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The Central Highlands |
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Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park (18 Sq. Km) Aberdares National Park (715 sq. kms) Mt. Kenya National Park (715 Sq. Kms) Climbing Routes Meru National Park Samburu/Buffalo Springs/Shaba National Reserves Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park (18 Sq. Km)Ol Donyo Sabuk or Sleeping Buffalo, also called Kilima Mbogo in Swahili meaning the Hill of buffalo, lies about 80 kilometers east of Nairobi and beyond Thika town on the Thika-Garissa road. The Mountain was established as a National park in 1967. The park covers the forested slopes and the summit of the mountain (2,148 meters or 7,040 ft.), with outstanding scenic beauty and wonderful views. On clear mornings the view of the snow peaks of Mt. Kenya, over 100 kilometers away. A short distance before the entrance of the park are the beautiful Fourteen Falls on the Athi River dropping thunderously over a 27m (90 ft.) deep slope. Commonly seen animals include buffalo, Bushbuck, Sykes monkey and Black-faced vervet monkey. Black rhino and Leopard may be seen.
Aberdares National Park (715 sq. kms)Situated ten kilometers north-west of Nyeri town and about 165 kilometers from Nairobi, the Aberdares range was first recorded by Joseph Thompson in 1883. It is part of an ancient group of extinct volcanoes about 100 kilometers north-north-west of Nairobi which rise to a height of 3998 m.The rare, shy and elusive Bongo inhabits the higher bamboo zone and the hypericum scrub between the thick forests and the moorlands. Common forest zone mammal species include: Elephant, Buffalo, Giant Forest Hog, Leopard, Spotted hyena. In the moorlands are found: Eland, Bush duiker, Black fronted red duiker, Rhino, Silver-backed and Side-striped jackal, Impala and Lion. It is the best area to see Black melanistic leopard, Black serval cat and Black genet. Birds are plentiful with Jackson’s and Scaly Francolin, Kenya Crested guinea fowl and birds of prey like Crowned and Ayres Hawk eagle. Accessibility is through Nyeri Town via Mweiga Park HQs. An alternative route is through Naivasha on the road that crosses the park from the west. The Aberdares two lodges- the Ark and the Treetops are designed to view the animals after dark.
Mt. Kenya National Park (715 Sq. Kms)Mt. Kenya or Kirinyaga (Black and White stripped Mountain), the sacred mountain of the Gikuyu people where their God “Ngai” legendary lived, is a giant extinct volcano whose rims have been worn down leaving only the central peaks sticking out on top of the mountain mass. It is the second highest mountain in Africa and the only spot in the world where snow is found on the Equator.In December 1949, the Mountain was made a National Park whose boundaries cover nearly all the area above the 11,000 ft. contour line plus two lower salients at Sirimon and Naro Moru. The park thus protects and preserves large sections of the mountain forests and bamboo thickets with their varied wildlife, the alpine moorlands, glaciers, tarns and glacial moraines.
Ascending the MountainTo climb to the highest peaks (Batian and Nelion) one requires ropes, ice-axes and other specialized climbing gear. The two peak can be attempted by experienced climbers. Non-experienced climbers have managed to reach Point Lenana 4,970 meters (16,300 ft.) commonly the “Tourist Peak”.Back to top
Climbing Routes1. Naro-Moru Route: This is considered the quickest route to reach the peaks via the Park HQs.2.Sirimon Motor Track: it is considered the easiest route to reach the moorland, but it requires a four-wheel drive due to the rough road. 3. Timau Track: This motor track on the northern slopes of the mountain enables the visitors to drive upto 4,160 meters (13,640 ft.) 4. Chogoria Route: On the eastern slopes of the mountain.
Meru National ParkMeru National Park lies eighty-five kilometers east of Meru town on the north-eastern lowlands below Nyambene Hills, and about 370 kilometers north-east of Nairobi. The Park is wild and beautiful, straddling the Equator and bisected by 13 rivers and numerous mountain-fed streams. It has diverse scenery from woddlands at 3,000ft on the slopes of Nyambeni Mountain Range, north east of Mount Kenya.The park has a road system of over 600 Kms. which guarantee pleasant drives for game viewing. It is popularly known as Elsa Country where the late world famous Joy Adamson reared the orphaned lioness and later rehabilitated her in the wild. She also raided Pipa the cheetah, made famous in her book “The Spotted Sphinx” and later released her into the bush. Wildlife is prolific and varied.
Samburu/Buffalo Springs/Shaba National ReservesThe three reserves lie about three hundred and twenty-five kilometers from Nairobi and about fifty kilometers from Isiolo town on the Isiolo-Marsabit road. The first two reserves are transversed by the Uaso Nyiro river which is adequately augmented by crystal clear springs and swamps providing surface water for dry land animals and home for the crocodiles and hippos. The beautiful scenery along the Uaso Nyiro river is one of the great attractions of these reserves, with a strip of riverine forest and thicket where many animals are found during the heat of the day.Shaba got its name from a cone of volcanic rock in the reserve. Large mantles of volcanic lava preserve underground water which emerges as a spring making Shaba better watered than the other two reserves. It was here where the aging Joy Adamson performed last rehabilitation feat with Penny, the orphaned leopard cub. The reserves are famous for their great concentration of the rare species of animals found in northern Kenya - such as Grevy Zebra, Beisa oryx, Reticulated giraffe and the Blue-necked Somali ostrich. The reserves are also home to the graceful Gerenuk, along -necked gazelle found only in dry areas. Other animals commonly seen include:- elephant, buffalo, cheetah, lion, impala, grant’s gazelle, spotted hyena and leopard. There are three lodges in Samburu (total 270 beds), one lodge and one tented camp in Shaba.
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