Aberdare National Park India lies on the Aberdare Mountain Ranges’ higher areas. It is situated in the heart of Kenya with the Aberdare Salient located on its eastern portion. To protect this critical habitat area, there is a devoted charity called Rhino Ark offering its time and resources to make this possible.
Aberdare National Park is 100 kilometers north of Nairobi, stretching over a huge array of terrains and covering altitudes of about 7,000 ft. to 14,000 ft. above sea level. It also forms part of the Aberdare Mountain Range. This is since its establishment in the year 1950 with only 766 sq. km. of area back then. Thus, the park also has a huge array of landscapes coming from mountain peaks and rising over 14,000 ft. above sea level through v shaped deep valleys being intersected by rivers, streams as well as waterfalls. Along the lower altitudes are rainforests, bamboo forests and moorland.
There are many animals you can see here. This includes lions, baboons, leopards, sykes monkeys, white Colobus monkeys and black Colobus monkeys. The rare breeds include the bongo which is an elusive forest antelope and the golden cat. High up on the moorlands, you’ll find melanistic serval cats and eland spotted cats. There is also a huge population of black rhinos in Aberdare National Park.
Activities you can enjoy here include trout fishing, picnics, walking, camping and bird viewing. In fact, there are more than 250 bird species in this park along with some endangered species like the Aberdare Cisticola, sparry hawk, Jackson’s Francolin, eagles, goshawks, plovers and sunbirds among others.
Aberdare National Park India Facilities and Fees
There are several types of Aberdare accommodations you’ll find within the park itself. It is up to you to choose which one will suit your taste. The accommodations range from tree house lodges, arks, campsites, banda sites and public campsites. The park also has 5 picnic sites.
If you’re into wildlife viewing at night time, the best choice is either the Treetops or the Ark (shaped like that of Noah’s as mentioned in the bible). With these accommodations, you can easily observe different animals like the rhino, lion, buffalo and elephant that are attracted to waterholes. There are also 2 airstrips at Nyeri and Mweiga.
Aberdare National Park is open every day from 6am up to 7pm. It is prohibited to enter the premises on foot. You can enter the park via a smart card which you can obtain and load at their main gate. The rates are as follows:
Kenyan students & children – 50KSh
Kenyan citizen – 200KSh
Non resident child $20 US
Non resident $40 US
Non resident students & organized groups $10 US
Visiting Aberdare National Park is truly a wonderful experience, especially with all the different species of animals you can find here. Kenya truly has so much to boast about when it comes to natural treasures and resources. By protecting these various kinds of wildlife, there are also better chances for these species of wildlife to exist and be seen by the future generations. When visiting the park, make sure you are prepared for anything and that you take the guidelines by heart.
Author Resource:
For more information on Aberdare National Park and The Ark Lodge.Please visit our website. http://www.aberdarenationalpark.net/ & http://www.aberdarenationalpark.net/accomadation.html