Aberdare National Park

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Aberdares are an isolated volcanic range that forms the eastern wall of the rift valley, running roughly 100km north south between Nairobi and Thomsons Falls. Soils are red and of volcanic origin, but rich in organic matter. There are two main peaks, Ol Donyo Lesatima (3,999m) and Kinangop (3,906m) separated by a long saddle of alpine moorland at over 3,000m. The topography is diverse with deep ravines that cut through the forested eastern and western slopes and there are many clear streams and waterfalls. The Aberdares are an important water catchment area providing water to the Tana and Athi rivers and part of Central Rift and Northern drainage basins.

The National Park lies mainly above the tree line running along the 10,000ft contour with some forest and scrub at lower altitude in the 'salient' area near Nyeri with the boundary running down to the 7000ft contour. The unusual vegetation, rugged terrain, streams and waterfalls combine to create an area of great scenic beauty in the National Park. The park is surrounded by a predominantly indigenous forest, whose management is under an MoU between KWS and the Forest Department.

Location:
Central highlands, west of Mount Kenya; Nyeri District; Central Province; 766km2.

Climate:
Mist and rain occur throughout much of the year, with precipitation varying from around 1000mm yearly on the north western slopes to as much as 3000mm in the south east. Heavy rainfall occurs through most of the forest department.

Major Animals
Aardvark; Ant Bear; Baboon, Olive; badger, honey; Bat, Banana; Bat, Hollow-faced; Bat, Rousette Fruit; Bongo; Buffalo, African; BushBaby, Greater; BushBaby, Lesser; BushBaby, Thick tailed; Bushbuck; Caracal; Cat, African Wild; Cat, Golden; Civet, African; Civet, African Palm; Colobus, Black and White; Dik-dik, Guenther's; Dik-dik, Kirk's; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Blue; Duiker, Bush; Duiker, Common; Duiker, Peters; Duiker, Red; Duiker, Yellow Backed; Eland; Elephant, African; Galago, Greater; Gazelle, Thomson's; Genet, Common; Genet, Large-spotted; Genet, Servaline; Hare, African; Hog, Giant Forest; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Impala; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal, Side-striped; Klipspringer; Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Banded; Mongoose, Marsh; Mongoose, Pygmy; Mongoose, Slender; Mongoose, White-tailed; Monkey, Black faced Vervet; Monkey, Sykes; Oribi; Otter, Clawless; Otter, Spotted Necked; Pig, Forest Bush; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Crested; Rat, Giant; Rat, Kenya Mole ; Reedbuck, Bohor; Reedbuck, Mountain; Rhinoceros, Black; Serval; Shrew, Giant White-toothed; Shrew, Mole; Squirrel, Bush; Steinbok; Suni; Warthog; Waterbuck, Common.

Masai Mara Game Reserve

The Masai Mara is one of the best known and most popular reserves in the whole of Africa. At times and in certain places it can get a little overrun with tourist minibuses, but there is something so special about it that it tempts you back time and again.

Seasoned safari travellers, travel writers, documentary makers and researchers often admit that the Masai Mara is one of their favourite places. So why is that? Perhaps it is because of the 'big skies', the open savannahs, the romance of films like 'Out of Africa' and certainly because of the annual wildebeest migration, the density of game, the variety of birdlife and the chance of a hot air balloon ride. Also because of the tall red-robed Masai people whose lifestyle is completely at odds with western practices, and from whom one learns to question certain western values.

A combination of all these things plus something to do with the spirit of the place - which is hard to put into words - is what attracts people to the Mara over and over.

The Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long, from Ethiopia's Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and into Mozambique. Here the valley is wide and a towering escarpment can be seen in the hazy distance. Most of the game viewing activities occur on the valley floor, but some lodges conduct walking tours outside the park boundaries in the hills of the Oloololo Escarpment. The animals are also at liberty to move outside the park into huge areas known as 'dispersal areas'. There can be as much wildlife roaming outside the park as inside. Many Masai villages are located in the 'dispersal areas' and they have, over centuries, developed a synergetic relationship with the wildlife.

There are four main types of topography in the Mara: Ngama Hills to the east with sandy soil and leafy bushes liked by black rhino; Oloololo Escarpment forming the western boundary and rising to a magnificent plateau; Mara Triangle bordering the Mara River with lush grassland and acacia woodlands supporting masses of game especially migrating wildebeest; Central Plains forming the largest part of the reserve, with scattered bushes and boulders on rolling grasslands favoured by the plains game
ANIMALS & BIRDS

In a short stay during the wildebeest migration you could see thousands of animals, at other times there are still hundreds. The plains are full of wildebeest, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson's gazelle. Also regularly seen are leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes. Black rhino are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance.

Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, who lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on pastures

SEASONS

Altitude is 4,875-7,052 feet (1,500-2,170 metres) above sea level, which yields a climate somewhat milder and damper than other regions. The daytime rarely exceeds 85°F (30°C) during the day and hardly ever drops below 60°F (15°C) at night.
Rainy Season: It rains in April and May and again November and this can cause some areas of the Mara to be inaccessible due to the sticky 'black cotton' mud.
Dry Season: July to October is dry and the grass is long and lush after the rains. This is a good time to come and see the huge herds of migratory herbivores.
Hottest time: The warmest time of year is December and January.
Coldest Time: June and July are the coldest months.

MASAI MARA SPECIALITIES

• Wildebeest Migration
• Hot Air Ballooning
• Huge savannahs of golden grasslands
• Big skies
• Rift Valley escarpment
• Lion sightings