Chyullu Hills National Park
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Don't crowd the animals or make sudden noises or movements. Don't feed the animals, it upsets their diet and leads to human dependence. Keep quiet, noise disturbs the wildlife and may antagonize your fellow visitors. Stay in your vehicle at all times, except at designated picnic or walking areas. Keep below the maximum speed limit (40 kph/25 mph). Never drive off-road, this severely damages the habitat. When viewing wildlife keep to a minimum distance of 20 meters and pull to the side of the road so as to allow others to pass. leave no litter and never leave fires unattended or discard burning objects. Respect the cultural heritage of Kenya, never take pictures of the local people or their habitat without asking their permission, respect the cultural traditions of Kenya and always dress with decorum. Stay over or leave before dusk, visitors must vacate the Park between 7.00pm - 6.00am unless they are camping overnight. Night game driving ....~- is not allowed. ---~~~-- HOW TO GET THERE: KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE PARKS AND RESERVES ByRoad • ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK. AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK. ARABUKO SOKOKE NATIONAL RESERVE. from Kibwezi: turn right off the Mombasa Road (coming from Nairobi) at Kibwezi, • CENTRAL & SOUTHERN ISLAND NATIONAL PARK. CHYULU HILLS NATIONAL PARK. onto a sign posted road that leads after 9 Kms to Kithasyo Gate and Park HQ.It is • HELLS CATE NATIONAL PARK. KAKAMECA FOREST NATIONAL RESERVE. KISITE MpUNCUTI MARINE PARK. possible to enter the park from TsavoWest • KISUMU IMPALA SANCTUARY. KIUNCA NATIONAL MARINE RESERVE. KORA NATIONAL PARK • • LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK. MALINDI MARINE NATIONAL PARK • • MARSABIT NATIONAL PARK & RESERVE. MERU NATIONAL PARK. MOMBASA MARINE NATIONAL PARK. ByAir: • MOMBASA MARINE RESERVE. MOUNT ELCON NATIONAL PARK. The Park has two airstrips • MT. KENYA NATIONAL PARK. MT. LONCONOT NATIONAL PARK. MWEA NATIONAL RESERVE • • NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK. NAIROBI SAFARI WALK & ORPHANACE. NDERE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK • Open: • OL DONYO SABUK NATIONAL PARK. RUMA NATIONAL PARK. SAIWA SWAMP NATIONAL PARK. Daily 6.00 am -7.00 pm including public holidays. No entry is allowed on foot and • SHIMBA HILLS NATIONAL RESERVE. SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK. TANA RIVER PRIMATE RESERVE. • TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK. TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK. WATAMU MARINE NATIONAL RESERVE. visitors will not be allowed entry after 6.15pm Current entry charges: Obtainable via KWS HQ:Tel: (Nairobi) +254 (20) 6000800, 6002345 KENYA~ WILDLIFE ,. Fax:6007024, Email: [email protected]· website: www.kws.go.ke SERVICE n Marketing & Business Development Smartcard required: P.O.Box40241 - 00100 Nairobi Kenya. At present the park does not operate on the smartcard system. Entry is by cash Tel:+254 (020) 6000800, 6002345 Fax:+254 (020) 6007024 only (KShsor US$) Note: if you are entering via TsavoWest National Park, you will ISDN:+254 (020) 399 2000 require a smartcard (Which may be loaded at Mtito Andei Gate) Contact: The warden, P.OBox 458, Kibwezi. Tel 254 (45) 622483 or 622120 TelkomWireless: +254 (020) 2379407/8/9, 2379410/1/3/4/5/6 Mobile Numbers: +254 (0) 726 610 508/9, 735 663 421, 736 663 400 Email: [email protected]·www.kws.go.ke CHYULLU ILLS NATI tNAL PARK rivers. These eventually join with the melt waters of Mount Kilimanjaro and feed 250 million litres of water daily into the lush oasis ofTsavo West's most popular feature Mzima Springs . " , .• " I Exploring the Shetani Caves and Lava flows ••• If The volcanic convulsion ofTsavo's landscape are riddled with lava flows, the most spectacular being Shetani flow, coalesced tide of a tar like lava that spewed down Chyulu Hills as they burst out of the plains only a few hundred years ago. ., t.",. t •••• The lava flow is threaded by a series of lava tubes caves many of which can be explored, through caution is recommended. t" 0' I.' . , .. , . .... Rare Forest Birds , , Bird watching isthe best in the dense montane forest of the western sector of the II ,. park where Hartlaubs turaco, sunbird,speckled moosebird and white eared , , barbet are prevalent. Various swallos fly along the forest edges while deep in the glades you spot stripe cheeked greenbul, tropical boubou, white-eyed slaty HEMINGWAY'S 'GREEN HILLS OF AFRICA' flycatcher and silvery cheeked horn bill. The hills also mark an important A magical land of black frozen lava studded with blazing red-hot poker trees: stopping-off point for the globally threatened Abbott's starling and hold WHERE TO STAYLODGESAND TENTED CAMP While there is no accommodation within the park numerous accommodation of shoals of extinct volcanoes wreathed in dense forest abs hung with Spanish endemic population of Shelley's francolin, white starred robin and orange thrush. moss, the Chyulu hills coil a sleeping dragon on the lion-gold plains of his options exist in nearby TsavoWest National Park and in ungazetted portion of the treasure. The pink haloed peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rises to the west and all ACTIVITY OPTION Chyulu Hills. around stretch the mirage miles of Maasai land, dusty, dry and stalked by Walking the hills and forest There is KWSself catering guest house outside boundaries located just off the scarlet cloaked herders and dust plumed cattle The gently undulating grasslands, interspersed with dense areas of primeval Nairobi - Mombasa road near Kiboko. The guest house is 59km from Kithasyo forest and breathtaking views, make this excellent walking country. Due to The Park comprises the eastern flanks of Chyulu Hills including about half the presence of buffalo and elephant, however, a KWSranger escort is necessary. If Gate and park HQ. forest area. The park boundary runs down the centre of the hills along the possible please contact the warden in advance to book the ranger. lines ofthe peaks. The remaining western portion ofthe hills is part ofthe CAMPING west Chyulu Game Conservation Area and owned by several Maasai Group The park has three public campsites. The campsite at Kithasyo Park offers basic ranches amenities. There is also a KWScampsite outside the park boundaries near the guest house at Kiboko WHAT TO SEE The world's youngest mountains WHENTOGO The narrowly arching, 80 Km long Chyulu are one of the world's newest The park is accessible all year round by 4WD mountain ranges, the most recent volcanic peak having been formed only 500 years ago. They fascinated mix of volcanic ash cones and barren lava flows WHAT TO TAKEWITH YOU which combine to create a landscape of almost mythical enchantment Drinking water and picnic items and camping equipment if you intend to stay overnight Also useful are: Camera, binoculars, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and Source ofTsavo West Mzima Springs guidebook The park was established to protect not only its unique habitat, but also its vital role as water catchments are for Kenya'scoastal conurbations. The PLEASERESPECTTHE WILDLIFE CODE forested ridges create their own rainfall, the porous rock absorbs the water Respect the privacy of the wildlife, this is their habitat. like sponge and the water percolates down i into fast -flowing subterranean • Beware of the animals, they are wild and can be unpredictable..