Things To Do and See in Aberdare National Park, Kenya
The Things To Do and See in Aberdare National Park, Kenya, is a frequently asked question. Aberdare National Park is among Kenya’s most visited, located in Central Kenya to the east of the East African Rift Valley. It covers a small area that measures 767 square kilometers and stretches across the higher areas of the Aberdare Mountain ranges.
The Aberdare Salient covers its east side. Lies at 1829 meters above sea level and also sits low in altitude, though it has been identified as a landscape park. The park offers an astonishing safari because it has many rewarding tourist attractions, which is why many tourists from all corners of the globe visit it on a regular basis.
The park’s terrain features a wide variety of terrains with deep ravines that go along the slopes of the eastern and western forested parts of the mountains.
It harbors Black rhinos that are often sighted within the park, along with baboons, Sykes monkeys, white and black Colobus monkeys and leopards and others. Aberdare is also dotted with bamboo forests that are home to various rare species, including the lion, golden cat, and many other bongos.
Things to do and see while on safari in Aberdare National Park
Game drive /Wildlife
Well, Aberdare National Park is home to a concentration of rhinoceros and other endangered species of wildlife, making it a perfect safari destination for your next visit on an African safari. During the game drive, expect to spot a variety of wild animals such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, bushbucks, bush pigs, bongo antelopes, warthogs, reedbucks, serval cats, elands, black rhinos, golden cats, striped jackals, spotted genets, leopards, giant forest hogs, black and white colobus monkeys, Sykes monkeys, and many more. Take a drive around the higher moorlands of the Aberdare ranges, where you can sightsee a number of herds of elephants and servals and many more.
Birdlife in Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park is an excellent place for bird enthusiasts, as it hosts over 250 species of birds. They are best spotted in the rainforest and bamboo forest. They are best spotted in the months of November, December, January, February, March and up to April. Here are some of bird species to search for when you go birding in Aberdare National Park ,including Aberdare Cisticola ,Jackson’s spurfowl ,Speke’s weaver ,Scarlet tufted ,Mountain buzzard ,Moorland chat , Tacazza sunbird ,African thrush ,Bar-tailed trogon ,Black -fronted bush -shrike ,Cinnamon -chested bee -eater ,Crowned eagle ,Golden -winged sunbird ,Hartlaub’s turaco ,Mountain wagtail ,Mountain buzzard ,Moorland francolin ,Speke’s weaver ,Olivis ibis ,Narina trogon, White -headed wood-hoopoe ,White -eyed slaty flycatcher ,Tambourine dove ,African black duck ,African green pigeon ,African paradise flycatcher ,mentioned but few.
Guided nature walks
This is an interesting activity, as you will be able to walk into a stunning ecosystem of different vegetation types, which is comprised of moorlands, thick forests, bamboo forests, and rhododendrons. While you walk through, expect to watch a wide variety of wildlife species, especially in the lower altitudes, including Rhinos, elephants, Giant Forest hogs, Civet cats, Duikers, Leopards, Antelopes, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Hyenas, Olive baboons and various species of monkeys.
You can also visit the beautiful Karuru waterfalls, which consist of three steps: the first step is a height of 117 meters, the second step is 26 meters high, and the third step is 130 meters high. They reward sightseeing and photography.
Cultural sites and Historical Site
Visitors interested in Kenyan culture encounter it and then visit Aberdare National Park.
The Kikuyu Local community
The Kikuyu people live in the park, and they believe that the Aberdare Mountains are one of the places where Ngai, their god, lives. The locals first dubbed it Nyandarua, meaning “dried hide,” due to the numerous distinct folds found here.
Aberdare Mountain Ranges
Fact that, Aberdare National Park sits in the southern part of the country, offering stunning mountain ranges covered by moorland, bamboo forests and rain forests, all of which make the park stunning and worth taking a hike in.
The park is home to many mountain ranges, of which the highest peak is Mount Santima, followed by Mount Kinangop, Table Mountain, Martini Hill, Elephants and Mount Chebuswa. Joseph Thomas named these Aberdare Mountain ranges in 1884 after Lord Aberdare, the first person to visit these mountains.
Best time to Visit Aberdare National Park
Well, Aberdare National Park can be accessed throughout the year, though the best time to visit it is during the dry season, which occurs from June to September and December to February. During this time of the year, the road is passable since there is less mud on the hiking trails than during the rainy season, when the trails are muddy and slippery.
Getting there;
Aberdare National Park can either be accessed by air or by road transport.
By Road: From Nairobi, it’s estimated to be a 2- to 3-hour drive to the park. You will drive along a tarmac road through one of its park gates: Shamata or rhino gate.
By Air: Those who wish to fly in the Aberdare National Park are advised to book scheduled or chartered flights from Wilson Airport, which lies in the southern part of Nairobi, to the airstrips at Mweiga and Nanyuki and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
Number of domestic airlines to use includes Air Kenya, SafariLink, and others. Reliable Kenya Tour Operators on the ground can assist you in booking your domestic flight.
Where to stay?
Aberdare National Park has got selected accommodations with good amenities and locations, including The Ark, Treetops Lodge, Aberdare Country Club, Aberdare Cottages and Fishing lodge, Tusk Camp Banda, Campsites, and Sapper Hut, among others. End of the safari.
