Sweetwaters Reserve

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Nestled between Mt. Kenya to the east and the Aberdares Mountains to the west, Sweetwaters Game Reserve is a privately held reserve covering some 24,000 acres. Although the rains had come to the areas to the south, this part of Kenya has suffered badly from a 3-year drought; the grass was dry and the animals rare. The reserve enjoys magnificent views across the plains to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya, and has an abundance of wildlife and tropical vegetation. Sweetwaters is the closest reserve to Kenya's Capital Nairobi to boast all of the "Big 5" game - Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo. Only two and a half hours north of Nairobi on a paved highway, the reserve is easily accessible and has the highest ratio of game-to-geographical-area of all parks and reserves in Kenya.

Another one of those irresistible photo opportunities at Sweetwaters is to pose with Morani the Rhinoceros. Morani's name is derived from the Maasai word for warrior. At Sweetwaters you can experience your first night game drive. People go out at about 11PM, armed with a powerful spotlight, to observe the animals. Surprisingly, few animals are disturbed by the bright light. Unfortunately, people do not spot any night predators, but you do have the unusual opportunity to see giraffe laying down. This is an interesting sight as the body is hidden in the grass and just the long neck and head show. The Sweetwaters waterhole is floodlit by night, providing excellent and secluded rarely seen game viewing. Game viewing may also take the form of game walks accompanied by a resident naturalist, and game rides on horseback. Camel riding, night game drives and "bush" lunches or dinners are a delight

Visitors can also observe elephants continuing to feed throughout the night. Also located on the reserve is one of several Jane Goodall Institute Sanctuaries maintained in East Africa. Kept here are a group of chimpanzees originally housed at the JGI sanctuary in Bujumbura, Burundi. The 200-acre chimpanzee sanctuary is a 15-minute drive from Sweetwaters Tented Camp. A visit to this sanctuary and the 30-minute boat ride (subject to fine weather) on the river among the chimps is necessary. The sanctuary currently has 24 chimps, including two babies born in the sanctuary. An information centre near the chimps' enclosure gives you amazing insight into the chimpanzee.