Chyulu Hills National Park
Chyulu Hills National Park is mountain range in Makueni County, South Eastern Kenya. The park covers an area of 741 km2 (286 sq. mi) and it was gazetted in 1983. The Chyulu Hills stood in for Ngong Hills for the filming of out of Africa, Chyulu hills National Park should the first to be selected on your Kenya safari if you like exploring caves. The leviathan tube (also known as Kisula caves) is about 11 km long. One of the longest caves in Kenya and also Africa, its best visited during the sunny periods January to March and also as from June to September.
Chyulu Hills national park is referred as to the green hill of Africa is found in the south east region close to Tsavo west national park, the park stretching over an area of 741 square kilometers protects a range of volcanic mountains which run parallel to Mombasa highway between Kibwezi and Tsavo. Chyulu Hills national park aslo referred to as the land of the black frozen lava studded with blazing red-hot poker trees consists of the distinctive rounded hills and volcanic vents that contain solidified black lava flow which run down at irregular intervals.
Attractions in Chyulu Hills National Park.
Wildlife.
Chyulu Hills national park is blessed with the numerous wildlife like the cheetahs, antelopes, black rhino, zebra, eland, wildebeest, steenbok, bush bucks, reedbucks, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, elephants and many more some of these species are endangered the animal trails lead you to this abundant life. In the Chyulu national park the cheetahs are sighted at the plains of the Chyulu Hills and also there are snakes inhabit the hills such as the black mamba, puff adder, rock python and many more.
Leviathan cave.
Leviathan cave is the longest and the deepest known lava tube in Africa, the Leviathan cava is located in the Chyulu Hills national park at the edge of the Nyiri Desert, which is found northwest of Tsavo West National Park, during the period of the 1980’s, the Leviathan cave was the third-longest known lava tube in the world.
Magnificent scenery.
Magnificent scenery is found in Chyulu Hills national park with the mixture of the volcanic ash cones, barren lava flows, big black rocks and the caves, the volcanic hills are covered with green vegetation consisting the 37 species of orchids that is why the park is called the green hills of Africa, generally Chyulu Hill national park is covered by the series of vegetation cover in the various region.
Chyulu Hills.
Chyulu hills are situated in the Chyulu Hills national park which are the great attraction in the park, the Chyulu Hills lie on the east of the Kenya rift diving Tsavo and Amboseli plains, the hills consists the hundreds of the small flows, cones and a leviathan cave.
Bird species.
Chyulu Hills national park is the birding destination especially for the bird lovers who come to visit the park, which makes your safari the best due to the fact that the park is dominated by the savannah vegetation it attracts various species of birds as well as the forest bird species. The park is a home of over 171 bird species of various categories that is the vulnerable bird species, critically endangered species and near-threatened species. The bird species in the park includes the Collard Sunbird, Olive bird, Francolinus shelleyi, Zoothera gurney, Hieraaetus ayresii, African Gray Flycatcher, Cinnamomeus and many more.
Activities done in Chyulu Hills National Park.
Hiking.
Hiking in Chyulu Hills national park is done on the Chyulu Hills using various trails passing through the forests leading to the high altitudes of the hills, during your hiking activity experience you will have an opportunity to enjoy watching many forest inhabits including the primates such as baboons, Skye’s forest and many bird species.
Wildlife viewing.
Wildlife viewing activity is done in the park, the park boasts a number of several animals’ species that includes the antelopes, black rhinos, eland, wildebeest, bush bucks, bush pigs, elephants, cheetahs and many more. The park also has got a number of reptiles like the black mamba, monitor lizards, rock python, puff adder and many more during the wildlife viewing the guests can be able to explore the wildlife of the park in their open proof 4×4 wheel vehicle.
Bird watching.
The park has got over 171 bird species that are both the residential and migratory from Europe and North Africa. The bird lovers who come to visit the park usually enjoy the activity of bird watching along the Lake Jipe at the southern Western of the park, the tourists can be able to spot Von der Decken’s hornbill, African Wood-Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Narina Trogon, Martial Eagle, White-backed Vulture and many more.
Horse riding.
Horseback riding is one of the newly introduced ways of exploring safari destinations in Africa including the park, horseback riding is an eco-friendly safari activity offering an opportunity for tourists to get close to various animal species and visit areas of the park that are not reached by foot.
Camping.
The park provides the tourists with camping activity, this is where the tourists experience the nature of the wilderness in the park, the tourists do pitch their tents on the ground also other self-contained tents are also provided to the tourists those especially who need the special camp sites.
Nature guided walks.
Tourists can go for the nature guided walks with the help of the park guide, as they expose themselves in the nature of the park, the tourist during the activity can observe various bird species, view many animal species as well as to explore the entire park.
Visiting Kisula larva caves.
Chyulu Hills national park since it has the deepest and longest lava tubes in the entire world, with the Leviathan caves of 11.5 kilometers long, many tourists who come to visit the Chyulu Hills national park can be interested in the hiking of the Kisula larva caves which takes about 3 to 4 hours.
Mountain biking.
Tourists who are interested in the mountain biking activity are also allowed to carry out mountain biking activity in the park as to explore the rolling Green hills on a mountain bike.
Best time to visit Chyulu Hills national park.
Chyulu Hills national park can be visited year around, but wildlife viewing is usually best in the dry months from June to October and January to February.
Where to stay in chyulu Hills National park.
The park has got various accommodation to the guests who come visit the park as they are ranged into Budget, Mid-range and Luxury accommodations. The accommodations include the Ol Donyo Lodge, Ambokili Lodges, Sunview lodge and Restaurant, Simba Masai camp, Kanzi house, Campi ya kanzi, finch Hattons camp and many others.
Entrance fees of chyulu Hills national park.
| Park | East Africa Citizen/Kenyan Residents(Kshs) | Non Residents(USD) | ||
| Chyulu Hill National park | Adult | Child/Student | Adult | Child/ Student |
| 300 | 215 | 25 | 15 | |
How to get to Chyulu Hills National Park.
Chyulu Hills national park can be accessed from Nairobi city to the park by either the road or air transport from Nairobi city to the park.
By Road means.
The road distance from Nairobi city to the park is 211km which takes one 2 hours and 53 minutes to reach the park.
By Flight means.
Flight means is the quickest means from Amboseli Airport to Nairobi Wilson Airport is the direct flight which takes you 35 minutes to reach the park.
The park is a rugged wilderness which is still showing signs of its volcanic origins and boasting some of the best views of Kilimanjaro, the park is a rugged jumble of ancient volcanic cones and craters, as well as the longest lava tubes in the world.
