Aberdare National Park

Aberdare National Park is a beautiful national park located in central Kenya’s Aberdare Mountain ranges, part of the East African Rift Valley region. Aberdare National Park, established in 1950, comprises 766 square kilometres and is managed by Kenya Wildlife Services. The park is part of the Aberdare Mountain Range and rises at elevations varying from 2,000m (6,600 ft) to 4,000m (13,000 ft) above sea level. The Park’s breathtaking terrain has two eco-systems: the salient is made up of rainforest, moorland, and bamboo on its lower slopes. In contrast, the mountain range is made up of deep V-shaped valleys cut through by rivers, streams, and waterfalls.

Aberdare National Park is regarded as one of Kenya’s top safari sites. In addition to its spectacular 300-meter-high waterfalls, foggy tropical rainforests, and steep elevation, the park is home to a diverse range of animals. A walk through the park will take you from the rainforest to bamboo groves and high alpine vegetation, with rewarding views of buffaloes, baboons, monkeys, elephants and antelopes emerging from the dense jungle along the way. Aberdare National Park is home to nearly 2,000 elephants that traverse its magnificent environment, as well as a number of unusual creatures, including the bongo, a massive antelope that lives in the park’s bamboo forest.

Aberdare is home to Kenya’s second largest black rhino herd. Spotted hyenas, African golden cats, bush pigs, jackals, waterbucks, elands, and the elusive black leopard are all frequently sighted. Even the lion lives in Aberdare, but it is rarely seen. Furthermore, Aberdare National Park is a birders’ paradise, with over 290 known bird species, including the endangered Aberdare Cisticola. The park also has a diverse population of raptors and migratory birds.

The Best Time to Visit Aberdare National Park

Aberdare National Park provides excellent game viewing throughout the year. However, because the park is in a mountainous area, rain is expected at any time. Nonetheless, the best time to visit Kenya is during the dry season, which lasts from January to February and June to September. These are the best months for game viewing and trekking. The rainy season in Aberdare National Park lasts from March to May and October to November, which are ideal seasons for bird watching.

Top attractions in Aberdare National Park are among the 10 reasons to go on an African safari.

Aberdare Mountain Ranges

The Aberdare Ranges are the most popular tourist destination in Aberdare National Park. They are a lone volcanic range stretching 160 km along the eastern boundary of the Great East African Rift Valley. The Aberdare Mountain ranges make it one of Kenya’s best sites for hiking vacations. The Aberdare ranges have a maximum elevation of about 4000 meters above sea level and include Amount Santima, the range’s highest peak, Mount Kinangop, the range’s second highest peak (3,906 meters), which is located on the southern end, Chebuswa range (3364 meters), Table Mountain (3791 meters), Martini Hill (3698 meters), and Elephant at 3590 meters.

The Aberdare Mountain ranges are important to the native Kikuyu people, in addition to being home to a variety of animals, primates and birds. Given their unusual shapes, the Aberdares are referred to as “Nyandarua” by the Kikuyu, which means drying fleece. For example, the ranges to the west of the Aberdares slip sharply into the Kinangop plateau, whilst those to the east are gently sloping.

Wildlife

Aberdare National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife species, including elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, black rhinos, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, bushbucks, and waterbucks. Rare sightings of species include the Giant Forest Hog, blue duiker, African golden cat, African wild cat, bongo, serval cat, African civet cat, and lions, to name a few. Aberdare is noted for having a significant rhino population, making it an exceptional Kenyan national park. The park has Kenya’s second-largest rhino population.

Birds

Aberdare National Park is a birder’s dream and an excellent Kenya birding safari location, with over 250 recorded bird species, including the unique Hartlaub’s turaco and the mysterious Aberdare cisticola, which is exclusive to the region. Aberdare National Park is home to a variety of bird species, including the Abyssinian Crimsonwing, rare Scarlet-tufted Malachite sunbird, African goshawk, Bronzy sunbird, Augur buzzard, Bar-tailed trogon, African yellow warbler, African green pigeon, African paradise flycatcher, Ayres’s hawk-eagle, Bar-tailed trogon, and Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, among many others.

