Where Is Kenya?

Where Is Kenya?

Kenya is located in

East

Africa. E

S

W

N

National Parks & ReservesKenya has over 50 nature reserves and national parks to protect these

animals. The Maasai Mara reserve is the most popular. Within the

parks and reserves are many different types of wildlife and habitats.

National Parks

A national park is a protected area of land where only tourism and

research is allowed by humans. No humans live in national parks.

Game ReservesA game reserve is still a protected area of land, but it allows humans to live there and to carry out other activities such as fishing, road building, mining and gathering wood. The most popular reserve in Kenya is the Maasai Mara Reserve, which can be found in the south west of the country. It is named in honour of the Maasai tribe who have lived in the area.

The Big 5National parks and game reserves are home to thousands of different species of wild animal.

Many tourists visit Kenya each year to go on safari.The Big Five is a name given to the largest and most dangerous African animals:

lion, leopard, African elephant, rhinoceros and Cape buffalo.

Magical MigrationIn Kenya, animals migrate (move) from one place to another, across the land, to find food, water or shelter. There is a huge migration of wildebeest each year. Over two million animals migrate from the Serengeti National Park to the Maasai Mara National Reserve during July to October, covering 2000 miles! The wildebeest even have to cross the Mara River, where crocodiles prey on them!

* Watch Go Jetters Series 1: 46. Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya to learn more *

My National Park - Your Map

You are going to create your own national park or game reserve!

• Print off the blank map on the school website if you can – if not, use a blank piece of paper and write the title: ‘My Safari Park’.

• Print off / look at the key, so that you know what each symbol stands for.

• Create your map by either drawing / cutting and sticking on the symbols.

• Draw on roads (grey) and rivers (blue).

Challenge: Can you draw a route on your map to show where a safari around the park would take place? Remember to start and end at your lodge.