Aberdare national park

 Aberdare National Park is a protected area in the Aberdare Mountain Range in central Kenya. Aberdare National Park is characterized by picturesque, steep, forested ravines and open moorland. The park was gazetted in 1950,  it covers 766 square kilometers covering the famous Aberdare mountain ranges. The volcanic mountains at the park has various peaks with Ol Donyo being the highest at 4000 meters followed by Kinangop at 3,906 meters.

Aberdare National Park was gazetted to mainly protect the mountain ranges and the wildlife found in the area. The park is known as one of the points where nature meets culture or history due to its historical attachment. The local Kikuyu people believe that the Nga (God) which was called “Nyandarua” homes here. The park was named after Aberdare the president of the Royal Geographical Socioety. 

The park offers an area for, among others, chimpanzees, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthogs, and bushbucks. That of the Giant Woodland hog, bongo, golden cat, serval cat, wild African cat, African civet cat and the blue duiker are uncommon sightings. In the moorlands, tourists can enjoy picnics, trout fishing in the rivers and camping. With more than 250 species of birds in the park, including the Jackson’s Francolin, Sparrow hawks, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds and plovers, bird watching is rewarding.

Aberdare is characterized by picturesque, steep forested ravines and open moorland. In Aberdare National Park, the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else in Kenya. The Park is most notable as the spot where, following the death of her father at Treetops Lodge, Princess Elizabeth learned that she was queen. This lodge has been popular with tourists on safaris to Kenya since then.

Half the fun of watching games in this park is the unexpected arrival of an elephant or buffalo from the dense rainforest foliage. At one of the waterholes by the lodge is one of the best places to see local denizens. The Park has many high mountain tops, steep ravines and several spectacular waterfalls and frozen mountain streams.

Location of Aberdare National Park 

Aberdare National Park is located in the southwestern part of Central Kenya.  The park is north of Nairobi and east of the Rift Valley. Aberdare National Park is easily accessible from Nyeri and Naro Moru nearly 150km (93 miles) east of Nairobi, Naivasha is 87 km (54 miles) from the Park. Many tourists with a tour operator ride by road.

Airport – There are two airstrips situated between Nyeri and Mweiga’s Aberdare headquarters.

By Road: The Park is readily accessible on tarmac from Nyeri and Naro Moru on the Eastern side and it’s 150 Kms from Nairobi. A road crosses the park through the lower slopes up to the Moorlands to connect with another  one from Naivasha on the western side. Naivasha is 87 Kms from Nairobi . The park HQS is 15 Kms from Nyeri town, along the Nyeri – Nyahururu road.

By Air: The nearest airstrip is the Mweiga Airstrip on the opposite side from Park Hqs along Nyeri – Nyahururu road near Sasini Estate Farm.

Activities done in Aberdare National Park 

Game viewing 

Game drive should be conducted in three morning game drive sessions beginning at 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This is the perfect time to see wildlife aggressively hunting for food and others emerging from their hideout. Evening game drive starts at 2 pm to 6 pm to see animals sleeping under the forest, large numbers of species can be seen on water banks that connect to water and water. Night game that starts from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Perfect time to see wildlife like bush babies, leopards, hunting lions at night.

Aberdare is a sanctuary for animals. The lion, leopard, African wild dog, hyena, jackal, and the African golden cat are among the predator animals travelers can expect to see. Eland, bushbuck, elephant, reedbuck, giant woodland hog, warthog, and the endangered black rhinoceros are some of the most common species.

Bird watching

This can also be found by birdwatchers to be a paradise. There are more than 250 bird species, including the magnificent African eagle, the goshawk of Africa, among many others. Via the Treetops and The Ark, which have lighted watering holes, nighttime animal viewing is available.

Riding on horseback

This sounds like an impressive journey on a stunning land scape full of different species. The guide to savannah grass land will carry out horseback riding and end up with a great adventure for nature lovers in particular.