The national park gets its name from the protected mountain Aberdares, wildlife in Aberdare national park is well seen singling to lick the salt and to quench thirst from the water holes from the pristine natural forest habitats, this is eased due to the well-designed tree hotels in the park that give you a tremendous animal viewing.

The Aberdare national park is home to all the Big 5 however not the typical destination you would over prefer for these animals. Elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, large spotted genets, giant forest hogs, and some monkey species are easily seen. The lions, leopards, and black rhinos are rarely seen, the park is also a good spot for the elusive Bongo antelope which is rarely seen due to fewer numbers and shyness.

Wildlife viewing is key in June-September and January to February since they are drier. These are great days for animal viewing due to the massive gathering of water, it creates a bigger chance for spotting some rare species, as well. Months of late March, April, May, and October, receive heavy rains and may hinder your experience. To the birders, the park is a paradise with over 290 bird species recorded. Have a great chance to spot the often hotel visitor the Hartlaub’s Turaco and many others such as;

1. Aberdare Cisticola
2.  Abyssinian Crimsonwing
3. African goshawk
4. African green pigeon
5. African paradise flycatcher
6. African yellow warbler
7. Augur Buzzard
8. Ayres’s hawk-eagle
9. Bar-tailed Trogon
10. Bronzy Sunbird
11.  Cinnamon-chested bee-eater
12. Crowned eagle
13. Doherty’s bush-shrike
14. Golden-winged sunbird
15. Hunter’s Cisticola
16. Jackson’s Francolin (NE)
17. Montagu’s harrier
18. Montane white-eye
19. Moorland chat
20.  Moorland Francolin
21. Mountain buzzard
22. Moustached green Tinkerbird
23.  Narina Trogon
24.  Olive ibis
25. Rufous-chested sparrowhawk
26. Scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird
27. Sharpe’s longclaw (NE)
28. Silvery-cheeked hornbill
29. Tacazze sunbird
30. Tambourine dove
31. White-headed wood-hoopoe
32. Best Time for Bird Watching

 

Best time to visit

For the hikers dry months of June-September and Jan-Feb are key as heavy rains might be a hindrance to the experience. However, the park is yearly open for any travelers.

 

Getting there;

160km/100 mi from Nairobi city with daily scheduled local flights to Nanyuki airstrip and Jomo Kenyatta being the main national airport.