The Complete Guide to Saiwa Swamp National Park

Saiwa Swamp National Park Location – Getting Here

The remote Saiwa swamp National Park is in Kitale town, western of Kenya. The park is northwest of Nairobi (Find some Nairobi Tours here); a distance of 385 kilometers and nears the Ugandan border. You will easily access the park through its main gate; Sitatunga Gate. The park covers an area of 3 square kilometers and is the smallest park in Kenya. 

The reason for its creation was to protect the only amphibious rare Sitatunga antelope, and preservation of the habitat as well as birds, wildlife and the plentiful flowers. It has no roads within its perimeter and is accessible through the 18km (11 miles) of walking trails and bridges meandering around it.

It is accessible by air and road:

• By Road: From Kitale town the park is 22 kilometers on Kitale Kapenguria road. This road leads to Sinyerere gate.
• By Air: The Park is well served by Kitale airstrip.

Top 5 Saiwa Swamp National Park Attractions

Visiting Saiwa Swamp National Park is easy thanks to its convenient location. The park is open throughout the year, and visitors can either take a guided tour or explore the park on their own. And there are a lot of attractions here such as:

 1. Animals in Saiwa National Park

The Saiwa Swamp National Park is home to a wide variety of animals. Among the native species are otters, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, and monkeys. However, the most popular ones are the Sitatunga antelopes.

These antelope are the only species of antelope known worldwide to be aquatic; they are large and have an average height of 1.5 meters. They have waterproof coats and are good swimmers, their escape when danger comes their way is under water. In fact, these antelopes can survive in wetlands more easily than on dry land.

 2. Birds in Saiwa National Park

Saiwa Swamp National Park birdlife is worth recognition. Water birds in the park include the African duck, Grey Heron and the Jacana. The forest shelters the colored sunbirds, Narina Trogons, Yellow Bishop, Hartlaub’s, Ross’s turaco, Qonolek, Coucal Stork, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Hamerkop, flycatcher, Crane, Black Goshawk and  Wahlberg’s Eagle. All these birds can easily

 3. Plants in Saiwa National Park

Within the wetlands of riverine forest, acacia woodlands and sedges, with dense grass beds and rushes lie Kenya’s terrestrial orchids. The purple and bronze Eulophia horsfallii, comet orchid, pink satyrium crassicaule crimson orchids and the satyrium sacculatum are some of the orchids thriving here.

The wetter areas are marked by figs (Ficus) and afzelia trees. Syzygium trees are also common along the swamps edges.

 4. Insects in Saiwa National Park

The park is exceptionally known for its insects’ capacity. They include damsel flies and dragonflies. Butterflies include papilio Dardanus, charaxes and mocker swallowtails. Swarms of insects can also be found on the forest floor.

 5. Amphibians and Reptiles in Saiwa National Park

Toads and frogs abound in the park. You will come across many kinds of frogs especially after rainstorms. The Bell’s tortoise is easily seen in the park as well as the agama lizard. African python and cobra are some of the snakes in the park as well as the side-striped chameleon.