Ultimate Review: Exploring Kenya’s Four Classic National Parks After an Unforgettable Safari Adventure

This trip to Kenya mainly visited the four most classic reserves, starting from Nairobi Airport in order: Masai Mara – Nakuru – Naivasha – Amboseli.
If I were to rank them based on my experience, it would be Masai Mara – Naivasha – Amboseli – Nakuru.
Needless to say, the Masai Mara is the most must-visit national park.

It takes about 5 hours to drive there from the airport. This area consists of grasslands, woodlands, and rivers. It is where animals are most concentrated. Here you can see almost all the animals in Africa, and if you have more time, you can also witness exciting moments such as animal hunting, feeding, and mating.

Under the guidance of our guide, we personally witnessed a leopard eating and then hanging a deer on a tree to sleep in the valley. There are two major highlights here: the Maasai people and the Mara River. Our driver and guide, Nicolas, is Maasai, and we learned a lot about the life and customs of the Maasai from him along the way, so we did not visit the Maasai village, but those interested can pay to visit the Maasai village.

The most famous feature of the Mara River, of course, is the Great Migration. However, whether you can see it depends on the guide’s experience and the luck of the tourists. Personally, I recommend spending 2-3 days on a safari in the Masai Mara.
The biggest highlight of Amboseli National Park is viewing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, and herds of African elephants.

Although Mount Kilimanjaro, which is close to the equator, is covered with snow all year round, seeing its true face still depends on luck. Generally, the best viewing times are around 6:00 in the morning and in the evening, as the mountain is mostly covered by thick clouds during the day. This place is also known as the paradise of elephants.

Personally, I think one and a half days is just right for visiting Amboseli National Park, and two days might be a bit of a waste of time. The overall experience of watching animals is not as good as in the Masai Mara, because in Amboseli, vehicles cannot enter the small paths to get close to the animals; they can only stay on the main roads, which means the distance from the animals is relatively far.

Lake Naivasha is a lake in the eastern branch of the East African Rift Valley, and it is not a national nature reserve. I recommend taking a self-funded boat tour here to closely observe the hippo families and various water birds, followed by a forest hike for an intimate encounter with the animals.

This was one of the most unforgettable experiences of the trip, with the guide using tilapia as bait in the lake to attract fish eagles and great pelicans, which was very impressive. The forest hike will also be led by a guide, and we saw giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, wildebeests, and Thomson’s gazelles.

I suggest spending half a day on the boat tour and hiking.
Regarding Nakuru, I don’t have any particularly deep impressions.

Perhaps it was the rain that dampened our spirits, as the gloomy weather prevented us from fully enjoying the scenic drive with the car’s roof down. After a brief glance, we decided to head back. Nakuru National Park is renowned for its black and white rhinos and flamingos, but these magnificent creatures were quite distant.

The rain caused the flamingos to huddle together, robbing us of the chance to witness their graceful flight. We managed to spot the black and white rhinos, but they were so far away that only a faint silhouette and their sharp horns remained etched in our memories. On a brighter note, the hotel we stayed at in Nakuru was delightful, and I highly recommend spending at least half a day exploring the park to make the most of your visit.