Activities in Aberdare National Park
Activities in Aberdare National Park: Aberdare national park is located in the heart of Kenya, approximately 343 kilometers from the capital, Nairobi. It was established as a national park in 1950 and spans over a radius of 766 square kilometers. The national park is mainly dominated by moorland, deep v-shaped valleys and bamboo forests among others. The park offers its visitors a number of activities which include;
Mountain climbing
Mountain climbing is quite an exciting and adventurous activity that is offered to tourists visiting the national park. There are various mountain peaks in the park which offer hiking safaris for example elephant hill hike which stands at 3720 meters above the sea level and is a 26 km hike. During the elephant hill hike you will be able to view various animals, Sasamua dam and Ndakaini dam. You can also hike Ol Doinyo Satima Mountain which stands at an elevation of 4000 meters above the sea level. Mount Satima which is also known as the mountain of the young bull was named after an explorer joseph Thompson and it’s the highest peak in the Aberdare range. Hiking to Satima peak gives you magnificent views of the rift valley, Mount Kenya, wildlife species among others. Due to its elevation hiking Satima peak needs one to have warm clothes because it gets cold as you hike to the summit which takes about 5 hours round hike trip. There are other mountains like Kinangop which is located in the south and Kipipiri Mountain which is located in the west of the mountainous moorlands.
Game drives in Aberdare national park
Game drives are the best way for visitors to explore this amazing national park. Game drives in the national park can either be done on a half day or full day following trails like the salient zone where you will have clear views of animal species such as black rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, leopar
ds, black and white colobus monkeys, bushbucks, elands, bongo antelopes, giant forest hogs among others. During the game drive you will also be able to view waterfalls like Karuru which flows into three steps, Magura falls and Chania falls; all of which have spectacular views of scenery, vegetation, mountain streams, and hills among others.
Trout fishing
Visitors interested in sport fishing activities can pay for trout fishing activities which are offered in the national park. The national park is one of the best destinations for trout fishing in Kenya. There are three rivers which offer easy access to fishing including Chania, Gura and Ambone rivers. Trout fishing in the park is done by the help of an experienced guide who will show you how to fish and areas where to fish from. During trout fishing you are required to have fishing gears and a fishing license which can be obtained at the park headquarters.
Bird watching
With over 290 bird species, Aberdare national park is a great destination for birding safaris in Kenya. The park has endemic bird species that are only found in Kenya and near endemic species which are also found in the neighboring countries. During your bird watching safari in the park, you should look out for bird species like African paradise flycatcher, Aberdare cisticola, African green pigeon, Jackson’s francolin, hunters cisticola, golden winged sunbird, crowned eagle, mountain buzzard, white headed wood hoopoe, silvery cheeked hornbill, Sharpe long claw, rufous chested sparrow hawk, olive ibis, Narnia trogon, tambourine dove, emerald green malachite sunbird, double collared sunbird among others. Bird watching in the national park can either be done during the guided nature walk or the game drive.
Guide Nature walks
Guided nature walks in Aberdare national park give visitors a chance to explore the national park on foot. Visitors on a guided nature walk in the park have an opportunity to view magnificent waterfalls in the national park such as the Chania waterfalls, Karuru waterfall which falls in three steps with the first one at 117metres; second one at 26metres and the third one at 130metres which make a total of 273metres, Gura falls, Magura falls and many others.
Tourists visiting Aberdare national park in Kenya can get accommodation in the park from the following lodges; the Ark, Aberdare Country Club, Treetops Lodge, Aberdare Cottages and Fishing Lodge, Tusk Camp Banda, Campsites, and Sapper hut.
Aberdare national park in Kenya can be accessed by road from Nairobi city. The national park is located about 160 kilometers from Nairobi city which is about 2-3 hours’ drive. The park can also be accessed by air from Nairobi to Mweiga or Nanyuki airstrips in the park.
