Map of Kenya: Every Safari Park, Reserve and Beach in One Interactive Map
Kenya packs 24 major parks, reserves and conservancies into six travel regions, and the distances between them decide what a realistic itinerary looks like. The interactive map below shows the true shape of each protected area, not just a pin. Zoom in, switch on satellite or 3D terrain, and tap any boundary for size, drive time and the wildlife it is known for.
The interactive map could not load on this connection.
You can still use the region guide and distance tables below, or open Kenya’s parks on Google Maps.
Kenya’s six safari regions
Think of the country as six blocks. Most one week trips combine two of them; ten days fits three comfortably.
Southwest: the Maasai Mara
Kenya’s most famous reserve sits 270 km from Nairobi, about a 5 to 6 hour drive or a 45 minute flight from Wilson Airport. The Mara Triangle and the private conservancies along the northern boundary (Mara North, Naboisho, Olare Orok) appear on the map as separate shapes, which matters when you compare lodge locations.
South: Amboseli, Tsavo and the Chyulu Hills
Amboseli’s elephants stand in front of Kilimanjaro just 240 km from the capital. Tsavo East and West together cover more than 22,000 square km, the largest protected block in the country, and sit on the Nairobi to Mombasa road, so they pair naturally with a beach finish.
Rift Valley: Nakuru, Naivasha, Hell’s Gate and Bogoria
The closest full safari day out of Nairobi. Lake Nakuru is 163 km away with rhino and flamingo, Hell’s Gate lets you walk and cycle inside a park, and Lake Bogoria’s hot springs draw the biggest flamingo flocks.
Central and Laikipia: Aberdare, Mount Kenya, Ol Pejeta and Lewa
Highland forest, tree lodges and the country’s strongest rhino story. Ol Pejeta protects the last two northern white rhinos on earth, 217 km from Nairobi on good tarmac.
North: Samburu, Buffalo Springs, Shaba and Meru
Drier, wilder and quieter. Samburu’s Special Five (Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx) live nowhere else on this map. Meru is where Elsa the lioness of Born Free was released.
Coast: Shimba Hills, Watamu, Malindi and Diani
Coral reefs, sable antelope and 17 km of white sand at Diani. Most itineraries end here after Tsavo or a flight from the Mara.
Kenya parks and reserves: sizes, distances and best months
| Park / Reserve | Region | Size (km²) | From Nairobi | Drive | Signature wildlife | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara National Reserve | Southwest | 1,510 | 270 km | 5-6 hr | Big Five, wildebeest migration | Jul-Oct |
| Amboseli National Park | South | 392 | 240 km | 4 hr | Elephant, Kilimanjaro views | Jun-Oct, Jan-Feb |
| Tsavo East National Park | South | 13,747 | 325 km | 6-8 hr | Red-dust elephant, lion | Jun-Oct |
| Tsavo West National Park | South | 9,065 | 232 km | 4-6 hr | Black rhino, Mzima Springs | Jun-Aug |
| Lake Nakuru National Park | Rift Valley | 188 | 163 km | 2.5 hr | Rhino, flamingo, lion | Year-round |
| Lake Naivasha | Rift Valley | 150 (lake) | 90 km | 1.5-2 hr | Hippo, Crescent Island walks | Year-round |
| Hell’s Gate National Park | Rift Valley | 68 | 100 km | 2 hr | Gorge walks, cycling | Year-round |
| Lake Bogoria National Reserve | Rift Valley | 34 (lake) | 250 km | 5 hr | Flamingo, hot springs | Year-round |
| Aberdare National Park | Central | 767 | 100 km | 2.5 hr | Elephant, bongo, tree lodges | Jun-Oct, Jan-Feb |
| Mount Kenya National Park | Central | 715 | 180 km | 3.5-4 hr | Trekking, montane forest | Jan-Feb, Aug-Sep |
| Nairobi National Park | Central | 117 | 7 km | 30 min | Rhino, lion, city skyline | Year-round |
| Ol Pejeta Conservancy | Laikipia | 364 | 217 km | 4 hr | Last northern white rhinos, chimps | Year-round |
| Lewa Wildlife Conservancy | Laikipia | 250 | 250 km | 4 hr | Rhino, Grevy’s zebra | Year-round |
| Samburu National Reserve | North | 165 | 320 km | 6-7 hr | Special Five, elephant | Jun-Oct, Feb |
| Buffalo Springs National Reserve | North | 131 | 320 km | 6-7 hr | Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk | Jun-Oct |
| Shaba National Reserve | North | 239 | 325 km | 6-7 hr | Crocodile, oryx | Jun-Oct |
| Meru National Park | North | 870 | 350 km | 5-6 hr | Rhino sanctuary, Born Free country | Jun-Sep |
| Shimba Hills National Reserve | Coast | 193 | 33 km (Mombasa) | 1 hr | Sable antelope, Sheldrick Falls | Year-round |
| Watamu Marine National Park | Coast | ~10 | 140 km (Mombasa) | 2 hr | Coral reef, turtles | Oct-Apr |
| Diani Beach | Coast | 17 km coastline | 30 km (Mombasa) | 1 hr | White sand, reef diving | Year-round |
Across the border: parks you can combine with Kenya
The green shapes to the south and west of the map are not decoration. Kenya links with northern Tanzania and Uganda on one itinerary, and the map shows why: the Serengeti and the Mara are one ecosystem with a shared boundary.
