Favourite Parks – Aberdare National Park – Nairobi, Kenya

Kenya –African elephant applying suncreen

Aberdare National Park was established in 1950 with an aim to conserve and protect the Aberdare Mountains. Since, it has grown to an impressive 767 square-kilometers. The Park is a protected area in the Aberdare Mountain Range in central Kenya located east of the East African Rift Valley covering the higher areas and the Aberdare Salient to the east. It is marked by V-shaped valleys bisected by streams, rivers, and waterfalls, moors, bamboo forests and rainforests are found at lower elevations.

Wildlife

L-R Giraffes, Elephant and Zebras at Aberdare National Park

Wildlife present in the protected area include lion, leopard, elephant, East African wild dog, giant forest hog, bushbuck, mountain reedbuck, waterbuck, Cape buffalo, suni, side-striped jackal, eland, duiker, Anubis baboon, black and white colobus monkey, and Sykes monkey.

Kenya is suffering from a problem, albeit a good one: The elephant population in the 42-square-kilometer (16-square-mile) Mwea National Reserve, east of the capital Nairobi, has flourished from its capacity of 50 to a whopping 156, overwhelming the ecosystem and requiring the relocation of about 100 of the largest land animals. It hosted 49 elephants in 1979.

Elephant Relocation

According to the Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Erustus Kanga, the overpopulation in Mwea highlighted the success of conservation efforts over the last three decades.

“This shows that poaching has been low, and the elephants have been able to thrive,” Kanga said. Experts started relocating 50 elephants October 12th to the expansive 780-square-kilometer (301-square-mile) Aberdare National Park in central Kenya.

Kenya’s flag

Boniface Mbau, a resident of the area, said: “We are very happy that the government has decided to reduce the number of elephants from the area. Due to their high numbers, they did not have enough food in the reserve, and they ended up invading our farms.”

A second phase to relocate 50 other elephants is planned, but the date has not been disclosed. The project has cost at least 12 million Kenyan shillings ($93,000), the wildlife agency said.

Highlights

The TreeTops Lodge

With a rich, royal history and historical architecture that dates to 1932, the TreeTops Lodge is one of the best lodges for spotting wildlife in their natural environment. The lodge is known as the site where in 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen after the death of her father King George VI, whilst staying there.

The lodge is strategically situated right in front of a natural salt lick and watering hole making it an excellent location. TreeTops is located off Nyeri-Nyahururu road and lies between the Aberdare ranges and the Mount Kenya National Park. It has 32 standard rooms as wells three suits. The rooms have free Wi-Fi just in case you want to share the great moments with those back home.

Aberdare Country Club

The Aberdare Country Club is situated on the picturesque slopes of Mweiga Hill in the Mt Kenya region, about 200 kilometers from Nairobi City (about a two-hour drive). It is the best place to visit if you want to enjoy wildlife. Featured wildlfe stars include Thompson and Grant’s gazelles, giraffes, zebras and the more cloistered leopards.