Mwea National Reserve

Do you know why Mwea National Reserve in Kenya is called an undiscovered oasis of tranquility?

On this site we will guide you to all you need to know about Mwea Game Park in Kenya and its tourist attractions in Africa.

The reserve was gazetted in 1976 covering an area north-west of Kamburu Dam at the confluence of Tana and Thiba rivers.

Two islands within Kamburu dam constructed in 1976) are in the protected area.

On the southern boundary is the Tana River, the eastern is the Thiba River and the northern boundary is an electric fence that stops animals from invading Makima settlements.

The earliest human settlement in Makima dates from 1914,though wildlife conservation intervention was not until1972.

Mwea National Reserve in Kenya

Mwea National Park is today co-managed between Kenya Wildlife Service and Mbeere County Council. Mwea National Reserve Trust was founded in 1991 with the aim of soliciting funds to develop the reserve.

Quite a number of projects have been funded through donations including a boat and outboard engine, energy saving jikos and translocating zebras.

Contact details

PO Box 8-60113, Kiritiri, Embu Tel: +254 (0)68 20301 www.kws.go.ke

Contact person

Senior Warden

Location

Mbeere District, Eastern Province

Distance from Nairobi

160 km north-east of Nairobi

Size

42 square km

Park fees

Go to www.kws.go.ke or contact tour operator.

Climatic conditions in Mwea National Park

Semi-arid with an annual rainfallof 510-760 mm per annum

Major attractions in Mwea National Park

Game viewing; boat rides at Kamburu dam; hippo point; realm ofrare birds; walking circuit

Wildlife in Mwea National Reserve

Elephant, lesser kudu, Nile crocodile, hippo, giraffe,Burchell’s zebra, buffalo, leopard, grey duiker, black-backedjackal, bushbuck, waterbuck, olive baboon, Sykes’ monkey, serval cat, spotted hyena, warthog, rock hyrax, bush pig, impala and hartebeest. Rare animals including stripped ground squirrel, genet, blackbacked jackal, yellow baboons, are also found in Mwea

Birds: over 200 species of birds. Mwea is renowned for its water birds and waders.

The only protected area in which the globally threatened and Kenya-endemic Hinde’s babbler is known to occur, the Reserve also shelters two other rare species; fishing owl and the white-backed night heron.

Access to Mwea National Reserve

Road:

From Nairobi via Thika-Matuu-Masinga Dam (160 km). This route is surfaced until Masinga Dam Bridge – a further 10 km of dirt road lies between here and Makima Gate.

Access is also possible via Embu-Machanga

.Air: Masinga airstrip near Masinga Lodge. By Air: MasingaAirstrip near Masinga Lodge

Accommodation in Mwea National park

There are no lodges, tented camps or self-catering accommodation options in Mwea Reserve.

Masinga Lodge is located at Masinga Dam outside the Reserve.

Best time to visit

All year round

Activities

Game viewing, bird watching.

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