Arawale National Reserve Kenya : Arawale National Reserve Kenya is known as one of the Kenyan reserves, a designated conservation area managed by the Garissa County in assistance with the Kenya Wildlife Service. The reserve lies in North Eastern province of Kenya ,77 kilometers south of the town of Garissa. More so, the reserve is approximately 533 square kilometers and to the west, it is bordered by the Tana River and, to the east, by the Garissa-Lamu Road.
In 1974, the reserve was gazette as the only in -situ conservation site for the critically endangered Hirola population endemic to north-eastern Kenya country and south-west Somalia.
Arawale National Reserve is home to a range of wildlife species including four globally threatened species such as; hirola, Grevy’s zebra, East African wild dog and East African cheetah. More to that, the national reserve is also a refuse to species like Grant Gazelle, Lesser Kudu, Ostrich, Leopard, African wild dog, cheetah, lesser Kudu buffalo, hippos, Olive Baboons, Kirk’s Dik Diks, Grevy’s zebra, African wild dog, cheetah Beisa Oryx many more.
The reserve is also house to various reptiles including snakes, tortoise and crocodiles. Various migratory and residential bird species.
Since 2005, the protected area is considered as a Lion conservation Unit together with Lag Badana National Park.
Entrance fees at Arawale National Reserve;
The foreign residents’ adults expected to pay KSH500 per person and a child pays KSH300 while nonresident an adult pays USD22 and a child pays USD13 per person.
Take note;
Child refers to persons from 3 years but below 11 years.
Residents refers to persons of other nationalities residing in Kenya with valid documentation from the Kenyan government.
Citizen – A native or inhabitant of East Africa countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan with valid identification documents or passport.
Daily – It is a free paid for a single entry to a national park, national reserve or sanctuary which can be valid in less than twenty-four hours.
Activities in Arawale National Reserve
Arawale National Reserve sounds as one of the Kenya’s remote national parks that has faced poaching. However, it is home that boasts with the Hirola antelope with other animals for example; buffalo, lesser kudu, lions, zebras, cheetahs, elephants, Topi and crocodiles mentioned but few.
Bird watching
This place is one of the best birding sites that stuns with great view around Tana river, the birds to see includes migratory birds from Europe and North Africa as well as residential birds. The best time for bird watching the residential birds here is during wet season, for breeding and food in plenty.
Guided nature walks
Visitors can take guided nature around the interesting trails and experience wildlife along the way, this normally take about 2 to 3 hours.
Other activities to do; Camping and Picnics.
Best time to visit
Arawale National Reserve can be visited all year round but the best time occur from June to October and January and February.
Where to stay;
The best way to have an overnight stay in Arawale National Reserve is to do camping, because hotels and lodge are found in the nearby towns. Some of them includes; Nomad Palace Hotel, Tana Garden Hotel, Lantern Resort, Halugo Palace Hotel ad Palm Oasis Resort Garissa.
Getting there;
The National Reserve can be accessed from Mombasa which is about 250 kilometers and Malindi 130 kilometers by road. Visitors can also use domestic chartered flights that fly to Mombasa and Malindi.
It can be reached from Nairobi best via Thika and Garissa or from Mombasa via Malindi and Garsen, this national reserve has no fence or gates and it is part of Kenya’s Arawale – Boni- Dodori Reserve which is found on either side of the river before it accesses the Indian Ocean between Malindi and Lamu.
Travelers can use ferry crossing which takes 87 kilometers from Garsen at Hola, where there is an Administrative Centre, post office, police station and petrol station.
