A
berdare National Park, 100 km north of Nairobi, could be described as the stepchild of Kenya’s national parks.
Although not as glorious as, say, Amboseli or the Masai Mara, Aberdare remains one of the richest parks in terms of topography. Covering an area of 767 sq km, the Aberdare mountain ranges consist of deep ravines that wedge through its forested eastern and western slopes. they jump off cliffs into the churning brown waters. The park was established in 1950 and it contains
Chania Falls, to all intents and purposes, is a tamed
a rich animal population that includes black rhino,
waterfall and man’s friend.
leopard, baboon, black-and-white colobus monkey and Sykes’ monkey. A bonus for visitors is the park’s many clear freshwater rivers, ideal for
Magura Falls
trout fishing, and there are also opportunities for
In 1952 the present Queen Elizabeth lunched here
camping on the sprawling moorlands.
at Magura Falls. She sat on a wooden structure overlooking the falls and enjoyed a fish delicacy
Then there are the waterfalls of Aberdare.
prepared by Eric Sherbrooke Walker, the man who built the hotel Outspan. Apart from a fresh coat of
Karuru Waterfall
paint, the structure has not been tampered with.
This is one of the highest waterfalls in the region
Magura Fall, like most falls of its size and width,
and probably the most awe-inspiring. Karuru
is loud. It is also unique, however, because of the
plunges in three stages. The first consists of a 383
cave under the falls. Visitors can walk through here
ft fall, followed by a second fall of 84 ft and finally
provided they are wearing the right shoes. It is an
a staggering 427 ft fall. This unique formation is
ideal place for picnics.
magnificent, to say the least. A viewing platform offers great opportunities for
Sapper Hut
photography and there is a series of amazing trails
It has to be said that getting to Sapper Hut is tricky.
with viewing points leading up to the waterfall.
The road that leads there – the Karimu circuit that goes from the airstrip to Kiandongoro gate – is a
Chania Falls
treacherous path that swallows four-wheel drives
Chania is a boisterous, almost furious, waterfall.
this is what safari is all about. The good thing is that,
The water moves rapidly as it churns down a short
when you finally get to Sapper Hut, you will be glad
fall. It is not uncommon to find rafters paddling
you trudged through hell to get there.
when it rains. Perhaps it should be this way; perhaps
through this stretch and enjoying the adrenalin rush; or naked children, screaming gleefully, as
Sapper Hut is a modest two-roomed cabin house facing a nameless waterfall. It is removed from human interference; a place of quiet and calm where the only sound you will hear is the water. The hut accommodates only two people. Cooking equipment is provided and you can cook your own meals. The best activity here, apart from trout fishing, is skinny-dipping by the waterfall – that is, if you can stand the cold water.
MOUNT KENYA: A DUO HEMISPHERE DESTINATION
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