ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK/ ABERDARES NATIONAL PARK
Before
the arrival of the Europeans in Kenya, the Aberdare range used to be called Nyandarua (the
Kikuyu for place of hide) by the local people.
The first European to see it- Thomson renamed it Aberdare after
Lord Aberdare, the president of the Royal Geographical society.
Thomson Falls town and falls has reverted to their
pre-colonial name of Nyuhururu town and falls respectively.
The name Thomson Falls today only refers to the lodge.
The
Aberdares range are the third highest range of mountains in Kenya,
reaching a summit of just over 4000m.
Location:
Aberdare National Park is
located in Nyeri District and was created in 1950.
Aberdare National Park covers an area of 766Km2 and occupy the volcanic range that form the
eastern wall of the rift valley.
Two peaks dominate the Aberdares range- Ol Donyo Lesatima
(3,999m) and Kinangop (3,906m) separated by a saddle of alpine moorland. The terrain
of Aberdare National park is diverse with deep ravines that cut through the forested eastern
and western slopes with numerous clear streams and waterfalls.
The Aberdare National park
can be divided into two environments:- the
moorland, peaks and high forest of the Kinangop plateau,
and the Salient to east where the forest slopes down to the
regional capital of Nyeri. Most
of the time, the high altitude is misty.
The park lies10,000 feet above sea level .
Attractions in
Aberdare / Aberdares National Park
The
following are the main attractions in Aberdare National Park
-
Mammals: Aberdare National Park boast of a large mammal
population including Elephant, buffalo, black rhino, bongo antelope, bush pig,
giant forest hog, black serval cat, lion, black leopard.
Colobus monkeys colonise the canopy.
-
Bird life includes - the giant
kingfishers
-
Dramatic views include the Chania
and Karura Falls.
-
Two peaks of Kinangop and Ol donyo
Lesitima
-
Twin hills, Elephant hills and Table
mountains,
-
Aberdare National Park has the second largest population of black rhinos
in Salient and Northern Aberdares.
-
Treetops Hotel- Queen Elizabeth learned of her accession to the throne
at Tree-tops
-
The Kimathi Hideout – Kimathi was
Kenya’s premier freedom fighter.
-
Night viewing of wildlife at the Ark & Treetops-two tree
hotels found in this park
-
Sensational views of the Rift Valley and the peak of Mt
Kenya.
-
Trout fishing
-
Horse back riding.
The cries of hyrax and the distinctive rasping
growl of leopard are part of the night unforgettable night sounds.
Sleek Genet cats descend from the trees and slip through
halls of the lodge. the Occasionally a Rhino or the elusive Bongo
antelope appear and visit the waterhole.
The Aberdare can be
explored by vehicle, or on foot. Trekking trails exists through out
the forest and across the moorlands.
Getting to Aberdares National Park
Aberdare National
Park can be accessed by road or by Air
Roads
Aberdare National park is 160 kms from Nairobi. Aberdare
National Park can be accessed from Nairobi via two main routes:
Airstrips
One can easily fly to Aberdare via two airstrips from Nairobi
Wilson Airport:-
-
Mweiga Airstrip,
near to the park headquarters
-
Nyeri Airstrip
which is 12 km from Mweiga headquarters.
Aberdare
National Park Gates
From Nyeri you can access Aberdare via five gates. The
distance is from Nyeri
-
Ruhuruini gate
20 km
-
Kiandongoro
gate 30
-
Treetops gate 17
km
-
Ark gate 28 km
-
Wandare gate 47
km.
From Nyahururu you
can access Aberdare National Park via three gates-
-
Rhino gate 48 km
-
Shamata gate 45
km,
-
Mutubio
gate 50 km.
Accommodation in
Aberdare National park:
Lodges in the Park
Children
under 7 years are not allowed at either Treetops or Ark
Besides
the Ark and Treetops, one can be accommodated at KWS Bandas.
These include:-
-
Tusk Camp
Bandas, These can accommodate a maximum of 8 Pax
-
Sapper Hut
for only two pax
-
Kiandogoro
Fishing Lodge with a total of 14 Pax
Outside the park at Nyeri- Aberdare Country Club, Outspan Hotel.
Aberdare Country Club is the base of the Ark, Outspan is the
base of Treetops Hotel.
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