Aberdare National Park
National Park - 767 sq km - Managed by Kenya Wildlife Service
The Aberdare National
Park is part of the Aberdare Mountain Range, a fascinating region of Kenya. According to traditional Kikuyu folklore they
are one of the homes of Ngai (God).
Mountain ranges and peaks
soar to around 12,900ft (3,930m) giving way to deep V-shaped valleys with streams and rivers cascading over spectacular waterfalls
– this area is a must for landscape lovers. From its vital catchment area the Aberdare Rainforest feeds the entire local
and Nairobi water supply. Above the forest is a belt of bamboo, a favourite haunt of the Bongo, a rare and elusive forest
antelope. At 10,000ft (3,000m), the bamboo gives way to moorland, home to eland, spotted and melanistic serval cats. Other
features are the giant alpine varieties of lobelia, groundsel and heather. Ideal for walking, picnics, camping and trout fishing
in the rivers, the moorlands are reminiscent of the European highlands.
Deep ravines cut
through the forested inclines, through which hidden trout streams flow and waterfalls cascade down hundreds of feet of rock
face.
Above the forest stretch miles of open moorlands,broken by lichen
- covered rocky outcrops, hills and crags,thickets of giant heath and tussock-grass bogs.In the forest are red Duiker, suni,
Bushbuck - some of the old males are nearly black - Elephant, Buffalo, Giant Forest Hog, Leopard- all black examples have
been recorded - and colobus monkey.
The moorland thickets are
the home of Bush Duiker and Black - fronted Duiker and also the Black Rhino.
Bird life is abundant and varied. Perhaps the most conspicuous group is the sunbirds. Four species may be seen -
Tacazze sunbird, brilliant metallic violet and bronze with a black belly; Golden-winged sunbird, scintillating coppery-bronze
with golden yellow edged wings and tail; the emerald green Malachite Sunbird, and the tiny double collared Sunbird with metallic
green upperparts and throat and scarlet chest band.
Game birds
include Jackson's and Scaly Francolins in the forest and the very local Montane Francolin on the moorlands. Birds of prey
are specially interesting and crowned and Ayres' Hawk Eagles, Mountain Buzzard, Rufous-breasted Sparrow Hawk and African
Goshawk are usually to be seen.
Birds in the higher moorland
are the Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird - but rare here than in Mount Kenya - The tame and confiding Mountain or Hill Chat,
Augur Buzzard, Slender-billed Chestnut-wing Starling and White-naped Raven.
There is a variety of accommodation. Treetops tree-house lodge and the Ark, a lodge built in the shape of Noah’s
Ark. Night gameviewing is provided by the lodges in the Salient area of the Park with excellent sightings of elephant, buffalo,
lion and rhino, drawn to the waterholes and saltlicks each evening.
Overall
within the Aberdare National park there are two lodges (total 219 beds), three self-help band sites (total 18 beds), eight
special campsites (requiring advance booking) and one public campsite (moorland). There are five picnic sites.
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Abardare Natonal Park
Climate:Wet and moist
Features:Mountain peaks,moorlands,waterfalls,rainforests
,caves ,Twin hills ,the Kimathi hideout
Facilities:Lodges,campsites,bandas,maps,picnic
sites
Activities:Night game viewing,trout
fishing in ice - cold rivers,camping ,hiking ,nature tails
Accommodation:
Lodges: Treetops,
Ark,Aberdares Country Club
Hotels(Outspan hotel outside
the park)
Bandas
Fishing
lodge
Ruhuruini(Camp
Tusk)
Sapper hut
For Safari booking to the Abardare kindly contact us