| If there is a great place for an African Safari | | | | are not allowed to use photographic flashlights |
| Experience then it must be the Aberdares. The | | | | because the flash unsettles the animals. A |
| Aberdares are a mountain range located North of | | | | non-smoking ground-level bunker for more game |
| Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. All 483 km² of | | | | viewing provides excellent photographic |
| the Aberdares National Park is located in the | | | | opportunities. This bunker has no glass barrier and |
| ranges and it's approximately 180 km North of | | | | there's nothing between you, your camera lens |
| Nairobi. The park, overwhelming in its beauty, is a | | | | and the animals! As if that is not enough, there's |
| total delight to savor. A three hour safari through | | | | another glassed-off, non-smoking lounge on the |
| the undulating Kenyan countryside will get you to | | | | ground floor level. This glass enclave viewing area |
| the Aberdares National Park. Our tour guide | | | | gives guests a life-size experience of the game. |
| informed me that the Aberdare Mountain Range | | | | At 18.00hrs the crimson floodlights are turned on |
| was named after Lord Aberdare, who was | | | | so that viewing goes on uninterrupted. Expect to |
| President of the Royal Geographical Society in the | | | | see various animals within a few metres like the |
| late 1800's. Driving up to the Aberdares was truly | | | | elephant, buffalo, rhino, bush bucks, giant forest |
| refreshing and breathtaking. One minute the rain | | | | hogs and Sykes monkey. It was interesting to |
| was pounding heavily and suddenly the weather | | | | see the elephant scratch the saltlick rock with its |
| eased us into a sunny and fresh atmosphere as | | | | massive tusks and then proceed to crunch and |
| we approached the National park itself. The rain in | | | | munch the salt. When the Jumbo licked the salt to |
| the Aberdare region is intermittent and heavy | | | | its liking it then proceeded to quench its thirst. I |
| especially within the park itself. Occasionally the | | | | wonder how many litres of water it took for it |
| roads in the park are closed off when the rain in | | | | seemed to stay a while at the waterhole. We |
| the park gets too heavy. The raindrops were the | | | | were extremely fortunate to see a Rhino lick the |
| largest I have ever seen and they made a light | | | | salt with its lugubrious mouth. Some genets (small |
| thumping sound as they pounded the tour vehicle | | | | wild cats) played without a care around the |
| like petite arrows. How I now understand why the | | | | waterhole and fed on moths and insects attracted |
| band TOTO lamented that they missed the rains | | | | by the lodge lights. The Ark is not a place to sleep |
| in Africa in their 1980's hit AFRICA. When the | | | | because the animals keep arriving. An endless |
| expansive African sky decides to let loose it does | | | | parade of elegance. There are bells in the cosy |
| so with fervor and elegance. The perfect | | | | self contained rooms that chime softly to alert |
| ambiance for kissing in the rain..........but I digress. I | | | | you when the big game appear. The number of |
| was temped to pelt out of the car and let myself | | | | rings lets you know exactly which animal has |
| loose in the rain. The Aberdares National Park was | | | | arrived since each animal is assigned a different |
| established in 1950 with the intention of protecting | | | | number of rings. This allows one to choose |
| the Aberdare flora and fauna. Apart from other | | | | whether to go and view the latest arrival. One |
| hotels, there are two game-viewing lodges. | | | | can turn the bell off completely in case the urge |
| Game-viewing because a guest at these two | | | | to sleep overwhelms. The lodge staff provide hot |
| hotels is able to view wildlife at night as they | | | | water bottles which will usually be found snuggled |
| sneak in to lick some minerals and satiate their | | | | between the beddings. The hot water bottles are |
| thirst at waterholes near the lodges. The two | | | | especially inviting because the nights get really |
| lodges are the Treetops Lodge and The Ark. | | | | really chilly. Some rooms have windows that |
| Apart from cosy accommodation and game | | | | overlook the waterhole but I was not fortunate |