| Park | Country | Size (km²) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti National Park | Tanzania | 14,763 | Same migration ecosystem as the Mara, year-round plains game |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Tanzania | 8,292 | The crater caldera, dense Big Five viewing |
| Kilimanjaro National Park | Tanzania | 1,688 | Africa’s highest peak, the backdrop to Amboseli |
| Tarangire National Park | Tanzania | 2,850 | Elephant herds and baobabs |
| Lake Manyara National Park | Tanzania | 330 | Tree-climbing lions, flamingos |
| Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | Uganda | 331 | Mountain gorilla trekking |
| Queen Elizabeth National Park | Uganda | 1,978 | Tree-climbing lions, Kazinga Channel boat safaris |
| Murchison Falls National Park | Uganda | 3,840 | The Nile squeezing through a 7 m gorge, big game |
Distances from Nairobi at a glance
| Destination | Distance | By road | By air (Wilson) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi National Park | 7 km | 30 min | n/a |
| Lake Naivasha | 90 km | 1.5-2 hr | 20 min |
| Hell’s Gate National Park | 100 km | 2 hr | 20 min |
| Aberdare National Park | 100 km | 2.5 hr | 30 min |
| Lake Nakuru National Park | 163 km | 2.5 hr | 25 min |
| Mount Kenya National Park | 180 km | 3.5-4 hr | 40 min |
| Ol Pejeta Conservancy | 217 km | 4 hr | 45 min |
| Tsavo West National Park | 232 km | 4-6 hr | 50 min |
| Amboseli National Park | 240 km | 4 hr | 45 min |
| Lewa Wildlife Conservancy | 250 km | 4 hr | 45-60 min |
| Maasai Mara National Reserve | 270 km | 5-6 hr | 40-45 min |
| Samburu National Reserve | 320 km | 6-7 hr | 90 min |
| Tsavo East National Park (Voi gate) | 325 km | 6-8 hr | 60 min |
| Meru National Park | 350 km | 5-6 hr | 60 min |
Detailed maps: zoom into one park or route
The map above answers “where is everything.” The pages below answer the next question, one park or route at a time, each with its own interactive map.
- Map of the Maasai MaraReserve, Mara Triangle, conservancies, gates and airstrips
- Wildebeest Migration MapThe full loop animated, month by month
- Map of AmboseliPark boundary, airstrips and the roads in
- Map of TsavoEast and West, gates along the highway, airstrips
- Kenya National Parks MapEvery park, reserve and conservancy that matters
- Map of SamburuThree reserves along the Ewaso Ng’iro river
- Rift Valley Lakes MapNakuru, Naivasha, Bogoria and Hell’s Gate
- Nairobi to Maasai MaraThe route leg by leg, and whether to fly
- Nairobi to AmboseliBoth driving routes and the flight option
- Where Is the Maasai Mara?Location, distances and how to reach it
- Where Is Kenya?The country on the map of Africa, and getting here
- Best Time to Visit KenyaThe seasons mapped park by park
Questions travelers ask about the map of Kenya
How many national parks does Kenya have?
Kenya has 23 terrestrial national parks plus national reserves, marine parks and private conservancies. This map shows the 24 protected areas that matter most for safari planning, from the Maasai Mara to the Watamu reef.
Which park is closest to Nairobi?
Nairobi National Park starts 7 km from the city center, about 30 minutes from most hotels. It is the only capital city in the world with lion, rhino and giraffe living wild against the skyline.
How far is the Maasai Mara from Nairobi?
About 270 km by road, which takes 5 to 6 hours depending on the Narok road and your final camp. Flights from Wilson Airport take 40 to 45 minutes and land on airstrips inside the reserve.
Can I combine Kenya with Tanzania or Uganda?
Yes. The Serengeti shares a boundary with the Mara (crossing via the Isebania border or a flight through Kilimanjaro Airport), and Uganda’s gorilla parks pair with a Kenya safari on a 12 to 14 day route. The map’s neighbour layer shows exactly where they sit.
When is the best time to visit Kenya?
July to October is peak season and migration time in the Mara. January to February is a strong second window: dry, green and quieter. Each park’s best months are listed in the table above, and several, like Nakuru and Ol Pejeta, are genuinely year-round.
Turn the map 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. Boundaries for Lake Nakuru, Aberdare, Nairobi NP, Hell’s Gate, Lake Bogoria, Shaba, Chyulu Hills, Meru, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Kibale from UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (2026), Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), Cambridge, UK. Available at protectedplanet.net. Basemap © OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Satellite imagery © Esri. Terrain tiles by Mapzen and AWS Open Data.