Aberdare National Park – Aberdare National Park is a scenic Kenya national park renowned for its great beauty, the park is situated in the Aberdare Mountain ranges in Central Kenya with in the East African Rift Velley Region.
Aberdare National Park is popular destination for mountain hiking safari in Kenya, the Aberdare Mountains range varies from the high moorland at 2000 meters to 4,000 meters above sea level. The peaks of Kinangop – 3906 meters and Ol Donyo Le Satima – 4000 meters, the ranges offer matchless views of glittering coronet of Mount Kenya and sparkling lakes of the Great Rift Valley.
Aberdare National Park’s incredible landscape features two eco – systems, the salient is made up of rainforest, moorland and bamboo on the lower slopes. The Mountain range consists of profound V-shaped valleys traversed by rivers, streams and waterfalls.
History of Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park was established as a protected area in May 1950, the park is a true definition where nature meets history. The ranges are believed to be one of the homes of Ngai (God) of the Kikuyu and they are originally known as “Nyandarua” – meaning “the drying hide – due to the distinctive folds of its silhouette”.
The range was renamed in 1884 by the explore Joseph Thompson after Lord Aberdare – the president of the Royal Georgraphical Society. The Aberdare ranges dubbed area as the “White Highlands” due to the decadent antics of the “Happy Valley Set” of the Wanjohi Valley, also during the 1950s, the dense forests and bamboo thickets witnessed much of the action between British forces and the Mau freedom fighters.
The area is well known as the headquarters of Dedan Kimathi leader of the 1950s Mau Uprising.
Aberdare Ranges and the park as well as a great history, the late Queen Elizabeth II became Queen of The United Kingdom while on a Kenya Safari Vacation in the Aberdare. It was also the site where J. A Hunter killed the rogue elephant of Aberdare Forest.
Wildlife in Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park is home to variety of wildlife species including all the Big Five – elephant, leopards, lions, buffaloes and lions. The park is hosts the second largest population of endangered black rhinos, other wildlife species found in the Aberdare ranges include hyenas, Defassa waterbucks, reedbucks, olive baboons, bushbucks, black and white colobus monkeys, common eland, dik-dik, bushbucks and reedbuck among others.
There are also nocturnal animals in Aberdare National Park including giant forest hog, large spotted genet and bongo antelope. Other rare wildlife sightings in Aberdare National Park include golden cat, serval cat, African wild cat, African civet cat and the blue duiker.
Birdlife in Aberdare National Park
The forests and moorland of Aberdare ranges are a birder’s paradise with more than 250 species including endemic species such as Aberdare cisticola. Other birds found in the Aberdare forests include Aberdare cisticola, Abyssinian crimsonwing, African goshawk, African green pigeon, African paradise flycatcher, African yellow warbler, Augur buzzard, Ayres’s hawk eagle, Bar-tailed trogon, Bronzy sunbird, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Crowned eagle, Doherty’s bush-shrike, Golden-winged sunbird, Hartlaub’s turaco, Hunter’s cisticola, Jackson’s francolin, Montagu’s harrier, Montane white-eye, Moorland chat, Moorland francolin, Mountain buzzard, Moustached green tinkerbird, Narina trogon, Olive ibis, Rufous-chested sparrowhawk, Scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, Sharpe’s longclaw, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Tacazze sunbird, Tambourine dove, White-headed wood-hoopoe among others
Kenya Safari Activities to do in Aberdare National Park
Trekking safaris
Aberdare ranges is listed among the most popular destinations for mountain climbing tour in Kenya, the Aberdare peaks are relatively easy to trek and can be conquered with a little more than strenuous high – altitude trek.
The excellent trekking spots in the Aberdare ranges are the Northern Moorland and its four main peaks ranging from 3500 m to 4,000 m, the tallest mountain in the park is Ol Donyo Lesatima. The trek is done on Kinangop Plateau, from dirt track that connects the Rihuruini and Mutubio West gates, it is possible to walk to the top of Karura Falls and watch Karura stream sliding over the rocky lip into the 272m abyss
If weather permits, you will be able to make out the misty veil of Kenya’s tallest cascade, the Gura Falls – 305 meters in the distance. Unfortunately, there are no tracks to Gura Falls or the base of Karura Falls. However, you can visit the far smaller Chania Falls further North.
Game Viewing
Aberdare National Park offers some of the thrilling game drives which are the most iconic way to explore the park, game drives in Aberdare ranges are offered as full day game drives, morning game drives and late afternoon game drives.
During the game drives, you will have a chance to spot various wildlife species including spotted hyenas, colobus monkeys, black-faced vervet monkeys, lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos, spotted hyenas, bongo antelopes and giant forest hogs among others.
The later afternoon game drives in Aberdare National Park lasting for 2 hours is a perfect time to enjoy the beautiful sunset while watching animals and the beautiful indigenous flora.
Birding
Aberdare National Park is a rewarding Kenya birding safari destination with about 250 bird species including the critically endangered Aberdare Cisticola and Jackson’s francolin which is regionally endemic.
During birding in the forests of Aberdare ranges, there are many colorful bird species to lookout for and these include Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Crowned eagle, Doherty’s bush-shrike, Golden-winged sunbird, Hartlaub’s turaco, Hunter’s cisticola, Jackson’s francolin, Montagu’s harrier, Montane white-eye, Moorland chat, Moorland francolin, Mountain buzzard, Moustached green tinkerbird, Narina trogon, Olive ibis, Rufous-chested sparrowhawk, Scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, Sharpe’s longclaw, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Tacazze sunbird, Tambourine dove, White-headed wood-hoopoe among others.
Trout fishing
Trout fishing is among the most exciting Kenya safari activity to do in Aberdare National Park, this activity is done in the moorland’s small rivers, the major one being the River Chania. Both brown and rainbow trout abound in the cool mountain streams and provide excellent angling.
To participate in this activity, you need to obtain a sports fishing license at the Park’s Gates.
Where to stay in Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park contains a variety of safari lodges ranging from luxury safari lodges, midrange lodges and budget accommodations. These include
- Treetops Lodge
- The Ark
- The Aberdare Country Club
- Aberdare Cottages and fishing lodge
- Tusk Camp Banda
- Sapper Hut
- Campsites
How to Get to Aberdare National Park
By Road – The park is situated only 99 miles from Nairobi City, there is a smooth tarmac road from Naro Moru and Nyeri Towns. However, the best route runs from towns of Naivasha and Nyahururu.
Gates used to access to the park are located at Treetops, Ark, Ruhuruina, Wandare and Kiandongoro. If you are coming from Nyeri, you can approach the park from Nyahururu and you should use the Shamata or Rhino Gate. For visitors from Naivasha, Mutubio gate is the best gate to use.
By Air – there are two airstrips in Aberare ranges for chartered and domestic flights from Wilson Airstrip. The flights are offered by AirKenya and Safarilink.
