Aberdares National Park
What you will find on this page about Aberdares National Park:
Information and guide to Aberdares National Park
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Kenya National Parks and Game Reserves
Aberdare National Park is situated in
Kenya's central highlands, to the west of Mount Kenya and around
100 km (62 miles) north of Nairobi. The 766 square kilometers of
the National Park occupy the volcanic range that forms the
eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley. The Aberdares range is
dominated by two peaks separated by a saddle of high moorlands.
The latter is situated at 3,000 meters (9,840 feet) and the
peaks of Kinangop in the south reach up to 3,906 meters (12,814
feet) and Ol Donyo Lesatima in the north up to 3,999 meters
(13,123 feet). The topography of the National Park contains a
wide variety of terrains with deep gorges that cut through the
forested eastern and western slopes of the Aberdare Mountains,
topped with their rugged peaks. The red volcanic soil of
Aberdare provides best conditions for rich vegetation. Despite
being so near to the equator, the high altitude determines the
climate, resulting in cooler temperatures and more rainfall. Beside the beautiful mountain landscape and the Chania and
Karura waterfalls the Aberdares are a good spot to observe
Kenyan wildlife. The park is home to the second largest
population of the endangered black rhino which may be spotted at
one of the forest lodges' salt licks on the eastern slopes. Also
the Sykes monkey and the black and white colobus monkey can be
found here as well as the bongo, that's an elusive forest
antelope that lives in the bamboo forest. Further elephant,
baboon, buffalo, bush pig, giant forest hog, leopard, serval and
- more rare - lions and the golden cat can be spotted.
Bird watching at the Aberdares is rewarding;
there are over 250 different species recorded in the park,
including the Jackson's francolin, sparry hawk, goshawks,
eagles, sunbirds and plovers.
Best times to visit Aberdare National Park are January/February
and the months from June to September. The main rainy season
from March to May should be avoided because the roads become
impassable and also the short rainy season from October to
December may cause some access problems.
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