Aberdare National Park, located in Kenya’s central highlands north of Nairobi, is a scenic mountain sanctuary unlike the typical savannah parks. Ranging from 2,000 to over 4,000 meters in elevation, it features misty peaks, bamboo forests, alpine moorlands, and dramatic waterfalls like Karuru and Gura Falls. The park’s cooler climate supports diverse habitats that are home to elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, baboons, leopards, and the rare bongo antelope. Though dense forest cover makes wildlife harder to spot, waterholes and salt licks near lodges like The Ark and Treetops offer excellent viewing, especially at night.

Aberdare is also rich in birdlife, with over 250 species including many endemics and highland specialists. Historically significant as the place where Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952, the park also served as a Mau Mau hideout during Kenya’s independence struggle. Managed by Kenya Wildlife Service, it offers game drives, nature walks, trout fishing, and a cool, quiet alternative to busier parks.