Map of Kenya › National parks
Kenya National Parks Map: Every Park and Reserve That Matters
Kenya protects wildlife under three different labels, and the difference matters more than most visitors expect. This Kenya national parks map draws the real boundaries of the parks, reserves and conservancies safari-goers actually visit, over the road network that connects them, so you can see which combinations make sense in the time you have.
Interactive map of Kenya’s parks and reserves
Deep green shapes are national parks, gold are national reserves, terracotta are conservancies, and teal marks the marine coast. Brown lines are the main highways. Tap any boundary for its size and claim to fame; use satellite view to see how the landscapes change.
The interactive map could not load on this connection.
You can still use the guide and tables below, or open the area on Google Maps.
Park, reserve or conservancy: what the label tells you
National parks (Amboseli, Tsavo, Nakuru, Nairobi) are run by the Kenya Wildlife Service; rules are strict and consistent. National reserves (the Maasai Mara, Samburu, Buffalo Springs) belong to county governments, which is why Mara fees and rules differ from KWS parks. Conservancies (Ol Pejeta, Lewa, the Mara conservancies) are private or community land under conservation lease; access usually requires staying at a member lodge, and in exchange you get night drives, walking safaris and very few vehicles.
| Type | Run by | Examples | Practical difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| National park | Kenya Wildlife Service | Amboseli, Tsavo, Lake Nakuru | Standard KWS fees, day visitors welcome |
| National reserve | County government | Maasai Mara, Samburu | Own fee structure, day visitors welcome |
| Conservancy | Private or community | Ol Pejeta, Lewa, Mara North | Guests-only access, fewer vehicles, extra activities |
Reading the map for a route
The clusters do the planning for you. The southwest block is the Mara. The southern corridor strings Amboseli, Chyulu and both Tsavos along the Mombasa road, ending at the coast. The Rift Valley lakes sit an easy morning’s drive north of Nairobi. The central highlands hold Aberdare, Mount Kenya and the Laikipia conservancies, and the northern trio of Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba shares one river and one gate town. One week fits two clusters comfortably; ten days fits three.
Each cluster has its own detailed page: the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu and the Rift Valley lakes, all linked from the main Map of Kenya.
The numbers
Kenya has 23 terrestrial national parks, 4 marine parks and over two dozen national reserves, plus a fast-growing network of more than 160 conservancies that now protects more land than the parks themselves. You will not visit them all, and you do not need to: the fifteen or so boundaries on this map cover the sightings most first and second safaris are built on.
Kenya parks map questions
How many national parks does Kenya have?
23 terrestrial national parks and 4 marine parks under the Kenya Wildlife Service, plus national reserves run by counties and a large network of private and community conservancies.
What is Kenya’s largest national park?
Tsavo East at 13,747 km2. Combined with neighbouring Tsavo West, the Tsavo block covers about 22,800 km2, around 4 percent of the country.
Which park is closest to Nairobi?
Nairobi National Park, 7 km from the city centre. It is the only capital-city park in the world where lion, rhino and giraffe live wild against a skyline.
Is the Maasai Mara a national park?
No, it is a national reserve managed by Narok County rather than KWS, which is why its fees and rules differ slightly from parks like Amboseli or Nakuru.
Turn boundaries into an itinerary
Tell us which shapes on this map caught your eye and how many days you have. We plan Kenya routes every week and will tell you honestly what fits and what does not.
Start Planning Your SafariPark and reserve boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed under ODbL. Basemap © OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Satellite imagery © Esri. Terrain tiles by Mapzen and AWS Open Data. Boundaries for Aberdare National Park, Chyulu Hills National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park, Lake Bogoria National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park, Nairobi National Park, Shaba National Reserve from UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (2026), Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), Cambridge, UK. Available at protectedplanet.net.