Arawale National Reserve is 533 km squared of bushland on the northern banks of the Tana river. It was created in 1973 in order to offer protection to the rare Hunter's Antelope, also sometimes called Hunter's Hartebeest (although it is more closely related to the topi than the hartebeest.) The species is only found north of the Tana and as far as the Somali border but even in the best conditions it is far from numerous and is considered to be a critically endangered species.

The reserve is difficult to access and there are no roads within it. A visit presupposes a tented safari and a four wheel drive vehicle.