The Aberdare National Park has gained its reputation from the rare species found within its locale, these species include: the black rhino, bongo antelopes, giant forest hogs and the very rare black leopards. Spectacular waterfalls plunge into pools and have trout filled streams. A night accommodation is enjoyable and either the Ark or Treetops where the Queen of England ascended to the throne or a section of excellent Banda’s and Campsites.
Animals easily observed include the leopard, african elephant, african hunting dog, giant forest hog, bushbuck, mountain reedbuck, waterbuck, cape buffalo, suni, side-striped jackal, eland, duikers olive baboon, black and white Colobus monkey, and sykes monkey. Rarer sightings include those of the golden cat and the bongo – an elusive forest antelope that lives in the bamboo forest. Animals like the eland and spotted and melanistic serval cats can be found higher up in the moorlands. The Aberdare National Park also contains a large population of the black rhino. Visitors can also indulge in walking, picnics, in the rivers and camping in the moorlands. Even the bird viewing is rewarding, with over 250 species of birds in the park, including the endangered Aberdare Cisticola, Jackson’s Francolin, sparry hawk, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds and plovers. It is a traditional belief of the Kikuyu that the Aberdare Mountain Range, where this park is located, is one of the homes of Ngai, or God. In order to protect the Bongo antelope the lions of Aberdare have been moved to other national parks.