At the time of independence in 1963 there were only 12 parks. Since then the number of reserves has expanded rapidly. Although tourism threatens overdevelopment in some parks, without it the reserves would not exist and wildlife would vanish. Many Africans would prefer to use the lands for grazing and local tribes are compensated with a percentage of the fees charged to visit the parks.
Animals bring tourists to Kenya, and tourism has become a major economic boost for the country.
Kenya has an abundance of major animal species, from the immense elephant to tiny antelopes. These include the elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, lion, and leopard. The title refers to the early days of safari, when these were the prized trophies of hunting expeditions. In 1977, hunting for rhino and elephants was banned to save them from potential extinction. In the parks, rhinoceros are still a rare sight, and leopards tend to be shy and elusive.