Marsabit National Reserve covers an area of 1500 kilometres squared and consists of a forested mountain that rises like an oasis in the middle of the desert wilderness. It is the only source of permanent surface water in the region. 

The reserve has three spectacular crater lakes that provide habitat for a variety of birdlife. One of the lakes, Lake Paradise, is the most scenic and is famous from early films and writings of Martin Johnson and Vivien de Wattville. Marsabit reserve has also become well known because of large elephants like Ahmed, an elephant that was provided with a 24 hour protection by presidential order.