Aberdare National Park

National Park · Kenya

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Photo © Daniel Case

Photo © Daniel Case — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the central highlands of Kenya rise to their elemental grandeur, the Aberdare range unfolds across Nyeri County as a montane stronghold of cool, misty forest and open moorland. Straddling the watershed between the Indian and Atlantic oceans, this national park encompasses steep forested valleys carved deep into ancient volcanic terrain, their slopes cloaked in dense woodland that thins to sparse alpine grass and rocky outcrops toward the high plateaus. The climate here is temperate highland—Köppen Csb—where dry summers bring crisp mountain air and cool nights, and water remains abundant in streams that cascade through fern-lined gorges year-round, fed by seasonal rains and cloud-drip from the canopy. This mosaic of dense forest, open grassland and rocky terrain sustains a remarkable array of wildlife: birds of prey hunt from exposed ridges and forest edges; woodland songbirds and forest specialists nest in the canopy; small forest mammals forage through the leaf litter; larger herbivores graze the moorland margins; and nocturnal predators move through both forest and grassland under cover of darkness.

For wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, the Aberdare presents an exceptional montane experience precisely because its cool, clear air and diverse habitat mosaic concentrate wildlife across distinct ecological zones within a compact region. The park's elevation and latitude mean that birds and mammals here occupy an intermediate geographic and ecological space—neither lowland savanna species nor true alpine specialists, but rather highland forest and grassland communities that reward patient observation with sightings across multiple guilds. The dry season, running through June to August, brings the most stable light for photography and reduces cloud cover at higher elevations, though the moorland and forest remain actively inhabited throughout the year. Access via Nyeri provides straightforward entry to this crucial highland sanctuary, making it an essential destination for travelers seeking authentic montane wildlife encounter without requiring the extreme altitude or accessibility challenges of Kenya's highest peaks.

Polemaetus bellicosus

Alopochen aegyptiaca

African Black Duck

Yellow-billed Duck

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Jackson's Spurfowl

Pternistis jacksoni

Pternistis squamatus

Hartlaub's Turaco

Tauraco hartlaubi

Blue-headed Coucal

Centropus monachus

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Speckled Pigeon

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon

Columba delegorguei

Aplopelia larvata

Dusky Turtle Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Streptopelia semitorquata

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Green Pigeon

Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Gallinago nigripennis

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Tringa glareola

Yellow-billed Stork

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

African Spoonbill

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk

Accipiter rufiventris

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Merops oreobates

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Moustached Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus leucomystax

