ABERDARE FACTFILE
Aberdare National Park
T
he Aberdares are an isolated range of volcanic mountains forming the eastern wall of the Rift Valley, running north-south for around 100 km between Nairobi and Thomson’s Falls.
There are two main peaks, Ol Donyo Lesatima (3,999 metres) and Kinangop (3,609 metres), separated by a long saddle of alpine moorland at over 3,000 metres. The topography is diverse, with deep ravines cutting through the forested eastern and western slopes. There are many clear streams and waterfalls. The mountain is an important water catchment, supplying the Tana and Athi rivers and part of the Central Rift and Northern drainage basins. Location: Central Highlands west of Mount Kenya. Surrounded by Kiambu, Muranga, Nyeri and Nyandarua counties. Distance: 160 km from Nairobi to the park headquarters.
nature walks in the moorland, game viewing and night game viewing at Treetops and The Ark, trout fishing, birdwatching, camping, picnics and parties.
Wildlife The park is home to large mammals such as elephant, buffalo and black rhino. Endangered species include the rare mountain bongo, giant forest hog, wild dog, endemic mole rat and mole shrew, leopard, endemic bird species, reptiles and insects.
Access Roads: The park is readily accessible on tarmacked roads from Nyeri to Nyahururu on the eastern side (160 km from Nairobi). A road crosses the park to connect with another from Naivasha and North Kinagop in the west. Main towns from which the park can be approached are Nyeri (154 km from Nairobi), Nyahururu (188 km from Nairobi) and Naivasha (87 km from Nairobi). Airstrips: Mweiga is next to the park headquarters. Nyeri is 12 km from Mweiga.
Size: 767 sq km. Climate: Mist and rainfall throughout much of the year, with annual precipitation varying from about 1,000 mm on the north-west slopes to as much as 3,000 mm in the south-east.
Major attractions Ol Donyo Lesatima Peak, Kinagop Peak, Elephant Hill, Table Mountains and Twin Hills, moorland, Karuru Falls, Chania Waterfalls, Magura Falls and Queen’s Cave, Karimu Circuit and Sapper Hut Falls, Kimathi Post Office and the Salient. Treetops Lodge and The Ark are legendary attractions.
Activities Mountain hikes and climbing, 8
Mount Kenya Guide 2016/2017
Park gates: Kiadongoro Gate is accessed via the Nyeri-Tetu road; Ruhuruini Gate accessed via the Nyeri-Ihururu road; Treetops Gate via the Nyeri-Njengu road; Ark Gate via the Mweiga-Amboni road; Wadare Gate via the Mweiga-Endarasha road; Shamata Gate via the Nyahururu-Shamata road; Mutumbio Gate via the Naivasha-Kinagop-Geta road.
Accommodation Lodges: The Ark, Treetops, Fishing Lodge, Ruhuruini, Tusk Camp, Sapper Hut, KWS hut at Treetops and KWS HQ bungalow. Campsites: Reedbuck, Ruhuruini, Wandare and Shamata.