Mwea National Reserve from the eastern province about 200km from Nairobi in Mbeere District. The reserve is made up of rolling hills covered in savannah grasslands, bush, scattered woodlands of baobab and acacia trees and the river confluence of Tana River and Thiba to the south east and northern park boundaries respectively. The park is actually 42 sq km managed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Mbeere City Council within aim of conserving the reserve.
Attractions in Mwea
Some of the animals seen in Mwea National reserve include Elephant, giraffe, lesser kudu, Burchell’s zebra, leopard, grey duiker, serval cat, Nile crocodile, waterbuck, hippo, spotted hyena,, buffalo, black-backed jackal, sykes monkey, bushbuck, bush pig, olive baboon, warthog, rock hyrax, , impala and hartebeest. The park is also home to a variety of endangered species such as Genet cat, Stripped ground squirrel, Black backed jackal and yellow baboons.
Over 150 species of birds neat in Mwea National Reserve such the highly endangered Hinde’s babbler, Pel’s fishing owl and the white-backed night heron.
There are a number of hydro electric power dams which include Kamburu, Kiambere, Masinga, Gitaru and Kindaruma-much of Kenya’s electricity is produced at these dams. Other additional attractions within the park on Tana River include Adamson Falls, Mutonga Grand Falls, Usueni, and Kora. There are boat rides offered by Masinga Resort on Masinga and Kamburu dams.
Getting there
From Nairobi via Thika-Matuu-Masinga Dam, Mwea National Reserve is 160 km away along Mwea Masinga Dam Bridge and a dusty road to Makima Gate. Other routes to the Park include Nairobi-Thika-Garissa, Nairobi-Embu-Thika and many others that connect via Embu.
By air, the reserve is reached via Masinga airstrip near Masinga lodge 14km from Mwea main gate. Using Railway, the reserve is 13kms from Nairobi on Saturdays and the return journey is on Sunday. The drop off is at Nanyuki where you pick public means or hire a vehicle to the reserve.
Accommodation
There are no lodges or camps within the reserve itself but
Masinga lodge
located near Masinga dam has standard Kenya safari facilities. Self catering Camps are found at Mbogo, Silvester,Mavuria, kyangosi, hippo Point, Kanyonga and Githechu.
The reserve was basically established during 1976 stretching a region north-west of Kamburu Dam along at the meeting point of Tana and Thiba Rivers. Two islands within Kamburu dam (made in 1976) are framed within the secured area.
On the southerly border can be found the Tana River, in the east will be the Thiba River while the northern border is usually an electric fence which halts animals from invading Makima settlements, the earliest settlements (since 1914).
Mwea National Reserve is at the moment run between Kenya Wildlife Service as well as Mbeere County Council. Mwea National Reserve Trust intially formed in 1991 with the aim of seeking for resources to run the reserve. Several campaigns are already funded via charitable contributions such as a boat and outboard engine, energy saving jikos not to mention relocation of zebras.
Climatic conditions are actually Semi-arid with the annual rainfall of 510-760 mm.
Key attractions comprise of Game viewing on boat rides at Kamburu dam to hippo point; an entire world of exceptional bird species and walking routine Wildlife normally consists of the Elephant, lesser kudu, serval cat, spotted hyena, warthog, rock hyrax, bush pig, impala Nile crocodile, black-backed jackal, bushbuck, waterbuck, olive baboon, hippo, giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, buffalo, leopard, grey duiker, Sykes’ monkey as well as the hartebeest. Extraordinary species for example stripped ground squirrel, yellow baboons, genet, blackbacked jackal are usually associated with Mwea.
Birdlife is actually over 200 types of birds. Mwea is renowned for its water fowls and waders. The only secured home from where the globally extinct and Kenya endemic Hinde’s babbler frequently occur, the Reserve likewise has got not one but two other extraordinary species; white-backed night heron as well as Pel’s fishing owl.
Away from Nairobi, the road is through Thika-Matuu- Masinga Dam, roughly 16 km. This specific track is surfaced until Masinga Dam Bridge – another 10 km of dusty track is between this area and Makima Gate. Access is likewise possible via Embu-Machanga. Masinga airstrip close to Masinga Lodge is often of use by flights.
You won’t find lodges, camping grounds or self-catering accommodation alternatives inside Mwea Reserve. Masinga Lodge is at Masinga Dam away from the Reserve.
