Ultimate Guide to Aberdare Safari
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The Ultimate Guide to Aberdare Safari
Aberdare SafariAberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park, classified under IUCN Category II, is a protected area in central Kenya within the Aberdare Mountain Range, east of the Great Rift Valley. It spans 767 km² (296 sq mi) across Nyandarua and Nyeri counties, with Nyeri as the nearest city. The park was officially established in 1950 and is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Overview
Located about 100 km north of Nairobi, the park features diverse landscapes ranging from 2,000 m (6,600 ft) to 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in elevation. Visitors encounter dramatic mountain peaks, deep valleys carved by rivers and waterfalls, and ecosystems that include moorlands, bamboo forests, and lush rainforests.
History
Aberdare National Park is famously linked to a historic moment in 1952, when Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II after the death of her father, King George VI, while staying at the Treetops Hotel. Since its creation in 1950, the park has remained a vital conservation area for the Aberdare Mountains.
Wildlife
The park hosts a rich variety of wildlife, including lion, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo, bushbuck, waterbuck, mountain reedbuck, and East African wild dog. Unique species such as the giant forest hog, bongo, African golden cat, and serval can also be found. Primates like the olive baboon, black-and-white colobus monkey, and Sykes monkey thrive here. Aberdare is also home to a significant population of eastern black rhinoceros and over 250 bird species, including the endangered Aberdare cisticola, Jackson’s spurfowl, and various sunbirds and raptors.