Kora National Park
Expert Reviews (3)
Kenya Parks
Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.
3 people found this review helpful.
A Little Visited Wilderness
Unpromisingly, Kora is best known as the place where the lion-loving conservationist George Adamson (of Born Free fame) was murdered in 1989, during the height of the poaching war. Otherwise it is basically just an eastern extension of Meru National Park, harbouring a similar selection of wildlife, but even more remote and untrammeled, and suitable only to properly kitted out expeditions with at least two 4x4s vehicles travelling in convoy. The border area with Meru, where the rapids known as Adamson Falls lie on the Tana River (Kenya’s largest) is quite accessible, however.
Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines.
4 people found this review helpful.
Kora NP: once the playground of the Adamson family, now untrammeled wilderness
The famous George Adamson, from the book and film entitled: “Born Free”, was murdered in Kora National Park by poachers in 1989. Kora neighbors the more developed Meru National Park and unless you are particularly interested in the history of the Adamson family, I can’t give a good reason to venture out here. It is in Meru National Park, where George Adamson released his lion Elsa. The grave of the popular lioness can still be visited. Although all wildlife species present in Meru National Park occur in Kora, densities are lower and animals tend to be skittish. Visiting this park should more be undertaken as an adventure expedition than a mainstream safari.
Brian is an award winning travel writer, author of safari books and regular contributor to magazines such as BBC Wildlife and Travel Africa.
6 people found this review helpful.
George Adamson’s Lasting Legacy
Devastated over the years by drought and poaching, Kora is a work in progress. It began as a game reserve created by George Adamson, the grand old lion man of Kenya, and was gazetted as a national park after his murder by Somali bandits in 1989. There is currently nowhere to stay and the park is best visited on a whole day trip from the adjoining Meru National Park. What you will find is a pristine wilderness of arid thornbush and red rocky inselbergs with the Tana flowing along its northern boundary. Animals are few: hippo, waterbuck, lesser kudu, maybe even a leopard if you are very lucky; but birding is good among the doum palms and poplars on the banks of the Tana. Most visitors come to see Kampi ya Simba, where George Adamson lived with his lions in the 1980s. He is buried nearby, beside the grave of Terence, his brother, and Boy, his favourite lion.