Mwea National
Reserve
(altitude
3,000-5,000 sq.
ft - opened
January 1976,
covering an area
of 68 sq. kms),
The Mwea
National
Reserve's
savannah
ecosystem
comprises of
small hills with
bushy vegetation
and scattered
large trees.
Other areas are
open grasslands
while along the
main rivers,
large trees with
thick
undergrowth are
found. Trees
mainly found
within the
ecosystem are
the different
Acacia species
and baobab
trees. The
ecosystem’s main
features are the
meeting point of
rivers Tana and
Thiba, Kaburu
and Masinga
hydro-electric
dams, which
harbour variety
of biodiversity.
The
Rothschild
Giraffe
seen
here
in
Mwea
national
reserve
coat
is
pale
and
thickset
when
compared
to
the
Masai
giraffe,
the
patches
are
less
jagged
and
anywhere
below
the
knee
is
usually
unmarked. |
Grant's
gazelles
seen
in
Mwea
reserve
resemble
Thomson's
gazelles,
but
Grant's
are
noticeably
larger
than
and
are
distinguished
by
the
broad
white
patch
on
the
rump
that
extends
upward,
beyond
the
tail
and
onto
the
back. |
Major wildlife
attractions
include the
elephants,
Rothschild
giraffes, Common
zebras, Lesser
kudu, Buffalo,
Water Buck, Bush
buck, Impala,
Vervet Monkeys,
Aardvark, Yellow
baboons, Grants
gazelle, Dik dik,
Cape hare,
Warthog, Black
backed jackal,
Duiker, Sykes
monkeys, Genet
cat, Slender
mongoose,
Stripped ground
squirrel, Dwarf
mongoose,
Crested
porcupine, Rock
Hyrax, Tree
Hyrax and
tortoise. Hippos
and crocodiles
are also found
in the dams and
rivers.
Different birds
and reptile
species have
been recorded in
the reserve |
