TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK
Tsavo West National Park covers 8,290 km2, and contains a diversity of habitats, wildlife and a mountainous scenic landscape. The park is a vast expanse of savanna stretching south to the Tanzanian border. The North Eastern boundary adjoins Tsavo East National Park, but Tsavo West has a more varied topography and a more diverse array of habitats than its neighbour. The park's habitats include open plains alternating with Savannah bush and semi desert scrub, acacia woodlands; rocky ridges and outcrops and more extensive ranges and isolated hills; belts of riverine vegetation; palm thickets and on the Chyulu hills, mountain forest.

There are numerous rocky outcrops and ridges and part of the park, towards the Chyulu Hills, is of recent volcanic origin with lava flows and ash cones including the Shetani lava flow, an example of a recent volacano. In the far south western corner on the Kenya Tanzania border is Lake Jipe, part of which is in the park. This very attractive lake is fed by runoff from Mt. Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains. At Mzima Springs, in the North of the park, water that has filtered underground from the Chyulu Hills gushes from below a lava ridge into a series of clear pools.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS: A variety of wildlife is present in Tsavo, and most dominant is the elephant. In the early '60's, there were tens of thousands but drought and poaching have reduced their population drastically though there is still plenty left today.

The Mzima Springs & underwater hippo watching, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Jipe, Mt. Kilimanjaro, elephant, lions, cheetah, leopard, rhino, diverse bird and plant species are special reasons to visit this Park during your trip to Kenya. The staff at Circle K Safaris are very conversant with all corners of this Park and will delight you with their intimate knowledge of habitats and behaviors of animals found in Tsavo West.

Birdlife is profuse especially around the rivers and dams, with more than 400 different species noted. This park also lies on the migration corridor from the coast and migrations from the north fly over the park in November and December. Several species of starlings and weaverbirds abound, in addition to hornbills, lilac-breasted rollers and the secretary bird. Water birds such as herons and yellow-billed storks are common sights in Tsavo.

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Located on the Kenya -Tanzania border, under the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is 390 square km. It was established in 1974. The name Amboseli is the maasai word for "dust devils".
Special Features: Famous for its spectacular views of Africa's highest peak, snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro. Legend has it that Queen Victoria gave the mountain to her grandson, the German Kaiser Wilhelm, as a present! Two springs provide year-round water. Thousands of water fowls and flamingoes are attracted to the watering holes found in Amboseli. Amboseli is divided into four basic areas, determined by vegetation and topography.
Animals: Lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards & a host of numerous plains game such as impalas, zebras, gnus and buffaloes are seen almost all year round. Circle K Safaris organizes daily trips to this world re-knowned location.
Accommodations: Amboseli has a range of accommodation to suit all budgets, tastes and interests. There are very basic campsites where you can pitch a tent and sleep under canvas in the wild, well appointed safari lodges, luxury tented camps with large, fully furnished tents, small private camps for your exclusive use and much more. The Serena group of hotels has excellent lodge facilities in this area.

Masai Mara Game Reserve

This park was established in 1961 and covers an area approximately 1,800 sq. km (about 720 sq. miles). During the months of August to September each year, the greatest wildlife show on earth is enacted here when over 2 million wildebeests migrate from the south, in Tanzania, and head north-west into Kenya. Around August, they are forced to start their long, long trek north-west into Kenya after exhausting all the available food supplies in the Serengeti region. Crossing into Kenya, they find plenty of good grazing grounds in the well watered areas of the Mara.

All year round, you will find plenty of buffalo, a few rhinos, gazelles , impala, zebras, giraffes and hundreds of other plains game. Naturally, their predators are never far off and you will find the largest population of lions in Kenya within the Masai Mara game reserve. Cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, jackals and other smaller animals are to be found. In addition, there are over 420 species of birds recorded in this reserve and include the rare Verreaux eagle owl. You will of course find the ostrich, martial eagles, the kori bustards and many other types of birds during your safari in this part of Kenya.

A unique activity that takes place in the Mara is the balloon safaris, started in 1976 by the Allan Root. Being highly maneuverable, the balloon can skim treetops for a close up view of game or rise to over 300 metres (1,000 ft) for a spectacular view of the Masai Mara plains.