Nestled at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya, tucked away between Tsavo West National Park and Amboseli National Park, lies the Chyulu Hills. This park is part of the migratory routes for the bull elephants, offering splendid views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli National Park
Neighboring this park, is Chyulu Hills National Park, dividing the plains of Amboseli and Tsavo National Park. Situated between Tsavo West and Amboseli National Parks, Chyulu Hills is primarily known for its magnificent bull elephants, picturesque views of Kilimanjaro and exclusivity. The Chyulu Hills offer the quintessential African landscape experience and more. Tucked between the famous Amboseli and Tsavo ecosystem, with splendid views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the verdant Chyulu Hills, are a string of dormant and extinct volcanoes that have given rise to lush green hills, lava flows and craters.
From a distance, the Chyulu Hills look green and inviting, their jagged ridges rising from dusty plains. Up close, these mountains are a dark world of black volcanic soil, black rocks, ash cones and barren lava flows.
History and Formation
The Hills comprise a mountain range topped with hundreds of volcano cones. They’re among the youngest mountain ranges on earth, having been formed by volcanic upheaval only about 500 years ago. These formed due to volcanic eruption dating back to about 1.4million years. It is still considered an active volcano site, although the last eruptions occurred in 1856.
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Location
Chyulu Hills National Park is located in the Eastern part of Kenya, Makueni County. It is situated between Tsavo National Parks and Amboseli National Park, 200kms from Nairobi Capital City and 150kms East of Kenya Rift Valley and from Kibwezi Town about 30kms.
Wildlife and Birdlife
The lower western slopes, with their sprawling woodland savanna, are home to all Big Five animals, in addition to Grant’s zebra, Maasai giraffe, eland, reedbuck, bushbuck, bushpig, wildebeest, and more! Wildlife here includes cheetah, eland, impressively-tusked elephant, Maasai giraffe, lion, buffalo, wildebeest and leopard. Cheetah roam the less wooded areas. The highland forest supports such species as hogs and lizards, plus a wealth of birdlife.
Chyulu Hills National Park is blessed with diversity of wildlife mostly comprising of mammal species. The park’s iconic species of wildlife to expect to explore include the Maasai giraffes, Eastern black rhinos, Grant’s zebras, bush bucks, elephants, Steinbok, buffaloes, leopards, elands, bush pigs, cheetahs, reedbucks, monitor lizards.
An estimated population of about 300 bird species are confined within the various habitats of Chyulu Hills National Park with Lake Jipe being its significant bird watching site. These include African grey flycatchers, white eyed slaty flycatchers, bronze sunbird, scarlet chested sunbird, ruppell’s robin chat, Thrush nightingale, francolinus shelleyi, olive sunbird. Others include lemon dove, African green pigeon, Eurasian nightjar, white backed vulture, pearly spotted owlet, purple crested coucal, alpine swift, crested guinea fowl, helmeted guinea fowl, great egret, tambourine dove, African harrier hawk, speckled mouse bird. Many different bird species can be seen in the endless plains, ranging from the endemic to native species, as well as forest birds.
Activities in Chyulu Hills National Park
The Chyulu Hills offer a range of outdoor activities for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. A much broader array of activities is available at these ranches than most Kenyan wildlife areas, like guided walks, biking, hiking up to the cloud forests and down to lava tubes, and even horseback safaris!
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Horseback riding in Chyulu Hills
Wildlife Viewing
Chyulu Hills National Park is one of the best places in Kenya visitors can visit to enjoy game viewing. Some of the park’s interesting species of wildlife to expect to come across on game viewing/game drive (in the morning or afternoon) include leopards, zebras, elands, bush pigs, cheetahs, giraffes, rhinos, birds, elephants, lions. Traverse the terrain in open vehicle safari vehicles as you search for wildlife.
Birding
Chyulu Hills National Park is one of Kenya’s birder’s haven. Bird watching in this park is interesting as you come across amazing bird species. The park’s notable bird species to expect to sight include purple crested coucal, Eurasian nightjars, African green pigeon, scaly francolin, helmeted guinea fowl, black crake, grey heron, cuckoos, brown snake eagles, alpine swift, lemon dove and great egrets.
Hiking Safaris
Hiking in Chyulu Hills National Park is remarkable. Hikes are conducted starting from the base of Chyulu Hills up to its summit. You take on the existing trails with opportunity to also sight other interesting creatures such as the Skye monkeys, baboons, bird especially the Eurasian nightjars, purple crested coucal, African green pigeon, brown snake eagle, grey heron, black crake, alpine swift, crowned lapwing and others. A 15km hike from the park headquarters, through rugged unspoilt countryside, will get you to one of the entrances to the Kisula caves. The hike should take about 3 to 4 hours one way.
Bush Walks/Cave Exploration
When it comes to nature, Chyulu Hills National Park truly blessed with a lush green vegetation, birds, wildlife. These can be explored on bush walks or cave tours. Unlike most other Kenyan parks and reserves where wildlife viewing is the main activity, in Chyulu Hills you can look forward to caving. The park’s Upper Leviathan Cave is one of the world’s longest caves. The Upper Leviathan Cave is 11.5km/7mi long and worth exploring, but caves (many of them unexplored) fill the hillsides here. The guided bush walks or cave tours are conducted with the park guide on lead. The cave consists of the upper and lower sections.
