Aberdares Hotels, Aberdare Mountain Hotels and Resorts, Aberdare Lodges

MOUNT KENYA AND THE ABERDARES NATIONAL PARKS.

Mount Kenya (5,199m) is the second highest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Kenya National Park was established in 1949 to protect the mountain forests and bamboo thickets with their varied wildlife, the alpine moorlands, and the glaciers. The park includes all the mountains area above the tree line. Mount Kenya National Park offers game viewing, mountain climbing, and beautiful scenery with interesting variations of flora and fauna at different altitudes. Wildlife found in this Game Park include Buffalos, Elephants, Rhinos, Leopards, Primates and many species of Antelope,. Sightings of albino Zebras have been recorded in this sanctuary. One interesting establishment close but outside the Game Park is the world renowned Mount Kenya Safari Club whose attractions include a game breeding ranch and the William Holden wildlife Education center.

About 95 km to the west of Mount to the West of Mount Kenya lies the Aberdares National Park. The park was set up for the protection and preservation of the indigenous forests as a water catchments area, the prolific wildlife, the moorlands, and for mountain climbing adventures. The most common wildlife in Aberdares National Park include the Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, Giant Forest Hog, Spotted Hyena, Eland, and Bush Duiker. The rare and beautiful forest antelope, the Bongo, inhabits the higher bamboo zone. The most common wildlife in Aberdares National Park includes the Elephant, Buffalo, leopard, Giant Forest Hog, Spotted Hyena, Eland, and Bush Duiker. The rare and beautiful forest antelope, the Bongo, inhabits the higher zone.The Aberdares’ two famous lodges-The Ark and the Treetops- are specifically designed to enable the residents view the animals after dark, both offer floodlit saltlick and ponds that can be observed from some secure areas in the lodges.

It was while a guest at the Treetops that Queen Elizabeth 11 of England ascended to the British throne. It is also at the nearby town of Nyeri that lie the remains of Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the boys Scouts movement.

ACCOMMODATION IN MOUNT KENYA AND THE ABERDARES NATIONAL PARKS

ABERDARE COUNTRY CLUB

OFFICIAL CATEGORY (Ministry of Tourism classification): 04****

LOCATION: Mweiga, approximately 180 Kms. (3 hours) North of Nairobi. The nearest airports are Mweiga Airstrip (2 Kms), Nyeri Airstrip (15 Kms) and Nanyuki Airstrip (40 Kms).

DESCRIPTION OF THE LODGE :                                    

Nestling on the slopes of Mweiga Hill, The Aberdare Country Club, built in the "Old Colonial Style" with all the rooms/cottages having splendid views of the plains below with the Aberdare Ranges to the West and Mt. Kenya to the East. The main building hosts the dining area and public facilities.

NUMBER OF ROOMS: Total of 48 en-suite rooms: categorised as below:

• 20 double-bedded and 28 twin-bedded.
• 38 of these in 2 bedroom cottages with interconnecting doors.
• 41 rooms have a fire-place (Exceptions are rooms 1,3,4,16 and 17).
• 03 rooms can be converted to triples. 9 extra beds available.
• "Honeysuckle Cottage": Two doubles plus an extra single room.

Room Décor: Cottages set to the left and right behind the main building, each with charming stonework exterior over which colourful vines climb; with each room having a balcony overlooking either Mt. Kenya or the lovely woodland where animals are often seeing grazing. Rooms 28 and 29 overlook Mt. Kenya.

Room amenities: Each room furnished with bedside tables, dressing tables, built-in wardrobes, rugs, coffee tables ands lounge chairs, telephone, water flasks and drinking glasses, umbrella and bible, kettle and one-cup sachets of coffee, tea, milk and sugar, 115/240 v shaving socket, shower stall, separate bath-tub, wash basin and flush toilets, shampoo, bath and shampoo gel, freshly laundered towels, hot and cold running water.

Special features: The Club’s Wildlife Sanctuary that extends over a thousand acres with abundant wildlife and birdlife. Guided nature walks and rides available at the Club. 9- Hole Golf Course – rather steep and often a host to a family of Olive baboons. 

