Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park is an exceptional tourist destination that sounds with a variety of wildlife species, mountain ranges and a cool place to visit .The park lies in east of the East African Rift Valley covering the highest areas and the Aberdare salient to the east that stretches over a wide number of terrain at a low altitude measuring from 2,000 meters to 4,000 meters above the see level to their v-shaped valleys. However, it was established in May 1950 as a gazette national park to protect wildlife species and Aberdare mountain ranges on a land covering an area of 766 square kilometers .In spite the fact that, it contains a huge range of landscape from mountain peaks that rise to 4,000 meters above sea level which is intersected by streams ,waterfalls ,rivers ,valleys. At a lower altitude measuring 2,000 meters comprised of moorland, bamboo forests and rainforest.
N.B Abergare national park is under a governing body of Kenya Wildlife Service a body responsible for all Kenyan national parks and it’s on the list of UNESCO heritage sites.
Wildlife species to see in Aberdare national park
Aberdare national park is a home to bio diversity of wildlife species which can be adventured on your visit to the park. They include; rare Bongo Antelopes, wild hogs, leopards, elephants, East African wild dog, bush buck, mountain reedbuck, Cape buffalo, Suni, Side-striped jackal, eland, duiker, Olive baboon, giants forest hog among others. The rarer spotted animals include African golden cat and the bongo, other species like common eland, serval are seen in the higher moorlands. The park is also popularly known as a home to a large Eastern black rhinoceros many more.
Bird species to sight see in Aberdare national park include Aberdare cisticola, Jackson’s spur fowl, sparrow hawk, African goshawk, African fish eagle, plovers and sunbirds many more.
Above all, Aberdare national park sits mainly above the tree line that provides great spectacular viewing of beautiful scenery with its mountainous terrain covered in thick tropical forests in mist.
Highlight Attractions to see in Abergare national park include as follows;
The one of the major highlight to visit in this national park are the beautiful mountain scenery and rewarding unique water falls.
Rare mammal species like Black leopards, Black serval, Eastern Bongo known as forest Antelopes.
The famous Treetops lodge offers great panoramic view of wild animals as they link along the waterhole around the lodge.
Other attraction includes Trout fishing, Mountain hiking.
Activities done in Aberdare National Park.
They include; Game drive, Mountain hikes, bird watching, photographic.
In fact, Aberdare national park is a famously known safari destination as a place where princess Elizabeth of England came to know that she was Queen upon the death of her father during her stay at Treetops Lodge. Since then Treetop lodge has been famous place of stay with numbers of traveler who visit Kenya safaris.
Game drive viewing in this park is quite rewarding as you can be able to see numbers of elephants, Buffalo and they can be spotted out in thick rainforest vegetation. The local denizens are best seen around the waterholes near to the lodge. While on your game drive you can visit stunning mountain peaks deep with icy mountain streams by trekking up the high peaks and get rewarded with amazing scenery as well as touring beautiful waterfalls with a moorland plateau.
The park features with thick rainforest that gives way to bamboo forest and thrilling alpine vegetation which are habitat to several species of antelopes like duiker, rare suni, bushbuck, forest elephants, buffalos and lucky enough you might catch a glimpse of Kenya’s unique antelope ‘’the Bongo’ ’They are also a home to primates such as vervet Monkeys, Black and White Colobus and Skye’s.
Accommodation/lodges in Abergare national park.
The Ark Tree Lodge
The Lodge is extremely rewarding with overlooks of the largest salt licks and waterholes in the Aberdare Mountain where you can have clear viewing of forest game. It was built in a unique way as a shape of Noah’s Ark which offers nice accommodation in en-suite rooms.
Abergare Country Club was built on slopes of Mweiga Hill which is part of Great Rift valley. Activities done include nature walks, game drive, golf, horseback riding safaris and many.
Best time to go to Aberdare national park.
The best time to go to the park is from January to February and June to September. This is due to its high altitude that cools the region than the savannah grass land.
Then from March to May and October to December it can be rainy season good for birding though roads can be in poor condition in order to access the park.
Getting there
Abergare national park can be easily accessible from Nyeri and Naro Moru on Eastern part from Nairobi covering 150 kilometers by drive. Travelers are recommended to use 4×4 WD vehicle.
Traveler can fly from Wilson Airport to Mweiga or Nyeri Airstrip near the national park headquarters.
Abergare national park is a place of itself where you can feel that cool breath taking air and the scenery of the landscape is rewarding with beautiful vegetation, waterfalls, animal species, green bamboo forest as well as unique accommodation facilities. Visit Abergare on your next visit to Kenya safari destination.
