Marsabit National Park is located in northern Kenya, a part of the country that will only appeal to the intrepid, adventurous traveler. Anybody traveling this far north will find a stopover in this little-visited park very worthwhile.

Its wildlife-viewing centerpiece is a forest-fringed crater lake overlooked by Marsabit Lodge. Elephants, relatives of Ahmed – a former big tusker that received ‘presidential protection’ in his day – pass by the lake daily.

The dense forest of the park and lack of facilities and tracks makes wildlife viewing very challenging, but a visit to the lodge in the late afternoon is a great way to catch the elephants on their daily walk around the crater lake. The elephants here are renowned for their big tusks. Other animals present, but rarely seen include lion, leopard and buffalo.