Aberdares National Park 2027: Kenya’s Montane Forest Safari and Night Hide Experience

Aberdare National Park is absolutely worth visiting for those seeking a unique safari experience. Unlike the open plains of the Masai Mara, the Aberdares offers dense montane forest, cool mountain air, and wildlife viewing from tree lodges. The night viewing experience — watching elephants, buffalo, and rhino from an elevated platform with spotlights — is unforgettable. The park is also one of the best places in Kenya to see black rhino and the elusive bongo. For photographers, the misty forest landscapes and waterfalls are spectacular. However, if you are seeking the classic Big Five savanna experience, the Aberdares should be combined with the Masai Mara or Amboseli rather than visited alone.

A tree lodge safari is a unique experience offered in the Aberdare National Park. Tree lodges are multi-storey wooden buildings constructed on stilts beside natural waterholes and salt licks. Guests stay in rooms with large windows overlooking the waterhole, allowing them to watch wildlife from the comfort of their accommodation. At night, spotlights illuminate the area, revealing nocturnal animals that would otherwise be invisible. The most famous tree lodges are Treetops — where Princess Elizabeth learned she was queen in 1952 — and The Ark, designed to resemble Noah’s Ark. Both offer ground-level hides, rooftop viewing decks, and alarm systems that wake guests when rare animals arrive.

The Aberdares supports a surprising diversity of wildlife despite its dense forest habitat. The Big Five are all present — elephants and buffalo are common at waterholes, leopards hunt in the forest, lions occasionally venture into the lower slopes, and black rhino are regularly seen. The park is famous for the mountain bongo, a large forest antelope with striking reddish-brown and white markings. Other notable species include giant forest hog, bush pig, black-fronted duiker, and Sykes’ monkey. Birdlife is exceptional, with over 250 species including the rare Aberdare cisticola and Jackson’s francolin. Because of the dense vegetation, game drives are more challenging than on the open plains, but the tree lodges provide guaranteed wildlife viewing.

Aberdare National Park is located approximately 150 kilometres north of Nairobi, about 3 hours by road. The journey passes through the fertile highlands of central Kenya, with beautiful scenery. The park has several entry gates, with the most commonly used being the Treetops Gate and the Ark Gate. We recommend combining Aberdares with a visit to Ol Pejeta Conservancy or Samburu, as these destinations are within driving distance. For a comprehensive Kenya safari, we suggest 1 to 2 nights at a tree lodge in the Aberdares, combined with 3 to 4 nights in the Masai Mara. The cool mountain climate makes the Aberdares an excellent contrast to the heat of the lowland parks.

The Aberdares is famous for its tree lodges, which offer the most unique wildlife viewing experience in Kenya. Treetops is the most iconic — a historic lodge where Princess Elizabeth became queen. The Ark is designed like Noah’s Ark and has excellent viewing decks and a ground-level hide. Both lodges offer all-inclusive packages with meals and wildlife viewing. For a more exclusive experience, Aberdare Country Club and The Fishing Lodge offer luxury accommodation with access to the park. We strongly recommend staying in a tree lodge for at least one night to experience the magical night viewing. Book well in advance — tree lodges are small and popular, particularly during peak season.