Rathole National Reserve

Rathole

Situated to the northeast of Kora National Park, this reserve is an enormous stretch of dry thorny bushland in the Garissa district of Northeastern Province about 150 km northeast of Mount Kenya. It is home to elephants, Grevy’s zebra, and beisa oryx. The reserve is located on the north bank of the Tana River at the western extreme of North Eastern Province. The reserve is a vast expanse of unspoiled wilderness, accessible only by 4WD vehicles, as tracks are few and far between in the park. Even where tracks do exist, they are extremely rough and in generally poor condition. Rathole, like neighboring Kora National Reserve to the south and Bisanadi and North Kitui, reserves further west, serve as protected areas for migrating animals from Meru National Park. The closest approaches to the reserve are at the south, near the Tana River. Alternatively, tracks leading to the western sections of the reserve from the town of Garba Tula off the main Isiolo- Wajir road (B9). Again, if you want to arrange a visit, you will have to ask for a permit at Kenya Wildlife Service.

Uniqueness

• Rathole National Reserve is a vast stretch of thorny bushland.
• The National Reserve offers a great opportunity for tourists to view hippos, elephants, Beisa oryx, Grevys zebra, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species.
• From Mbalambala, there is a road heading north into the eastern section of Rathole.
• One track leads northwest from Garissa to the village of Mbalambala on the Tana near the eastern edges of both Kora National Park and Rathole.