Mount-Kenya National Park

National Park · Kenya

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Photo © Nina R

Photo © Nina R — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the slopes of Kenya's second-highest mountain rise steeply from the Meru County foothills, a landscape of profound ecological richness unfolds across Mount Kenya National Park. The terrain encompasses alpine meadows, dense montane forests, and rocky moorlands that climb toward jagged peaks, each zone supporting distinct communities of life adapted to its particular altitude and climate. The lower forest belt teems with woodland mammals, primates moving through the canopy, and an abundance of small forest mammals sheltering in the understory; higher up, birds of prey circle above the open moorlands and alpine scrub, while rocky outcrops and grasslands harbour mountain-adapted herbivores and the predators that hunt them. This vertical stacking of habitats within a relatively compact area—ranging from tropical forest to near-barren alpine tundra—creates an intensity of biodiversity that few African protected areas can match, all underpinned by volcanic soils that sustain the park's botanical complexity.

For wildlife photographers and birders, the park's draw lies in the combination of habitat diversity and altitude: the montane forest zone offers opportunities to observe woodland birds and canopy mammals in lush, often mist-draped conditions, while the open moorlands above present expansive vistas where raptors and ground-dwelling species are visible across vast distances. The seasonal patterns of rainfall trigger predictable movements and breeding cycles throughout the year, with the long rains typically driving increased animal activity in the mid-elevation zones. The park's position on the eastern flank of the mountain means that dawn light sweeps across the moorlands with particular clarity, gifting photographers dramatic conditions for capturing both landscape and wildlife. Access from Meru County provides a less crowded approach than routes from the western side, offering those seeking authentic mountain wilderness the chance to experience this UNESCO-recognised ecosystem with genuine solitude.

Website kws.org/nairobi.html

Sagittarius serpentarius

Polemaetus bellicosus

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Pycnonotus barbatus

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Streaky Seedeater

Crithagra striolata

Passer rufocinctus

Abyssinian Thrush

Turdus abyssinicus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Streptopelia semitorquata

Western Cattle Egret

Hunter's Cisticola

Cisticola hunteri

Speckled Pigeon

Jackson's Spurfowl

Pternistis jacksoni

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Cape Robin-Chat

Dessonornis caffer

African Spoonbill

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Red-fronted Parrot

Poicephalus gulielmi

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

Myrmecocichla aethiops

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Scarlet-tufted Sunbird

Nectarinia johnstoni

Euplectes capensis

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Pinarochroa sordida

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Hartlaub's Turaco

Tauraco hartlaubi

Purple Grenadier

Granatina ianthinogaster

Poicephalus meyeri

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

Spilopelia senegalensis

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Eastern Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos spodocephalus

Thick-billed Seedeater

Crithagra burtoni

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Yellow-whiskered Greenbul

Eurillas latirostris

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Black-throated Apalis

Apalis jacksoni

Chestnut-throated Apalis

Apalis porphyrolaema

Rüppell's Robin-Chat

Cossypha semirufa

Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul

Arizelocichla kikuyuensis

Grey-headed Nigrita

Nigrita canicapillus

Cinnamon Bracken Warbler

Bradypterus cinnamomeus

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Mountain Oriole

Oriolus percivali

Brown Woodland Warbler

Phylloscopus umbrovirens

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri

Bostrychia hagedash

Nectarinia kilimensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Merops oreobates

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Yellow-billed Duck

Anthus cinnamomeus

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Tacazze Sunbird

Nectarinia tacazze

Northern Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris reichenowi

Rufous Chatterer

Argya rubiginosa

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Golden-winged Sunbird

Drepanorhynchus reichenowi

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Eastern Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris mediocris

