Aberdare National Park, is a stunning section of a protected forest reserve on Kenya’s coast. This park contains a wide range of topography because it is situated between an altitude of roughly 7,000 feet and 14,000 feet above sea level, 180 kilometers from Nairobi and 100 kilometers from northern Mombasa, respectively. The 767 square kilometer Aberdare National Park, which was created in May 1950, is a portion of the Aberdare Mountain Range.
The park has a variety of scenery, from the 14,000-foot-high mountain peaks to the deep, v-shaped valleys that are cut by rivers, streams, and waterfalls. Lower altitudes are home to moorland, bamboo woods, and rainforests. Once more, the park is home to three different types of old forests, each of which protects hundreds of different indigenous and uncommon animal species, so that you can have a wonderful safari experience when you are there.
Due to the park’s abundance of birds and dedication to the preservation of endangered species, it is currently being considered for World Heritage status. The Sokoke scops owl, Amani sunbird, and spotted ground thrush are just a few of the 270 birds that call Arabuko-Sokoke home; the park is one of just two remaining natural habitats in the world. This unique safari site is home to more than 50 unusual mammals and 80 different kinds of amphibians. You might see golden-rumped elephant shrews, Sokoke bush tailed mongooses, forest elephants, African civets, and vervet monkeys when out on a wildlife drive.
Visitors to this park can readily witness the lion, leopard, baboon, black and white Colobus monkey, and Sykes monkey on their safari tour. The golden cat and the bongo, an elusive woodland antelope that dwells in the bamboo forest, are among the animals that are spotted less frequently. Higher up on the moorlands, you can see animals like eland and spotted and melanistic serval cats. Also A sizable black rhino population can also be found in the Aberdare National Park.
A Guide to Visiting Arabuko-Sokoke National Park
The park, which is 110 kilometers from Mombasa, is reachable via tarmac road from the capital via the B8 coastal highway to Malindi. Before Watamu and Gedi, about a kilometer off the main road, is where the park’s entrance is located.
You can take a local aircraft to Malindi, which is only a 20-kilometer drive from the forest, or fly through Mombasa Airport and then drive up to the coast. The park is also reachable from here by bus or bicycle, both of which take an hour or so.
The Cost of Arabuko-Sokoke National Park
The price is $20 per day for adults and $10 per day for children for foreign tourists. Kenyans can anticipate paying KSH 100 each. It costs an additional KSH 200 per day to rent a car, or KSH 500 for a larger vehicle.
Tourist Attractions at Arabuko-Sokoke National Park
African elephant, black rhino, leopard, spotted hyena, olive baboon, black and white colobus monkey, Sykes monkey, Cape buffalo, warthog, common zebra, bushbuck, and reedbuck are among the game creatures that may be easily seen in the park during game viewing. The Giant Forest Hog, Bongo, Golden Cat, Serval Cat, African Wild Cat, African Civet Cat, and Blue Duiker are among the unusual animals that have been spotted.
Magnificent waterfalls can be found in Aberdare, with the most notable ones being Chania waterfalls and Karuru waterfalls, which descend in three steps, with the first step being 117 meters, the second step being 26 meters, and the third step being 130 meters.
Numerous ridges and river valleys add to Aberdare’s charm and draw mountain scenery photographers.
The 400 km of electric fence near Aberdare, which was finished and reached its final post on August 28, 2009, has recently gained notoriety. The fence keeps wildlife contained and safeguards the entire Aberdare ecosystem from human influences, preventing conflicts between people and animals.
Additionally, tourists can enjoy camping in the Moorlands, picnics, and trout fishing. About 290 bird species have been reported, including the severely endangered Aberdare Cisticola and the regionally endemic Jackson’s francolin, the sparry hawk, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds, and plovers.
Tourist Activities at Arabuko-Sokoke National Park
Enjoy your safari tour to this stunning national park in Kenya, where you can see hundreds of different bird, butterfly, and mammal species. Visitors can take a guided walk along one of the park’s nature trails with a park ranger, go on a game drive or ride a mountain biking through it to see the park’s rich fauna (book the day before). Arabuko-Sokoke places a great priority on ecotourism and conservation, and thus there are many possibilities to learn more about the regional ecosystem and communities.
Forest hike, the forest’s shady canopy is ideal for hiking and led nature tours. As previously noted, qualified guides can be hired to provide a more thorough tour of the reserve.
Bird watching, More than 270 different bird species can be seen here, including the endangered Sokoke pipit and spotted ground thrush.
Milda Creek, There is a larger flamingo, sandpiper, and crab-plover attraction in this scenic inlet close to the entrance. To get closer to these migrant birds, visit the bird hide and boardwalk nearby.
Camping, in the reserve, there are three great places to camp: in the official campsite, high up on the tree platforms, or at the Nyati Cliff, where you can see an amazing dawn.
Biking and picnicking, the forest’s shaded areas, abundance of pathways, and laid-back atmosphere are ideal for a leisurely bike ride or picnic.
Accommodations in Arabuko-Sokoke National Park
There are several resorts and motels along the Mombasa-Malindi route, which leads to the park entrance, which borders the forest. If you’re interested in camping, there is a simple public campground close to the Kenya Wildlife Service offices that is reachable from the major Kilifi-Malindi road and situated close to the park entrance, Aberdare National Park .
Visitors to the park can choose from a variety of lodging options, including the Treetops tree-house lodge, the Ark, three self-help Banda sites, eight exclusive campsites, and a public campsite on the moorland. The Ark was created in the shape of Noah’s Ark. There are five picnic areas as well. Both Treetops and Ark offer fantastic opportunities to see wildlife at night. Visitors can view a variety of creatures from here, including elephants, buffalo, lions, and rhinos, who are drawn to the waterholes.
When to Visit the Arabuko-Sokoke National Park
The forest’s humid coastal climate makes the park frequently very hot. For the most agreeable weather, visit between August and April, but you’ll need to pack light and drink lots of water.
