Aberdare Highland Forest Safari
3 days · From $1350 per person · Easy pace · 2-6 guests
Overview
The Aberdare range is a genuinely different Kenya: dense montane forest and moorland above 3,000 metres, waterfalls, and a cool, often misty climate a world away from the heat of the southern plains. Wildlife here includes forest-adapted elephant and buffalo, the rare bongo antelope, and black leopard sightings that have made international news in recent years. This stay is built around a forest-edge lodge with floodlit waterhole viewing after dark, a quieter, cooler safari for anyone who’s already done the classic open plains and wants genuine contrast.
Highlights
- Dense montane forest and moorland above 3,000 metres, a real change from the plains
- Floodlit waterhole viewing after dark from the lodge itself
- Forest-adapted elephant, buffalo, and the rare bongo antelope
- One of the only places in the world with recorded black leopard sightings
- A genuinely cool, misty climate, a welcome contrast for repeat Kenya visitors
Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi to the Aberdares
Road transfer (approx. 3 hrs). Afternoon forest drive, evening waterhole viewing from the lodge.
Day 2: Full day, forest and moorland
Morning drive into the higher moorland zone, afternoon at the lodge watching the floodlit waterhole.
Day 3: Departure
Final morning drive, breakfast, transfer back to Nairobi.
What’s Included
- 2 nights at a forest-edge lodge, full board
- All game drives with a driver-guide
- Aberdare National Park entry fees
What’s Not Included
- Flights to/from Kenya
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Drinks beyond the lodge’s included house selection
- Gratuities for guide and lodge staff
Frequently Asked Questions
Is black leopard sighting likely?
No, honestly, it’s a genuinely rare event even in an area with recorded sightings, and we won’t promise it. What’s reliable is the forest scenery and floodlit waterhole viewing itself.
How does this pair with a classic Mara or Amboseli trip?
Very well as a contrast add-on, most guests book this after or before a plains-based safari specifically for the change in climate and landscape.
Interested in the Aberdare Highland Forest Safari? Get in touch and we’ll help you plan it.