Chyulu Hills National Park – National Park in Makueni

Chyulu Hills National Park covers a long range of young volcanic hills between Tsavo West and Amboseli, in Makueni County. Often called the green hills of Africa, the range is covered in grassland and patches of montane cloud forest, with wide views towards Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days.

Beneath the hills lie remarkable cave systems, including Leviathan (Kisula) Cave, about 11.5 km long and one of the longest lava tubes in the world. Rain that soaks into the porous lava feeds Mzima Springs in Tsavo West and supplies water to the coast, so the hills are an important catchment. The western forests are good for birdwatching, and the park has endemic butterflies and plants used in traditional medicine. Elephants, buffalo, eland and giraffes move through the area.

The park headquarters are at Kithasyo Gate, reached by turning off Mombasa Road at Kibwezi and driving about 9 km. KWS has public campsites, and private lodges are found in nearby Tsavo West. Gates open from 6 AM to 6 PM. Fees are on the KWS Chyulu Hills National Park page.