Game Drive in Aberdare National Park – Safari Activity

Game drives in Aberdare National Park offer an immersive safari experience through the park's diverse landscapes, including bamboo forests, moorlands, and deep ravines. Visitors can embark on morning, afternoon, or night game drives, each providing unique opportunities to observe the park's rich wildlife.

The park is home to four of the Big Five: elephant, buffalo, black rhino, and leopard. While lions are not present, sightings of these animals are almost guaranteed, especially elephants and buffaloes. Black rhinos are occasionally spotted at tree hotels' floodlit waterholes during the night game drives. Other notable species include the elusive bongo antelope, giant forest hogs, serval cats, and various monkey species like the black-and-white colobus and Sykes monkeys.

Game drives are conducted in open 4WD vehicles, guided by experienced rangers who are well-versed in the park's terrain and animal behavior. These drives typically last about two hours and are best undertaken during the dry months of June to September and December to February, when wildlife is more active and easier to spot.

Night game drives, starting after dinner around 7:30 or 8:00 PM, offer a chance to encounter nocturnal species such as the giant forest hog, bongo antelope, serval cat, and various civet species. These drives are conducted with the guidance of professional rangers to ensure safety and enhance the wildlife viewing experience.

For those interested in a comprehensive safari experience, full-day moorland game drives are available. These extended drives provide opportunities to explore the park's scenic landscapes, including mountain streams, waterfalls like Karuru Falls, and the chance to spot a variety of wildlife in their natural habitats.