Marsabit National Park, National park and tentative UNESCO site in Eastern Province, Kenya.

Marsabit National Park is a protected area in northern Kenya built around an extinct volcanic mountain that rises out of the surrounding semi-desert. The mountain holds three crater lakes, patches of montane forest, and open moorland, all within a relatively compact stretch of land.

The reserve was established in 1949, during a period when conservation efforts were beginning to take shape across East Africa. Over the following decades, its boundaries were adjusted and the area was later put forward as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Rendille and Samburu communities have moved with their herds through this region for generations, and visitors sometimes spot pastoralists near the park edges. Their presence gives the area a lived-in quality that sets it apart from more isolated reserves.

The park lies 560 km north of Nairobi, near Marsabit town, and is reached by a long drive or a flight to the local airstrip. Tracks inside become difficult after rain, so a four-wheel-drive vehicle is strongly advised. The dry seasons, January to March and July to October, give the most favourable conditions for outdoor activity.

In the 1970s, an elephant named Ahmed lived in the park and became known worldwide for his exceptionally large tusks, drawing attention from conservationists across the globe. He was eventually placed under the personal protection of the Kenyan president, a gesture rarely seen in conservation history.