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Aberdare National Park
Size
767 km² (296 mi²)
Founded
1950
Best time to visit
All year round
Ancient forests, waterfalls, and rare wildlife await
Aberdare National Park is a haven for nature lovers and hikers on a northern Kenya safari. It is home to rare wildlife, numerous birds, and trails up Kenya's third-highest mountain, Mount Satima. Stunning landscapes filled with cascading waterfalls, trout-filled streams, and ancient forests will leave visitors feeling revitalised and connected to nature.
Aberdare National Park: A hiker's and nature lover's paradise
Beholding the Aberdare National Park, located 160km north of Nairobi, is an inspiring experience that fills you with admiration for the park authorities’ efforts to protect this vital ecosystem since May 1950.
This high-altitude park is an essential catchment area for numerous significant Kenyan rivers, serving as a crucial water source for millions of people.
Moreover, the captivating landscapes, home to a diversity of wildlife, will leave you wanting to revisit this stunning park time and again.
Put on your walking shoes, pack a fly-rod, jump into a 4×4 and enjoy the journey through the park.
Geology & geography of the Aberdares
Situated between 1829 and 4001 metres and covering an area of 767 km² on the spine of the north-to-south-orientated Aberdare Mountain range in central Kenya, this park has multiple natural wonders.
The park’s waterfalls are the first natural wonder. Two gorges cut into the southwest section of the mountain range. When the mountainous rivers reach the edge, thousands of litres of water per second cascade down the ~300-meter gorge. This creates a fine mist and temporary rainbows, making for a stunning sight.
The highest waterfalls are created by the Karuru and Gura rivers, both filled with trout, and they plummet into the same forested gorge to form the stunning ~300-meter Karuru and Gura Falls. The Queen’s Cave and Chania Falls, situated further northwest, are smaller but equally beautiful.
To fully appreciate the experience, enter the park through the Matubio Gate (West) and exit through the Ruhuruini Gate (East) to enjoy a scenic drive while visiting each waterfall. En route, you will also pass a thicket of Bamboo Forest.
The second wonder is the dense green forests on the west flank of the park, which await you on a safari in the Aberdare National Park.
Most of the park’s big game live in these woodlands. The dense vegetation can sometimes make the sighting of animals a bit challenging, but all the more exciting when an elephant or buffalo suddenly emerges from the thicket.
Which animals can you see in the Aberdare National Park?
If you’re very lucky, you can even spot animals from the Big Five: elephants, buffaloes, Black rhinos, leopards, and less widely seen lions. Other highlights include spotting rare species such as the shy yet beautiful Eastern Bongo antelope, Melanistic Leopard, Black Serval, Giant Forest Hog and Large Spotted Genet.
The park is also a paradise for bird lovers, home to more than 290 bird species, including the rare Aberdare fan-tailed warbler, Kikuyu White-Eye, Eastern Double Collared Sunbird, Moorland Chat, Hunter’s Sunbird, Aberdare Cisticola, and the Golden-Winged Sunbird.
The Aberdares are home to stunning wildlife, but it takes patience and luck to spot – the thick forest doesn’t share its secrets easily.
The third nature wonder is the high-altitude moorlands, which offer stunning trekking opportunities, including the ascent of Table Mountain, Rurimeria Summit and Mount Stima (4001m), Kenya’s third-highest mountain, via Dragons Teeth.
Home to rare Eastern Bongos
The Eastern Bongo, the park’s emblem, is a critically endangered and beautifully patterned antelope.
Rare species reside here
The park protects multiple rare species, including the Black Rhino, Black Serval, and Melanistic Leopard.
A park for nature lovers
Enjoy a lush, green and cool mountain forest, a contrast to the vast grass savannas.
Walk amongst the wildlife on a walking safari in the Sanctuary at Aberdare Country Club.
The Aberdares are home to the highest waterfalls in Kenya.
With luck, you may spot forest elephants in Aberdare National Park.
The area is known for its hiking trails. You can combine a game drive with a guided day-hike.
The dense forest is home to exceptional birdlife.
WHEN TO GO
Best time to go to the Aberdare National Park
The Aberdare National Park is open all year round, but the best time to visit is during Kenya’s dry seasons, from June to early October and late December to February.
