Best National parks in Kenya to see the big 5 animals on a game drive

The famous big five you may spot on Kenya safari include elephants, lions, buffaloes, black rhinos and leopards. Finding these big fives during a safari in Kenya speaks volumes about your safari experience however it is not a guarantee. Spotting game while on safari is a probability adventure given the fact that these wild animals are not restricted by boundaries and are free to traverse the wilderness.

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The term big five was first used by early great hunters who found it challenging to hunt these animals that is lions, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos and elephants. It is a dream come true for tourists to complete the list of the big five while on a single safari in Africa.

The highlight of Kenyan Safaris is the great wildebeest migration, a season occurrence in the Masai Mara National Reserve where millions of animals seek greener pasture during a certain period. The great wildebeest migration in Kenya is expected from July to September. This season offers more opportunities to spot the big five.

During the great wildebeest migration, ungulates in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania move northwards and are joined by other wild animals too along the way until crossing the Mara River into Masai Mara National Reserve in Tanzania. The reason for starting this great animal trek yearly is still a mystery; however, some theories state the animals seek greener pastures. The starting and ending time of this great wildebeest migration is still in doubt.

Some of the animals you may spot during the great wildebeest migration include wildebeest, hartebeests, zebras, gazelles, elands, waterbucks, bushbucks, rhinos, elephants, lions, buffaloes, wild pigs, warthogs, reedbucks, and others.

Others than Masai Mara National Reserve, you can also get the chance to see the big five on Kenya safari while in Tsavo East and West National Park, Aberdare National Park, Meru National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Nairobi National park and others that have about four, three of the big five.

Where to see the Big Five in Game Drive on Kenya safari

Masai Mara National reserve

Extending on the Northern Part of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This reserve is famously known for hosting the great wildebeest migration a phenomena that is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Millions of wild animals start an annual journey from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and across the Mara River into Masai Mara National Reserve in Tanzania.

During this great animal trek, you may have the chance of spotting the big five that is lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos and leopards. Other animals common during the great wildebeest migration are wildebeests, hartebeests, zebras, waterbucks, gazelles, elands, impalas, giraffes and so many others.

What triggers the starting of the great wildebeest migration is still a mystery but some theories start that its seeking greener pastures but carnivores accompany the pilgrims to catch the weak ones.

Even other seasons of the year, Masai Mara National Park is open for superb game drives when you may get chances to spot a variety of wild animals including the big five. During the game drives on Masai Mara National Reserve tracks, you may get the opportunity to spot some of these big five. In cases you get the full collection of the big five on your safari features, it's such a wonderful opportunity yarned for by many tourists. Nevertheless, even though you get the opportunity to see just a few of these big five, look out for other interesting wild animals that spend their time in this reserve.

Tsavo East and West National Park

Tsavo East and West National Park is a bio diverse park with stunning landscape and proximity to the coast. The big five are residents of this Park that is elephants, Rhinos, buffaloes, leopards and lions. Tsavo East, which is best part for chances to see large herd of elephants, buffaloes but lions, leopards and rhinos may be rare. Other game can be spotted, too, like hippos, impalas, waterbucks, bushbucks, 

Professional natural photographers have different spots to capture unique and stunning shots, like at Mudanda Rock and Yatta plateaus, which is the largest lava flow in the world. The rich vegetation zones of Tsavo East and West National park inclusive of bushy grasslands, open plains dotted with Savannah and semiarid acacia shrub and woodland, lush green vegetation along the riverbanks is exceptional.

Meru National Park

Meru National Park is the true definition of beauty in the wild with its 13 rivers and countless mountain fed streams that condition its environment. 

During the game drive in Meru National Park, you may get the opportunity to see the big five including the long tusk elephants. Some of the animals present in this Park include Rhinos, lions, buffaloes, leopards although the carnivores may be rarer to spot while on game drive in Meru National Park. 

Other animals you may spot during the game drive in Meru National Park include waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, wildebeests, reticulated giraffes, and others; keen birders in Kenya safari have a lot to identify while in Meru National Park.

This Park is famous for the setting of jot Adamson's book Born free. The true story of Adamson's life and research amongst lions and cheetahs.

Samburu and Buffalo Spring National Reserve

Four of the big five may be spotted in this chain of game reservations on a Kenya safari. During the game drive, you may spot animals like elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, elephants, grevy's zebras, Oryx Somali Ostriches, reticulated giraffes and much more. 

The varied vegetation cover that provides home to a variety of animals contributes to the existence of a long list of over 365 bird species in this Park. The mix of wood and grassland with riverine forest and swamp gives a chance to a range of animals and birds to thrive in Samburu and Buffalo Spring National Reserve.

The stunning view of the rounded and rugged hills and rolling plains creates a stunning view for many tourists to Samburu and Buffalo Spring National Reserve.

