Aberdare National Park

The Abaredares National Park is 750 sqkm large mountain range south of Mount Kenia. Unlike the other parks in Kenia ist covered with dense forests and swampy highl ands which are rarely visited. Most visitors just stay overnight in on of the two lodges (the ark, treetops), watching the wildlife around the salt ponds close by.
The wildlife contains mainly elephants and buffalos in great numbers as well as waterbucks and other antelopes, hyenas and rarely leopards and the giant forest hog.
If you stay a day longer a trip throgh the forests to highlands can be organised. You might spot Sykes and Colobus monkeys in the forests and can visit the nice waterfalls.
Protection by a KWS ranger is mandatory.

Aberdare has wonderful landscapes and lots of beautyful waterfalls. It is a perfect place for hiking.

Not quite the Africa one expects! More like North Wales! Some areas were astoundingly beautiful - scores highly on scenic value. Elephants very shy and retiring compared with those we're used to seeing at Amboseli and Masai Mara.

Sometimes it´s hard to find the animals in this large area, but the scenic beauty of the different landscapes is breath-taking!!

nice

We enjoyed it the 3 times we were there but Treetops, The Ark and Outspan (we were there another time for a business conference) were just adequate accommodations. Even though The Ark was more upscale, the game experience wasn't great. I don't like being captive by having the animals come to the hotel water holes.

We drove through the Aberdare National Park from Naivasha en-route to Shaba. It is stunningly beautiful! Incredible views and lush vegetation. There are several waterfalls to see. We stopped at Karuru Waterfall. You can walk about 15mins down a path to get to the viewing point. It is breathtaking - water plummeting down from 700ft!

we saw less variety of wildlife than in the Mara

Wherever you go in Kenya there is something new. Different species, different scenery but always good accommodation

Unique wildlife viewing experience from THE ARK

We stayed overnight at THE ARK which is situated in Aberdare NP (about 6000ft above sea level). The lodge is superb with a waterhole in front, flood lit at night. There was a lot of greenery around. We were locked inside the lodge as it was dangerous to go out since wild animals roam freely. Cape buffalos, antelopes, warthogs, jungle pig and ducks were sighted from the afternoon when we arrived. Herds of elephants (lots) started arriving during evening for water and salt (which was strewn in the open area). They stayed till late night. Hyenas came during night and a pack of them even attacked a cape buffalo, close to our room. The lodge staff, through a buzzer, let us know which animal has arrived at night . The viewing lounge is excellent with full glass panes and good seating arrangements, so is the food - and the talk about Aberdare NP. Additionally there were bird feeding and wild cat feeding sessions- both enjoyable. Sunrise with Mt Kenya on the side, is a sight to behold. All up, a unique experience in viewing wildlife. Travellled through Kenya Budget Safaris- tour guide excellent. Staff of THE ARK also very good and helpful.