Learn About Kenya's Four Animal Sanctuaries

Animal lovers who want to spend their holiday with animals can depend on Kenya’s four main animal sanctuaries. The Garissa Community Giraffe sanctuary is located in Garissa Town in North Eastern Province of Kenya bordering the dry dusty Bour-Algi village. The sanctuary was started after a surprising influx of giraffes from the border areas. The giraffes move freely within human settlement, or stoop to drink from close to where the local women are drawing water. The animal sanctuary is a community-based conservation and natural resource management initiative. Its name stems from the large presence of giraffes attracted by the abundant acacia trees. The sanctuary has an estimated 1000 giraffes. Other animals sighted in the area are Kirk’s dik-dik, Lesser Kudu, warthog and waterbuck.

Lumo Wildlife Sanctuary is a migration corridor for elephants and other game between Tsavo East and West Community. This animal sanctuary has a very beautiful landscape characterized of woody rolling savannah. The animal sanctuary covers an area of 46,000 hectares in Tsavo in Taita Taveta district in southern Kenya. It is a significant dispersal area for elephants that use the migration corridor. The area has a rich variety of flora and fauna. Other than the elephant, there is the buffalo, giraffe, aardvark and lion, eland, oryx, dikdik and kongoni. It is also home to numerous birds. You can make a stop over to the Tsavo West National Park which borders this animal sanctuary.

Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is located in East Africa, in the Kwale District of Kenya's Coastal Province. The animal sanctuary has an area of 36 km², borders the Shimba Hills National Reserve. The sanctuary is characterized by rolling hills, steep ridges, cliffs and winding water shades. Elephants are the main attraction at the animal sanctuary with about 150 of them at the sanctuary. The area is the most densely populated natural breeding ground for elephants in the world. If you are lucky you can witness their ‘reunion’ this summer. You can camp at the animal sanctuary and spend the night with the elephants in the middle of the sanctuary.

Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is a privately owned animal sanctuary established by Hilton International. It is located in Taita Taveta district within the coast province and covers an area of 280,000 acres. While at the animal sanctuary you can either stay at the Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge or at the magnificent Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge. The animal sanctuary is home to elephant, lion, oryx and lesser kudu.