Best Places To See the Big Five Animals in Kenya

By Philip Briggs

Everybody who goes on an Africa safari hopes to see the Big Five in the flesh. And Kenya is undoubtedly one of the very best countries to make this dream come true. Many of its parks support at least four, and in some cases all five, of these eagerly sought creatures. Furthermore, you can greatly increase your chance of seeing all of the Big Five by matching two or more safari destinations with complementary strengths.

To help you to make the most of your Kenyan safari, we take a look at 10 of the country’s most prominent parks, and provide an overview of which of the Big Five are present there, and how easily they are seen.

2,343 Kenya Safaris

What Is the Big Five?

Safari vehicle and lions

The Big Five is a group of large African mammals that tops the wish list of many first-time safari-goers. The five animals are lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. The term was originally used by big game hunters to refer to the animals they regarded to be the most dangerous to hunt on foot. This is why it does not include other charismatic but relatively unthreatening creatures such as giraffe and cheetah.

1. Masai Mara National Reserve

Lion pride with cubs resting

Kenya’s most popular safari destination is one of the best places anywhere to see the Big Five. A northern extension of the Serengeti National Park, it is most famous for the wildebeest migration that takes up residence on its rolling plains in August to October. At any time of year, however, you can also be confident of seeing lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo in the Masai Mara National Reserve. A bit more luck is required for black rhino, which are uncommon but most likely to be seen in the westerly sector known as the Mara Triangle.

1,672 Masai Mara Safaris

2. Lake Nakuru National Park

White rhinoceros with young

This small but scenic national park is easily visited with the Masai Mara, and the two complement each other very well. This is because Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the best places in Kenya to look for rhinos, which are relatively uncommon in the Masai Mara. White rhinos are easily seen on the lake floodplain, but black rhinos are more secretive and prefer dense bush. Lion and leopard are present, but not particularly common. Other wildlife you’re likely to see includes buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe and seasonal flocks of flamingos.

1,015 Lake Nakuru Safaris

3. Amboseli National Park

Elephants walking in front of Mt Kilimanjaro

For elephant-lovers, there’s no better place than Amboseli National Park to watch these fascinating creatures up close. Buffalo are also quite common here, but big cats are scarce, and there are no rhinos. The park’s spectacular location at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro more than compensates, especially if you’re also visiting other parks where lion, leopard and rhino are more common.

1,026 Amboseli Safaris

4. Tsavo East National Park

Baboon watching buffalo at the waterhole

Tsavo East National Park, which extends northeast from the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway, is ideal for people wanting to insert a short safari into a longer beach holiday. It is officially home to all the Big Five, and renowned for its large herds of elephant and buffalo, but lion and leopard are less certain, and black rhino are very scarce, possibly even locally extinct.

272 Tsavo East Safaris

5. Tsavo West National Park

Leopard in Tsavo West National Park

Together with its eastern namesake, Tsavo West National Park forms part of Kenya’s largest protected area. Elephant and buffalo are common, and it is slightly more reliable than Tsavo East for lions. Tsavo West is quite good for black rhinos, around 80 of which are protected, at a density of roughly one individual per square kilometer (per 0.4 square miles), in a fenced drive-through sanctuary at Ngulia.

253 Tsavo West Safaris

6. Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba National Reserves

Leopard on an old fallen tree

Four of the Big Five (the exception being rhino) inhabit this cluster of reserves strung along the Ewaso Nyiro River as it flows through the arid countryside north of Mt Kenya. The forested riverbank often yields good leopard sightings, and is also reliable for elephant and buffalo. A striking feature of these reserves is a long list of dry-country species, including Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx and gerenuk, which are unlikely to be seen in other national parks.

208 Samburu Safaris

7. Laikipia Plateau (Incorporates Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Ol Pejeta Conservancy & Solio Ranch)

Buffalo

Laikipia Plateau is Kenya’s most progressive Big Five conservation area. It comprises a mosaic of private and community-owned conservancies that together forms Kenya’s second-largest protected ecosystem. Laikipia is also a key stronghold for all of the Big Five animals in Kenya, especially rhino, while other specialties include Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and African wild dog. Premier properties include Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Solio Ranch, which offer all-inclusive safari packages at small exclusive lodges.

181 Laikipia Safaris

8. Aberdare National Park

African elephants seen from a hide

Mountainous Aberdare National Park is an unusual safari destination in that most wildlife viewing is done from a pair of hide-like ‘tree hotels’ overlooking floodlit waterholes. Despite this, it is home to all the Big Five, and on a good night the waterholes might well attract buffalo, elephant, black rhino and (more unusually) leopard and lion.

69 Aberdare Safaris

9. Nairobi National Park

Lion

Nairobi National Park is easily underrated. Yes, the city skyscrapers loom above some parts of the park. True, it is the ideal goal for a day safari for those with limited time. But it is also a wilder and more rewarding safari destination than such statements might lead you to believe. Despite how close the park is to Nairobi, its entire southern boundary is unfenced, allowing wildlife to migrate freely from the Athi Plains. And four of the Big Five are commonly seen, the exception being elephant.

57 Nairobi NP Safaris

10. Meru National Park

Lions resting

Meru National Park is a good choice for those who hope to see the Big Five animals in Kenya while spending time in an off-the-beaten-track safari destination. This scenic national park is the sort of place where you can drive for an hour and not see another vehicle. Elephant and buffalo are common (along with the striking reticulated giraffe), while both species of rhino are protected in a fenced drive-through sanctuary. Big cats cannot be guaranteed, but if you do get lucky, you’re likely to have the sighting to yourself.

12 Meru NP Safaris