Aberdare National Park lodges

The best time to visit Aberdare National Park in Kenya is determined by the weather conditions and the ease or difficulty of viewing the wildlife animals. The park’s dense forests and mountainous highlands entice visitors throughout the year.

The best time to visit Aberdare National Park is during the long dry season, which lasts from July to October. This is also the park’s coolest time of year, with daytime temperatures averaging between 21 and 23 degrees (70 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit) and night time lows of 11 degrees (52 degrees Fahrenheit). As a result, you should bring an additional layer of warm clothing for your morning and evening activities. Although there are fewer insects during this time of year, the short dry season between January and February is also suggested as the Best Time to Visit Aberdare National Park because the park is humidly hot with little rainfall. The animals congregate around the remaining water holes, making game viewing adventures easier.

However, it is not the best time to visit Aberdare National Park during the rainy season, which lasts for two distinct periods with long rains from March to May and short rains from November to December. This is because more water spots appear and animals tend to disperse throughout the park, making it difficult to see the concentration of wildlife in a small area as you would in dry weather. Additionally, the National Park’s roads and trails may be challenging to traverse because of the sticky black cotton soil, which could have an adverse effect on your hiking safari, wildlife drives, and nature walks.

Accommodations in Aberdare National Park

There aren’t many accommodations in Aberdare National Park, but those that are available are all mid-range and standard options with plenty of guest rooms to accommodate both large groups of visitors and individual park visitors. These accommodations range from luxury accommodations, which come with a high level of exclusivity and opulence, to mid-range accommodations for Kenya safari travellers who want a good balance between price and quality as well as standard/budget options.

Treetops Lodge

The Treetops Lodge, also called Nyeri tree-house lodge on stilts, is a well-known lodging option in Aberdare National Park, where Queen Elizabeth II visited as a princess and left as queen. The lodge is situated in the path of an ancient elephant, which is the migratory route between the Aberdare Ranges and Mount Kenya National Park. It is ideally situated in front of a natural salt lick and watering hole, making it the ideal spot to watch game. The 36 rooms in the lodge are a mix of standard rooms and suites for the affluent guests. The three large suites have a sitting area with large windows that provide a breathtaking view of the salt lick and watering hole. You can make the twin beds in the standard rooms into a king-size double bed. Every room has an en suite bathroom with a shower and a rack for the safari bag. There are also triple rooms for families. In order to notify visitors when the game is at the watering holes, buzzers are installed in every room.

The Ark Lodge

The Ark Lodge is another famous and, yes, eccentric lodging option in Aberdare National Park. It has a view of a salt lick and floodlit waterhole that draws a variety of amazing species. Named after Noah’s Ark, the Ark Lodge is made up of three decks with lots of terraces and lounges that make it a great place to watch wildlife. Similar to Treetops Lodge, the night watchman will buzz your room if animals visit the waterhole so you don’t miss the opportunity to see them. On the Ark, lodging is provided in self-contained cabins with a toilet and a shower.

Aberdare Country Club

Aberdare Country Club is a charming location that was the farmhouse of an English couple who chose to reside in Kenya. It is situated in the Aberdare Highlands, part of the Great Rift Valley, on the slope of Mweiga Hill. Nearly fifty years later, their house, “The Steep,” was renamed the Aberdare Country Club and made available to the public. This accommodation in Aberdare National Park has 20 cottage-style rooms and one standard suite, making it ideal for single people, families, honeymooners, and those seeking something more. It combines the beauty of a private house with the basic amenities of a country inn.

Thomson’s Falls Lodge

Thomson’s Falls Lodge, located northwest of Aberdare Park, offers stunning views of the 72-meter (236-foot) Nyahururu Falls, also known as Thomson’s Falls during its colonial era. It is situated next to one of Kenya’s best waterfalls, the Thomson’s Falls, which you will see during your Aberdare scenic adventure. 32 guest rooms in affordable cottages are available at the lodge. In addition to the several public campsites in Aberdare National Park, such as Reedbuck, Ruhuruina, Wandare, and Shamata campgrounds, there are additional lodging options like Tusk Camp Banda and the Fishing Lodge Guest House.

Tusk camp Bandas

Located in Aberdare National Park, about two km from Ruhuruini Gate in the Kenya Region, lies Tusk Camp Bandas, a mid-range woodland lodging option. The camp is 160 kilometres away from the heart of Nairobi. The drive to the lodge from Nairobi’s downtown takes around three to four hours, and the flight to the nearby Mweige or Nanyuki airport takes fifty minutes. From there, it takes a short while to get to the camp. The lodge is the ideal starting point for travellers and tourists who wish to explore the Aberdare mountain ranges and their stunning surroundings for leisure and safari excursions.

The two roomy and cosy en suite cabins at Tusk Camp Bandas, each accommodating four people, have a view of the wilderness and are designed in the traditional African style, utilising indigenous timbers, grass thatched roofs, and contemporary amenities. Bandas are tastefully equipped and decorated, with private en suite bathrooms featuring hot and cold showers, flushing toilets, mosquito nets, cosy tropical timber beds with fresh bedding, free toiletries, complimentary bottled water, white pillows and sheets, slippers, and much more. The resort features expansive sitting areas and verandas that provide a breathtaking view of the surrounding forest and the wildlife that roams there. Warmth is provided by a crackling fireplace where visitors can unwind and exchange tales about their Kenya safari.

Fishing Lodge

Aberdare National Park, run by the Kenya Wildlife Service, is situated in the southern half of the park on the foggy moorland of the Aberdare Hills. The distance between Fishing Lodge Guest House and Nairobi is 180 km. With two units that are roughly 100 meters apart, the lodge is self-catering. Two double rooms, one single room, and two en-suite bathrooms are all included in the three bedrooms at each of the two similar lodges. In every cabin, there are doors leading to a veranda and a wood fire in the living area. The living room is connected to an open-plan eating space. On the terrace are benches and a dining table as well. Every cottage has a sitting area with a log fire and doors that open to a veranda. Off the sitting room is an open-plan eating area as well. The patio also has benches and a dining table. The living has a fantastic fireplace, a patio with a great view, and a tiny kitchen with a gas hob. Early in the morning and late at night, the caretaker lights a wood fire to heat the flowing water. Although there is no electricity, solar power is used for lighting. Fishing, mountain climbing, trekking, and nature walks are among the activities offered by Fishing Lodge Aberdare National Park. Visitors can also take in the breathtaking waterfalls, moor landscapes, and a variety of species, including as lions, buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos.