Aberdare National Park Kenya

The Aberdare National Park is an isolated volcanic range that forms the eastern wall of the rift valley, running roughly 100 km north-south between Nairobi and Thomson’s falls. Soils are red and of volcanic origin, but rich in organic matter.

There are two main peaks, Ol Donyo lesatima that is 3,999 metres and Kinangop at 3,906 metres separated by a long saddle of Alpine moorland at over 3,000 meters. The topography is diverse with deep ravines that cut through the forested eastern and western slopes and there are many clear streams and waterfalls. The Aberdares are an important water catchment area providing water to the Tana and Athi rivers and part of central rift and Northern drainage basins.

The Aberdare National Park lies mainly above 10,000 ft contour with some forest and scrub at lower altitude in the salient area near nyeri with the boundary running down to the 7,000 ft contour. The unusual Vegetation rugged terrain, streams and waterfalls combine to create an area of great scenic beauty in the national park. The park is surrounded by a pre-dominantly indigenous forest, whose management is under the forest department. The Aberdare National Park is at the size of 767 sq km and is 160 km from Nairobi.

Wildlife
The Aberdare National Park is a home to most of the larger mammals, having a large population of black rhino. The park also has the endangered species include the rare bongo, giant forest hog, packs of the very rare wild dogs and endemic mole-rate and mole shrew. Other game includes leopard, serval, endemic bird species, reptiles and insects.

The major attractions
The Aberdare National Park has got a variety of attractions and some of them include lesatima peak, Kinangop peak, water falls, and walks in the moorlands, Twin Hills, elephant hills and Table Mountains, the second larges population of black rhinos in salient and northern Aberdare. Also Queen Elizabeth II learned of her accession to the British throne are treetops lodge. The Kimath hideout/ Mau Mau caves.

Getting to the park
The Aberdare national park can be can reached by both road and air transport. However it’s easily access by tarmac from nyeri and Naro Moru on the eastern side and its approximately 160km from Nairobi. Another road crosses the park to connect with another from Naivasha and northern Kinangop in the west. The main towns from which the park can be approached are Nyeri 154 km from Nairobi, Nyahuru 188 km from Nairobi and Naivasha is 87km from Nairobi.
There is an air strip at Mweiga airstrip next to Aberdare country club, treetops that is managed by Aberdare safari hotels.

Major activities
The Aberdare National Park has got a number of activities and among them is mountain climbing, camping hiking, waling, game viewing, night viewing of wildlife at the Ark and tree tops lodges. Trout fishing is also available along the numerous ice-cold clear flowing steams the best time to the park is all year around.

Accommodation
Their lodge hotels in and around the Aberdare National Park the Ark lodge which 8is managed Fairmount hotels, the Aberdare country club, treetops managed by Aberdare safari hotels. Also Kenya wild life service has got a fishing lodge, Ruhuruini, tusk camp, sapper, hut, and KWS (Kenya Wildlife Service) hut at treetops.