Central Kenyan highlands
Aberdare National Park
Source: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) · checked 18 Oct 2026
Photo: Matteo Frigo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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About Aberdare National Park
A national park of about 766 km² in the Aberdare (Nyandarua) mountains, gazetted in 1950 and managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, with moorland, bamboo forest and forested ravines.
Sources: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab); Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (opens in a new tab) · checked 18 Oct 2026
Highlights
- Elephants, black rhinos, leopards and buffalo, with bongo sightings in the forest
- Over 250 bird species recorded in the park
- Trout fishing, picnics and camping in the moorlands
- One of Kenya's five main "water towers"
Sources: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab); Nature Kenya (opens in a new tab) · checked 18 Oct 2026
Suggested time
At least 2 days
KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
Confirm before booking
- Which gate you will use and whether park roads are passable after rain
- Camping or lodge bookings inside the park
- Trout-fishing permits
KenyaPlus does not yet hold verified data for these.
When to go
Rain affects travel in Kenya, especially on unpaved roads. Here is the yearly pattern and the current forecast for Aberdare National Park, both from the Kenya Meteorological Department.
- January: between the rains.
- February: between the rains.
- March: long rains.
- April: long rains, expected peak.
- May: long rains.
- June: between the rains.
- July: between the rains.
- August: between the rains.
- September: between the rains.
- October: short rains.
- November: short rains.
- December: short rains.
- Long rains
- Short rains
- Between the rains
- Expected peak (2026 outlook)
A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet.
Forecast: October–December 2026
For Nyeri and Nyandarua counties, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 2nd to 3rd week of October and continuing into January.
Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
Kenya's rainy seasons
March to May is the main rainfall season — the “long rains” — over most parts of Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSources: Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2026 season (KMD/FCST/01-2026/SO/01) (opens in a new tab); Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2025 season (KMD/FCST/01-2025/SO/01) (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
For the 2026 long rains, the Kenya Meteorological Department expected the peak in April over most regions, and in May along the coast.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
October to December brings the “short rains”, a major rainfall season in Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
More in our guide: Best time to visit Kenya.
Park entry fees
Information status: VerifiedAberdare National Park — daily entry
Per person, per 24 hours. Children under 6 enter free.
| Visitor | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| East African citizen | KES 800 | KES 500 |
| Kenya resident | KES 1,100 | KES 675 |
| African citizen | USD 40 | USD 20 |
| Non-resident / foreign visitor | USD 70 | USD 40 |
Official KWS tariff "Conservation Fees 2025", supplied by the KenyaPlus owner and checked on 17 Oct 2026.
- Listed by KWS as a wilderness park (group B), with Meru and Kora.
- Entry is charged per person and is valid for one visit of up to 24 hours.
- Children aged five and younger enter free; the child rate covers ages 5–17, and students up to 23 on an organised visit from their school or college.
- Kenyan citizens aged 70 and over and persons with disability are exempt.
- Vehicle charges are extra (from KES 600 a day for a vehicle with fewer than 6 seats), as are camping and activities.
Guides for Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park: moorland, forest and rare wildlife
Kenya's highland park of moorland and bamboo forest: elephants, black rhinos, bongo, over 250 bird species, trout fishing and camping.
Things to do in Aberdare National Park
Photo: Zammerman · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Wildlife encounters
Track down Kenya's black rhinos
Four places where checked sources record the endangered black rhino.
Where: Nairobi · Lake Nakuru · Aberdare National Park · Mount Kenya
Photo: Matteo Frigo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Adventure and the outdoors
Fish, camp and search for bongo in the Aberdares
Misty moorland, waterfalls, trout streams and rare forest animals.
Where: Aberdare National Park
Where next from Aberdare National Park
Close by
Photo: Galkey · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Mount Kenyaabout 3 h by road (estimate)
Photo: Syllabub · CC BY-SA 3.0 · original
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Lake Nakuruabout 3½ h by road (estimate)
Photo: Alexmbogo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Nairobiabout 4 h by road (estimate)
If you like Aberdare National Park
Photo: Bett Duncan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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NaivashaAlso good for hiking, wildlife
Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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SamburuAlso good for safari, wildlife
Photo: Nina R · CC BY 2.0 · original
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Meru National ParkAlso good for safari, wildlife
Thinking of visiting Aberdare National Park?
Add it to a plan and run the Trip Reality Check.
Sources
- Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) — Aberdare National Park (checked 18 Oct 2026)
- Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (opens in a new tab) — Aberdare Mountains — Key Biodiversity Area factsheet (last assessed 2011) (checked 18 Oct 2026)
- Nature Kenya (opens in a new tab) — KBA in Focus: Aberdare Mountains (4 Apr 2024) (checked 18 Oct 2026)
Spotted something out of date? Tell us — we check corrections against the source before changing anything.