Fantastic add-on if you're going to Kakamega
Saiwa Swamp is the best small park in Kenya in my opinion. We hired a car and drove around East Africa in 2009 and this park was definitely one of our favourites. If you are going to Kakamega, another great park, you should seriously think about a few days at Saiwa aswell. It's quiet because of it's location, we only saw two other tourists in the park. You can camp in the park, we stayed at a guesthouse a few miles away. Both are good options.
The park is, as the name suggests, just a swamp with paths around it. You drive in, park up, and walk around. You can easily walk the whole park in half a day, but if I was going again I would camp overnight.
The best thing about the park is the wildlife - it is totally different to any other major park in Kenya. Sitatunga and otters are easy to see. There are lots of mongooses and plenty of monkeys. We saw colobus and a few others. I'm not a birder but there are lots of birds - swamps are generally good for birds are they not?
Entrance fee is very cheap by Kenyan standards aswell. Go now.
Review about Kenya by John Carthy
Kenya's great for an organised safari. If you are self-driving Southern Africa is much cheaper and easier, as are Uganda and Rwanda.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Kruger National Park by ~lustedtowander~
The wildlife viewing in the Kruger is spectacular, if you are willing to jostle amongst dozens of vehicles for the experience. Camps are crowded and noisy during holidays.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park by ~lustedtowander~
Kgalagadi feels wild and remote.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by ~lustedtowander~
Wildlife is difficult to spot, due to the dense vegetation. But low visitor numbers and lovely landscapes make it a very pleasant experience
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Pilanesberg Game Reserve by ~lustedtowander~
In my opinion Pilanesberg is too small to accommodate the number of people who go there.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Golden Gate Highlands National Park by ~lustedtowander~
Excellent hiking destination.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Mountain Zebra National Park by ~lustedtowander~
The best kept secret amongst South Africa's national parks.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Augrabies Falls National Park by ~lustedtowander~
Stunning landscape!
US
35-50 years of age
The Most Diverse National Park in South Africa
Addo is a triumph of conservation. Elephants were nearly exterminated in the early 1900's, with only 11 remaining when the area was preserved as a National Park. 80 years later, we saw elephants in abundance. South Africa is working to establish one mega park, extending a wildlife corridor from Volkert's River to the ocean. Thus, the photographic opportunities are fabulous, due to the diversity of landscape. In one sublime safari, you can experience grasslands, mountains and ocean. We drive a Land Rover Defender on our safari, but the park could easily be traversed in a salon car.