Kenya safaris- Aberdare national park

Aberdare national park

This park is positioned in the central part of Kenya, a distance of 164 km from the county’s capital city –Nairobi. This national park is a portion of Aberdare mountain series. Aberdare national park was established in the year of 1950 mostly to provide sanctuary to wildlife & the Aberdare mountain series. This national park found in Kenya is settled between a rise of 2000 m & 4000 m above the sea-level and also does shield a total land area of 766 km ² which is embraced of moorland, bamboo, deep v-shaped valleys, forests overlapped by rivers, waterfalls, rain-forests, streams, etc. Aberdare national park was termed after the Aberdare mountain series (an inaccessible volcanic series) that forms up the eastern limb of the rift valley that ranges up to 100 km north –south of the capital city of Kenya-Nairobi.

Attractions in Aberdare national park

Birds

This national park does houses a total of about 290 bird species involving the widely spread species which are only sighted in Kenya thence turning the park into a prime and finest birding terminus in the East African country of Kenya. The mentioned national park does involve birds like crowned hornbill, bar tailed tragon, African thrush, golden winged sunbird, African green pigeon, moorland francolin, mountain buzzard, African yellow warbler, silver cheeked hornbill, hartlaubs turaco, rare scarlet, etc.

Wildlife

The mentioned national park in Kenya shelters a closet of rhinos and several other threatened wildlife species which makes it quite a remarkable national park in Kenya. And so this wildlife does involve Bongo Antelopes, Buffalos, Elephants, Lions, Reedbucks, Serval cats, Golden cats, Hyenas, bush pigs, bushbucks, Elands, stripped jackals, black & white colobus, Leopards, spotted genet, giant forest hogs, black rhinos, etc.

Waterfalls  

Aberdare national park shelters improbable waterfalls involving the Chania waterfalls, Karuru waterfalls and of which these specific falls do fall in 3 steps with the 1^st at 117 m,2^nd at 26 m, & 3^rd at 130 m which settles for a sum of 273 m, Magura falls is another plus Gura falls, and so on.

Activities done in Aberdare national park

Game drives in Aberdare national park

This is among the list of the most incredible activities embarked on in this national park. Game drives in this park are done either on a half day basis or a whole day ensuing trails such as the salient zone where you will have a chance to clearly spot animals such as leopards, buffalos, spotted hyenas, elands, bango antelopes, bushbucks, black and white colobus, black rhinos, elephants, etc. Still under this same activity you will be able to spot the unbelievable waterfalls such as the Karuru waterfalls which drifts into 3 steps Magura falls, Chania falls and have gotten an outstanding sight of backdrop, vegetation, hills, mountain streams, etc.

Mountain climbing

In Aberdare national park, hiking is the most venturous activity. In this park there exists a total of mountain peaks which present an opportunity for tourists to engage in the hiking tours like elephant hill hike which settles at 3720 m above sea level and it is a 26 km hike. Once on the elephant hill hiking you will have an opportunity to spot several animals, the sasamua dam, Ndakaini dam. Still you can engage in the Ol doinyo satima mountain hiking which settles on a rise of 4000 m above sea level. Mount Satima well known as mountain of the young bull was titled after a voyager Joseph Thompson and its actually the highest peak of the Aberdare mountain series. When you hike on the satima peak it gives you a chance to spot splendid structures like Mount Kenya, Rift valley, wildlife species, etc. You are advised to carry and wear warm clothes when hiking satima peak because it is on a raised level, therefore it’s going to get colder as you hike to the pinnacle which takes about 5 hrs round hike tour. There exist other mountains like Kinangop which is positioned in the south & Kipipiri mountain that is positioned in the west of the moorland mountains.

Bird watching

This is also among the outline of the finest terminus for birding in Kenya which shelters about 290 bird species involving widely spread species that are only located in Kenya and close widely spread species that are also noticed in the adjacent countries. On your birding viewing you will be able to spot birds like African green pigeon, golden winged sunbird, crowned eagle, white headed wood hoopoe, sharp long claw, olive ibis, narina trogon, double collared sunbird, tambourine dove, rufous chested sparrow hawk, etc.

Trout fishing

There exit 3 rivers in this park which provides easy access to fishing involving Chaina, Ambone & Gura rivers. This activity in the park is conducted by skilled and knowledgeable guides who will direct you how to fish and the places where to do the fishing from. When trout fishing you are sought to have fishing equipment plus the fishing authorization/warrant which can be retrieved at the park head offices.

Best time to tour the Aberdare national park

Year in and year out, one can tour this park but the most recommended period is the peak season in the months of June-September & December – February. Now during this period, the rain levels are less in the park implying the roads are going to be reachable enough, be travel-able, the hiking paths will be absolutely dry and travel-able related to the wet season where the rains are heavy and the roads turn to be treacherous, muddy and slick. Still in the peak season there will be a vibrant sight of wild animals since the grasses will be short.

Travel options to Aberdare national park

This park being positioned in the central area of Kenya; one can reach it by using both /either Road or Air means of transport.

Once you use Air means of transport, you will have to book reserved/leased flights from Wilson airport which is positioned in the southern part of Nairobi –Mweiga or Nanyuki airstrip, then from there link up to the park’s head offices using road transport. Several inland airlines which do maneuver flights to the park like Safari Link Air Kenya, etc.

By use of road transport, this park is positioned at about 160 km from the capital city of the country –Nairobi which consumes a duration of about 2-3 hrs transfer, conversely, you will have a flight to Jomo Kenyatta international airport in Nairobi and then link up by road where you will transfer on a tarmac raod.Aberdare national park has several gates such as Shamata/Rhino gate which can be retrieved when you are coming from Nyahururu & Mutubio gate that can be retrieved when moving from Naivasha.

Where to stay in Aberdare national park

In this park there is a series of lodges and hotels where to stay while on your safari in this Aberdare national park. Still like any other park the accommodation within and outside the park does range in levels of luxury, mid-range and budget. These involve Aberdare country club, Treetops lodge, the Ark, Aberdare cottages & fishing lodge, Campsites, Sapper hut, etc.