During these months, the weather is drier, making it easier to go trekking, and the roads leading to and from the park are in better condition.
As much of the park is located above 2000 m (6,561ft), temperatures can feel chilly, ranging between 14°C to 18°C (57°F to 64°F), so warm, waterproof clothing is advised.
Rainfall occurs throughout the year, particularly in the southeast areas. However, heavy rains, which fall between March and May, can make trekking paths slippery during the long rains.
Dry Season
June to early OctoberThe ideal time for enjoying several unforgettable treks
Rainy Season
March to MayThe best time to see thundering waterfalls
Experience the Aberdare National Park
Private Lodge Safari
Kenya – The Home of the Safari
Places Samburu National Reserve, Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve
7 Days
from 3,100 USD (based on 7 persons)
Private Camping Safari
Camping Adventure Kenya
Places Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park & Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara National Reserve
6 Days
from 2,620 USD (based on 7 persons)
Why to go
Lush, green & cool temperatures – discover Kenya's high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and rare wildlife
Unlike typical lowland savannah parks, Aberdare National Park offers a unique experience:
Its high-altitude landscapes are characterised by clinging tree moss, rare animals in ancient forests, cascading waterfalls, and open moorland – providing an ideal environment to connect with nature.
Enjoy game drives through the forest, with a chance to spot wildlife.
Or trek through the moorland landscape to Kenya’s third-highest mountain, Mount Stima (4001m), fly-fish for brown trout in highland streams, stay at the Ark to spot waterhole-bound wildlife or relax in gardens at the Aberdare Country Club, where the wildlife trims the lawn.
‘Aberdare National Park is unlike other parks in Kenya, which is the primary reason to explore its highland forests and moorlands on foot or by vehicle. Here, you get to see unique wildlife and scenery, including 300m tall waterfalls.’Arno | Kenya Travel Expert
Dragon’s Teeth & Mt Satima
Stunning scenery awaits you on these day hikes to Kenya’s mountain peaks.
The Ark
This iconic lodge is known for its waterhole – sit back and watch the wildlife come by.
Waterfall hikes
From Chania to Karuru, there are many waterfalls to see in the Aberdares.
Things to do
A hiker’s paradise in beautiful, unique landscapes
Game drive through pristine forest where waterbuck, buffalo and elephants are common sightings.
Stop to see the cascading Karuru and Gura waterfalls before seeing the Chania Falls, Queens Cave and the bamboo forest.
- Hike to Dragon’s Teeth and Mt Satima
- Stay at the Ark
- Hike to Karuru & other water fall
Giant Forest Hog
The largest wild pigs in Africa can weigh up to 200kg.
Buffalo
This member of the Big Five enjoys the dense forests and open grasslands of the Aberdare Mountain range.
Elephant
Forest elephants are smaller than their savannah relatives.
Birdlife
The varying ecosystems of the Aberdare National Park provide habitats for different types of birds.
Bongo Antelope
These antelopes are extremely rare and the Aberdares are one of the last places to find them.
WILDLIFE IN THE ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
A treasure trove of rare species
The Aberdare National Park is home to 290 bird species, with highlights like the Hartlaub’s turaco and the rare Scarlet-tufted Malachite sunbird.
Vegetation varies from western high-altitude moorlands to densely forested easterly sections, where the Big Five and multiple extremely rare species can be spotted with luck, including:
- Eastern Bongo
- Black Rhino
- Melanistic Leopard
- Black Serval
- Giant Forest Hog
- Large Spotted Genet
Where to stay in and around the Aberdare National Park
Location
The Aberdare National Park is located 160 to 180 km north of Nairobi and is an excellent stopover en route to Nakuru National Park and other northern parks.
It is renowned for its stunning waterfalls, and visitors interested in seeing them can enter through the Matubio Gate (West) and exit via the Ruhuruini Gate (East) for a fantastic day drive across the park.
Entering via the Matubio Gate also provides easy access to the Gura, Chania, and Karuru Rivers, some of the best fly-fishing spots and the only type of fishing allowed in the park.
If you want to trek to Mount Stima via Dragons Teeth, the 17km hike begins 12km from Rhino Gate (Northeast). The Ark and the Aberdare Country Club, located west of the park, are the best places to stay.
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