Ever thought of exploring Chyulu Hills National Park Kenya? Naicef gives you the best and most precise guide on the Chyulu Hills National Park map, Chyulu Hills lodges, and Chyulu Hills caves.
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Also, Naicef offers you personalized package tours to attractions in Nairobi and all national parks in Kenya.
Now let’s walk step by step together.
First, did you know that Chyulu Hills National Park is well known for having one of the highest elephant populations?
They migrate between the hills and the nearby Amboseli National Park, one of Kenya’s premium parks.
Chyulu Hills National Park is located in southern Kenya between Amboseli National Park and Tsavo West National Park.
In particular, Chyulu National Park Kenya lies between the boundary of Kajiado County and Makueni County. The Chyulu hills are part of Chyulu National Park making the experience even more fascinating.
Below are the great Chyulu hills. They form part of Kenya’s greatest hiking trails.
History of Chyulu National Park Kenya
Chyulu Hills came into existence as a result of a volcanic range formed by eruption from the Great Rift Valley a long time ago.
The view of the place consists of volcanic hills and lava flow such as the Shetani lava flow. The lava is one of the iconic features in the region.
Chyulu Hills has a magically diverse ecosystem due to the combination of arid and semi-arid climates. This thus makes it rich ecologically by supporting diverse wildlife and plant life.
Chyulu Hills is also a backbone of the Maasai people’s heritage. They have inhabited the area for a long time due to the favorable climate which aligns with their lifestyle of cattle herding.
In addition, features like Shetani lava flow are significant in Maasai mythology which tells stories about mystical occurrences in the region.
In 1983, Chyulu was gazetted as a national reserve under the management of the Kenya Wildlife Service. Later in 2021, it upgraded and got officially gazetted as a Chyulu National Park.
This was a significant achievement making it a robust framework for conservation and sustainable tourism development.
Attractions in Chyulu Hills National Park Kenya
Chyulu Hills National Park is rich with plants and wild animals. This makes it remarkable and diverse in Kenya.
It consists of various species which are adapted to its volcanic terrain and seasonal water sources. Below are the attractions in Chyullu Hills National Park Kenya.
a) Wildlife & Wild Animals
Some of the animals that are found in the park include:
- Elephants
- Big Cats such as lions and cheetahs
- Giraffes
- Buffaloes
- Antelopes
- Bird species
- Reptiles
- Insects.
Chyulu Hills ecosystem is a mix of arid and semi-arid climates. With this kind of environment, the hills are rich ecologically hence supporting diverse animals and also plant life.
b) Springs
The ecosystem of the area relies on the seasonal water offspring mostly at the shoe of the hills where animals and mammals gather during dry seasons. The natural water source is vital for sustaining the local flora and fauna.
The hills form the catchment of water springs and rivers. These springs and rivers include:
- Mzima Springs
- Umani Springs
- Mang’ellete Spring
- Kibwezi Springs
- Olpusare Springs
- Makindu Springs
- Tsavo River
- Galana River
- Kiboko River
- Makindu River
- Thange River
- Kambu River
- Mtito Andei River
c) Chyulu Hills Caves
Being renowned as the “Green hills of Africa”, Chyulu hills contain one of the deepest lava tubes in the world.
The Kisula Caves offer breathtaking views of the lava tubes, especially of the upper Levathian that covers a distance of 11.5 km.
Activities To Do in Chyulu Hills National Park
1. Game Drives
Chyulu Hills National Park offers scenic views of the different kinds of species. One gets to enjoy watching the famous large tuskers, Elephants, as they migrate and move between two parks.
Other wildlife you are likely to encounter are such as; the Big Five members, Cheetahs, Baboons, Zebras, and Giraffes.
Do you know the Big Five Members? The Big 5 include the Lion, Mighty Elephant, Leopard, Rhino, and Buffalo.
Tsavo East National Park is another great place to enjoy a game drive around this park and see more of the Big 5.
However, you may also be interested in seeing the small 5 that can be seen in Samburu National Reserve, home to the Special Five.
2. Bird Watching
From its breathtaking plains, the park is home to different bird species ranging from native to endemic species.
Some of the birds that can be spotted are such as; Chestnut Weaver, Barn Swallow, long-tailed Fiscal, and African Stonechat.
