The Aberdares and Mount Kenya Highlands

The central Kenyan highlands are located in two areas of now extinct volcanic activity, a large part of which is now occupied by the Aberdares- and Mount Kenya national parks, some 150-200 km north of Nairobi. The lower parts of these parks, still some 3,000 meters above sea level, are densely forested, while the higher lying areas are mainly large open heathlands. The Aberdares reach an altitude of just over 4,000 meters while the peak of Mount Kenya is the second highest in Africa, at 5,199 meters.

Both parks have good populations of elephants, buffalo, leopards, spotted hyenas and waterbuck, as well as some black rhino. Lions are best seen in the Aberdares, which generally speaking has the largest, most varied and easily seen population of wild animals. A local speciality here is that some of the leopards in this district are totally black. Some call these big cats panthers, but in fact they are a genetically recessive colour variant of leopard. The parks are also home to four species of monkeys and three species of wild pig, as well as a rich avifauna, of which the large hornbills first spring to mind.

The incredibly beautiful, unspoilt forest growing in the parks, is an attraction in itself, but it does make it more difficult to see the animals. These are most often seen in small natural clearings in the forest, or best of all, around waterholes. It is around just such waterholes that many of the parks lodges have been built, some on stilts at treetop height. The animals can be seen in peace and quiet from the lodge itself, and the watering hole is illuminated at night allowing you to enjoy observing the animals’ behaviour around the clock.

In Aberdares it is possible to drive on one of the most beautiful, and steep, safari tours in Africa up in the more open heathlands, while on the slopes of Mount Kenya you just drive up to one of the lodges, from where you can take part in a guided walking tour through the dense forest. It is also possible to climb Mount Kenya, but even though its top is circa 700 meters lower than  Kilimanjaro’s it is decidedly more difficult, as the last few hundred meters involve actual climbing. We would be happy to arrange a climb to its peak with a local outfitter. If you are not a mountaineer and prefer ”only” hill walking, a trek to near the summit with one of the experienced guides is still well worth considering, and is a wonderful outdoors experience in itself.

Highlights:

   •      Magical ”African safari” while just sitting in an armchair observing one of the watering holes that attract animals throughout the day

   •      Driving- or walking safari in the dense, beautiful forest  – possibly right up to the open heathland

High season: January to March and July to October