Aberdare National Park is a 767-square-kilometer protected area in Central Kenya. In contrast to Kenya’s other national parks with vast savannahs, this park has dense green forests, and deep gorges intersected by streams, rivers, and gushing waterfalls.
In May 1950, the park was established to protect the forested slopes and moors of the Aberdare mountains, of which it is a part. The Aberdare ranges are the third-highest mountain range in the country. The mountain range rises from 1829 to 4001 meters above sea level.
The Park has two ecosystems. The Salient has rainforest and hills with high waterfalls while the Kinangop Plateau is plain with hills, bogs, and mountain streams.
Flora and fauna Of Aberdare National Park
Most endangered species live in Aberdare National Park. This includes the rare Bongo, Giant Forest Hog, Wild Dogs, Endemic mole-rat, and mole shrew.
There are large populations of black rhinos, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, and sykes monkeys in the Aberdare National Park . Lions, golden cats, and the elusive bongo forest antelope are rarely seen in the park.
Bushbuck, waterbuck, Cape buffalo, side-striped jackal, eland, duiker, leopard, and elephants are some of the other animals found in the park.
Over 250 bird species are found in Aberdare National Park. This includes the endangered Aberdare cisticola, Jackson’s spurfowl, Jackson’s Francolin, Sparrow hawks, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds, and plovers.
This Park has dense mountain rainforests and bamboo forests. These woodlands are home to the majority of the park’s big game.
The Park have a diverse range of vegetation because of the park’s altitude and rainfall. There are 778 vegetation and plant species, subspecies, and varieties found in Park.
Attractions At Aberdare National Park
Wildlife Of Aberdare National Park
A wide range of animals can be found in Aberdare National Park. Black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, sykes monkeys, African elephants, warthogs, and bushbucks are some of the animals that may be seen in the park.
Waterfalls
Aberdare boasts breathtaking scenery and impressive waterfalls. At 300 m (984 ft), Gura waterfall is Kenya’s steepest fall. Karuru, Chaina, and Maraqua Falls are other magnificent waterfalls.
A visit to the Karuru and Chaina waterfalls is an adventurous experience with a unique walking experience in the moorlands.
Birdlife in Aberdare National Park
The park is home to over 290 species of bird, including the severely endangered Aberdare Cisticola and the locally endemic Jackson’s francolin, as well as sparry hawks, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds, and plovers.
Aberdare Mountains
The Aberdare Mountains are a 160-kilometer-long isolated volcanic range. It forms the Great Rift Valley’s easternmost wall. It has an elevation of 4,001 meters on average (13,130 ft).
Ol Donyo Lesatima (3,999 m) to the north and Kinangop (3,906 m) to the south are its two main peaks. These peaks are separated by a long ‘saddle’ of land above 3,000 meters in elevation.
The mountain range’s main ecosystems are rainforest, dense bamboo forests, and moorland. The gentle forested slopes to the east are home to a diverse range of wildlife. There are many elephants, buffalo, giant forest hogs, hyenas, and the endangered black rhino and bong.