Other Regions in Kenya (including Aberdare National Park and Tsavo)
Other areas in Kenya include Mount Kenya, the Aberdare mountains, Tsavo East & West, Nairobi National Park and Kakamega Forest.
Straddling the equator at 5199m, Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa, and offers a much more picturesque climb than more famous Kilimanjaro. Trekkers head for Point Lenana, the third highest peak at 5100m (the highest peaks require technical climbing), up a number of routes on treks lasting between 4 and 6 days, with additional nights either side. For more information please see our Mountain Trekking page in our Special Interest section.
The lower slopes of Mount Kenya are densely forested and home to wide range of wildlife. Trout fishing is possible on the mountain, whilst for those interested in a closer look without the hardships of trekking, scenic helicopter flights can be arranged.
Nairobi National Park (including the famous Daphne Sheldrick elephant orphanage) is found on the outskirts of the city and offers surprisingly good game drives, especially if you haven’t seen rhino elsewhere on your trip.
Kenya is also home to several areas of natural forest. In western Kenya, near Lake Victoria, the Kakamega Forest is a key area for anyone keen on birdlife or butterflies.
In central Kenya the Aberdare National Park encompasses the Aberdare range of mountains which form the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley and rise to a height of over 13,000ft. Safaris take place on the eastern slopes (the Rift side is far too rugged for extensive travel). The lower slopes of montane forest have one of the densest concentrations of wildlife found anywhere in Kenya, whilst the beautiful Afro-alpine moorland above 10,000 feet is reminiscent of Scotland with rolling heather, giant lobelia, groundsel and wild flowers, waterfalls and trout streams. Forest denizens include giant forest hog, bushpig, sykes and black colobus monkey, and perhaps even the rare bongo antelope which was once fairly common.
The combined East and West sides (bisected by the main Nairobi to Mombasa road) of Tsavo create a huge wilderness area which has high concentrations of game. Generally, Tsavo West (and the adjacent Taita Hills area) does tend to attract large numbers of visitors travelling by minivan from the coastal resorts around Mombasa, and the area around Voi in Tsavo East is equally busy. At present, the vast tract of Tsavo East north of the Galana River is closed to the public.