Aberdare National Park

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Aberdare National Park is home to all of the Big Five, but this is a little misleading: it is not a typical Big Five destination and seeing all five species is exceptionally rare. Sightings of elephant and buffalo are almost guaranteed. Black rhino are sometimes spotted at one of the tree hotels’ floodlit waterholes at night. Lion and leopard (including the melanistic leopard, a black variant) are very rarely seen. Bushbuck and defassa waterbuck are very common.

ElephantCommon

GiraffeNone

HippoNone

BuffaloCommon

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoRare

LionVery Rare

LeopardRare

CheetahNone

HyenaCommon

Wild DogNone

Wildlife Highlights

The park is a refuge for many interesting forest primates, including black-and-white colobus monkey and Sykes’ monkey. Nocturnal animals, including giant forest hog and large-spotted genet, often visit the waterholes at night. The forest is also home to the shy, beautiful bongo antelope, whose numbers are decreasing. The bongo is only present here and in Mt Kenya National Park, where there is a breeding program.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in the Aberdares is good throughout the year, but the driest (and best) months are from June to September and December to February. Heavy rain can occur year-round, but when staying at a tree hotel, the rain shouldn’t interfere with your safari. Elephants and some antelopes disperse to the higher altitudes during the Dry season (June to September).