The Aberdare Park covers most of the Aberdare mountain range in central Kenya. The range holds Kenya's second and third highest peaks, extraordinary waterfalls, and some of the most scenic montane forest in the country. The Aberdare Forest is arguably the most beautiful in Kenya — dense, dripping, and full of wildlife.
The park is not commonly visited, for good reasons. It gets huge amounts of rain, and the roads turn to mudslides during the rainy season. You need your own 4WD vehicle, and if you plan to camp, bring solid equipment. Make reservations first — contact Park Headquarters at Mweiga before you head in.
Two famous lodges sit inside the park: Treetops and The Ark. Both are built beside waterholes and let you watch elephants, rhinos, buffalo, hyenas and sometimes lion come to drink — often through the night. They must be booked in advance and accessed by the lodges' own transport, not driven to independently. Alternatively, game drives can be arranged from the Aberdare Country Club in Mweiga (12 km north of Nyeri) without an overnight stay inside the park.