The Mara Game Reserve, as it was originally known, an area of some 1,812 sq Km (700 sq Miles), was establish din 1961. It's Southern boundary is contiguous with Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, and it is divided into two sections. The inner reserve has been developed on the lines of a National Park, no intrusion or Human settlement have been allowed, while the outer remains and undeveloped area where local Masai are permitted to pasture their cattle but which is otherwise undisturbed.The reserve extends from the edge of the Loita hills in the East to the Mara triangle and the base of the Siria escarpment in the West. The inner section, with it's network of roads specially constructed for Game watching, embraces the area around the Keekorok Lodge and Westwards to the Mara River. Everything in the Mara is Big. It is a country of breathtaking vistas, a panorama of vast rolling plains and rounded hills, of intermittent groves of acacia woodlands and thickets of scrub. The whole is bisected by the Mara river and it's tributaries which are margined by luxuriant riverene forests. And in every direction, there are seemingly endless herds of game animals. Mara possesses the largest population of Lions to be found in Kenya, it boasts large herds of Topi and a small population of Roan antelope, animals not found in many Kenya parks or reserves. Elephants are fairly common and a traveler may sometimes be held up by 'Elephants on the road'. The numerous large beasts to be found here include; Buffalo, Black Rhino, hippopotamus, Leopard, Cheetah, Zebra, Coke's Hartebeest, White Bearded Gnu, Warthog and Thompsons and Grants Gazelle. The Bird life is as profuse as the mammalian fauna. Orange-Buff Pel's fishing Owls, Bustards, Crested Guinea Fowl, Hornbills, secretary Birds and at least 53 species of bird's of prey. Accommodation is provided at the Mara Serena Lodge, sited on high ground in the west of the Park overlooking the Mara river and two luxury campsites sited on the Eastern bank of the Mara river near the old Mara bridge and the Governors camp. From the Lodge it possible to see the Hippos at play from the viewing platform, arguably the best place in Kenya.

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The Samburu Game reserves are the most accessible of the Northern frontier faunal sanctuaries, 343 km (213 miles) from Nairobi. The reserve covers an area of 104 sq. Km (40 sq. Miles) on the Northern bank of the Uaso river. The Buffalo springs reserve lies on the southern bank of the river. In addition to the rugged splendour of it's landscape the very name 'northern frontier province' conjures up an atmosphere of mystery and adventure. It is indeed a vast and little visited region where the traveling is rugged and the people have changed little over the centuries. The main attractions are the Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra, Beisa Oryx, the blue necked Somali Ostrich and river crocodiles. Elephant are plentiful and Black Rhinoceros, lion leopard, Cheetah, Gerenuk, Buffalo and the two species of Hyena are to be seen. Among the smaller mammals the Ground Squirrel is abundant and tame. For such relatively small area the bird life is strikingly numerous and colourful; there is no difficulty in seeing well over a hundred species of birds in a single day. Perhaps the most impressive sight is the immense flocks of helmeted and vulturine Guinea fowl which make their way each afternoon to the riverbank to drink, the latter resplendent with white streaked necks and brilliant blue underparts. Buffalo springs, in the reserve of that name with it's pools and streams of fresh water, is the drinking place in the dry season for literally thousands of Sandgrouse and doves, in addition to a galaxy of smaller birds. The tiny Pygmy Falcon is common, the males blue-grey and white, the females with a mahogany- brown mantle. At a distance, when perched high in some acacia tree, they distinctly resemble shrikes. The giant Martial Eagle is often seen, usually perched high on some vantage point, alert for Dik-Dik or guinea fowl. Accommodation with all amenities is at the Samburu Game lodge sited on the edge of the Uaso Nyiro River, below giant Newtonia trees and Dom palms. The lodge is built on the camp site of the most famous of the old time Elephant hunters, Arthur Newman. The visitor may find it fitting to take a 'sundowner', to contemplate the austerity endured by the early hunters and explorers contrasted with the comfort of the modern day Safari!

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The Amboseli National Park is justly famous for it's big Game - Elephants, Lions and Cheetahs are the main attractions - and for it's great scenic beauty. The 3,810 sq Km (1,259 sq Miles) of this park and game reserve embody five main wildlife habitats, plus a generally dry lake bed, Lake Amboseli, from which it takes its name. These are open plains; extensive stands of yellow Barked Acacia woodland; rocky, lava strewn thornbush country; swamps and marshes; and at the Western end of the reserve, above Namanga, the Massif of Oldoinyo Orok rising to over 2,760 m (8,300 ft) and still for the most part zoologically unexplored. The area is dominated by the backdrop of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest Mountain which frames the wild region below with its nomadic tribes rear their cattle as they have done for centuries. The main game viewing area lies in the Eastern half of the park, in the vicinity of Ol Tukai, here a network of roads opens up a wild life paradise.
Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Masai Giraffe and Buffalo may all be encountered during a single mornings drive. White Bearded Gnu, common Zebra, Eland, Coke's Hartebeest, Common Waterbuck, Impala and Thompsons and Grant's Gazelles can also be found. In the dry bush country towards Namanga and in the arid area en route to Emali two especially interesting antelopes are to be found; the long necked Gerenuk and the Fringe Eared Oryx. Smaller Mammals always in evidence include Black Faced Vervet Monkey and Yellow Baboon, Black Backed Jackals, Spotted Hyena and Bat Eared Foxes. Bird Life is equally abundant, especially in the vicinity of the lakes and swamps. The Madagascar Squacco Heron turns up at regular intervals and the Long Toed Lapwing is a resident in small numbers. Three species of Sand Grouse, Yellow throated-Chestnut Bellied-and Black Faced, water in hundreds during the dry season. Birds of prey are well represented with no less that 47 different kinds, rarities such as the Taita Falcon and Southern Banded Harrier Eagle.
Around the Lodges you may see flocks of Yellow Weaver Birds, however the bird which will quickly draw your attention because of its brilliant plumage and fearless behaviour is the Superb starling, which pecks crumbs from your plate as you eat.

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