdessa Eco Lodges can visit the nearby Ithumba and Voi Reintegration Units, where orphaned elephants reclaim their place back in the wild.

SWT support: Orphans’ Project, Anti-Poaching, Canine Unit, Mobile Vets, Aerial Operations, Water for Wildlife, Community Outreach, Saving Habitats, communications network and park infrastructure refurbishments, Eco Lodges

TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK

The land where rhinos still roam, picturesque with towering mountains and crystal clear springs percolating from volcanic rock.

Park size: 7,065 square kilometres

Known as one of Kenya’s most picturesque national parks, Tsavo West is home to a famed rhino population. Its stunning, diverse landscape stays with visitors for a lifetime. From the bubbling Mzima Springs to the craggy Shetani lava flows, Tsavo West is a land of endless plains and soaring mountains. The park offers unparalleled game viewing, including elephants, rhinos, hippos, buffalos, lions, cheetahs, and leopards.

SWT support: Anti-Poaching, Canine Unit, Mobile Vets, Aerial Operations, Water for Wildlife, Community Outreach, Saving Habitats, KWS security bases, communications network and park infrastructure refurbishments

Shimba Hills National Reserve

A forest paradise on the coast, providing sanctuary to sable antelope, elephants, and an array of birds

Reserve size: 300 square kilometres

Tucked on Kenya’s southern seaboard, Shimba Hills is one of the largest coastal forests in Africa. Important wildlife populations live amidst its rolling hills and leafy tree canopies. Alongside vibrant birdlife, Shimba Hills is home to the highly endangered Sable antelope. From the dramatic Sheldrick Falls to the serene Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary which abuts the reserve, this small but pristine landscape is full of natural delights.

SWT support: Anti-Poaching, Aerial Surveillance, Water for Wildlife, Community Engagement, Saving Habitats, electric fencing

Chyulu Hills National Park & Kibwezi Forest

Verdant, mist-blanketed hills that evoke the romance of Kenya

Park size: 741 square kilometres

Long revered by the Kamba and Maasai people, the Chyulu Hills have stood proud for millennia, bisecting the gentle plains to the west and the baobab strewn scrub lands of Tsavo to the east. In Out of Africa, they set the stage for a love story for the ages and captured hearts the world over. From leopards to elephants, bushbucks to buffalo, all manner of wildlife call this landscape home. Guests at the SWT’s Umani Springs Eco Lodge can visit the nearby Reintegration Unit, where a special herd of orphaned elephants reclaim their place back in the wild.

SWT support: Orphans’ Project, Anti-Poaching, Canine Unit, Mobile Vets, Aerial Surveillance, Water for Wildlife, Community Engagement, Saving Habitats, Eco Lodges, electric fencing

Amboseli National Park

Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, a land where great tuskers still reign

Park size: 390 square kilometres

The hulking sight of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, dominates Amboseli. But really, it is life on the ground that takes centre stage. With five different habitats, from the dried remains of Lake Amboseli to extensive swamps, it is a sanctuary for all manner of creatures. Amboseli is known for its tuskers and celebrated as one of the best places to see large herds of wild elephants on the continent. It is also a wonderful place to discover the rich culture of the Maasai people, who are inextricably linked with the land. The adjoining Kimana Corridor and Sanctuary provides a vital buffer for this landscape.

SWT support: Mobile Vets, Aerial Surveillance, Saving Habitats

Nairobi National Park

The world’s only wildlife capital, home to a special herd of orphaned elephants

Park size: 117 square kilometres

Kenya is known for its vast parks and reserves, but its oldest wildlife sanctuary can be found within the capital. Nairobi National Park is home to a spectacular array of wildlife, including a thriving rhino population, lions, giraffe, buffalos, zebra, antelope, leopards, over 400 species of birds — and, of course, a very special herd of orphaned elephants. While elephants no longer roam wild in Nairobi National Park, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust raises its youngest orphaned elephants at the Nursery, which sits within this safe and nurturing, yet entirely wild, environment.

