Aberdare Ranges National Park

The Aberdare ranges lie at an altitude of about 2,134 – 4,268meters. It is home to the first tree hotel in Africa and harbours significant memories in world history. In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II learnt of her accession to the British throne while she was a guest at the tree top lodge following the death of her father, King George VI. It is also at the nearby town of Nyeri that lies the remains and tomb of lord Baden Powel, the founder of the Worldwide Boy Scouts, movement.

Famous as the place where in 1952, Elizabeth II learned that she had inherited the English throne, Aberdare National Park takes its name from magnificient volcanic mountain range that forms part of the eastern wall of the Rift Valley. The Aberdare Mountains make up the backbone of the park and run roughly 100km  between Nairobi and the famous Thomson's Falls.
Topographically diverse, the park is cut through with deep ravines that make for splendid vistas wide valleys and vast slopes are carpeted by extremely dense forest and watered by icy, crystal-clear streams where trout fishing is possible. The park has a reputation for its famous Treetops hotel, where Elizabeth was staying when she became queen. Today there are two such tree hotels, where guests rind themselves ensconced in what feel like specially built gigantic viewing capsules, their sights poised on an endless array of animals that turn up-like kids in a candy store to gorge on the mineral-rich salt licks that are constantly topped up by the hotels.

For many, staying up all night and watching the nocturnal action from viewing areas of these hotels is a Kenya highlight, for others it's like being on the wrong side of the cageat a zoo. Besides seeing large herds of African elepahnt and buffalo at close range, you might just glimpse one or two of the park's rare and endangered species, including black rhino, giant forest hog and wild dogs. The park is basically divided up into two zones. The western part is dense forest and mostly interesting for the beauty of its terrain. Here is where the hikers and climbers may set out on foot accompanied by an armed ranger. Most visitors stick to the developed salient region which is Eastern part where the two lodges, Treetops Lodge and the Ark Lodge are located and where there's far greater opportunity to spot animals.