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ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK/ ABERDARES NATIONAL PARK RESERVE
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. The 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 the park is diverse with deep ravines that cut
through the forested eastern and western slopes with numerous clear streams and waterfalls.
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.
An important water
catchment area-Aberdare is an important catchment area for Tana
and Ewaso Ngiro rivers.
The park lies10,000 feet above sea level .
Attractions in Aberdare /
Aberdares National Park
The following are the main
attractions;
-
Mammals: the 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 colonize the canopy.
-
Bird watching-Bird watching in aberdare can be rewarding
for patient bird watchers 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 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.
-
Overnight game viewing
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 moor lands.
Getting to Aberdares/ Aberdare Park
Aberdare National
Park can be accessed by road or by Air
Roads-Driving
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 the Park via three gates-
-
Rhino gate 48 km
-
Shamata gate 45
km,
-
Mutubio gate 50
km.
Accommodation/Lodges/Hotels in Aberdare National park:>> Accommodation in Aberdare is at the Ark
Lodge and Treetops Hotel.
One can also be accommodated in the hotels in Nyeri and Nyahururu.
Children under 7 years are not allowed at either Treetops or Ark.
Their noise is likely to chase the animals.
Treetops Hotel / Lodge >>The treetops has 50 rooms. It is built on stilts overlooking a floodlit
water hole with views of Mt Kenya. The lodge is famous because this is where Princess Elizabeth became the Queen of the British Empire.
All cabins have shared bathrooms.
The Ark Lodge:>>From a far, the Ark looks like Noah's Ark floating on vegetation. The Ark has got 60 en suite rooms, lounge,
bar and a restaurant overlooking the water hole. Guests view the animals from the safety of the balconies as they parade to take
a share of the salt licks. All rooms have carpets to keep warm. A 24 hours buzzer is available to alert the guests
whenever one of the rare animals appear. Game viewing is superb from the lodge decks. Below the decks is a stone bunker
from where you can literally touch the animals and take the
pictures.
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 is the base of the Ark, Outspan is the base of
Treetops Hotel.
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