FOOD AND BEVERAGE FACILITIES:

• Dining room with a capacity of 220 and has five sections; three indoors with fireplaces, two terraces that can host 50 and 16.
• Gura Bar located in the main building next to the dining room, has two fireplaces and comfortable leather settees with a capacity of 60.
• Swimming Pool Bar set on a raised platform with high stools around the geometric bar with a great view of the game sanctuary and with unlimited capacity. 
• Room service is NOT available.

GENERAL FACILITIES:

• Access for the physically disabled 
• Babysitters and Ayah accommodation available on request
• Bureau De Change and use of Credit Cards:
• Telephones in rooms and fax services available
• Laundry and shoe cleaning services
• Lunch Boxes available on request
• Mains Electricity 220-240 V and generator
• Medical Facilities
• Safe-Keeping Facilities
• Gift Shop

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:

• Board Games rooms
• 09-Hole Golf Course
• Horse Riding and game rides
• Putting Green
• Satima Room Videos
• Swimming Pool
• 2 Tennis Courts 
• Trout Fishing
• Fishing Safaris (Full Day)
• Aberdare Salient – half day and full day
• Nature Walks and Game Rides
• Gliding – at Mweiga Airstrip
• Night Game Drives
• Sanctuary Walks (Guided or on own)
• Solio Ranch (Half-Day)
• Sweetwaters Chimp and game Sanctuary

CONFERENCE FACILITIES: Full range of AV and communication equipment available - (some at a nominal fee).

Three Conferences rooms are:

• The Aberdare Room - Capacity 80 theatre style. Has plenty of light during the day due to the large windows with a view of Mt. Kenya. Has a small adjoining room ideal for secretarial services and a patio ideal for tea breaks.
• The Kinangop Room - Capacity 80 theatre style. Set in a secluded corner of the front lawns with the entrance to the conference room being on a pleasant garden patio. Has a fireplace and washroom. It is ideal for children games/videos.
• The Satima Room - Capacity 30 theatre style. Has fireplace and adjoining washroom.

TRANSPORTATION 

• One 40-Seater Bus
• Three 28-Seater Buses
• Six 7-Seater 4x4 Land-Cruisers
• Private Cars Can Be Driven Close To Rooms
• Altitude 1,905 Metres (6,250 Feet) above sea level

THE ARK

OFFICIAL CATEGORY (Ministry of Tourism Classification): 04 ****

LOCATION: In the centre of Aberdare National Park. The distance is about 180 Kms (02 hours) from Nairobi to the base hotel Aberdare Country Club and 17 Kms. (30 minutes) from Aberdare Country Club to the Ark. The airstrips are Mweiga, 02 Kms away (no scheduled flights) and Nanyuki 60 Kms (01 hour) serviced by daily scheduled flights from Nairobi.

DESCRIPTION: Resembling and named after Noah’s Ark, The Ark is a unique “Tree-Hotel” overlooking a floodlit water-hole and salt lick which attracts a host of wildlife. It is designed with “decks” from which numerous balconies and lounges which provide superb vantage points for game viewing on: -

• Deck A: 10 Seating - Glassed-off viewing lounge overlooking the water hole.
• Deck B: 60 Standing - Open balcony above the salt lick and waterhole, where spotlights are aimed from. Has an uninterrupted breath-taking view of the horizon.
• Deck C: 30 Seating - Enclave just ahead of the main lounge, non-smoking, overlooking the water hole. The balcony on this deck offers an angled view of the waterhole and a small clearing before the advent of the dense forest.
• Deck D: 25 Seating - A ground level bunker provides excellent photographic opportunities.

NB:

• Children under the age of 7 are not permitted at The Ark unless on “Children’s Nights”
• Noise should be limited
• Photographic flashlights not permitted as disruptive to the animals

NUMBER OF ROOMS: 60 “Cabin Styled” rooms (10 doubles, 37 twins, 06 singles and 07 triples).

Room décor: Rooms made of wood and overlooking the forest or the pond.

Room amenities:

All rooms have private bathrooms with shower stall, wash basins, flush toilets, bed-side lamps and carpeted floors to ward off the evening and morning chill, small luggage racks, water flasks and glasses, hot water bottles and extra blankets, 115/240V shaving socket.

