With its mountains up to 4,000 metres, rainforests, moorlands, bamboo forests, deep valleys, Aberdare differs from the usual parks filled with savannah landscapes. Of course you can enjoy the usual game drives marvelling at plenty of wildlife. However, you can also go on beautiful hikes discovering the park’s enchanting scenery and chasing its multiple waterfalls. The park is a protected area within the Aberdare Mountain Range, on the east of the Rift Valley and 100 kilometres north of Nairobi. Aberdare was established as a national park in 1950 and covers an area of 766 square kilometres.
Paradise for animal-lovers
Many animals roam in and out of the forests here. Think of elephants, lions, leopards, bushbucks, giraffes, baboons, buffalos… There were even rumours about black leopards which are in fact “regular” leopards. Their black fur is a result of melanism – the opposite of albinism – which causes a surplus of pigment in the skin or hair. We have to disappoint you though: it was merely a rumour and no black leopard has ever been seen here.
Still the park is home to a number of rare species. It has a high density of endangered African wild dogs, a large population of critically endangered eastern black rhinos and several endangered birds species, like the hooded vulture. So keep your eyes open and with a little bit of luck one of these extremely rare animals might just pose for your camera.
History
This park is also the place where Princess Elizabeth found out her father King George VI had passed, and that she had become Queen. She was staying at the famous Treetops Hotel when this happened, which is one of two hotels in the park. It’s still open to guests, as is The Ark, the other hotel of the park. Surrounded by waterholes and with an underground viewing area, these hotels allow for many animal sightings. A special alarm system notifies you when you are in your room and a special animal is passing by.
Less glamorous is that the Aberdare Mountain Range is the place where the Mau Mau rebellion took place in the 1950s. European settlers found this place to be perfect for the farming of tea, coffee, wheat and flowers. With permission of the colonial government they took over the countryside, but with little regard for the local customs and culture. This created resentment leading to the rebellion. The Mau Mau leader knew the forest well and used it as headquarters and hiding place until a considerable manhunt tracked him down in 1950s.
Activities in Aberdare National Park
- Hike to waterfalls and take a refreshing shower
- Go on unforgettable day hikes
- Watch plenty of animals at the waterholes near your hotel
- Enjoy picnics in the moorlands
How to get there
Aberdare National Park lies north of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, at a three to four hour drive.
Climate
Kenya has a cold season from June to November with average temperatures of 20°C during the day. Nights can get cold during this season, so it’s best to take a sweater.
Mid-October to November is the short rainy season, after which temperatures rise up to 30°C during the day from December to April. April and May come with showers again as this is the long rainy season. It normally doesn’t rain throughout the day as one sees sunny mornings with rain clouds building up towards the afternoons and evenings.
In general the weather in the Aberdare National Park is cooler, since it’s a mountain area that lies at 1,000 to 4,000 metres above sea level. The area can also be very misty, so make sure to have proper clothing for these conditions.
Best time to visit Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park is good to visit all year round. Have fun!
Information and facts
A queen was born, a leader was overthrown: Aberdare National Park is not only filled with scenic beauty and fascinating animals, but also with an interesting history. Find out more about the historic events that took place here while hiking through moorlands, valleys and forests and marvelling at endangered species like black rhinos and African wild dogs.
Most common animals
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Black rhino
- Leopard
- African wild dog
- Baboon
- Black-and-white colobus monkey
- Sykes monkey
- Lion
- African golden cat
- Bongo – an elusive antelope living in the bamboo forest
- Eland
- Over 250 species of birds, including birds of prey like the African goshawk, Ayres’ hawk eagle, Rufous-breasted sparrow hawk and Mountain buzzard
Facts about Aberdare National Park
- 766 square kilometres (296 square miles)
- Established in 1950
- Beautiful hikes to several waterfalls
- Mountains, rainforests and moorlands with many animal sightings
- Cooler temperatures
- Queen Elisabeth of England was visiting this park when she heard her father had passed away and she became queen
- Place of the notorious Mau Mau rebellion in the 1950s
