The crater lakes have been the focus of a number of writers and filmmakers, including Martin Johnson and Vivien de Wattville, who were particularly spellbound by the picturesque Lake Paradise. Marsabit is good birding country, and 370 bird species, among them the atypical Lammergeyer vulture are on record.

The sanctuary is well known for its larger breed of elephants and has every species of northern wildlife including greater Kudu, reticulated giraffe, striped hyena, aard wolf, buffalo, bushbuck, leopard and caracal. On safari, patience is called for, as animals can be difficult to sight due to thick vegetation. There are a number of public campsites within the park. Ahmed, Kenya's most celebrated elephant had his home in the Marsabit.

Armed with Africa's biggest recorded set of tusks, the animal was protected by presidential order in 1970. Ahmed was accorded a round-the-clock guard in the last years of his estimated 63 years. Today, his preserved body is at the National Museum in Nairobi. There are rock-climbing opportunities at the Ol Olokwe mastiff to the south of Marsabit. Marsabit is 620 km from Nairobi, with the last nearly 300 km best navigated by 4-wheel drive vehicle.