Marsabit National Park Destination Guide
Kenya Destination Guide

The beautiful Marsabit National Park in Kenya is a refuge for huge tusked bull elephants, diverse birdlife and reptiles. It has many interesting geological features, and is an oasis of green in the middle of an arid environment.Marsabit National Park was made famous in the 1970's when it was home to many Elephants that were reputed to have the longest tusks in Africa. One of the old Bulls was called Ahmed who was put under 24 hour surveillance by presidential decree. When he died he was found to have tusks weighing over 300kg. Today the Park is still known for its Elephants with their impressive tusks.

Getting to Marsabit National Park

Marsabit National Park is situated 560 kilometres from Nairobi. The Park is reached via Nanyuki and Isiolo. The road is tar up to Merille, and road construction is planned to continue as far as Moyale on the Ethiopian border. At present the road from Merille to Marsabit is still quite bad and a four wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

Airport - There is a good tarmac airstrip situated just outside the Marsabit National Park.

Highlights and Attractions

The Park is known for its Elephants that have impressive tusks
See the endangered Grevy's zebra
Paradise lake is home to a wide variety of waterfowl
The singing wells where local tribes go to gather water

What to do in Marsabit National Park - Game drives, camel safaris, visit the singing wells. Around the park camel safaris can be arranged.

The Experience

The Marsabit National Park is an oasis of green in this arid, desert region of Kenya. At the centre of the park is an extinct volcano - the height of which creates a microclimate that supports a huge tract of indigenous forest that in turn supports a wide variety of wildlife. The Montane forest is supplied water by thick mist which forms overnight as the hot air rises off the desert and cools. The mist often lingers till late morning.

The forest is home to a wide variety of wildlife such as Elephants, Rhino, Lion, Buffalo and Leopard. The downside of Marsabit is that the forest is so thick that game viewing is very challenging. However, it can be very rewarding if you have patience. The Park is home to the greatest number of graceful Greater Kudu Antelope and the rare Grevy's Zebra and Reticulated Giraffe.

The park has many extinct volcanic craters known as Gofs. One of the largest of these is Gof Sokorte Guda which has Lake Paradise at the bottom of it. The lake is ringed with scenic forest and the birding is fantastic. It is also a refuge for the rare Lammergeyer Vulture and is known for the diversity of its butterfly species.