Marsabit National Park
North Eastern Kenya Region
Marsabit National Park, located on Mount Marsabit in northern Kenya's Marsabit County, is a remarkable natural reserve known for its diverse ecosystems and rich wildlife. The park features extinct volcanic craters covered with dense forests, including the notable Gof Redo crater. It supports a wide variety of animals such as zebras, elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, bushbucks, sunis, and leopards. Additionally, Marsabit is a haven for bird enthusiasts, harboring around 350 bird species, including 52 birds of prey like Ruppell's griffon vultures, peregrine falcons, and African fish eagles. The cliffs near Lake Paradise provide nesting sites for many raptors, while the lake itself hosts ducks, hamerkops, ibises, and storks. The park's lower forest slopes and scrublands are home to olive baboons, vervet monkeys, gazelles, oryxes, hyenas, caracals, and aardwolves. The unique flora includes spectacular strangler figs in the mountain-top forests contrasting with acacia-lined dusty plains. Historically, Marsabit gained fame in the 1970s for elephants with exceptionally long tusks, notably an elephant named Ahmed whose tusks weighed over 300 kg.
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Tip: The best time to visit Marsabit National Park is during the dry seasons when wildlife viewing is optimal. Visitors should consider arranging guided tours to explore the volcanic craters and bird sanctuaries safely. Booking permits or park entry in advance is recommended to ensure access, particularly during peak visiting periods. Bring binoculars for birdwatching and prepare for varied terrain, from forested mountains to arid plains. While no specific discounts are noted, checking with Kenya Wildlife Service for any concessions or group rates is advisable.
Interesting facts
- •Marsabit National Park contains extinct volcanic craters covered in forests, including the notable Gof Redo crater.
- •The park hosts approximately 350 bird species, including 52 birds of prey such as Ruppell's griffon vultures and peregrine falcons.
- •In the 1970s, Marsabit was famous for elephants with the longest tusks in the world, including an elephant named Ahmed whose tusks weighed over 300 kg.
- •The cliffs near Lake Paradise provide important nesting sites for various raptors.
- •The unique flora includes strangler figs in the mountain-top forests contrasting with acacia-dominated plains.
History
Marsabit National Park was established to protect the unique ecosystems around Mount Marsabit and its extinct volcanic craters.
Over the decades, it has become renowned for its rich biodiversity, particularly its large populations of zebras and birds of prey.
In the 1970s, the park gained international attention for elephants possessing some of the longest tusks recorded, exemplified by the famous bull elephant named Ahmed.
The park's conservation efforts have helped maintain these diverse habitats despite regional environmental challenges.
Place Guide
Gof Redo Crater
An extinct volcanic crater located about 5 kilometers north of Marsabit town, notable for its forested slopes and unique geological features.
Lake Paradise Cliffs
Cliffs at the northern end of Lake Paradise that serve as nesting grounds for numerous birds of prey including Ruppell's griffon vultures and peregrine falcons.
Mountain-top Forests with Strangler Figs
Dense forests on the mountain slopes featuring extraordinary strangler figs, providing a stark contrast to the surrounding acacia plains below.
Contact
Phone: 020 2502005