3. Nature Hikes
The park offers one the chance to explore its hills which offer stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The trails give one incredible view of different game encounters and they are fit to traverse through, for any kind of adventure lover.
Are you a hiking lover? Then gear up and check out other hiking trails like Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon with the help of Naicef Adventure Club.
4. Horseback Riding
The park also offers one the chance to explore the beauty of its entailment while riding on horseback. Isn’t it amazing!
The horse rides make the experience even more unique compared to other parks in Kenya.
5. Visit the Chyulu Hills Caves
Get also to exploit one of the World’s ever recorded longest lava tubes which covers a distance of 11.5 km.
The Leviathan caves are said to have formed from the movement of the tectonic plates.
Chyulu Hills National Park Map
The Chyullus Hills National Park is located in the Southern circuit of Kenya. This is about 232 km from Nairobi and 250 km from Mombasa.
It is located in Makueni County, and has three gates;
- Kibwezi gate (main),
- Mukururo
- Kiboko gates
The park is a migratory corridor for wildlife between Tsavo West National Park and Amboseli National Park.
Below is the Chyulu Hills National Park Map
Best Time to Visit Chyulu Hills
Chyulu Hills National Park can be accessed throughout the year but it is best to visit during the dry seasons.
The dry seasons are; from December to March and from June to October.
Chyulu Hills National Park Kenya Entrance Fee
The fees for entering Chyulu Hills Park are as follows;
Park entrance fee for Citizens and Residents
- Adult – Ksh 300
- Child – Ksh 125
Park entrance fee for Citizens and Residents
- Adult – USD 22
- Child – USD 13
Chyulu Hills Lodge Accommodations
The park does offer three public campsites for nature lovers to spend their nights.
These camps are;
- Kisula camp
- Satellite camp
- Kithasyo camp
Some other suitable accommodations near Chyulu Hills National Park suitable for visitors include;
- olDonyo lodge
- Kanzi House
- Outback Kenya Lodge
- The Hildana Lodge
- Sunview Lodge & Restaurant
- Shimba Hills Green Lodge
Conclusion
Chyulu Hills National Park is well renowned as the green hills of Africa. It is home to a variety of wild species offering aesthetic views of the tallest mountain in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro.
It is a pristine place for viewing high populations of the Mighty Elephants among other species.
It has been a reserve that was established in 1983 and became a park in 2021. The park is under the management of the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The Chyulu Hills National Park map shows that the park is located in Makueni County, 232 km southeast of Nairobi.
Some of the attractions in the park include the Wildlife species, the stunning springs, and the Chyulu hill caves.
The caves, more so referred to as Leviathan caves, are considered as one of the longest lava tubes in the world.
Fun things to do in Chyulu Hills National Park Kenya include;
- Game views
- Horseback riding
- Camping
- Hiking
- Bird watching
- Exploring the Chyulu Hills caves
Some of the Chyulu Hills lodges and suitable accommodation places to enjoy your visit to the park are;
olDonyo Lodge, Kanzi House, Outback Kenya Lodge, The Hildana Lodge, Sunview Lodge & Restaurant, Shimba Hills Green Lodge.
For a personalized best safari and adventure of Chyulu Hills National Park, get it via email at my@naicef.com or call +254799922277.
Naicef is the best tour company toChyulu Hills National Park.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chyulu National Park
1. What animals are found in Chyulu National Park?
The park is home to various animals from the large mammals such as the big five members, different reptiles and insects.
2. How can one get to Chyulu National Park?
The park can be accessible from Nairobi via road, train or air. By road one can opt to use the Nairobi Mombasa Road and make a detour at Kibwezi which is 9km from the park headquarters. Via train one may use the SGR train from Nairobi and stop at Kibwezi Terminus. By air, the park does have two airstrips which are Kithasyo and Mukururo.
3. How high are the hills?
The highest peak of the Chyulu hills is 2188 m.
4. When is the best time to visit?
The park is best to visit during the dry seasons which are December to March and June to October.
5. What can I do in the park?
There are various fun activities one can partake in, while in the park such as game viewing, horse riding, bird watching, exploring the Levathian Caves.