SWT support: Orphans’ Project, Water for Wildlife, Rhino Conservation, Saving Habitats, electric fencing

Meru National Park

A remote, rugged wilderness defined by jungles, rives, swamps, and grasslands

Park size: 870 square kilometres

One of Kenya’s best-kept secrets, Meru offers a complete wilderness experience. Made famous as the home of Elsa the lion, today Meru provides sanctuary to one of Kenya’s most important populations of white and black rhinos. While bush and grasslands make up much of the park, the northern sector transforms into a lush jungle. In the south, the Tana River provides an abundance of wildlife sightings, while Adamson’s Falls offers stunning vistas.

SWT support: Anti-Poaching, Mobile Vets, Rhino Conservation

Lake Nakuru National Park

A bird-lover’s paradise, celebrated for its mirrored lake and vibrant pink flamingos

Park size: 188 square kilometres

Lake Nakuru sits in the heart of the Great Rift Valley. The focal point of the park is its mirrored, alkaline lake, which draws in a brilliant array of birds and wildlife. At their peak, over one million flamingos descend upon the lake, transforming the shoreline into a brilliant shade of pink. Visitors can best enjoy the spectacle from the peak of Baboon Cliff. Lake Nakuru is also a sanctuary for both giraffes and rhinos, with one of Kenya’s most notable populations of both black and white rhinos.

SWT support: Mobile Vets, Anti-Poaching 

Mount Kenya National Park

Heaven meets earth in this breath-taking World Heritage Site

Park and reserve size: 2,124 square kilometres

Africa’s second highest mountain is a destination for climbers and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Serious mountaineers tackle the highest peaks of Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5188m), while the lower slopes are dotted with caves, campsites, and trails. Set against the craggy backdrop of Mount Kenya, visitors can explore lakes, glaciers, mineral springs, and dense forests. A wide range of wildlife call the area home, including a thriving population of elephants.

SWT support: Anti-Poaching, Mobile Vets, Saving Habitats

Aberdare National Park

Forested ravines and open moorland provide sanctuary for elephants, black rhinos, and leopards

Park size: 765 square kilometres

Fringing the western side of the Rift Valley, the Aberdares is a hauntingly beautiful landscape. Misty forests drift and open moorlands dominate the landscape, punctuated by lush river valleys and tumbling waterfalls. A number of rare and threatened species call the park home, including elephants, black rhinos, leopards, and bongos. Its rivers are teeming with trout, making it a popular destination for fishermen. To fully experience the Aberdares, hike along its winding trails or camp in the moorlands.

SWT support: Mobile Vets, Anti-Poaching 

Mount Elgon National Park

A land of mysterious elephant caves and cascading streams, anchored by a volcanic giant

Park size: 169 square kilometres

Straddling the border of Kenya and Uganda, Mount Elgon is believed to be the oldest extinct volcano in East Africa. Swathed in mist, the volcanic giant is crowned by a massive caldera and honeycombed by a network of caves. Kitum Cave is a favourite haunt of the local elephant population, where the animals use their tusks to excavate salt deposits from the inner walls. Above ground, the park features dramatic cliffs and gorges, hot springs, mesas, calderas, and crystal clear streams.

SWT support: Mobile Vets, Anti-Poaching 

Maasai Mara National Reserve

The stage for the most extraordinary wildlife spectacle in the world

Park size: 1,510 square kilometres

Dreams of Africa come to life in the Maasai Mara. Rolling grasslands extend as far as the eye can see, dotted with flat-topped acacia trees. Every year, millions of wildebeest, zebras, and antelope converge upon the landscape in the circular migration that brings them north from the Serengeti. As they navigate harrowing river crossings and lions prowling on the plains, it is easy to see why this pilgrimage is celebrated as one of ‘seven wonders of the natural world’. Throughout the year, the Mara is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including the ‘Big Five’ (rhinos, buffalo, elephants, leopards, and lions).

SWT support: Anti-Poaching, Mobile Vets, Saving Habitats