How to get to Aberdare National Park?
How to get to Aberdare National Park? : There are two methods to get Aberdare National Park: by air and by road. The park is situated in the central highlands of Kenya, east of the East African rift valley in the Nyeri/Nyandarua area, 160 km northeast of Nairobi.
By Road
Through paved roads, visitors to Aberdare National Park can easily reach the park by ground transport from Thika in Nyeri and Naro Moru on the eastern side, entering through the park’s eastern entrance gates. Due to the well-maintained bitumen road, which is around 150 km from Nairobi, this is the simplest method of accessing Aberdare National Park. It takes two to three hours to drive. The park has five entrance gates that visitors can use to enter the park boundaries. These gates include the ark and treetops gates, which offer excellent areas for game viewing, kiandagoro, wandare, and ruhuruina gates. There is also another road that connects to the route on the western side entrances from Naivasha about 87 kilometres in the rift valley through mountain terrains and the lower slopes up to the Moorlands. If Nyeri is your place of departure. You should enter the park by the Rhino or Shamata gates if you are coming from Nyahururu. It is ideal for guests arriving from Naivasha to use the Mutubio gate. The park headquarters is located 15 kilometres from Nyeri town, therefore guests who have already arrived in Nyeri can utilise the Nyeri – Nyahururu road.
By Air
An additional option for visiting this area is via air; regularly scheduled charter flights are offered to the airstrips near the National area on most days. The closest airstrips are Nanyuki and Mweiga, which are located next to Sasini Estate Farm and across from Park Headquarters on Nyeri-Nyahururu Road. As part of your travel package, Kenya Safari Tours typically arranges for domestic charter flights between the various Kenya safari destinations. You can reserve these flights through several charter airline providers, such air Kenya or Safari Link.
Where to Stay in Aberdare National Park
The lodging options in Aberdare National Park range from luxury accommodations with a high level of exclusivity and opulence to mid-range accommodations for those looking for a good balance between price and quality as well as standard/budget options. A variety of kenya safari accommodations and campgrounds are available to provide complete comfort and excellent services for your memorable Kenya safari adventure in this park. There aren’t many lodging alternatives in Aberdare National Park, but those that do exist are all basic, mid-range establishments with plenty of guest rooms to accommodate both solo and large groups of tourists. Among them are;
Treetops Lodge
Standing in the path of an ancient elephant’s migration safaris route between the Aberdare Ranges and Mt Kenya National Park, Treetops Lodge, also known as Nyeri Tree-house Lodge on Stilts, is a renowned lodging in Aberdare National Park where Queen Elizabeth II visited as a princess and left as queen. Its strategic location directly in front of a salt lick and natural watering hole makes it the ideal spot to watch the game. The 36 rooms at the lodge are divided between luxurious suites and regular rooms to accommodate varying tastes. Three of the suites are very roomy and feature large windows that provide a stunning view of the salt lick and watering hole. Twin beds in standard rooms can be made into king-size double beds upon request. Every room has an attached bathroom with a shower, and each has a rack to hold the safari suitcase. There are also family-friendly triple rooms available. Buzzers are installed in every area, universally signalling to visitors when the action is near the drinking holes.
The Ark Lodge
Located in Aberdare National Park, The Ark Lodge is a famous and rather peculiar lodging option that offers a view of a salt lick and floodlit waterhole that draws a variety of amazing animals. With its three decks, which are modelled after Noah’s Ark and named after it, plenty of balconies and lounges offer an excellent vantage point for seeing animals. The night watchman will buzz your room as animals approach the waterhole so you won’t miss the animal viewing experience like at Treetops Lodge. There are self-contained cabins with a shower and toilet available for those staying on the Ark.
Aberdare County Club
Located in the Aberdare Highlands, a section of the Great Rift Valley, and perched on the slope of Mweiga Hill, is the picturesque Aberdare Country Club. It was once the residence of an English couple who made the decision to relocate in Kenya. After being rebranded as the Aberdare Country Club and welcoming visitors nearly fifty years later, their house, “The Steep,” opened. With twenty cottage-style rooms and one standard suite, this accommodation in Aberdare National Park offers the cosiness of a private house with the basic amenities of a rural inn. It is ideal for singles safaris, couples safaris, honeymooners safari tours and anyone wishing to enjoy nature at its finest.
Thomson’s Falls lodge
Thomson’s Falls Lodge is located northwest of Aberdare National Park and offers stunning views of the 72-meter (236-foot) Nyahururu Falls, also known by its colonial name Thomson’s Falls. This falls is among Kenya’s best, and you will witness it during your scenic Kenya tour adventure in Aberdare. The lodge has 32 guest rooms in affordable cottages.
Tusk Camp
Within the Aberdare National Park, Tusk Camp provides cosy self-catering lodging. There are two well-equipped cabins suitable for self-catering, each with room for four people. Every cabin features a dining area, kitchen, bedroom, and large sitting room with a wood fireplace. There is a gas burner, a wood burning stove, glasses, silverware and kitchen utensils in the kitchen. Kerosene lamps are provided in each cottage, and a caretaker is available to help. There is a door leading to a balcony and a wood fireplace in the furnished sitting room. A dining table with views is located on the verandas for visitors to enjoy. Many views and activities are available in the park, such as hiking, climbing, bird viewing, beautiful vegetation, waterfalls, and trout fishing. In the park, 250 species of recorded birds are found. To get to the camp, you’ll need a 4×4 vehicle.
