Due
to circumstances out of my control (eg: our bank in receivership, lack of funds),
travelling internationally will be a thing that will be done when we are able
to save enough money to do so. Also it
would have to be somewhere I haven’t been, so it could be awhile before that
actually eventuates. With that said, Eric
and I have made a New Year’s Resolution to see more of the country that we live
in. I have been here three years now,
and I am a little embarrassed to say what little I have seen of Kenya in those
three years.
So
our plan is to camp once a month, somewhere new.
Travelling
is always better done with some-one else, especially in a country like Kenya,
so just before our bank went into receivership, Eric and I had done a rather
comprehensive shopping spree of camping equipment. It was the whole works, tent, chairs, table,
sleeping bags, utensils, cooking items, gas stove, lamps, torches-it was quite
the shop and we are now 100% prepared to go camping.
I
was NEVER a camper.
I
never camped as a kid, never camped as an adult and had never wanted too.
All
that changed when I did my World Odyssey in 2011 (www.berniesworldodyssey.com)
when I camped on the African continent for nearly 2 months and in South America
for 5 months and more recently West Africa for 2.5 months in West Africa. BUT, I have always been with a group, always
had experienced people around to ‘help out’ if needed. So this camping thing has been stepped up a
gear with it just being Eric and I and I am excited and apprehensive all at the
same time. We will be camping SOLO and I
know it will just be a learning curve, and with each camp, we will get better
and more experienced.
So
our first camp is scheduled for February 2016.
We are yet to pick where we will go, but it will be a place close to
home, so if things do not pan out they way we plan, then it will be no big deal
to jump in the car and head home. We
have a new tent, and it isn’t a small one, so it will take some patience and
team work to get that up for the first time!
Reading a map and erecting a tent are two things that test a marriage!!! And we are UP FOR IT!!!!
So
our New Year’s Resolution includes that we will visit ALL the National Parks
and Reserves that Kenya has to offer. Of
course this will not all be done in one year, but over time, and as we get more
experienced, this will be completed-mark my words. There is something to be said when you get
out of your comfort zone and it may not be international travel, but as we call
it back in Australia-Eric and I will do ‘Staycations’ and visit what we have in
our own backyard and when it is in Kenya, I don’t think that we can complain
too much!
So
how many parks and reserves does Kenya have?
Kenya has some of the largest, longest established, most
famous and widely visited National Parks and Reserves in the world. It also has some of the smallest, least known and far-flung. Of the 58 National Parks and Reserves in Kenya,
Amboseli, Tsavo, Mara and Samburu are probably the best know. Kenya’s wildlife is protected in National Parks and
Game Reserves administered by the government and now over 70% of wildlife lives
on Group Ranches and privately owned Sanctuaries and Conservancies. The result
of these Private partnerships is an area of wilderness where wildlife shares
the land with people and livestock. Together with the strong emphasis on
involvement of traditional people and cultures, as well as the active
protection of the environment and its wildlife these areas are protecting a way
of life for the local community as well as much of Kenya’s
wildlife.
The national
park system
of Kenya is maintained by the Kenya Wildlife Service. There are two main types of terrestrial protected areas in Kenya:
national parks, and national reserves; there are also marine parks and marine
reserves. There are also over 140 conservancies in
Kenya, and some are more popular than others, but I am here for a lifetime, so
we will get to them all eventually. The conservancy model of conservation was adopted in Kenya’s
wildlife protection areas in order to create co-existence between wildlife and
livestock of communities living near tourism attractions. Many conservancies
can be described as playgrounds for both wild and domesticated animals to
interact as they roam wildly.
NATIONAL PARKS
- Aberdare National Park
- Amboseli National Park
- Arabuko Sokoke National Park
- Central Island National Park
- Chyulu Hills National Park
- Hell's Gate National Park - TICK
- Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
- Lake Nakuru National Park - TICK
- Malindi Marine National Park
- Malka Mari National Park
- Masai Mara National Park - TICK
- Meru National Park
- Mombasa Marine Park
- Mount Elgon National Park
- Mount Kenya National Park
- Mount Longonot National Park
- Nairobi National Park - TICK
- Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
- Ruma National Park
- Saiwa Swamp National Park
- Sibiloi National Park
- Tsavo East National Park
- Tsavo West National Park
- Watamu Marine National Park
- Arawale National Reserve
- Bisanadi National Reserve
- Boni National Reserve
- Buffalo Springs National Reserve
- Dodori National Reserve
- Kakamega Forest National Reserve
- Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
- Lake Bogoria National Reserve
- Masai Mara National Reserve
- Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
- Mwea National Reserve
- Samburu National Reserve
- Shimba Hills National Reserve
- Tana River Primate Reserve
- Witu Forest Reserve (Utwani Forest Reserve)
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