Hike-in Required
No
Open Year-round
Yes
Guided tours
Yes
ADA accessible
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Chyulu Hills National Park is centered around its namesake mountain range. The volcanic rolling hills run 100 miles across southeastern Kenya. It is another alternative to the incredibly popular Masai Mara Safari.

The park is a short 1-hour flight from Nairobi or a 6-hour drive from Nairobi for about 200 kilometers. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is absolutely necessary to get here; many of the roads are tricky, and the park has very limited infrastructure. Given its difficult access, it's worth flying to this region rather than driving in. There are several tours in the area and lodges like Ol Donyo that offer pricey accommodation. Small parties are not recommended. Poachers are common in the area.

The area is very quiet, even in peak season. Solo travel adds a certain risk factor, but if you travel with a group of other people and vehicles you will be in better stead. All of the classic "big five" animals can be found here: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos. With that said, the denser foliage and rough terrain make them harder to spot. Leopards and elephants favor the park, while buffalo are a rare sight.

The hills are steep, dusty, and quite challenging to hike. Acasia trees are predominant with wetter species deeper into the hills, where there tends to be more rain. To the south you get incredible views onto the plains, and 70 kilometers away Kilimanjaro looms over the whole area. In the south of the range is the Leviathan Cave, one of the world's longest lava tubes.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

National or state forest pass

Pros

Very few people. Beautiful lands. Wildlife.

Cons

Rarer sightings of big cats. Few roads. Challenging access. Few lodgings. Poachers active in area.

Pets allowed

Not Allowed

Features

Historically significant
Big vistas
Big Game Watching
Bird watching
Wildlife
Native artifacts
Shelters
Guided tours
Family friendly

Location

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