Chyulu Hills National Park

With its softly rolling hills and wild running game – all set against a stunning Mount Kilimanjaro backdrop – Chyulu Hills National Park offers nature lovers an enchanting off-the-tourist-trail safari.

Sandwiched between Kenya’s Tsavo West and Amboseli National Parks, this rugged wilderness and its rocky outcrops are roamed by the likes of buffalo, impala, eland, elephant, leopard, wildebeest and zebra. Although wildlife densities may not rival Chyulu’s better-known neighbours, the beauty of the landscape and variety of activities on offer is impressive. Adventurous bushwalks with expert guides, game drives in open 4x4s, exciting mountain biking excursions, fly camping and enchanting horseback safaris in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro can all be arranged. And with few other visitors around, you’ll often feel as if you have the park all to yourself.

The striking landscape of Chyulu Hills also encompasses ancient cinder cones and craters (the remnants of extinct volcanoes), along with some of the world’s longest and deepest lava tubes. Excursions to the mighty Leviathan Cave, a lava tube measuring in at 11.5 km, is a highlight of any visit. For avid twitchers, head to the birdwatching hotspot of Lake Jipe in the park’s southwest corner.