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 and the beautiful but elusive bongo antelope
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 and the beautiful but elusive bongo antelope it attracts only a small number of visitors. 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. Lastly, other than campsites with minimal facilities, the only accommodation is at The Ark 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. 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. Treetops 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. The Ark, however, offers better game viewing, especially at night.

Nocturnal game viewing is taken so seriously that there is a bell in each room that sounds if an unusual animal turns up at the waterhole. Elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and bushbuck are regular visitors to the waterhole.