The national parks are administered by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in Nairobi as total sanctuaries where human habitation (apart from the tourist lodges) is prohibited.

Parks and reserves are not fenced in (except Nakuru National Park, parts of the Aberdares and the north side of Nairobi National Park), and the animals are free to come and go, though do tend to stay within the boundaries, especially in the dry seasons when cattle outside compete for water.

Most parks and reserves are open to private visits (though it's worth noting that foreign-registered commercial overland vehicles are not allowed in). A few parks have been heavily developed for tourism with graded tracks, signposts, lodges and the rest, but none has any kind of bus service at the gate for people without their own transport. You may be able to hitch a lift at the park gate with visitors in a private vehicle, but this can never be counted on, so in general, without your own transport, you'll have to go on an organized safari.

Limiting human impact on the parks and reserves is vital, and with large numbers of visitors to the better-known sites, it's important to bear in mind some simple facts to ensure you leave the place and the animals as you found them and for others to enjoy.

Harassment of animals disturbs feeding, breeding and reproductive cycles, and too many vehicles surrounding wildlife is not only unpleasant for you, but will also distress the animals. Cheetah, for example, only hunt during the day and, if hemmed in by vehicles, including yours, could end up deprived of a meal. Be quiet when viewing, switch off your engine (or ask your driver to) and keep a minimum distance of 20m. Never, under any circumstance, get out of your vehicle, and don't feed animals as it upsets their diet and leads to unnecessary dependence on humans. Habituated baboons, especially, can become violent if refused handouts.

Off-road driving causes irreparable damage to the vegetation. Stay on the designated tracks (even if it means you won't get the best photograph), and if you have a driver, ask him to do the same.

If you smoke while on your visit, tip all ash in an ashtray. Carelessly discarded cigarettes start numerous unnecessary bush fires every year, which cause great damage to vegetation and wildlife.