Attractions at Marsabit National Park
Attractions at Marsabit National Park: Marsabit National Park is a national park and nature reserve located at Mount Marsabit in northern Kenya. The park is located near the town of Marsabit. It is about 560 km north of Nairobi in Marsabit County in the former Eastern Province and its reserve is famous for its zebra population and bird sanctuary.
Marsabit National Park covers an area of about 1,554 square kilometers and was gazetted in 1949 under the management of the Kenya Wildlife Service. Birdlife and reptiles are diverse and rich and any bird lover would be delighted to be here. This destination is basically an ornithologist’s happy place. The extinct volcanic craters locally known as gofs around the park make Marsabit such a wonderland. Located on the eastern side of the park, Gof Bongole is the largest and the stagiest of the craters with a dizzying 10-kilometer round rim.
Visitors to these remarkable parks are delighted with the astonishing safari activities such as Game viewing, birdwatching, Camel safaris, Visit the singing wells, Lake Paradise, Bongole Crater, and climbing among others. However, the national park has numerous attractions that one can marvel at when on a safari in the national park and in this article, we’re discussing some of the major attractions found in Marsabit National Park that can make your safari in the park unforgettable and memorable.
Wildlife
Marsabit National Park is one of the best wildlife viewing places in Kenya. The park is home to a wide range of impressive wildlife species such as elephants, buffalos, Greater/Lesser kudus, Kirk’s dik-dik, reticulated giraffes, spotted hyenas, leopards, lions, beisa oryxes, Aardwolves, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, bushbucks, sunis, caracals, vervet monkeys, and baboon. The mountain has a rich biodiversity, including the endangered African wild dog, Beisa oryx, and Grevy’s zebra.
Bongole Crater
Golf Bongole is a crater located in Eastern Kenya, at an elevation of about 845 meters (or approximately 2,772 feet) above sea level. It sits south of another crater called Balesa Bongole and has a diameter of 2.5 kilometers. This crater formed when magma interacted with water underground. Its floor features a lake that changes size with the rainfall; during the wet season, the area is lush and green, while in the dry season, the ground becomes much drier. The crater is a prime spot for watching wildlife, as many animals come to graze on the grasses and drink from the lake during the drier months, even licking the salty soil.
Butterflies in Marsabit
Marsabit National Park is home to a variety of butterfly species. However, when forests are disturbed or fragmented, the number of different butterfly types tends to decrease. Sometimes, new species will move into these altered areas, helping to boost the diversity of butterflies
Mount Marsabit
Mount Marsabit is a stratovolcano located near the town of Marsabit in Kenya. It rises to 1,707 meters (about 5,600 feet) and covers a vast area of 6,300 square kilometers. Its last eruption is unknown, but the mountain is dotted with 22 maars (volcanic craters) and around 180 cinder cones, especially on the northwestern and northeastern sides. The lava flows from this dormant volcano can be up to 20 meters thick. This mountain, positioned 170 kilometers east of the East African Rift, is special because it has more maars than the other major shield volcanoes in northern Kenya, thanks to the groundwater now feeding into it.
Lake Paradise
Lake Paradise is one of the most picturesque lakes within Marsabit National Park, nestled on the slopes of Mount Marsabit. It’s about a 10-kilometer drive from the Ahmed gate of the park. This lake is the second largest of the three crater lakes in the park and sits in an area called ‘Golf Sokorte Guda,’ which translates to “Big Sweet Water Crater.” The American adventurers Martin and Osa Johnson named it ‘paradise’ because of its beauty. Nearby is a smaller lake, ‘Golf Sokorte Dika’ or “Small Sweet Water Crater,” which is frequented by elephants and other wildlife. Both lakes are some of the best spots to see animals, especially on hot days when wildlife gathers to drink water. The environment around Lake Paradise changes dramatically with the seasons; it is vibrant and green during the rainy season and turns golden when it’s dry.
Landscape
Mount Marsabit is a captivating example of a basalt shield volcano. Its slopes are filled with small craters, known locally as ‘gofs,’ which are surrounded by juniper trees. The scenic Gof Sokorte Dika is located right in front of Marsabit Lodge.
Vegetation
The mountain is home to various plant species which have adapted to its semi-arid climate. The lower slopes of Mt. Marsabit are covered in acacia woodlands. Species of acacia such as Vachellia tortilis, Vachellia nilotica and Vachellia xanthophloea dominate these woodlands. The acacias are well adapted to the hot and dry climate. They have small leaves that help reduce water loss. Their deep root systems allow them to access groundwater. The mountain forest lies above the acacia woodlands, and is composed of species such as Podocarpus falcatus, Olea capensis, and Juniperus procera. These trees are able to tolerate lower temperatures and higher rainfall than the acacias (Beentje, 1994). They provide shade and habitat for birds and animals. The highest parts of Mount Marsabit are covered in moorland and Afroalpine vegetation. Plant species such as Lobelia giberroa, Senecio keniensis, and Helichrysum splendidum dominate this zone (Dawson & Were, 1968). They are well adapted to cold temperatures, high winds, and low oxygen levels. Their small, compact growth helps them conserve heat and withstand the strong winds.
Vegetation at Marsabit National Park
Mount Marsabit supports a variety of plant life that thrives in its semi-arid environment. The lower part of the mountain is primarily covered with acacia woodlands, featuring species like Vachellia tortilis, Vachellia nilotica, and Vachellia xanthophloea. These acacia trees are specially designed to deal with the hot and dry conditions. They have small leaves that help them retain water and deep roots that reach down to access groundwater when it’s scarce.
The mountain forest lies above the acacia woodlands, and is composed of species such as Podocarpus falcatus, Olea capensis, and Juniperus procera. These trees are able to tolerate lower temperatures and higher rainfall than the acacias. They provide shade and habitat for birds and animals. The highest parts of Mt. Marsabit are covered in moorland and Afroalpine vegetation. Here, you’ll encounter resilient plants such as Lobelia giberroa, Senecio keniensis, and Helichrysum splendidum.
Birdlife of Marsabit National Park
Marsabit National Park is one of the best destinations for bird-watching safaris in Kenya. The park is home to over 500 notable bird species. Some of these bird species includes, Secretary bird , Osprey , Black-winged Kite , Somali Ostrich, white-backed duck, knob-billed duck, blue-billed teal, Red-billed Duck, Helmeted Guineafowl, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Red-eyed Dove, Kori Bustard, White-bellied Go-away-bird White-bellied Go-away-bird, Red-chested Cuckoo, Mottled Swift, Eurasian Moorhen, Three-banded Plover, Three-banded Courser, African Openbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Reed Cormorant, African Spoonbill, Hamerkop, Western Cattle-Egret, Black-headed Heron, White-headed Vulture, Crowned Eagle, African Fish-Eagle, Common Buzzard, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Blue-naped Mousebird, Abyssinian Scimitar bill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, White-throated Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller and Red-and-yellow Barbet among others.