| viewing, Treetops Lodge is historically famous as | | | | enough to have a room with such a window. |
| the place where in February, 1952, a young English | | | | Earlier during the day lots of unusual birds |
| girl while on an African Safari descended the tree | | | | frequented the waterhole. They include Egyptian |
| house lodges as Queen Elizabeth II. Her father the | | | | geese which cackled loudly, various species of |
| King had died during the night. Nonetheless, this | | | | ducks, herons and birds of prey. Other birds |
| review focuses on the Ark Lodge. The Aberdares | | | | present in the park are the Scarlet tufted |
| National Park boasts of flourishing dense forests | | | | Malachite Sunbird which is mostly found in the |
| that cover the slopes of the enormous ranges | | | | moor lands, green Malachite Sunbird, the violet |
| and provide a fitting backdrop for an extensive | | | | Tacazze, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, heron, kestrel, |
| range of flora and fauna. The Ark shares the | | | | bee-eater, black African duck, doves, sacred ibis |
| nestle of the Aberdares with diverse game, misty | | | | and the crowned eagle which feeds on monkeys. |
| moorlands, lush forests and chilled rivers that | | | | I never for a moment imagined that the |
| cascade gloriously down the landscape. Game | | | | dexterous monkey can fall prey to a bird. The |
| safaris into the depths of the Aberdares can also | | | | monkeys that are present are the black and |
| be arranged although those are a different | | | | white colobus monkey, Sykes' monkey and the |
| itinerary form the game viewing trip to the Ark. | | | | black faced vervet all swinging wildly in the thick |
| Opened in November 1969, The Ark is chiefly | | | | foliage. Carnivores are represented by the Hyena, |
| meant for the close range viewing of wildlife. | | | | the elusive leopard and the lion. The Lions of the |
| Guests to The Ark are first chauffeured to | | | | Aberdares have a more hairy mane that would |
| Aberdare Country club which is the base hotel of | | | | put the manes of the lions in the savannah plains |
| the Ark Lodge. The Aberdare Country Club is | | | | to shame. Other animals include reedbuck, dikdik, |
| located a short distance past the entrance to the | | | | suni, waterbuck, bongo and duiker. Rarer animals |
| Aberdares National Park. The Country Club is | | | | like the Golden Cat and the forest antelopes can |
| fine-looking and set on lavish manicured lawns and | | | | only be viewed by taking a safari into the |
| gardens. After a sumptuous meal the guests are | | | | Aberdares Park. When I eventually decided to go |
| driven into the heart of the Aberdares National | | | | to bed I placed the hot water bottle between my |
| Park to the Ark Lodge. Most of the luggage is left | | | | thankful feet. The Ark Lodge is the best place to |
| at the Country Club for safe keeping and guests | | | | relish undisturbed views of wildlife that visit the |
| are only allowed small hand luggage for the | | | | waterhole. Meals are included in your stay and all |
| overnight stay at the Ark. It's advisable to carry | | | | were excellent, bar service is available as well. |
| personal effects like medicine/toiletries/wallets | | | | Dinner and breakfast are served in the main dining |
| that are essential for an overnight stay at the | | | | room, and on one of the viewing decks is a |
| Ark. The Ark is a tree lodge constructed in the | | | | lounge and bar which remains open all night for |
| shape of Noah's Ark and built to blend into the | | | | tea and coffee. The Ark Lodge is wheelchair |
| Aberdare vegetation and not to disturb the | | | | accessible. Children under the age of 7 are not |
| animals that come to the waterhole. The Ark has | | | | permitted on The Ark unless on special 'Children's |
| three terraces or 'decks' overlooking the | | | | nights'. The experience of game viewing is a |
| Yasabara waterhole and salt lick. The decks which | | | | unique and exclusive experience not to be missed. |
| have balconies offer a terrific close-up view point. | | | | Jerry Wanga is editor of Naady. You can find |
| Photographs of sterling clarity can be taken from | | | | more information about African Safari, as well as |
| the various view points. Though, at night, guests | | | | hotels and lodge bookings, on the website. |