Red-throated Wryneck

Jynx ruficollis

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul

Arizelocichla kikuyuensis

Yellow-whiskered Greenbul

Eurillas latirostris

Pycnonotus barbatus

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

African Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis melanocrissus

Cecropis senegalensis

Brown Woodland Warbler

Phylloscopus umbrovirens

Mountain Yellow Warbler

Cinnamon Bracken Warbler

Bradypterus cinnamomeus

Hunter's Cisticola

Cisticola hunteri

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Black-collared Apalis

Oreolais pulcher

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Chestnut-throated Apalis

Apalis porphyrolaema

Grey-capped Warbler

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Kikuyu White-eye

Zosterops kikuyuensis

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Slender-billed Starling

Onychognathus tenuirostris

Waller's Starling

Onychognathus walleri

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Abyssinian Thrush

Turdus abyssinicus

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Rüppell's Robin-Chat

Cossypha semirufa

Cape Robin-Chat

Dessonornis caffer

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Pinarochroa sordida

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Tacazze Sunbird

Nectarinia tacazze

Nectarinia kilimensis

Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Golden-winged Sunbird

Drepanorhynchus reichenowi

Northern Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris reichenowi

Eastern Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris mediocris

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Passer rufocinctus

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Brown-capped Weaver

Ploceus insignis

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Coccopygia quartinia

Kandt's Waxbill

Estrilda kandti

Estrilda astrild

Purple Grenadier

Granatina ianthinogaster

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Motacilla capensis

Mountain Wagtail

Motacilla clara

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Crithagra citrinelloides

Thick-billed Seedeater

Crithagra burtoni

Streaky Seedeater

Crithagra striolata

Yellow-crowned Canary

Serinus flavivertex

Microcarbo africanus

Struthio camelus

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Spatula querquedula

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Southern Pochard

Netta erythrophthalma

Eastern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera pucherani

Coturnix coturnix

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Hildebrandt's Spurfowl

Pternistis hildebrandti

Yellow-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis leucoscepus

Sombre Nightjar

Caprimulgus fraenatus

Montane Nightjar

Caprimulgus poliocephalus

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chrysococcyx klaas

Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo

Cercococcyx montanus

Cuculus clamosus

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Buff-spotted Flufftail

Sarothrura elegans

Striped Flufftail

Sarothrura affinis

Rallus caerulescens

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Black-winged Lapwing

Vanellus melanopterus

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Microparra capensis

Actophilornis africanus

Gallinago gallinago

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

Calidris minuta

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Ciconia abdimii

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Ciconia ciconia

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Plegadis falcinellus

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Malagasy Pond Heron

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Sagittarius serpentarius

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

Cassin's Hawk-Eagle

Aquila africana

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Micronisus gabar

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Mountain Buzzard

Buteo oreophilus

Western Barn Owl

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Apaloderma narina

White-headed Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus bollei

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Coracias naevius

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

White-eared Barbet

Stactolaema leucotis

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Red-fronted Barbet

Tricholaema diademata

Spot-flanked Barbet

Tricholaema lacrymosa

White-headed Barbet

Lybius leucocephalus

Green-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus zambesiae

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Fine-banded Woodpecker

Campethera taeniolaema

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Eastern Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos spodocephalus

Brown-backed Woodpecker

Dendropicos obsoletus

Falco tinnunculus

Greater Kestrel

Falco rupicoloides

Falco amurensis

Falco biarmicus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Red-fronted Parrot

Poicephalus gulielmi

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Black-fronted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus nigrifrons

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Doherty's Bushshrike

Telophorus dohertyi

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Grey Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris caesius

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Mountain Oriole

Oriolus percivali

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

Corvus capensis

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

White-bellied Tit

Melaniparus albiventris

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Slender-billed Greenbul

Stelgidillas gracilirostris

Cabanis's Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cabanisi

White-headed Saw-wing

Psalidoprocne albiceps

Neophedina cincta

Riparia riparia

Hirundo rustica

Hirundo angolensis

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

White-browed Crombec

Sylvietta leucophrys

Phylloscopus trochilus

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Evergreen Forest Warbler

Bradypterus lopezi

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Lynes's Cisticola

Cisticola distinctus

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Stout Cisticola

Cisticola robustus

Aberdare Cisticola

Cisticola aberdare

Wing-snapping Cisticola

Cisticola ayresii

Black-throated Apalis

Apalis jacksoni

Black-headed Apalis

Apalis melanocephala

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

African Hill Babbler

Sylvia abyssinica

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Black-lored Babbler

Turdoides sharpei

Northern Pied Babbler

Turdoides hypoleuca

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Sharpe's Starling

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Brown-backed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas hartlaubi

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-starred Robin

Pogonocichla stellata

Brown-chested Alethe

Chamaetylas poliocephala

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Cossypha natalensis

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Little Rock Thrush

Monticola rufocinereus

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Saxicola rubetra

Myrmecocichla aethiops

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Oenanthe pleschanka

Abyssinian Wheatear

Oenanthe lugubris

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Green-headed Sunbird

Cyanomitra verticalis

Cyanomitra olivacea

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Scarlet-tufted Sunbird

Nectarinia johnstoni

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

Passer domesticus

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Ploceus cucullatus

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Cardinal Quelea

Quelea cardinalis

Red-billed Quelea

Yellow-crowned Bishop

Euplectes capensis

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-cowled Widowbird

Euplectes laticauda

Long-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes progne

Jackson's Widowbird

Euplectes jacksoni

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Abyssinian Crimsonwing

Cryptospiza salvadorii

Grey-headed Nigrita

Nigrita canicapillus

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Ortygospiza atricollis

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Motacilla cinerea

Sharpe's Longclaw

Macronyx sharpei

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Anthus cinnamomeus

Long-billed Pipit

Anthus trivialis

Red-throated Pipit

Anthus cervinus

Linurgus olivaceus

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Southern Fiscal

Lanius collaris

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Ethiopian White-eye

Zosterops poliogastrus

Turdus olivaceus

Ploceus capensis

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Crocuta crocuta

Leptailurus serval

Syncerus caffer

Cercopithecus mitis

Colobus guereza

African Savanna Hare

Myocastor coypus

Ochre Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus ochraceus

Zena Brush-furred Rat

Lophuromys zena

Mesic Four-striped Grass Rat

Rhabdomys dilectus

African Root Rat

Tachyoryctes splendens

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

Rusty-spotted Genet

Genetta fieldiana

Sylvicapra grimmia

Nesotragus moschatus

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Phacochoerus africanus

Giant Forest Hog

Hylochoerus meinertzhageni

Tragelaphus oryx

Garnett's Greater Galago

Otolemur garnettii

African Wild Dog

European Wildcat

Felis silvestris

Northern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus scriptus

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

Reticulated Giraffe

Giraffa reticulata

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