Chyulu Hills National Park
Chyulu Hills National Park is one of the beautiful safari destinations in Kenya tucked between Tsavo and Amboseli Ecosystems, the park is located in Makueni County in the South Eastern region of Kenya and approximately 30 kilometers Southwest of Kibwezi and approximately 190 kilometers Southeast of Nairobi.
Chyulu Hills National Park is one of the best places to view Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest Mountain in Africa and the tallest free- standing mountain in the world, the mountain ranges up to 2,188 meters and its highest peak is 150 kilometers long.
Chyulu Hills National Park covering an area of 741 square kilometers is centered around Chyulu Mountain range which its namesake, Chyulu hills hills run 100 miles across the Southeastern Kenya running parallel to the highway to Mombasa between Kibwezi and Tsavo. Chyulu Hills with distinctive rounded hills and volcanic vents that have solidified black lava flows running down at irregular intervals.
Chyulu Hills National Park is part of the Tsavo Conservation Area which covers Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East National Park and Kibwezi Forest, the main entrance gate to the park is in Kibwezi in Makueni County. Chyulu Hills National Park does not have any permanent rivers but percolating through the porous rock which feeds many permanent freshwater sources in the nearby plains especially Mzima Sprigs and the Tsavo and Galana rivers.
The area today known as Chyulu Hills National Park were inhabited by the Maasai and Kamba people who currently stay along the border of the park, the park was gazetted as a national park in 1983.
The park is dominated by various species of vegetation in different regions of the park, the lower slopes of the hills are dominated by grasslands and thickets. The top of the hills at the elevation of 1800 meters is dominated by montane forests consisting of tree species such as cassipourea malonsana, Olea capensis, Prunus Africana, Tabernaemontana, stapfiana, neoboutonia macrocalyx, llex mitis and many more.
The lower forest galleries consist of Juniperus procera tree species and the plains of the park dominated by savannah vegetation and thickets.
Wildlife in Chyulu Hills National Park
Chyulu hills are home to a variety of wildlife including elands, buffaloes, elephants, bush pigs, Masai giraffe, leopards, lions, mountain reedbucks, steinbook, wildebeests, Grant’s zebras, rare fringed – eared oryx and the gerenuk among others,
Other animals found in Chyulu Hills National Park include cheetahs, various snakes such as black mambasa, puff adders and rock pythons among others.
Birdlife in Chyulu Hills National Park
Chyulu Hills National Park is home to over 172species of birds including near – threatened species and vulnerable bird species.
Vulnerable bird species in Chyulu Hills National Park include martial eagle, secretary birds and Southern ground Hornbill. The critically endangered species in Chyulu Hills National Park include white – backed vulture and near – threatened species include the crowned eagle and bateleur.
Other birds found in Chyulu Hills National Park include Pogonocichla stellata, Francolinus shelleyi, Cinnyricinclus femoralis, Zoothera gurneyi, Bradypterus cinnamomeus, and Hieraaetus ayresii.
Safari Activities to do in Chyulu Hills National Park
Hiking
Hiking is a remarkable Kenya safari experience in Chyulu Hills National Park is done on several trails running through the mountain rain, the highest peaks in Chyulu Hills range is not difficult meaning 150 kilometers long. The hikes offer great views of the snow-capped summit of Mountain Kilimanjaro.
Wildlife viewing
Chyulu Hills National Park offers great sights of various wildlife while on game viewing experience, some of the animals to expect during the game drive include wildebeests, antelopes, bush pig, elephants, bush bucks, cheetahs, black rhinos, steenbok, zebras, elands and many snakes among others.
Best Time to Visit Chyulu Hills National Park
Chyulu Hills National Park can be visited all year-round, however the best time for wildlife viewing is during the dry months from June to October and January to February. However, you can still visit the park during the short rains that happen in November and long rains from April and May. However it can be a challenging time in transport means because roads can be in poor conditions to access the park, though accommodation rates are more cheaper.
Where to Stay
There are no accommodations inside Chyulu Hills National Park, in the park there are three camps such as Ol Donyo Lodhe and Campi ya Kanzi.
Getting There
From Nairobi to Chuyulu Hills National Park it is a drive of 232 kilometers passing a side trip of Tsavo West, from Mombasa you can access to the park on a drive of 250 kilometers.
Alternatively, you can fly to the park. There are domestic and chartered flights from Mombasa and Nairobi to one of the 2 airstrips serving the park.
