MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK KENYA
Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
Region as classified by UNESCO.
Mount Kenya National Park ( [show location on an interactive map] 0°07’26?S, 37°20’12?E), established in 1949, protects the region surrounding Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa. 1,300 km² of the park is a forest reserve with 715 km² above the 3000m (10,500ft) tree line. The park was designated a World Heritage Site in 1997.
The Government of Kenya had four reasons for creating a national park on and around Mount Kenya. These were the importance of tourism for the local and national economies, to preserve an area of great scenic beauty, to conserve the biodiversity within the park, and to preserve the water catchment for the surrounding area.
At lower altitudes Colobus and other monkeys and Cape Buffalo are prevalent. Some larger mammals such as elephants range up to 4,500 m (15,000ft).
A small portion of this park’s borders near heavy populations have electrified fences to keep the elephants out of the surrounding farmland. Volcanic sediment in the surrounding region’s soil and the huge volume of fresh water coming down the slopes makes the area particularly favourable for agriculture.