Kora National Park

Kora National Park is located 125km east of Mount Kenya; 280 km to the north-east of Nairobi city in the Coast Province of Kenya. Stretches over an area of 1,788 sq km, Kora Park was initially gazetted as a reserve in 1973 then later as a national park in 1990, following the killing of George Adamson and two of his assistants in 1989 by poachers. Recently the Kenya Wildlife Service had launched a massive campaign to curb the threat by poachers and illegal herders who have encroached on the National Park’s areas.
Topography
Kora National Park bound by Meru National Park and Tana River to the north-west bound; and by Mwitamisyi River to the east. The Park, although has gently rolling slopes from an altitude of 490 m in the south-west to an altitude of about 270m in the north-east, is set against a backdrop of a scenic topography of rocky inselbergs and domed hills that rise steeply from the surrounding area.
Ecosystem
Kora National Park delights a pristine wilderness characterized by dense woodland, scrub vegetation, basement ridges and several seasonal rivers. The core vegetation is dominantly of acacia bushland.
Wildlife
There is a wide variety of animal species in the park, including the caracal, cheetah, elephant, genet, hippopotamus, spotted and striped hyenas, leopard, lion, serval, wildcat and several types of antelope. More than 21 species of fish have been recorded in Tana River.
Bird Life
The avifauna comprises over 300 species. The several seasonal rivers in the park draw several rare wild bird species with some of the notable examples being Malachite Eagle, Falcon and numerous water birds.
Other Attractions
-Inselbergs (Kora Rock, Mansumbi, Kumbulanwa)
-Adamson’s Falls
-Grand Falls
-Kora Rapids
-George Adamson’s Grave
Getting There
By road: Visitors may use the road from Thika to Mwingi then through Kyuso Village in the NE. There is a bridge across the Tana River joins the park with Meru National Park.
By Air: There is an airstrip situated about 10km away on the eastern side, thought its mostly used by the Park administration.
Visitor Activities
-Game viewing: Game viewing is mainly done on foot due to the absence of a good road network of tracking roads for game drives within the park.
-Rock Climbing
- George Adamson Tours: Visits to the grave of George Adamson can be arranged
-Fishing in River Tana
- Special Tours to Adamson’s Fall, Kora Falls and Grand Falls are also arranged.
-Bird Watching
-Hiking
-River Rafting: Tana River has several water rafting adventures.
-Boating: This is popular on River Tana