KORA NATIONAL PARK
Kora National Park has a diverse park for a variety of wildlife including Cheetah, African Bush Elephant, Striped Hyenas, African Leopards, Lions, and many others. This national park has a variety of vegetation, acacia, bushland, riverine forests of doum palm and other. Features like the Adamson’s falls, Grand falls and the Kora rapids are found in this park at River Tana. The park used to face a lot of problems due to poaching during 1980s, George Adams was killed and buried in this land with some of his assistants together with three lions he has released from the poachers of hunters of the game. This came due to increased poaching during the 1980s. this story was written about and the writer was an award winner. This national park was established in 1973 and then gazetted in 1989 as a national park
Location.
Kora National Park is located in River Tana county on an area of 1788 km2 marking the Northern border. The national Park is located 125km east of Mountain Kenya The topography of this national is sloping gradually from an altitude of 490m in the South-West to an altitude of 270m in the north east. The central part of Kora National Park is an undulating pen plain. The national park has inselbergs within which include, Mansumbi about 442m, Kumbulanwa450m and the rock of Kora442m.
Some of the attractions at kora national park
Tana river and Adamson’s falls. They are near to the Kampi ya Simba, this place is so helpful for collecting of water for animals and people within the national park mostly in the dry season before the hills rocky outcrop start producing water during the rainy season. Kora rapids, grand falls, are too able to been seen here.
Culture. Visitors experience the local culture of the native people around the park. Through interacting with local people, local villages near like the Kamaguru, Boka, and Asoka communities will tell stories of their culture freely some of these local people also involve the selves as guides and rangers because they know more about this area.
Birds and wild life this national park has a lot wildlife species that needs to be watched, animals like cheetah, elephants, hippos, spotted hyenas are many this side. These animals are easily found as the land isn’t bushy because the dryness of the land. The birds traced and found this side of Kora National park include, eastern yellow billed hornbill, bursa reed warbler, white backed night heron fishing owl and many others
ACTIVITIES AT KORA NATIONAL PARK
Fishing
Since the Kora National Park is situated in the river of Tana, fish is a common activity by visitors who are willing to fish. Fish species within the Tana River estimated to be over 21 one different fish species. This activity is very supported because of different insect of over 500 insect species mollusks and over 40 different reptiles. The activity of fishing is done during the dry season when water has reduced and high fish concertation
Experience of paying a tribute to Gorge Adamson’s grave.
The activity includes research and viewing the place whereby he George Adamson and his assistants together with 2 lions that he had rescued were brutally murdered and buried. There is also a pace where his close related brother was also buried called Terace.
Natural trails exploration
Discovering the hidden beauty of the Kora National Park and surrounds wouldn’t live you the same. By exploring this national park, you will take a breakaway in the wilderness. The park first of all is rarely visited, meaning the nature is intact. Take a walking safari and feel the real wilderness and much of its meaning and discover this beautiful national park.
Gaming at the park
This national park is credited for wildlife though rarely visited, some of the animal species include, leopards, lesser kudu, genet, hippos, caracal, lions and animals. The game viewing is done at any time around the park with no restrictions though with guided viewing by the game rangers and professional guides.
Rock climbing
This activity is mostly done at the Kora rocks. Climbing this rock will help you to take a look at the good view of the National Park. Visitors get their best moments of this park there experiencing the good and fresh air from the rivers. Visitors are advised to take photos of their desire for remembrance of this magnificent moment
Birding
This national park has a variety of bird species including, spot Flanked barbet, black throated barbet, orange bellied parrots, eastern yellow billed hornbills, white backed night heron Malinda pipit and many others birding in this activity is done any time throughout the year.
Other activities including the Visit at Kampi Ya simaba where George grew up and trained the talked about lions taught them how to hint plus the camping experience around the park for picnic as cold water and flashing toilets are some the goodies. here some visitors who moved with telescopes are using them in the night to view the blue sky and the stars based I the park
NB: Because Kora National Park is found at the hotter side of the country in northern side visitors are encourage to stock enough drinking mineral/ bottled water when accessing this side of the park.
Accommodation
Some of the known accommodation facilities in the Kora national park range from luxury midrange and the budget. They offer quality services and some of the tourist facilities include Leopard rock lodge, Meru guest house, Kinna guest house, Oribi guest house, Chui guest house and many other at different places. Camping sites include, Kampi Baridi, Rojoweru, Kanjoo Bwatherongi camp, makutano camp and others.