Mount Kenya National Park National Park - 715 sq km - Managed by Kenya Wildlife Service  AT 5,199m high, Mt. Kenya is East Africa’s second highest mountain. It offers easy or challenging ascents with superb scenic beauty. To the Kikuyu tribespeople it is the home of the Supreme being: Ngai, a name also used by the Maasai and Kamba tribes. In traditional prayers and sacrifices, Ngai is addressed by the Kikuyu as Mwene Nyaga: Possessor of Brightness. The names comes from Kere Nyaga the Kikuyu name for Mt. Kenya, meaning Mountain of Brightness – Ngai’s official home. Part of the mountain’s fascination is the variation in flora, including Giant Groundsel and Lobelia, and fauna as the altitude changes. The lower slopes are covered with dry upland forest, the true montaine (mountain) forest begins at 2,000m is mainly cedar and podo. At 2,500m begins a dense belt of bamboo forest which merges into the upperforest of smaller trees, interspersed with glades. In this area the trees are festooned with high altitude lichen. These forest belts are host to many different animals and plants with at least 11 unique species. Game to view includes: Black and White Colobus and Sykes Monkeys, bushbuck, Rock and rock Hyrax, Greater galago, white tailed, buffalo, elephant and lower down Olive Baboon, waterbuck, Black Rhino, black fronted duikers, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cat, bush pig and hyena. More elusive is the bongo, a rare type of forest antelope. A number of other rarer species can be found here: Suni Antelope, Mt. Kenya Mole Rat, skinks (lizard), Montane Viper and a variety of owls. Occasional sightings have been recorded of albino zebra. Birds are not abundant in the forest. But you can find Crowned hawk eagel and the Jackson's francolin. Rarely you can find the Abyssinian long-eared owl. Birds seen form the lodge include; Green ibis, African black duck, Ayres' hawk eagle, Rufous-breasted and great sparrow hawks, Scaly francolin, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Hartlaubs turaco, red headed parrot, bronze-naped pigeon, Mackinder's eagle owl, Rupells robin chat. There are two species of giant Lobelias; the narrow, featherly-leafed lobelia telekii and the broad-leafed lobelia keniensis which are a favourite of sunbirds for their half hidden blossoms or the thin shelled snails that make their home there. Plants also include crocus-like flower; Romuela keniensis, two terrestrial orchids - a Disa and a Habenaria, and an orange flowered gladiolus,Gladiolus Watsonioides. The high altitude heath at the top (3,000 – 3,5000m) is generally open, dotted with shrubs: African Sage, protea and helichrysum. The peak (above 3,500m) is moorland, with little game other than high altitude zebra and eland, common in the northern moorland. There is only one lodge inside the Park (total 66 beds) seven climbers huts (total 82 beds) and three self-help banda sites (total 136 beds. Just outside the Park there are three lodges (total 456 beds) and another self-help banda site (34 beds).Hotel accommodation can be found in Nanyuki 198km (123m) North of Nairobi or in Nyeri 257km (160m) North of Nairobi. Also available are mountain expeditions using mules as pack animals organised by mountain safaris firms and Alpine huts for mountaineers booked through the Mountain club of Kenya. Ask us a Question:              Back to Safari destination Page: Mount Kenya National park: At a glance Climate:Wet Facilities:Lodges, Bandas Activities:Mountain climbing, Game viewing, bird watching Heritage:It is the home of the Supreme Being: Ngai of the Kikuyu tribe people. Parks Roads:Two Airstrip:One Accommodating: Serena Mountain Lodge Mt.Kenya Safari Club