Enchanting Aberdare National Park & Ol Pejeta Conservancy - Three-day safari from Nairobi
Short Overview
Aberdare National Park is located in central Kenya around 160 kilometres from Nairobi by road, and it stretches a hundred kilometres north to south within the third highest mountain range in Kenya. The two peaks of the Aberdares and the mixed forest vegetation create quite a peculiar topography, ensuring a perfect habitat for many species.
In the moorlands full of mist, elephants roam through the thick, dense forest and sights of spectacular waterfalls plunging into pools and streams filled with trout are on display. The Eastern black rhinoceroses, leopards, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, Skye’s monkeys, buffaloes, jackals, East African wild dogs live in these mountains. Above them, more than 250 bird species rule the skies, and reptiles and insects are also not shy in numbers.
On top of it, we’ll settle you in one of the selected lodges with high terraces, fronted with a waterhole where animals come to drink - so you’ll be able to observe them from the close against a breathtaking backdrop view of the Aberdare mountain range.
And we combined it with an unforgettable experience in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This non-profit wildlife conservancy provides sanctuary for great apes, boasts the biggest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, and is home to the only two remaining northern white rhinos in the world! Ol Pejeta is also the only reserve in Africa conserving three rhino subspecies - the black, southern white, and the northern white rhinos.
A 360 square kilometres big conservancy at the foot of Mount Kenya is, therefore, the only place on Earth where the northern white rhinos can be seen, the only place in Kenya, where chimpanzees can be observed, and, on top of it, you can encounter all the Big five as well as other wildlife in abundance - an unforgettable and unbeatable safari experience!
Visiting means also supporting great wildlife conservancy programmes and helps funding water, education, health, and infrastructure projects for the communities surrounding it.
Your Journey Mapped Out
Ready to set out? Your adventure awaits!
- DAY 1 - NAIROBI - ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
- DAY 2 - ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK - OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY
- DAY 3 - OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY - NAIROBI
DAY 1 - NAIROBI - ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
We will pick you up at your hotel in Nairobi in the morning and drive you to the 160 kilometres distant Aberdare National Park, passing through Kenyan central highlands, greening from lush tea and coffee plantations. Upon entering the park’s gates, your game drive starts.
You’ll explore the lower forests, home to elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, jackals, East African wild dogs and many more. After attending to your hunger over a hefty lunch, you’ll go on with the game drive - look up to see the magnificent birdlife in the park, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, and Skye’s monkeys. In the late afternoon, we’ll bring you to a selected lodge for dinner, accompanied by fantastic views of all the thirsty animals gathering around the waterhole just in front of you and a coulisse of the Aberdares behind.
DAY 2 - ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK - OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY
After breakfast with amazing sights included, you’ll then head for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, also known as Sweet waters. Meet the chimpanzees accompanied by abundant wildlife, perhaps an endangered Grevy’s zebra comes along your way.
We’ll take a scenic and delicious stop at Serena sweet waters lodge - observe the animals quenching their thirst at the water hole just in front of the lodge while enjoying a delicious lunch! Watch out for curious and brave resident monkeys, always checking your menu choice!
After your body and soul have been caressed by food and mesmerizing views, we’ll head for the Chimpanzee sanctuary to visit our relatives. Before dinner at a selected lodge, you will have some time for some of the variety of optional activities that you can choose from, such as lion tracking, visiting Baraka, the blind black rhino, or exploring the education centre.
We know that animals seen here are unique and worth undivided attention, but don’t forget to raise your eyes - the backdrop of Mount Kenya and Aberdare mountains adds to the magic!
DAY 3 - OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY - NAIROBI
Start your day with a morning game drive to see the conservancy's residents in a different light, and grab the last chance to see as much of the amazing wildlife as possible.
Alternatively, you may wish to try one of the activities or wildlife experiences the conservancy offers to its guests - track for lions, for example.
In the early afternoon, we’ll drive you to your hotel in Nairobi, or the airport, as desired.