Marsabit National park
Marsabit National park is a national park and nature reserve located at Mount Marsabit in northern Kenya, near the town of Marsabit. It is located 560 km north of Nairobi in Marsabit County in the former Eastern Province and its reserve is noted for its zebra population and bird sanctuary. Marsabit national park is a remote paradise for the nature lovers that lies in an oasis of green in desert region in far north of Kenya, densely forested mountain with three crater lakes in it that provides a paradise for a variety of birdlife, mammals and reptiles the view along here is amazing. The park is also famous for its big range of impressive tusked- elephants, although it is not much known for game drives, it’s good for hiking in dense forest, wreathed in mist can be best enjoyed along with the camel rides, bird watching as well as visiting the singing well.
The park covers an area of 1,554 square kilometers and consists of a forested mountain that rises, such as an oasis in the middle of the desert wilderness and is the only permanent water source in the region. Marsabit national park was established in 1949 to protect the wildlife in the area and is managed by Kenya Wildlife Service.
Attractions in Marsabit National Park.
Wildlife.
The Park is a home of diverse of wild animals such as the elephants, greater/ lesser kudu, buffalos, hyenas, Kirk’s dik-dik, Grevy’s zebras, reticulated giraffes, lions, leopards, peter’s gazelles. Primates to see in the park also includes olive baboons, vervet monkeys, baboons and among others.
Three crates.
The park boosts with three pristine crater lakes that provide habitats for various birdlife. One of the lake, Lake Paradise is the best among other with scenic views and famous from the early films and writings of Martin Johnson and Vivien de Watt Ville.
Diverse Birdlife.
The park is a home to over 500 notable bird life, some of the species to see are sparrow weavers, white- bellied turacos, yellow- billed storks, purple herons, red- knocked coots, ibies, Rupell’s griffon vulture, peregrine falcons, mountain buzzards, black kites, African fish eagles which can be easily sighted at the cliff in the northern end of Lake Paradise.
A variety of butterfly.
Marsabit National Park contains butterfly assemblages decrease in species richness after forest disturbance and fragmentation, but a few species may subsequently invade the forest fragment and hence increase species richness.
Lake Paradise.
Lake Paradise is at the heart of park, and on the slopes of mount Marsabit, it is also in northern Kenya, about 10km drive from the park’s Ahmed gate and the town of Marsabit.
Activities done in Marsabit National Park.
Mountain/ Rock Climbing.
Rock climbing is an amazing activity carried out on stark massif of Ol Olokwe, south of Marsabit, offers some wonderful climbing routes which can be conducted by a trained guide with some good local knowledge.
Game viewing.
Game viewing is best done in early morning and late afternoon. In the midday heat, various animals retreat to the cool of thick undergrowth and turns to be invisible. The park can easily be visited from Marsabit town. If you are interested in birding or wildlife just look for a safari operator who can offer you specialized guiding and safari services to suit your best need.
Bird watching.
Marsabit national park is highly recognized among the best Kenya birding destination, the park has over 500 bird species including the grassland and forest bird species, so a birder the park is a paradise to fulfil your birding interests by spotting various bird species like the Somali bee- eater, masked lark and Somali sparrow and migratory bird species in the savannah plains, forested areas of the park and during the walk, bird species in the park include African olive pigeon, beard vulture, little grebe, masked lark and among many others.
Where to stay in Marsabit National Park.
There are various accommodations ranging from Budget, Mid- range and luxury as they include the Sand and Rock Resort/ hotel, Nomads Trail Hotel, Chico Hotel, Jirime Hotel and Resort, Silvia Inn Hotel, Gof Hotel, Jinjimanna lodge an among more.
Best time to visit Marsabit National Park.
Like most of the Kenya’s parks, it is possible to visit Marsabit year- round and see wildlife, however, the best months are when it is dry season, from June to October and December to March.
Entrance fees of Marsabit National Park.
| Category | Citizen (KSH) | Resident(KSH) | Non- Resident (USD) |
| Adult | 250 | 250 | 20 |
| Child | 100 | 100 | 10 |
How to get to Marsabit national park.
The park can be reached by both air and road transport.
By Road transport.
The park has two gates such as the Ahmed gate and Abdul found close to the park headquarters. From Nairobi, the park can be accessed through Nanyuki and Isiolo a distance of 570 kilometers to main destination, you’re recommended to use 4×4 wheel drive Kenya safari vehicle or private car.
By Air transport.
There is an airstrip at Marsabit which is 4 kilometers away from the park’s main gate, it takes 2 hours by air from Nairobi and is adequately served by a tarmac airstrip that lies about one kilometers from Marsabit town center.
Marsabit National park is an oasis of green in the arid, desert region of Kenya. The park is a home to the greatest number of graceful Greater Kudu Antelope and the rare Grevy’s zebra and Reticulated Giraffe, the Marsabit national park has many extinct craters known as Gofs.
