Aberdare National Park

Picturesque, steep forested ravines and open moorland
characterise the Aberdare National Park.

Elephants in the Aberdare National Park

Aberdare National Park | Background Info

Mammals found in Aberdare National Park | Birds found in Aberdare National Park

The Aberdare National Park is a Picturesque, steep forested ravines and open moorland conservation area that provides a habitat for elephants, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthogs and bushbucks among others. Rare sightings include those of the Giant Forest hog, bongo, golden cat, serval cat, African wild cat, African civet cat and the blue duiker. Visitors can indulge in picnics, trout fishing in the rivers and camping in the moorlands. Bird viewing is rewarding, with over 250 species of birds in the park, including the Jackson's Francolin, Sparrow hawks, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds and plovers.

Experience the Aberdare National Park

Topography

Regarded as one of Kenya’s top parks to visit for both first-time and avid safari-goers, the Aberdare National Park is a fairly small national park located in Kenya’s cool central highlands along the Great Rift Valley. Aberdare National Park boasts two unique landscapes; a moorland plateau and areas of dense rainforest and lush mountainous regions of valleys, rivers, waterfalls, and forests. The Aberdare National Park offers a totally different safari experience to the better-known, open savannah parks of Kenya. When you visit the Aberdare on safari, you’ll not only enjoy unique and spectacular scenery, you’ll also experience excellent game viewing. The Aberdare National Park is well located and easy to get to, making it a great addition to your Kenyan safari itinerary.

Park Highlights

Home to the Big 5
Has the second largest black rhino population
In Kenya’s Central Highlands, it has a unique range of moors and tropical forests
Much cooler and more pleasant climate than many of the other parks
Chance to see rare forest animals like the bongo antelope, Colobus monkey, black leopard
Photographic hides close to salt licks and waterholes get you close to big game
Year-round safari destination with excellent game viewing

Aberdare National Park boasts a vast diversity and robust population of wildlife. Avid wildlife enthusiasts will have the pleasure of seeing every member of the renowned African Big 5, elephants, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino in their natural habitat, with sightings of elephant and buffalo almost guaranteed. Aberdare National Park also has the second largest black rhino population.

Wildlife Sightings

In addition to the Big 5, Aberdare National Park is home to a distinct variety of remarkable and extremely rare wildlife species and forest-dwelling game. Some of the rare species you may be lucky enough to see include, the black serval, the black leopard, the black-and-white Colobus monkey, skyes monkey, golden cat, giant forest hog, the nocturnal greater galago, Harvey’s red duiker, and the eastern bongo, the country’s most elusive antelope that lives in the bamboo forests.

Birds found in Aberdare National Park

Overview

The forests and moorlands of Aberdare NP are a birder’s paradise – more than 290 species have been recorded. The striking Hartlaub’s turaco is just one of the interesting visitors at the bird feeding platforms at the tree hotels. The indistinct Aberdare cisticola is endemic, and therefore unique, to the region and can be found at higher altitudes. Several interesting sunbirds are found in the park including the rare scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird which can be found on the mountain peaks.

Aberdare National Park Bird list