Visiting Aberdare National Park: Aberdare National Park is located in the central highlands of Kenya, east of the East African Rift Valley. The park is situated about 150 km north of Nairobi and covers an area of about 767 km2 (296 sq mi). The park is dominated by the Aberdare Mountain Range, with its highest peaks reaching an elevation of up to 13,000 feet above sea level. The park’s terrain is rugged and mountains, characterized by steep forested ravines and open moorlands.
Aberdare National Park was established in 1950 as away to conserve and protect the Aberdare Mountains. The Aberdare Mountain were named in 1884 by Scottish explorer Joseph Thomson, the first European to behold this magnificent mountain range. He chose the name in honor Lord Aberdare, a respected landowner born near Mountain Ash, who lived from 1815 to 1895 and served as home secretary in Gladstone’s government.
More so, this remarkable park is divided into two sections, the Aberdare Salient to the east and the Kinangop Plateau to the west. The Aberdare Salient is the more popular of the two sections, with most of the park’s visitor facilities located here.
The park is also renowned for being the location where Princess Elizabeth became Queen after the death of her father King George VI, while she was staying at the iconic Treetops Hotel.
The park is home to a variety of wildlife species such as the Big Five animals – lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard and eastern black rhinoceros. Other animals residing here include wild dogs, giant forest hog, waterbuck black and white colobus monkeys, and sykes monkeys among others. the park is also the best birdwatching destination in Kenya, hosting an impressive number of birds such as the endangered Aberdare Cisticola, Jackson’s Spurfowl, African goshawk, and African fish eagle among others.
Best time to visit Aberdare National Park
The Best time to visit Aberdare National Park is during the dry seasons, typically from June to September and January to February. These months offers more stable weather conditions, with less rainfall, making its easier the explore the park’s stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife. The dry season also offers visibility for wildlife viewing, including elephants, buffalo and various bird species. Visiting during this period allows visitors to enjoy hiking and photography opportunities amidst the lush moorlands and scenic waterfall.
Amazing this to do in Aberdare National Park
Game viewing
Explore breathtaking Aberdare National Park and enjoy exceptional with impressive game viewing through thrilling Game drives both during the day and night in the comfort of a 4×4 safari vehicle. The park offers game drives where you’ll encounter a large eastern black rhinoceroses population. During your game drives, you will have the opportunity to see different wildlife species such as elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, bushbucks, and waterbucks, among others.
Birding
Aberdare National Area is home to around 250 bird species, which may be seen when on safari in the park. During your birdwatching tours you will have the chance to spot different bird species such as Sunbirds, Jackson’s francolin, mountain buzzards, Goshawks, Rufous-breasted sparrow hawks, Fish eagles, and ayre’s hawk, among others. These amazing safaris in the park is good all year and migrating birds are present from November to April.
Hiking
Hiking is an exhilarating adventure in Aberdare National Park, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes. The park’s rugged Aberdare Mountain ranges offer a hiker’s paradise. The area features steep and diverse terrains perfect for trekking. Tis trail leading to Table Mountain, twin or elephant hills unveil stunning landscape. During your hiking tours, you’ll have the chance to encounter various wildlife, making each hike not a physical challenge bit also a memorable encounter with nature’s beauty.
Visiting the Kikuyu
Visiting the Kikuyu villages located at the Outspan live in a village located at the base of the Outspan Hotel in Aberdare National Park. Visiting this community offers an amazing chance to interact with the local indigenous and learn about their rich culture and traditions. During your cultural visits here, you will have the chance to participate in a number of traditional activities such as Kikuyu dance, local food tasting, farming, and more. This unique village has been established specially for visitors to explore and appreciate the heritage of the indigenous Kikuyu community.
Where to stay in Aberdare National Park
Tourists planning to visit Aberdare National Park shouldn’t worry about where to sleep. The park has got a variety of accommodation facilities to cater to its visitors. Some of the available accommodations here include Treetops Hotel Aberdare, Chaka Ranch Tented Camp, Tafaria Castle and Cunty Lodge, Sangare farmhouse, The giraffe ark game lodge and Maverick Camp Rondavels and Homestay, and more.
How to Get to Aberdare National Park
To reach Aberdare National Park, you can travel by road or by air.
By road; Its approximately 99 miles (160 kilometers) from Nairobi’s Capital. The park can be accessed via well-maintained tarmac road connecting Naro Moru and Nyeri on the park’s eastern side. The preferred routes from Naivasha or Nyahururu, with entry gate at Treetops, Ark, Ruhuruina, Wandare, and Kiandongoro. Visistors coming from Naivasha, the Mutubio gate is the best option.
Alternatively, chartered flights operate to the park from Mweiga and Nanyuki airstrips, providing a convenient aerial option.
