Game drives · Central highlands
Aberdare National Park
Misty forests, waterfalls and the elusive bongo
A different Kenya entirely — cool, misty mountain rainforest above 2,000m, with bamboo thickets, plunging waterfalls and forest species you'll see nowhere else.
- Iconic tree-hotels (The Ark, Treetops) with floodlit waterholes
- Rare forest wildlife including the elusive bongo
- Karuru and Gura Falls
- Cool mountain climate — a welcome change of pace
Best time to visit
January to February and June to September — the drier months with the clearest forest views.
Getting there
2.5–3 hour scenic drive north of Nairobi, often combined with Lake Nakuru or Ol Pejeta.
What you'll see
Wildlife you can reasonably expect on a typical Aberdare National Park game drive.
- Bongo (rare forest antelope — Aberdare is one of the last strongholds)
- Forest elephant and buffalo
- Black leopard sightings reported here
- Black-and-white colobus monkeys
- Giant forest hog
Experiences here
Treetop hotel stay
Watch wildlife come to a floodlit waterhole all night from your room.
Karuru Falls walk
Visit Kenya's tallest waterfall, plunging 273m through the forest.
Trout fishing
The Aberdare's cold streams are famous for rainbow trout.
FAQ
Aberdare National Park — common questions
- How is the wildlife different?
- Forest species rather than savanna — quieter, harder to spot, but unique.
- Is it cold?
- Yes, often single-digit Celsius at night. Pack a warm layer.
Plan your Aberdare National Park safari
Tell us your dates and we'll send back a handcrafted itinerary, usually within 24 hours.
