HomeDestinationsAberdare Range
Aberdare Range
The Aberdare range is the highland forest west of Mount Kenya, with waterfalls, bongo country, and a famous tree hotel.
Get a quote
Why Visit the Aberdares?
It might be small, but Kenya’s Aberdare National Park provides a vastly different experience to the country’s more famous savannah reserves like the Masai Mara. Created to protect the Aberdare Mountains of the Central Highlands, it comprises two ecosystems unusual to Kenya: a moorland plateau and a swathe of dense rainforest.
The result is that visitors on safari in Aberdare National Park can expect not only unique and spectacular landscapes, but will also enjoy good game viewing particularly in the salient area – the eastern forested section.
Situated about 180 kilometres (112 miles) north of Nairobi, Aberdare National Park is both easily accessible and well positioned. It lies near Kenya’s best Rift Valley lakes and can be conveniently included on an itinerary that takes in iconic safari destinations such as the Masai Mara and Amboseli.
What Animals Can You Find at Aberdare National Park?
Frequent sightings in Aberdare National Park include:
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Rhino
- Leopard
- Black and white Colobus monkey
- Giraffe
Rarer sightings include:
- Lion
- African golden cat
- Bongo – an elusive antelope that lives in the bamboo forests
- Eland and several cat species can be found higher up in the moorlands
Aberdare National Park is also a good birdwatching area and home to over 250 species like Jackson's francolin, sunbird and plover, as well as birds of prey including Ayres' hawk eagle, rufous-breasted sparrowhawk, African goshawk and mountain buzzard.
When is the Best Time to Visit Aberdare National Park?
Generally viewed as a year-round destination, the mountainous setting of the Aberdares means that mist and rain may occur at any time. The best time to visit Aberdare National Park for a safari is during the drier months of January and February, and between June and September. Heavy rain can be expected between March and May.
What is Aberdare National Park Famous For?
While staying in Aberdare National Park in 1952, Princess Elizabeth found out that her father King George VI had died, and that she was to become Queen.
Where Are the Aberdare Mountains?
The Aberdare Mountains is a range that forms a portion of the Great Rift Valley's eastern rim in central Kenya. Located just south of the Equator, the Aberdare Mountains have an average elevation of 3,350 metres (11,000 feet).
How Many Gates Are in Aberdare National Park?
There are eight entry gates that give access to Aberdare National Park: Shamata, Ark, Kiandongoro, Treetops, Ruhuruini, Mutubio, Wanderis and Rhino.
What travellers most enjoyed about Aberdare National Park
Bird watching
Scenery
Wildlife and safari
Where to go
- The baseA highland lodge. The tree hotel is one way to do it. The name can change before anything is paid.
- The pairingOl Pejeta or Samburu for the open country. Nairobi as the flight in.
When to go
When to go
The forest is wetter than the savannah. June to September and January to February are the clearer months. Nights are cold.
Travel advice
Before you travel
Pack a warm layer. Ask a clinic about malaria even though the nights feel cool. The roads can be slow in the rain.
Popular tours and safaris in Aberdare Range
Priced itineraries that pass through this place. Nights can still change when the quote is drawn up. Nothing is paid until you accept it.
From KSh776,443 to KSh1,012,752 pps
Kenya's Big Five, Ol Pejeta & Mara
7 daysHighlights
Morning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.
Destinations visited
Kenya | Masai Mara | Nairobi | Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ask for the rate
Kenya Big 5 & Rhino Tracking Safari
7 daysHighlights
Morning and afternoon game drives.
Destinations visited
Kenya | Masai Mara | Samburu
Ask for the rate
Family Kenya's Samburu & Masai Mara
7 daysHighlights
Morning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.
Destinations visited
Kenya | Masai Mara | Samburu
Ask for the rate
Fly-in Kenya's Lake Naivasha & Mara
7 daysHighlights
A hot-air balloon flight can be arranged. The quote confirms the fare.
Destinations visited
Kenya | Lake Naivasha | Masai Mara | Nairobi
From KSh776,443 to KSh1,012,752 pps
Kenya's Big Five, Ol Pejeta & Mara
7 daysHighlights
Morning and afternoon game drives.
Destinations visited
Kenya | Masai Mara | Nairobi | Ol Pejeta Conservancy
From KSh1,541,201 to KSh2,082,634 pps
8-Day Luxury Nairobi, Laikipia & Mara
8 daysHighlights
Morning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.
Destinations visited
Kenya | Laikipia | Masai Mara | Nairobi
Ask for the rate
Kenya’s Laikipia & Mara Conservation & Wildlife Safari
8 daysHighlights
A rhino outing where this itinerary includes one.
Destinations visited
Kenya | Laikipia | Masai Mara | Nairobi
From KSh928,486 pps
Kenya’s Amboseli & Masai Mara’s Hidden Gems Safari
8 daysHighlights
Morning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.
Destinations visited
Amboseli National Park | Kenya | Masai Mara | Nairobi
Accommodation
A named stay for Aberdare Range is not on a published itinerary yet. Get a quote and the camp can be written in.
Costs
An Aberdare night is a small, specific line on a Kenya quote, not a substitute for the Mara.
International flights, visas, and tips sit outside the sample price. Nothing is paid until you accept the quote.