Aberdare national park Trekking   : Aberdare national park is located in the southwestern part of central Kenya. The park is north of Nairobi and east of the Rift Valley. The park covers an area of 296 square miles (767 sq. km). Aberdare national park is located 164 from Nairobi. The Aberdare national park is part of the Aberdare mountain range. The national park was gazetted as a national park in 1950 mainly to offer refuge to wildlife and the Aberdare mountain range. The park sits between the elevation of 2000 meters and 4000 meters above the sea level and comprised of the moorland, bamboo forests, deep V-shaped valleys intersected by the rivers, waterfalls, streams, rainforest and among others. The Aberdare national park was named after Aberdare mountain range which is an isolated volcanic range that forms the eastern arm of the rift valley that extends up to 100km north-south Nairobi.

Aberdare national park Trekking.

Aberdare national park is among the most popular destinations for trekking safari in Kenya. The peak of Aberdares is relatively easy to trek and most of them can be conquered with little more than a strenuous high altitude trek. There is a myriad of paranormal moorland hikes and the forest walk in the park.

Aberdare national park Trekking
Trekking through Aberdare Ranges

 

Mountain trekking safari in Aberdare national park however requires advance permission from the warden at park headquarters, who may (depending on where you plan to walk) insist on providing an armed ranger to guide and protect you against inquisitive wildlife.

The Northern Moorland and its four main peaks (all 3500 meters to 4000 meters) are excellent trekking spots with the tallest mountain in the park is Ol Donyo Lesatima (4000 meters), a popular bag for those on the Kenya mountain climbing safaris. On the Kinangop plateau, from the dirt track that connects the Ruhuruini and the Mutubio West gates, it is possible to walk to the top of the karuru falls and watch Karuru Stream slide over the rocky lip into the 272meters abyss. Weather permitting, you may be able to make out the misty veil of the Kenya’s tallest cascade, the Gura falls (305 meters) in the distance. Unfortunately, there are no tracks to Gura falls or the base of the Karuru falls. You can however, visit the far smaller Chania falls further north.

Best time to do trekking in Aberdare national park.

Aberdare national park can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best time to do trekking in the park is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February.

How to get to Aberdare national park.

Aberdare national park can be accessed by two different means from Nairobi either by the road or the air means of transport to the park.

By Road means.

The Aberdare national park is located 160km from Nairobi which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive therefore you will go  to Jomo Kenyatta international airport in Nairobi and then connect by the road where by you will drive on a tarmac road and the park has various gates like Shamata or rhino gate which can be accessed when you are coming from Nyahururu and Mutubio gate which can be accessed when coming from Naivasha.

Aberdare national park Trekking
Getting to Aberdare

By Air means.

The scheduled or charter flights from the Wilson airport which is located in the southern part of Nairobi to Mweiga or Nanyuki airstrips and then connect to the park headquarters by the road, there are several domestic airlines which operate flights to the park such as the safarilink, Air Kenya and many others, the booking of domestic flights to the Aberdare national park can be done by through the tour operator.

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