The Aberdares from Central Kenya province are part of the most fertile lands that were chosen by the European explorers for tea, wheat, coffee and sugar plantations in Kenya. Aberdare Kenya safaris include visits to some of the large acre farms, to Aberdare national park, thick rainforest and to the foot slopes of the mountains.

ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK

The Aberdare National Park was created in 1950 to protect the forested slopes and moors of the Aberdare Mountains. Despite the fact that the Park has elephant, lion, rhino, black

leopard, monkeys and the beautiful but elusive bongo antelope it attracts only a small number of visitors. Large tusked elephants are a common sight around water holes and salt licks.

Nocturnal game drives are quite fruitful and will include sights of the shy leopards, laughing hyenas, lions and many other nocturnal predators. Game viewing is generally good from January to March with hot dry weather.

Birds are seen here all through the year with more spectacular views during the rainy season that comes around April to December. In part this is due to the area’s high rainfall that turns the roads to mudslides – you need a 4×4 to get anywhere. Additionally the dense forest makes game viewing tricky.

Aberdare ranges and mountains

The Aberdares are often the 3rd peak range of mountain tops located in Kenya, reaching a peak of just over 4000m. This particular enormous mountain range is popular to its lustrous prominent forest jungles, and for their plentiful game. High altitude forests are broken by moorlands and plains, and with the considerable tree cover you can find sensational views on the Rift Valley along with the peak of Mt Kenya.

From the high eater ways flowing from Mt Kenya is Thomson Falls, one of the tallest plunging about 250 m into a deep gorge below. Beautiful full views of the falls are made in April and May long rains.

Where to stay

Lastly, other than campsites with minimal facilities, the only accommodation is at The Ark Aberdare National Park and at Treetops Lodge. Both Treetops and The Ark are built above the ground beside floodlit waterholes with salt licks. Visitors must book in advance and cannot make their own way to the lodges in private vehicles. The Ark, however, offers better game viewing, especially at night.

Instead check-in is at the Aberdare Country club for The Ark and the Outspan Hotel for Treetops and they bus you to the lodge. Aberdare Treetops Hotel is one of Kenya’s most famous hotels as this is where British Princess Elizabeth was informed that she was now Queen in 1952 when her father died.

Other Aberdare safari lodges and accommodation is found at Serena Mountain lodge located near Mt Kenya forests.

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