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The numerous lava tube caves, collectively known by the local community as Kisula Caves, criss cross the depths of Chyulu Hills. The chance to explore one of the deepest lava tubes in the world. The lava tubes are an attraction that has secured the Chyulu Hills on the world map. Levithan cave is considered the longest and deepest lava tube which was segmented by the movement of tectonic plates.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is an exciting experience and exceptionally, the best way to indulge yourself into the wilderness of Chyulu Hills National Park. Horse Riding in the wild offers a unique experience. Riding through the diverse landscape, riders can get closer to wildlife in their natural environment without the disturbance of a vehicle. You ride via the park’s plains while spotting creatures like giraffes, cheetahs, birds, antelopes, zebras and others. Unrestricted by roads and vehicles, on horseback you will forge your path through the varied landscapes while taking in the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the area.
Cultural Experience
Chyulu Hills National Park safari holiday also includes cultural visit to the Maasai Community for a thrilling cultural experience. If you have time to include this in your trip, it is a great way to get to know the local people and to appreciate Amboseli in a broader historical context. It is a perfect way to interact with the Maasai, learn about their traditions, norms and enjoy their dances. For example, one of our featured camps, Tortilis, arranges visits to a Maasai homestead.
Camping
Camping should be a must-do on safari in Chyulu Hills National Park. This is an exceptional opportunity to get close to nature, explore and experience what this park has to offer the world when it comes to nature.
Understandably, activities in both Amboseli and Chyulu Hills are focused on the wildlife, but many camps and lodges offer cultural excursions as well.
Best Time to Visit
Chyulu Hills can be visited year-round, but the best time is during the dry months, from June to October and January to February. All things considered, we recommend that you plan your wildlife-viewing travels in Chyulu Hills during the cool, long dry season. The best months of the year to visit Chyulu Hills National Park for game viewing is from January to February and June, July, August, September and October.
Chyulu Hills National Park is an extraordinary Kenyan wilderness safari destination any time of the year, but the weather patterns do affect the landscape and animal behaviors.
Migratory bird species arrive in the park from October to April, transforming the landscape into a birdwatcher's paradise while the brilliant green grasses and flowers of the long rains create stunning contrasts with the distant Kilimanjaro.
During the short rains (November) and the long rains (April and May), road conditions can be challenging. A sturdy 4x4 vehicle is required throughout the year.
The exact start and end of the rains are always a little uncertain, but generally, this period is the wettest time of the year, making travel to and from lodges potentially a little tricky at times.
No matter when you choose to set off on your much-anticipated AfricanMecca bush holiday, Chyulu Hills will certainly far exceed your expectations. You should also pack a warm sweater, fleece or lightweight jacket as the temperatures can be quite cool during early morning game activities and for the evenings that you will spend under the vast African skies. A poncho or waterproof coast is also necessary if you should be traveling during the rainy season.
Accommodation
Chyulu Hills only has two luxury accommodations. These are Campi Ya Kanzi in the southern end near Tsavo West and Ol Donyo Lodge in the western Chyulu portion bordering the park in the Amboseli eco-system.
Chyulu Hills National Park doesn’t have plenty of accommodation choices but it has a few comfortable ones for your overnight stay. They include Kathisayo Campsite, Ol Donyo Lodge, Kiboko Campsite, Shushan Palace, Kanzi House, Savanna Paradise Hotel and others.
How to Get There
Chyulu Hills is usually visited as a side trip from Tsavo West, or en route between Amboseli National Park or Nairobi and the coast. Chyulu Hills National Park is reachable by road or by air. By road, it is 250kms from Nairobi capital city and Mombasa. If you are at Tsavo West National Park, it is easier to get to Chyulu Hills National Park. Visitors can drive through Kibwezi and then access the park using 4WD vehicle. By air, fly from Jomo Kenyatta Airport or Wilson Airport up to Ol Donyo Lodge airstrip.
From Nairobi, you can take a domestic flight to an airstrip near Chyulu Hills. Lodges and camps in the area often provide transportation services for their guests. Alternatively, if you prefer a self-drive option, you can rent a vehicle in Nairobi and drive to Chyulu Hills National Park.
Entry Fees to Chyulu Hills National Park Kenya
There are 3 categories of visitors that are charged for accessing Chyulu Hills National Park for a safari holiday. They include citizens, foreign residents and foreign non-residents. The entry fee paid by adult Kenyans/Citizens is Kshs300, children pay Kshs. 125. Adult foreign residents pay Kshs 600 and children Kshs. 255; foreign non-residents pay $22 and children $13.
The Chyulu Hills and Hemingway
Little-visited Chyulu Hills National Park was made famous as Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Green Hills of Africa’.The Chyulu Hills were the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway’s book ‘Green Hills of Africa’.
Chyulu Hills National Park
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