Central Kenya National Animal Parks-Mt Kenya & Aberdare Park

Kenya Mountain National parks

Mt Kenya national park is more than just the home of Kenya's highest fountain and unique flora and fauna: it is the region's biggest attraction and treks to the summit of pt Lenana (4985) are the highlights of many people's trip to Africa.

While the Aberdare National Park is best known to the outside world as the place princess Elizabeth became queen, those who have been lucky enough to visit will recall I far more for its lush salient rainforest ,Kinangop plateau and abundant wildlife.

Lesser known Meru National Park, with diverse landscapes and wildlife, is one of Kenya's best kept secret.

The tiny national park of Ol Donyo Sabuk straddles its namesake hill and plays home to a lush forest, buffaloes, birds, and primates.

Travelling to Central Kenya mountain vacation spots

Air

Daily Air Kenya (Tel 020-605745; www.airkenya.com) and Safarilink (Tel 020-600777' www.asfarilink.co.ke) services link Nanyuki with Nairobi (Wilson airport), Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Samburu National Park. Air Kenya also has three flights a week connecting the Meru National with Samburu and Nairobi.

Bus and Matatu

The central highlands are linked to Nairobi, western Kenya and the southern reaches of northern Kenya by countless matatus (mini buses) and regular bus services. Limited bus services also connect the region to Mombasa and the coast.

Getting around

This region's roads are in particularly good shape and thanks to the new matatu safety regulations; it is safer than ever to get around. Countless buses and matatus ply the route between all major towns.

Aberdares

The Aberdares stretch from south Kinangop, east of Naivasha, up to the Laikipia Escarpment northwest of Nyahururu, known to the Kikuyu as Nyandarua (meaning drying hide), the aberdares were named by explorer Joseph Thomson in 1844.

The lower eastern slopes of the aberdares were long cultivated by the kikuyu ,while the higher regions (now part of the Aberdare National Park),boasting 400m peaks, 300m water-falls, dense forests ,bamboo thickets ,mist covered moors and serious trekking potential ,were left to leopards, buffalos, lions, rhinos and elephants. The aberdares remains Kenya's best place to spot black rhinos.

European settlers established coffee and tea plantations on the eastern side of the aberdares and the wheat and pyrethrum (chrysanthemum) on the western side of the slope.

NYERI AND AROUND

(Tel code 061)

A well positioned, lively place and on e of central highlands largest towns, Nyeri is the administrative headquarter of central province and gateway to Aberdare National Park. in colonialism's earlier days, Nyeri was a garrison town, but it quickly became a trading and social center for white cattle ranchers, coffee growers and wheat farmers. The verdant surrounds are intensely cultivated for vegetables, sugar cane, citrus fruits, bananas, tea, coffee and macadamia nuts.

On a clear morning, you can see distant Mount Kenya in all its snow- capped glory. However, few travelers linger more than two nights.

Information
Internet access is available for Ksh 1 per minute at numerous cafes and at the three post offices which also host card phones.

Barclays bank (Cnr sulukia and Sharpe Rds) exchange cash and travelers cheques (Ksh per leaf commission).
With ATM

Kenya commercial bank (Kenyatta Rd) with ATM
(Visa only)

Wanga cyber hut (Batian exhibition center, Gakere Rd; per CD burned Ksh 50) burn images to CD using USB connections.