Aberdare National Park

Aberdare National Park covers an area of 766 km². It lies in the immediate vicinity of the Nyandarua Mountains and consists of the Aberdare Range, a mountain chain of volcanic origin stretching from north to south, and its eastern, densely forested foothills.

The Aberdare National Park has an area of 766 km². It is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Nyandarua Mountains and consists of the Aberdare Range, a mountain range of volcanic origin that stretches from north to south, and its eastern, densely forested foothills.
Between the two largest elevations, Ol Donyo Lesatima (also Ol Doinyo La Satima; 3999 m) and Kinangop (3906 m), a saddle of alpine heathland runs at an altitude of over 3000 m. In addition to the high moorland areas, bush land and mountain forest including bamboo can be found. Gorges with streams and waterfalls cut through wooded slopes in the east and west. It is an important water catchment area for the Tana and Athi rivers.
You can go on safari in the national park, but it must be guided. There are also camps and lodges in the national park. Special attractions of the park are the waterfalls Karuru, Gura, Chania and Magura

For most of the year the weather is characterized by fog and rain. Heavy rainfall is frequent, with rainfall of between 1000 mm per year on the north-western slopes and 3000 mm per year in the south-east.

The fauna is not particularly rich in species. There are bongos, buffalos, bushbucks and waterbucks as well as bush and giant forest pigs. The black rhino is not yet completely extinct here. With a bit of luck you can also see black panthers (black colored leopards).

The elephants at the height of the Nyandarua Mountains are quite shy. They use the bamboo, tree heather and other dense bushes as cover. In the eastern part of the park called Salient, around the lodges Treetops and The Ark, the elephants are used to humans. In 1973 and 1976, 3000 elephants are said to have lived in Aberdare National Park, in 1987 it was 2000 animals. Poaching is under control. Deep ditches prevent the elephants from leaving the park, as they would be pursued in the outlying populated and agricultural areas.