Aberdare National Park

Location: Nyeri County, Kenya

Area: 767 km²

Overview

The Aberdares Forest Reserve sits on 103,300ha and occupies the lower slopes, in three main blocks that almost surround the Park, with Kipipiri Forest Reserve on 5,100 ha tacked on to the west. The range itself was christened in 1884 by Scottish explorer Joseph Thomson who was the first white man to see the Aberdares mountain range.

Picturesque, steep forested ravines and open moorland characterize the park, providing habitat for elephants, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthog, and bushbucks among others. Rare sightings include the Giant Forest hog, bongo cat, serval cat, African wild cat, African civet cat, and the blue duiker.

The beautiful sceneries of Aberdare include the magnificent waterfalls, the main one being Karuru waterfalls which fall in three steps, 1st step 117M, 2nd step 26M and 3rd 130M, making a total of 273M, Chania waterfalls and many other smaller ones. Bird viewing of over 250 species of birds in the park, including the Jackson’s Francolin, Sparrow hawks, Goshawks, Eagles, Sunbirds, and Plovers.

In 2009, a 400kms electric fence was completed to protect the whole ecosystem from human pressures and contains wildlife preventing human/wildlife conflict. Adding to the beauty of Aberdare are many ridges and river valleys which attract mountain scenery photographers.

The park is accessible on tarmac from Nairobi through Nyeri and Naro Moru on the eastern side 15kms. A road crosses the park through the lower slopes up to the Moorlands to connect another road from Naivasha on the western side. Naivasha is 87kms from Nairobi, park HQs are 15kms from Nyeri town, along the Nyeri – Nyahururu road, and by air through Mweiga Airstrip on the opposite side.

The Uniqueness of this Park

• The Park is most famous as the place where Princess Elizabeth found out that she was Queen upon the death of her father at Treetops Lodge.
• Aberdare National Park was established in 1950 with the aim to conserve and protect the Aberdare Mountains.
• A 9-hole Golf Course within the Game Sanctuary.

Accommodation Options

• The Ark Lodge (Marasa Africa)
• Tafaria Castle & Country Lodge
• Aberdare Country Club – base hotel for the Ark Lodge

Activities at the Destination

Game viewing, picnics, trout fishing in the rivers, and camping in the moorlands. Bird viewing is rewarding with about 290 recorded species, waterfalls, Horseback riding, Sundowner, and Bush breakfast experience, 9-hole Golf Course within the Game Sanctuary, and Chimpanzee trekking – at the nearby Ol Pejeta Conservancy.