Mwea National Reserve


The Mwea National Reserve is a nature reserve in Kenya. It’s altitude ranges between 1,000 - 1,100 m, dominated by the Acacia-Commiphora bushland on the north shore of Kamburu Reservoir, at the confluence of Tana and Thiba Rivers. The other vegetation is mixed among the scattered large trees, typical savannah ecosystem. Open grasslands are dominant along the main rivers, with occasional thick undergrowth, as well as a riparian or riverine woodland.

Wildlife

Game species range from African elephants, lesser kudus, Nile crocodiles, giraffes, Grant's zebras, buffalos, African leopards, common duikers, black-backed jackals, bushbucks, waterbucks, Sykes' monkeys, warthogs, rock hyraxes, bush pigs, impalas and hartebeests. Striped ground squirrels, Common Genet Cat and yellow baboons are also found in Mwea.

Bird watching

Renowned for its water birds and waders, over 200 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve. This warranted it being an Important Bird Area. The reserve is the only protected area in which the globally threatened and Kenya-endemic Hinde's babbler is known to occur. Mwea National Reserve also shelters two other rare species; the Pel's fishing owl and the white-backed night heron. The Malagasy pond heron is also a common sighting.

Camps

The reserve has seven campsites: Mbogo, Silvester, Mavuria, Kyangosi, Hippo-Point, Kanyonga and Githechu.

Other attractions

These include game viewing, boat rides at Kamburu dam, hippo sighting at Hippo Point, bird watching and walking.