Special features:

• Guests stay in “cabins” fitted with buzzers to announce the arrival of one of the “Big Five” at the salt-lick. Hot drinks and extra blankets available throughout the night so one can sit t the lounge awaiting the arrival of the animals.
• Bird feeding at the gangplank at around 1700 Hrs.
• The resident “hunter” may conduct a special talk on the eco-system and wildlife each evening in the main lounge area. 

FOOD AND BEVERAGE FACILITIES:

Dinner and breakfast served “on board” in the main dining room. Located on one of the viewing Decks is a lounge and a bar which remains open all night for tea and coffee.

GENERAL FACILITIES:

• Access for the physically disabled
• Bureau De Change and use of Credit Cards
• Laundry at the Aberdare Country Club
• Lunch Boxes from Aberdare Country Club or private lunch at the Ark
•  Mains Electricity, 220 – 240v with 3-point square pin sockets
•  Medical Services 
• Radio contact with The Aberdare Country Club
• Curio Shop

CONFERENCE FACILITIES: Not available At the Ark.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:

• Game viewing drives to the Aberdare Salient
• Swimming at the Aberdare Country Club
• Bird feeding at the gangplank in the evenings
• Lectures and talks on wildlife and the Aberdare eco-system

CLOTHING :

Only a light overnight bag recommended and the rest of the luggage is stored at the base hotel.

A warm jacket ideal for the chilly evening especially if outside on the open balconies.

TRANSPORTATION:

• Six 7-Seater Land-cruisers for transfers and game drives
• Three 28-Seater Buses, And one 40-Seater Bus for transfers

CLIMATE:

At an altitude of about 3,900 metres about sea level, the evenings and nights can be quite chilly and sometimes of the year very foggy.

THE OUTSPAN HOTEL

OFFICIAL CATEGORY (Ministry of Tourism Classification): 04****

LOCATION: At N,yeri, about 165 Kms from Nairobi, in the Central highlands.

DESCRIPTION: A gracious, solid comfortable country hotel. Its setting carefully chosen in 1927, with views of Mount Kenya and framed by the white water of the Chania River, Outspan is the nearest hotel to the spectacular Karua Falls in the Aberdare National Park. The gardens are beautifully manicured and the rooms still retain the qualities of a historical (burial site for Lord Baden Powell – the founder of World Scout Movement). The 30acre setting lends itself to conferences and training sessions with numerous activities for the leisure hours. Another 16 acres bordering the river are set aside for nature walks. It is the base hotel for the Tree-Tops (famous tree-hotel in the Aberdare National park).

NUMBER OF ROOMS: Total of 44 rooms

• 29 twin rooms, 8 Chania wing luxury rooms, 3 cottages and 4 suites
• Room décor: Most rooms are built in a style reminiscent of the 1920’s with colonial sized bathrooms
• Room amenities: Spacious and airy most with fireplaces and garden access. Rooms in the Chania wing have a balcony, satellite TV and a minibar

FOOD AND BEVERAGE FACILITIES:

• Dining Room - Wood panelled opening onto a large verandah with views of the gardens and Mt. Kenya.
• Sherry Bar - Adjoining the verandah and dining room cosily furnished and provides an ideal retreat for a sundowner on chilly evenings.
• Kirinyaga Tavern - Informal pub-like atmosphere

GENERAL FACILITIES:

• Spacious and airy most with fireplaces and garden access
• Rooms in the Chania wing have a balcony, satellite TV and a mini-bar
• Laundry/Dry Cleaning
• Two gift shops
• All major credit cards accepted

RECREATION ACTIVITIES:

• Lounge – Attractive comfortable lounge with a roaring fireplace.
• Snooker Room - adjoins the TV room and houses a full-sized snooker table.
• TV Room - adjacent to the lounge, has a Satellite TV, video and board games
• Golf - 9- hole golf course next to the hotel
• Paxtu - cottage where Lord Baden Powell, founder of the scouting movement spent the last years of his life. Has been preserved as a museum with lots of memorabilia.
• Kikuyu Village - Traditional Kikuyu dancing display every afternoon
• Game drives –At the Aberdares Salient.

CONFERENCE FACILITIES:

• Sherbrooke Walker - Capacity is 40 classroom style and 60-theatre style.
• Kirinyaga Suite - Capacity is 80-theatre style and 60-boardroom style.

CLIMATE:

Altitude 1,905 Metres (6,250 Feet) above sea level

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