Aberdare national park

Aberdare national park

Aberdare national park is found north of Nairobi the capital city of Kenya in Nyandarua country and Nyeri County, this protected area lies east of the East African rift valley with Nyeri as the nearest town. Aberdare national park was established as national park in 1950 covering an area of 766 square kilometers.   Aberdare national park is made up of a great scenic terrain which consists of many features and a series vegetation cover, the park’s plains cover consists of moorlands, bamboo forests and rainforests which are home for many wildlife species. Features in the park include ridges, river valleys Aberdare mountain ranges and waterfalls. Aberdare mountain ranges is composed of many ranges which stand at different altitudes, these ranges create a scenic scenery in the park. Waterfalls in the Aberdare  park are a magnificent feature and many in number, noticeable waterfalls include Chania waterfalls and one waterfall made up of 3 falling steps falling a different height level that is 117 meters for the first step, second step falling at 26 meters and 3rd step falling at 130 meters.

Aberdare national park is a compact home for wildlife, the park hosts both animals and birds, animals living in the park include lion, leopard, elephant, eland, East African wild dog, African civet cat, giant forest hog, bushbuck, mountain reedbuck, serval cat, African wild cat, waterbuck, Cape buffalo, blue duiker, black leopard, giant forest hog, suni, spotted hyenas, side-striped jackal, eastern black rhinoceros, eland, duiker and many more. In the forest regions in the park their lives primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, skyes monkey, olive baboon and chimpanzees.

Aberdare  park is listed among the best birding sites in Kenya, the park is a home to over 280 bird species such as African goshawk, African green pigeon, African paradise flycatcher, African yellow warbler, augur buzzard, Ayres’s hawk eagle, bar-tailed trogon, bronzy sunbird, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, crowned eagle, doherty’s bush-shrike, golden-winged sunbird, Hartlaub’s turaco, hunter’s cisticola, jackson’s francolin, Montagu’s harrier and many more.

Historically, Aberdare  park is a very significant area to the life hood of the ruler of England Queen Elizabeth. At the time she turned from a princess to a queen, princess Elizabeth was on a safari in Kenya and sleeping at treetops lodge at the time the news about the death of her father reached her.  Aberdare national park is very spiritually significant to the local kikuyu people, to the kikuyu the area is a home to the kikuyu god Ngai.  

What to do in Aberdare national park

As destination is never interesting if there is no or less activities to participate in which not the case is when it comes to Aberdare park, the park offers many activities for tourists such as

Chimpanzee tracking

Chimpanzee tracking in Aberdare national park is a very rewarding activity for primates lovers most especially chimpanzees, Aberdare national park consists of forest patches which are home to several types of primates such as olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and chimpanzees. Chimpanzee/primate tracking in Aberdare park involves hiking through the forests in search for these primates and finding them it is a great joy.

Game viewing

Aberdare national park is a fantastic destination when it comes to game viewing, the park is a home to a diverse number of wildlife and scenic physical features which will make your experience an unforgettable one. Driving through Aberdare national park for game viewing is done either in the morning, afternoon or for a full day but no matter the time of a day you chose it is always a great experience. Many animals viewed grazing in the park such as spotted hyenas, side-striped jackal, eastern black rhinoceros, eland, duiker, East African wild dog, giant forest hog, bushbuck, mountain reedbuck, waterbuck, Cape buffalo, suni and big predators like leopards and huge herds of elephants. When driving in the park make sure you use a 4X4 wheel safari vehicle which is capable of navigating through slippery trails in the park.

Bird watching

Aberdare national park is not just a home to bird, the park is also one unmissed birding site while on bird watching safari in Tanzania. Aberdare national park is home to approximately 290 bird species which make bird watching a breathtaking activity, this activity takes you through different regions of the park such as forested patches and savannah plains. on this activity birds viewed in the park include African yellow warbler, augur buzzard, Ayres’s hawk eagle, bar-tailed trogon, bronzy sunbird, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, crowned eagle, doherty’s bush-shrike, golden-winged sunbird, Hartlaub’s turaco, hunter’s cisticola, jackson’s francolin, Montagu’s harrier, montane white-eye, moorland chat, moorland francolin, mountain buzzard, Moustached green Tinkerbird, Narina trogon, olive ibis, rufous-chested sparrow hawk, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, Sharpe’s longclaw, silvery-cheeked hornbill, Tacazze sunbird, tambourine dove and many more.

Nature walks

Aberdare national park is made up of beautiful scenic terrain, series of vegetation cover and many wildlife which make nature walks through the park a breath taking activity. Nature walks in Aberdare national park involves a walk through mountainous covered terrain which are crowded with many bird species such as African green pigeon, African paradise flycatcher, African yellow warbler, augur buzzard, Ayres’s hawk eagle, bar-tailed trogon, bronzy sunbird, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, crowned eagle, doherty’s bush-shrike, golden-winged sunbird, Hartlaub’s turaco, hunter’s cisticola, jackson’s francolin, Montagu’s harrier, montane white-eye, moorland chat, moorland francolin and many more. Walking in the forests you can encounter colobus monkeys, olive baboons and in the savannah plains you encounter animals like elephants, leopard, Cape buffalo, spotted hyena and many more. 

Accommodation in Aberdare national park

When you are on a safari in any tourist destination you will require where to sleep in any way and it is the same when you visit Aberdare national park for a safari, the park consists of many hotels, lodges and cottage where you can sleep at. These include tafaria castle, giraffe ark game lodge, legacy gardens Nyeri, coconut palm hotel, tree tops lodge, kimakia tea cottages and many.  

Reaching Aberdare national park

Aberdare national park is a very accessible tourist destination located at a distance of 150 kilometers from Nairobi the capital city of Kenya, any one going the park for a safari experience can either drive or fly to the park. When driving to the park you can chose to use public bus or rent a private vehicle and drive, when flying to the park you use a chartered domestic air flight from jomo Kenyatta international airport  landing at Mweiga airstrip.