Pin-tailed Whydah

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Kikuyu White-eye

Zosterops kikuyuensis

Mountain Wagtail

Motacilla clara

Black-winged Lapwing

Vanellus melanopterus

Brown-capped Weaver

Ploceus insignis

Long-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes progne

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Apaloderma narina

White-headed Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus bollei

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Fine-banded Woodpecker

Campethera taeniolaema

Slender-billed Starling

Onychognathus tenuirostris

White-starred Robin

Pogonocichla stellata

Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Kandt's Waxbill

Estrilda kandti

Crithagra citrinelloides

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

African Black Duck

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Eastern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera pucherani

Pternistis squamatus

Sombre Nightjar

Caprimulgus fraenatus

Montane Nightjar

Caprimulgus poliocephalus

Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

Blue-headed Coucal

Centropus monachus

Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo

Cercococcyx montanus

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus canorus

Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon

Columba delegorguei

Aplopelia larvata

Dusky Turtle Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Green Pigeon

Buff-spotted Flufftail

Sarothrura elegans

Rallus caerulescens

Gallinula chloropus

Zapornia flavirostra

Actophilornis africanus

Gallinago nigripennis

Gallinago gallinago

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Ciconia abdimii

Ciconia ciconia

Bostrychia olivacea

Egretta garzetta

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Scopus umbretta

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Pandion haliaetus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

Cassin's Hawk-Eagle

Aquila africana

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk

Accipiter rufiventris

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Mountain Buzzard

Buteo oreophilus

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Bar-tailed Trogon

Apaloderma vittatum

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

White-eared Barbet

Stactolaema leucotis

Moustached Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus leucomystax

Spot-flanked Barbet

Tricholaema lacrymosa

White-headed Barbet

Lybius leucocephalus

Green-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus zambesiae

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Red-throated Wryneck

Jynx ruficollis

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Brown-backed Woodpecker

Dendropicos obsoletus

Falco tinnunculus

Falco amurensis

Eleonora's Falcon

Falco eleonorae

Falco biarmicus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Black-fronted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus nigrifrons

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Doherty's Bushshrike

Telophorus dohertyi

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Grey Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris caesius

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Lesser Grey Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

Corvus capensis

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

White-tailed Crested Flycatcher

Elminia albonotata

White-bellied Tit

Melaniparus albiventris

Slender-billed Greenbul

Stelgidillas gracilirostris

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Cabanis's Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cabanisi

White-headed Saw-wing

Psalidoprocne albiceps

Neophedina cincta

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Hirundo rustica

Hirundo angolensis

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Cecropis senegalensis

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

White-browed Crombec

Sylvietta leucophrys

Phylloscopus trochilus

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Mountain Yellow Warbler

Evergreen Forest Warbler

Bradypterus lopezi

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Stout Cisticola

Cisticola robustus

Black-collared Apalis

Oreolais pulcher

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Black-headed Apalis

Apalis melanocephala

Grey-capped Warbler

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

African Hill Babbler

Sylvia abyssinica

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Waller's Starling

Onychognathus walleri

Sharpe's Starling

Brown-backed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas hartlaubi

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Brown-chested Alethe

Chamaetylas poliocephala

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Saxicola rubetra

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Green-headed Sunbird

Cyanomitra verticalis

Cyanomitra olivacea

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris pyrgita

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

Passer domesticus

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Eastern Golden Weaver

Ploceus subaureus

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-billed Quelea

Red-cowled Widowbird

Euplectes laticauda

Jackson's Widowbird

Euplectes jacksoni

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Coccopygia quartinia

Abyssinian Crimsonwing

Cryptospiza salvadorii

Estrilda astrild

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Motacilla capensis

Motacilla cinerea

Sharpe's Longclaw

Macronyx sharpei

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Anthus trivialis

Red-throated Pipit

Anthus cervinus

Linurgus olivaceus

Yellow-crowned Canary

Serinus flavivertex

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Three-streaked Tchagra

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Ethiopian White-eye

Zosterops poliogastrus

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Syncerus caffer

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Aepyceros melampus

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Colobus guereza

Procavia capensis

Cercopithecus mitis

Mesic Four-striped Grass Rat

Rhabdomys dilectus

Sylvicapra grimmia

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