Nairobi National Park

Even though Nairobi National Park is just 7 kilometers from Nairobi city, it hosts some of the big five. While in this Park, you may spot herds of lions, Rhinos, cape buffaloes leopards except elephants. The lions and leopards are rare but present and with a lucky charm you may catch a glimpse of them.

Other animals you may spot in Nairobi National Park include wildebeests, waterbucks, bushbucks, and others. The Nairobi National Park's unfenced southern sector allows wild animals to migrate from Athi Plains into the Park, expanding the list of animals you may have a chance to see.

In case you have limited time but wish to do a Kenya safari before departure, Nairobi National Park is the ideal choice.

Amboseli National Park

Seating at the bottom of Kilimanjaro Mountains is Amboseli National Park where you may get the opportunity to spot at least four of the big five that elephants, buffaloes, although rarely seen but leopards and lions are present too excluding the Rhinos. Amboseli National Park hosts a huge number of elephants in Kenya. The bull elephants here have the largest tusks in Kenya.

During the game drive in Amboseli National Park, you may too spot zebras, impalas, elands, and others.

Because of the presence of the endemic dust spewed from Kilimanjaro thousands of years ago during the dry season, a shimmering dry lakebed with false mirage appears.

Lake Nakuru National Park

For the best Rhino sighting on a Kenya safari, Lake Nakuru National Park is the ideal destination where chances of potting the white rhinos enjoying the grass along the flood plains of Lake Nakuru are possible. Black rhinos are present in this Park but are rare. Buffaloes, lions, leopards are present in the Park.

While on a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, you may spot Rothschild giraffes, wildebeests, colobus monkeys, steenbok, impalas, klipspringer, dik dik, and others. The lesser flamingos often paint the shore of Lake Nakuru pink. This Park spans an attractive range of wooded and bush grassland escarpments and ridges with eco-diversity

When Is The Best Time To Book Kenya Safari To See The Big Five

All year Kenya is open for safaris but the dry season that is June to September and December to February offers more opportunities to spot several of these animals. This is because the grass is generally lower and carnivores camouflage in it to catch their prey. For drama in the wilderness, the dry season opens more chances to witness this.

This is the peak tourism season in Kenya, so you need to book other necessary logistics like accommodations, vehicle hire, driver guides, and others in advance. The great wildebeest migration of Kenya is in high gearing this period creating high competition.

The wet season opens more chances to see the birth of infants when the grass is longer and acts and there hiding place. There is also plenty of grass for herbivores to feed on, especially after the birth of an added population.

For those with a limited budget but have a Kenyan safari on their bucket list, chances of 

getting discounts on logistics like accommodation, vehicle hire and much more are more open. Even if you wish for exclusive experience while on Kenya safari without paying more to close off the Park, you may use the opportunity of the low season. There are normally less vehicle on the park tracks and so reducing on chances of disturbance.

The tracks of most game parks in Kenya get messy during the wet season, so you need a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition with a professional driver guide.

How Much is the cost of Kenya safari to see the Big Five?

The cost of the Kenyan Safari to the Big Five destinations is preceded by the park entrance fees cost, which are compulsory. The park entrance fees contribute to the Kenya Wildlife Conservation Fund a cost. 

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our Kenya Safaris according to upscale, mid-range, and basic. Some of the items considered when costing Kenya safaris include a number of people traveling with, additional activities to include in this package, number of days on safari, accommodation, transport cost, and much more.

What Are the Guidelines For a Safari In Kenya?

The Kenya Wildlife Service aimsService's to preserve and protect wildlife and their habitats. During the safari in Kenya, you must follow the guidelines given.

• Honor the speed limit while on game drive in the Kenya National game parks to prevent accidents on both the animals and the tourists. Driving off track is not accepted unless with permission from Kenya Wildlife Service.
• Never disturb the wild animals by hooting at them as you may cause them to run away yet other tourists would like to have some moment with them just like you have. When you find them crossing, stop and wait for them. Some of them may charge at you when you sound the vehicle horn, which is dangerous.
• Do not come with dogs or other pets into the Park as chances of getting infection from the wild animals or the pet may happen which is quite dangerous to conservation.
• Keep all your litter in your car like plastic wraps, as these alter the nature of the environment where these animals thrive.
• Carrying ammunitions in the Park is not accepted because you may be triggered to use it and kill the wild animals or any one in your company.
• Never pick flowers or trample on the vegetation in the parks as you destroy the environment where animals thrive. 
• Do not pack anything from the Park but just take pictures while on safari and leave onlt vehicle tyre prints.
• Retain all official receipts for verification at exit so that you are not inconvenienced. 
• All the park gates are open from 0700 hrs to 1900 hours.

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