Where is Kora National Park located?

Where is Kora National Park located? Tana River County, Kenya, is home to Kora National Park. The park has 1,788 square kilometres of land. It is situated 125 kilometres to the east of Mount Kenya. In 1973, the park was first gazetted as a wildlife reserve. After poachers killed George Adamson, it was gazetted as a national park in 1989. The northern border of Meru National Park is 65 kilometres from the Tana River. Adamson’s Falls, Grand Falls, and the Kora Rapids are some of the Tana River’s features. The Mwitamvisi River forms its eastern boundary. There are several seasonal rivers in the park.

There are two ways to get to Kora National Park: by car and by aeroplane.

Travelling by Road

The travel from Nairobi to Kora, which is 280 km/173 mi northeast, takes about 4 to 5 hours and passes through the settlements of Thika, Mwingi, and Kyuso. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) frequently uses the 10-kilometer airstrip on the park’s eastern edge. The park is connected to nearby Meru National Park by a tiny bridge. A complete 4×4 is necessary. Travelling with a companion is advised if you are travelling alone.

Kora National Park by Air

Three strips—Kyethoni Airstrip, Kampi ya Simba Airstrip, and Masanduku Airstrip—provide access to Meru National Park.

 It is important to note that since Kora is on the hottest part of Kenya, make sure you have enough of water on hand because it gets really hot and muggy there. To make the most of this park, schedule your visit a day in advance so you can explore every area. It’s great to spend a night in the park. Please take note that the park does not currently provide lodging. To get to Meru, you will have to drive or camp.

George Adamson’s grave

While trying to assist a tourist in escaping on August 20, 1989, George Adamson was shot and killed by bandits or poachers. In Kora National Park, where he lived his final decades and steadfastly refused to leave despite the escalating violence, Adamson’s body was cremated and interred. His brother Terence, who passed away in the park two years ago, and two of his lions are buried beside him.

Adamsons Falls

Adamsons Falls are located in southern Tasmania’s Southwest National Park, roughly 10 to 15 kilometres from Dover. Starting outside the national park, the trek to the falls is a fairly straightforward track to follow, beginning slightly downhill before facing a moderate rise. Just before Adamsons Falls, the track steepens, and when wet, it may get slick. The falls are best viewed from the summit and are reachable from many levels. You may stand beneath the falls around 50 meters below the surface. After a lot of rain, it can be very slick, but it’s worth seeing.

Wildlife in Kora National Park

Meru National Park is one of the parks and reserves that Kora is connected to. All of the large safari animals may be found in Kora and roam the borders. The park isn’t worth visiting for the usual wildlife experience, though, because of the low animal numbers brought on by widespread poaching. You might come across a variety of antelope species, elephants, hippopotamuses, and hyenas. One of the primary tourist activities at Kora National Park is seeing wildlife.

Birdwatching

Kora National Park’s Birdlife Among the many bird species found in Kora National Park are the spot-anked barbet, black-throated barbet, Pel’s fishing owl, white-backed night heron, African foot, eastern paradise whydahs, eastern yellow-billed hornbills, Von der decken’s hornbills, violet woodhoopoes, orange-bellied parrots, Basra reed warbler, and Malindi pipit.

Landscapes

The primary attraction of Kora is its landscape. Idlebergs, or domed hills, break up the unending plains and appear to “float” above the surrounding terrain. One of the park’s borders is the lovely Tana River, which is bordered by exquisite doom palms.

When is the ideal time to visit Kora National Park?

Famous animal conservationist George Adamson, often known as “baba ya Simba” (Father of Lions), once lived at Kora National Park. The lion Elsa from Born Free lived here. In the 1980s and 1990s, poachers were a major issue on the former reserve; in 1989, poachers killed George Adamson. A lion sanctuary is being planned in Kora. Until then, its primary attraction is its unspoiled, unspoiled nature, which any independent explorer can explore.

Kora National Park is open all year round, although during the rainy season it can be somewhat challenging to manage the roads. Because of the long grass and the fact that some animals hide in the shrubs, it is also more difficult to identify animals during the wet season. Given the abundance of water, wildlife simply disperses. Because there are no lodging options available during the rainy season, camping is especially difficult. Additionally, the excessive rain affects driving routes. In order to navigate the terrain with ease, a 4×4 safari vehicle is required. However, because the grass is lush during this wet season, anyone who enjoys photography can get some amazing shots.

The greatest time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from June to September. There are less grasses and it’s easier to see the wildlife from a distance because they typically congregate near water features. Camping is also fantastic and accessible by car during the dry season.

Tana River

The Tana River is longest river in Kenya, it is the source of the county’s name. Its catchment area is approximately 100,000 km², and it may be separated into the headwaters and the lower Tana, which includes the 700 km of semi-arid plains downstream of Kora. Among its tributaries are the Thika and a number of minor rivers that only run during the wet season. To the west of Nyeri, in the Aberdare Mountains, the river rises. It starts off running east and then circles the Mount Kenya massif to the south. Along the river a number of hydroelectric dams have been built, known as the Seven Forks Hydro Stations or the Seven Forks Scheme. This river doesn’t have groundwater beneath it, unlike what many people think.

The river flows north-south between the Meru and North Kitui and Bisanadi, Kora National Park, and Rabole National Reserves below the dams. The river turns to the east and then to the southeast in the reserves. After passing past the towns of Garissa, Hola, and Garsen, it enters the Indian Ocean at the Ungwana Bay-Kipini area. This is at the end of a river delta that extends about 30 km upstream from the river mouth. It irrigates the surrounding land while passing through a desert.

Wildlife found in Tana River

This is the 50,000-hectare Tana Delta, a protected area. There are patches of dense riverine woodland with fig and palm trees along the main river. These woodlands, which are accessible by boat, are brimming with fascinating wildlife and frequently serve as habitat for buffalo, elephants, hippopotamus, and crocodiles in addition to a variety of smaller, more timid antelope and primates. The number of bird species is also visible at the base of the river. Thousands of birds use the delta as a place to breed and graze. The Basra Reed Warbler and the endangered Malindi Pipit can be found there. The river mouth’s varying salinity creates habitat for thousands of snails, which attract about 1500 birds daily.

The two largest tribes in the region are the Pokomo and the Orma. Despite having somewhat distinct origins and traditions, they are both very friendly and welcome Kenya safari visitors to their communities. The delta provides the community with freshwater, fishing, farming, grazing, and tourism.