Kora National Park

One of the national parks in Kenya’s coastal region is Kora National Park, located in Tana River County, 243 kilometres from Nairobi. Situated 125 km east of Mount Kenya, the park spans 1,788 square kilometres. After poachers killed George Adamson in 1989, the park—which had previously been gazetted as a nature reserve in 1973—became a national park.The former residence of George and Joy Adamson, Home to the Adamson’s Camp (Kampi ya Simba), is a well-known attraction in the park.The Kora National Park is one of the areas’ most breathtaking parks because it offers pristine wilderness interspersed with towering Adamson’s and Isenberg’s Falls, Grand Falls, and Kora Rapids, all of which are located in the Tana River. Kenya safari visitors to Meru National Park and Tana River can also enjoy rock climbing, fishing in the Tana River, and visiting George Adamson’s grave, which is designated by the park. Among the park’s many amazing visitor destinations are the Inselbergs, unspoiled nature, Grand Falls, Tana River, Adamson Falls, Kora Rapids, and Adamson’s Grave. The park’s surface slopes gently from 490 meters in the south-west to about 270 meters in the north-east. The park’s central area is characterised by peneplain and wavy features. The basement ridges of the peneplain rise dramatically from the surrounding area, giving the impression of hard rocks, domed hills, or rocky Inselbergs. Mansumbi is the highest of three Inselbergs at 488 meters, followed by Kumbulanwa at 450 meters and Kora Rock at 442 meters. The fractures and crevices of the Inselbergs have been filled in by soil, which has made room for a variety of plants, shrubs, and small wind-blown trees to take root. The park is home to a vast range of animal species, much like any other national park in Kenya. These species include caracals, servals, wildcats, African leopards, lions, hippopotamus, genets, spotted and striped hyenas, and various antelope species.

The majority of the park’s vegetation consists of acacia bush land. Tana River poplar and doum palm forests can also be found in riverine environments. The park had severe problems with poachers in the 1980s and 1990s; as a result, in 1989, poachers killed George Adamson and two of his helpers. In the park, Adamson was buried next to the three lions he had set free. After the park received national attention in 2012 after British actor Martin Clunes recorded a four-month-old orphaned lion cub—the first of its kind in 22 years—being brought there, the park became well-known. Mugie never fully recovered from internal injuries it sustained after an assault by hyenas when it was approximately a year old.

Attractions in Kora National Park

Key features of the park include the Adamsons Bridge, the wildlife along the Tana River, the fishing in the Tana River, the Adamsons Camp (Kampi ya Simba), the pristine wilderness, the Inselbergs, the Tana River with Adamson’s Falls, Grand Falls, and Kora rapids, a diverse birdlife, and the grave of George and Joy Adamson.

How to get to kora national park

 By road The Kora National Park is reachable by car 280 kilometres northeast of Nairobi, passing through Kyuso hamlet and Thika before arriving at Mwingi. There are other road to Kora National Park such as through Thika, Nairobi, Mwingi, Tseikuru, and  through Kaningo Gate. There is Thika, Mwingi, Tseikuru and through Masyungwa Gate. Kampi ya Simba, Nairobi to  Adamsons Gate. Meru National  Park, Embu, Nairobi ,Nanyuki and enter the Adamsons Gate. The Tana River is crossed by the Adamson’s Bridge, which connects Meru National Park to the park. The park is connected via roads.

By Air the park can be accessed  through Kyethoni airstrip, Kampi ya Simba airstrip and can also be accessed through Masanduku airstrip in Meru National Park. Road Network – 4WD is required throughout the year.

Park Entry fee

                                   Adult               Child

Citizen                    kshs 300           kshs 215

Residents               kshs 300          kshs 215

Non residents        52 USD              35 USD

Things to do in Kora national park

Game drives

The variety of wildlife species to be discovered in Kora National Park such as caracals, cheetahs, hippos, spotted hyenas, elephants, serval cats, lions, and many more makes it the ideal Kenya safari destination for an incredible Kenya wildlife safari experience in the park. There are three options for game drives in the park: early morning, whole day, and Night-time. In contrast to night-time and full-day game drives, when animals can be sheltered, morning game drives are the most suitable time to go on a game drive because the majority of animal species are always present and active in the park.

Kora National Park
Kora National Park

Rock climbing

Kora National Park welcomes rock climbing as an adventure and is one of the grateful locations for you to enjoy. Here, visitors can ascend the historic Kora Rock, where George Adamson would call out to the lions, and they would roar back, sometimes congregating around the rock.

Guided Nature walks

In the Kora National Park, visitors can enjoy guided nature walks along the banks of forest rivers as well as other trails that provide wonderful views of many wildlife species and stunning scenery.

Fishing

The Tana River, which flows through Kora National Park, is home to several small communities that rely on fishing for a living. The Tana River has a variety of river forms, including meanders, oxbows, sandy floodplains, and more. Fishing along the Tana River in Kora National Park has been impacted by tide variations.

Bird watching

Kora National Park is a great place to go birdwatching, home to a variety of bird species such the eastern yellow-billed hornbill, black-throated barbet, spot flanket barbet, Pel’s fishing owl, white-backed night heron, orange-bellied parrot, busra reed warbler, Malindi pipit, and many more.

Best time to visit Kora National Park

Kora National park is open all year-round and the best times to visit are during the dry seasons, which run from June to September and December to February. During these dry  times, the park has no water sources and is easily accessible by car. In the rainy season, the grass are long which makes it harder to see animals and the road conditions may be tough that make it challenging to drive

Accommodations available at Kora National Park

Kora National Park does not have any lodges, tented camps, or self-catering accommodations. For information on campsites in Kora National Park, please contact the warden.

When to Go to Kora National Park

There is a entry fee you pay every entry to the Parks every day of the year.

 Items to have with you

Drinking water and picnic materials (and camping equipment if you intend to remain overnight). Other useful goods are insect repellent, a camera, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and guidebooks.

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