Waterfalls

Aberdare National Park’s waterfalls are another excellent site to see when on safari. The park has several waterfalls, including Karuru Falls, which is home to several unique mature wonders. The waterfall is Kenya’s largest and highest, with a magnificent drop of almost 300 meters below the viewing point. The waterfall is surrounded by beautiful vegetation and surroundings. Other waterfalls in the park include the Chain waterfalls, Thomson’s waterfall/Nyahururu waterfalls, Kereita cave and waterfall, Queens cave, and Magura waterfalls, to name a few.

The Kikuyu people

The Kikuyu people who live near Aberdare National Park believe that the Aberdare Ranges are one of Ngai, their god’s mansions. The natives named this site Nyandarua, which means “drying hide,” due to the numerous folds visible here. The Kikuyu are an interesting ethnic group who exhibit a distinct and real culture when visiting the park for a cultural interaction.

Top Safari Activities in Aberdare National Park.

Game Drives

Explore Aberdare National Park with game drives at day and night in a 4×4 safari vehicle. Game drives in Aberdare National Park allow guests to see the park’s various wildlife species, including the big five, many wild cats, unusual and uncommon species, and more nocturnal sightings, which may be particularly enjoyable on a night game drive.

Birding

Aberdare National Area is home to over 250 bird species, which can be spotted when on safari in the park. Sunbirds, Jackson’s francolin, mountain buzzards, Goshawks, Rufous-breasted sparrow hawks, Fish eagles, and Ayre’s hawks are among the bird species that visitors to Aberdare can expect to encounter. Aberdare National Park offers excellent birding opportunities year-round, with migrating birds present from November to April.

Hiking

Hiking is the most exciting Kenya safari activity in Aberdare National Park. The Aberdare Mountain ranges are part of this National Park, making it a hiker’s paradise with rocky and mountainous terrain excellent for hiking. Hiking to the table mountains, twin or elephant hills, or over the magnificent waterfalls offers breathtaking landscapes while encountering wildlife.

Visit the Sweetwaters Game Reserve.

The Sweetwaters Game Reserve is located at the foothills of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares Ranges. It is home to a wide variety of species, including the Big Five (Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Elephant, and the critically endangered Black Rhino) and non-indigenous chimps. Ol Pejeta’s huge fields offer spectacular views and different wildlife populations, making for a one-of-a-kind safari experience. The Chimpanzee Sanctuary is one of the most popular Sweetwaters attractions. Morani, a famous tamed rhino, is another draw.

Fishing

Aberdare National Park is one of Kenya’s greatest sites for fishing expeditions. Travellers to the Aberdares can fish in the high moorlands’ streams and rivers. Tourists can go trout fishing on the Chania River or any other river within the park.

Visit the Kikuyu.

The Kikuyu live in a settlement at the base of the Outspan Hotel in Aberdare National Park, and seeing them provides an insight into their rich culture and traditions. Traditional Kikuyu dancers dressed in traditional attire perform in this charming village. Experience the Agikuyu custom in this hamlet, which was designed specifically for visitors to learn about indigenous cultures.

How to get to Aberdare National Park?

Aberdare National Park is located approximately 99 miles (160 kilometres) from Nairobi’s capital. A excellent tarmac road connects the Naro Moru and Nyeri communities on the park’s eastern side. The optimal path, however, departs from Naivasha and Nyahururu. If you are coming from Nyeri, the gates are located at Treetops, Ark, Ruhuruina, Wandare, and Kiandongoro. When entering the park from Nyahururu, use the Shamata or Rhino gates. The Mutubio Gate is appropriate for guests coming from Naivasha.

By Air: Two airstrips offer chartered flights to Aberdare National Park, which include. Mweiga and Nanyuki.