Environment of Kenya

Kenyan authorities have recognised safari tourism as a great source of income since it rose to prominence in the 1970s. Hence the country's conservation areas cover more than 10% of its total land area with 54 national parks and reserves. In addition, seven national marine parks and reserves protect the country's sea life.

The same cannot be said of their thoughts on the importance of local community development, which has only recently begun to be considered a crucial element in wildlife conservation.

Nevertheless, conservation of Kenya's awesome natural heritage seems to be in good hands. The mission of the Kenya Wildlife Service, to which responsibility for most of Kenya's wildlife conservation falls, is to "sustainably conserve and manage Kenya's wildlife and its habitat in collaboration with stakeholders for posterity."

Kenya's animals are the drawcard and every year millions of people flock to see the abundance of wildlife here - particularly the Great Wildebeest Migration. Click through to our guides about when to go to Kenya and the various stages of the migration.

Big game and vast herds are what the country is famous for but Kenya also contains over 1 100 species of birds - about 12% of the bird species in the world, in a great diversity of habitats.

Kenya's beautiful scenery comprises no less than 19 distinct floral habitats, ranging from desert and semi-desert to high-altitude cloud forests.

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