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1. General Information
The colonialists recognized the Aberdares as fertile
grounds for the growth of coffee, tea, wheat and flowers who ultimately
had no regard for the local population. As such the infamous Mau
Mau leader and freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi had his headquarters
in the thick forest of the Aberdare mountain range. The Aberdare
National park forms part of the mountain ranges, which peak at a
height of 4000m above sea level. The Aberdares are part of Kenya's
well-known mountains.
Aberdares was accorded national park status in 1950. It is renowned
for its famous and luxurious tree- house hotels- Treetops and The
Ark; the former hosted the then and young Princess Elizabeth of
Britain in 1952. The park covers a total area of 800 kilometers
square. Following an extension in 1950, the park became the third
largest park in the country and has the coveted position of, highest
park in all Africa, as most of the plateau is located above an altitude
of 3,000m.
2. Getting There
The park is located 160km north of Nairobi. It is
readily accessible on tarmac from Nyeri (154 km from Nairobi), Nyahururu
(188km from Nairobi) and Naivasha (87km from Nairobi). For those
who prefer flying, Mweiga airstrip next to the park headquarters
and Nyeri airstrip are of service. The Park can be accessed via
four gates: Wanderis, Kiandorogo, Shamata and the Rhino gate.
3. Major attractions
The park is host to a myriad of animals: elephants,
lions, rhinos, black leopards, the elusive but breath taking bongo
antelope, monkeys, warthog can all be seen roaming the park. A note
on the rhino: rhinos are a protected species especially the black
variety and the Aberdares National Park is host to the few surviving
ones. The Kenya Wildlife Services is charged with protecting them.
Other attractions that await tourists are the three
falls: Chania, Gura and Karura which have been created by the rivers
Karura and Chania. Karura falls have the deepest drop marked at
300metres and have two viewing stations.
Thought of as a blessing in disguise, the park experiences
heavy rainfalls that can put off safari companies and individual
travelers but not the zealous tourist who can indulge in fishing
in the Karura and Chania rivers. Nocturnal game viewing provides
good entertainment and learning experience. For those into meditation
in the wild, walks in the moorlands, twin hills elephant hills and
Table Mountains can enable this.
Vegetation in the park is thick, characterized by
wooded hills and mountains making it easy for one to get lost. The
mountain air on the other hand is fresh and clean and the Aberdare
rainforest is a water catchment area for the whole of Nairobi.
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