Aberdare National Park protects 767 sq km of the Aberdare mountain range roughly 100 km north of Nairobi, spanning Nyandarua and Nyeri counties. Established in 1950, the park is unusual for its dramatic range of elevation, climbing from around 2,000 m to over 4,000 m and passing through rainforest, dense bamboo and open moorland within a single protected area.
The park at a glance
- 767 sq km in the Aberdare mountain range, about 100 km north of Nairobi
- Elevation ranges from roughly 2,000 m to more than 4,000 m
- Established in 1950, spanning Nyandarua and Nyeri counties
- Vegetation zones shift from rainforest to bamboo forest to high moorland
A layered mountain landscape
The park’s steep, v-shaped valleys are cut by streams and waterfalls, including the dramatic Karuru Falls, one of the tallest in Kenya. This layered terrain supports elephants, Cape buffalo, black rhinoceros, lions and leopards, alongside rarer sightings of bongo antelope and African golden cats. More than 250 recorded bird species inhabit the park, including the endangered Aberdare cisticola and numerous African fish eagles, while olive baboons, colobus and Sykes monkeys are common in the forested zones.
Treetops and a moment in royal history
Aberdare is closely associated with Treetops Hotel, a tree-house lodge inside the park where, in 1952, then-Princess Elizabeth was staying when she learned of her father’s death and her own accession to the British throne. The lodge and The Ark, another tree-house-style property nearby, remain popular for their floodlit waterholes and salt licks, drawing wildlife into view after dark.
Things to do
- Game viewing from tree-house lodges overlooking floodlit waterholes
- Waterfall stops at Karuru Falls and other cascades in the park’s valleys
- Birdwatching across the park’s forest, bamboo and moorland zones
Practical information
- Reached via a roughly two-to-three-hour drive north of Nairobi
- Cooler, often misty conditions given the park’s high elevation, so warm layers are worth packing
- Best combined with a wider central Kenya itinerary given its proximity to Nairobi and Nyeri
Aberdare National Park pairs dramatic highland scenery with a genuine slice of history. Offmap Safaris can build it into a central Kenya itinerary. To start planning, visit Plan My African Safari, message us on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304, or email [email protected]. See also our notes on health and safety and responsible travel.