Chyulu hills national park is a hidden gem, boasting a breathtaking landscape of emerald green hills, vast open spaces, dense forests, and sparkling pools of water that mirror the white clouds against a brilliant blue sky. Off the beaten path and untouched by time, this Kenyan treasure flies under the radar as a wildlife destination, but it’s a real treasure trove for those seeking an authentic, untainted African experience.
Dubbed the “green hills of Africa” by Ernest Hemingway, this enchanting land is a far cry from the usual tourist traps. Instead, it offers a surreal sense of isolation, with the Maasai warriors being the sole guardians of this pristine land. The rugged, black lava flows that crisscross the endless plains tell the story of this mystical land, while the rocky outcrops provide breathtaking 360-degree views of the diverse habitats, all set against the stunning backdrop of Africa’s iconic Mount Kilimanjaro.”
Chyulu hills national park is positioned in a prime location, bordered by Tsavo west and Amboseli national parks in Makueni district, eastern province, and Kajiado district, rift valley province, approximately 190 km southeast of Nairobi. The park was formally gazette in 1983, marking a significant milestone in conservation efforts. It experiences a varied climate, with four distinct seasons that is; hot and dry weather from January to march, hot and wet conditions from April to June, very warm and dry weather from July to October and the warm and wet weather in November and December.
The park’s diverse landscapes feature rough grasslands, thickets, and patches of montane forest along the hills’ spine providing home to a wide range of large mammals, including; buffalo, common eland, bushbuck, mountain reedbuck, steinbok, bush pig, leopard, elephants and over 300 species documented, offering a paradise for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.
What to see
Wildlife
While chyulu hills national park has a relatively low concentration of wildlife, visitors can still expect exciting encounters with various animals. Some of the park’s resident wildlife includes: elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, elands, klipspringer. Lucky visitors may also catch a glimpse of the region’s fascinating primates, including Sykes monkeys and baboons. Although the park’s wildlife population is relatively small, it’s not uncommon for predators like lions and leopards from neighboring Tsavo west national park to pass through chyulu hills. This adds an extra layer of excitement for visitors. The park is also home to a diverse range of reptiles, including: rock pythons, puff adder, black mamba, lizard, gecko, tortoise.
Bird life
Chyulu hills national park’s unique ecosystem provides a thriving environment for a staggering array of bird species. With over 300 species documented, the park is a paradise for bird enthusiasts. Visitors can look forward to encountering some of the park’s most remarkable bird species, including: Hartlaub’s turaco, purple-crested turaco, dele rogue’s pigeon, tambourine dove, African palm-swift, Eurasian nightjar, black crake, crowned lapwing, great egret, African harrier-hawk, mountain buzzer, African wood-owl, speckled mouse bird, cinnamon-chested bee-eater. These incredible birds can be spotted throughout the park, in the sun-drenched savannah plains, the shaded forest galleries and along the tranquil shores of lake jipe.
Chyulu hills
The chyulu hills, a 100 km long volcanic field, form the backbone of the park and offer breathtaking views. As one of the youngest volcanoes, its last eruption in 1855 left an indelible mark on the landscape. The volcanic activity created lava tubes, cylindrical passages hollowed out by molten lava flows, which eventually gave rise to the majestic kisula caves.
Kisula or leviathan caves
Chyulu hills national park is proud home to one of Africa’s longest caves, the leviathan cave, stretching an impressive 11 km. Visitors can embark on an unforgettable adventure, exploring the cave’s depths and marveling at the stunning cone-shaped stalagmites suspended from the cave walls.
How to get there.
Chyulu hills national park is located in southeastern Kenya, approximately 190 km southeast of Nairobi and can be reached by both air and road.
By air
The nearest airstrip to chyulu national park is Tsavo west national park’s kalanin airstrip, which receives flights from Nairobi’s Wilson airport. From the airstrip, you can take a 1-hour drive to the park’s kithasyo gate which is the park’s headquarters.
By road
From Nairobi, take the Nairobi Mombasa highway (a109) and turn off at the kibwezi junction. From there continue on the kibwezi-email road (c102) for approximately 100km from Nairobi. The road leads to the main gate, kithasyo gate.
Visitors can also enter the park from Tsavo west national park.
Activities to do while in chyulu hills national park
Birding
Chyulu hills national park is a birdwatcher’s paradise, boasting over 350 species of birds of both the migratory and residential birds. The park’s unique ecosystem, which combines savannah grasslands, forests, and rocky outcrops, provides a habitat for a diverse range of birdlife. Some of the notable bird species found in chyulu hills national park include: Hartlaub’s turaco, purple-crested turaco, DeGeorge’s pigeon, tambourine dove, African palm-swift, Eurasian nightjar, black crake, crowned lapwing, great egret, African harrier-hawk, mountain buzzard, African wood-owl, speckled mousebird, cinnamon-chested bee-eater.
Wildlife viewing
Chyulu hills national park offers a unique and unforgettable wildlife viewing experience. The park is a gifted Kenya safari destination. It’s diverse landscape, which includes savannah grasslands, forests, and rocky outcrops, is home to a wide range of wildlife species. Some of the notable wildlife species found in chyulu hills national park include: elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, elands, klipspringer, leopards, lions, cheetah hyena, wild dogs among others. Wildlife can be spotted during a game drive in the park’s savannah grasslands, the forest galleries along the hills’ spine which are a good spot to see wildlife like elephant, buffalo, and leopard and the rocky outcrops and hillsides.
Nature walks and cave tours
The park is endowed with spectacular vegetation covers and caves that can be explored during the nature walks and tours to the caves. This amazing Kenya safari activity is done following the different trails that go through the park’s vegetation and its awarded with sights of various species of plants like the orchids, acacia trees and different animal and bird species.
The most famous cave visited is the Levithan cave, with help of professional and experienced guides, visitors get to see the cone shaped stalagmites hanging on the walls at the caves and the two sections of that are upper and lower sections.
Hiking
Chyulu hills national park is one of the national parks in Kenya that are known for hiking safaris, the park is endowed with a spectacular scenery, nature and magical wilderness created by the chyulu hills. The different trails on these hills following through the forests leading to the high altitudes of the park. While on the hike, you get chance to enjoy spotting forest inhabitants such as the primates like baboons, Skye’s Forest and many bird species such as the black crake, crowned lapwing, grey heron, great egret, African harrier hawk among others.
Cultural safaris
Chyulu hills national park offers cultural safaris where visitors encounter with the local communities around the park especially the Maasai people. These people have amazing cultures, traditions, and norms worth coming across, during the cultural visits you will be entertained by local dances and drama performed by the Maasai locals, support the communities by buying their locally and beautifully made necklaces, participate in cattle rearing and milking, interact with locals and so much more.
When to visit
Chyulu hills national park is open to tourists throughout the year, dry seasons are more ideal for most of the park activities such as game drives, hiking, nature walks and the cave exploration. These dry seasons are characteristics with favorable conditions such short vegetation, accessible roads which easy spotting of the wildlife easy.
However wet seasons are good for birding as its when many of the migratory birds can be seen in the park, and also favors breeding of many bird species thus sighting many birds is a must.
