Glimpse Of Kenya Part 4: Aberdare National Park

With the sound of birds singing and dancing flapping their wings yet fresh in our mind 

we left for another exciting place called Aberdare Forest Reserve National Park. 

It is protected area in Aberdare mountain range of Nyandarua County, Central Kenya, east of rift valley. 

The road distance is almost 140 km. From Nakuru to Aberdare National Park and then we had to travel through the dense forest almost 4t minutes to reach Ark Forest Resort. On the way from Nakuru to Nyandarua we welcomed by lush green tea gardens. Locals selling tea packets and local spices. We did stop to enjoy our packed lunch enjoying the vivid colours and facets of nature. We all were tired so while Daniel was singing and driving we all slept off because we had to be awake in the night for sighting of animals.

The forest resorts are made around /near the watering holes of animals. Arrey of wild animals frequent these places for a drink or just enjoy a cool mud bath. 

We were woken by Daniel when we were in forest area. The whole area was slushy due to heavy rains because pukka roads are not allowed in forest /reserved areas. So with all sorts of wild flowers, 

huge trees, thick bushes around us we sustained the bumps smilingly and reached the park entrance.

Entrance to Aberdare National Park 

Our passes were checked and we proceeded to Ark Forest Resort. Well we did not directly go to resort, but first the reception area where our reservation were confirmed and we had to wait for our turn to board their vehicle for further 30 minutes travel to the resort. 

Reception Area 

The wait was worth it because the whole area is very well maintained. They have a lovely county club which gives temporary membership. We were in this resort for just one night so did not avail the facility, but those who had come on vacation only to be here were thrilled by all the facilities of club. 

County club area 

The amount is in Kenyan currency 

Spruced up lawns, exquisite flower beds, occasionally a deer or rabbit would run from one bush to other. 

Birds were aplenty, making different sounds. And then there were these beautiful, magnificent creatures Peacocks dancing to attract the Peahen.

Keep dancing I am inspecting 

Hey will you come 

No, not interested 

Going round and round for you ladies 

Let me see from near 

Yes yes I am happy to dance for you 

Discussing which one to choose 

Soon our turn was called and we started final leg of travel to resort. The vehicle they use arey battery driven and almost noiseless so they are environment and wild life friendly. We saw some colourful birds, wildbeest, deers, antlers, Dafassa waterbuck, Reed buck grazing in green pasture oblivious to all activities around them. 

The entrance to Ark resort is guarded by a wooden gate and side barriers and the pathway is a wooden bridge. 

After checking in our room we gathered for a cup of hot Indian tea, spiced with ginger. At that time the resort was managed by a Sindhi buisness tycoon so we got Indian, Kenyan, European cuisine to enjoy. 

It was very cold so we had to put on woolens and then we came to watching deck as they call it, but it is huge platform almost 10-12 mt. above the ground. Below us was the slushy ground and watering holes and vast expanse of thick forest.

Suddenly we heard the loud trumpeting of elephant, it was a huge huge beast, never seen anything like that from so near. It kept on hitting its head on trees and trumpeting. Resort people told he is angry because it cannot find its partner. Pin drop silence again, where did the elephant go? Oh see how majestically like a king he is walking followed by a female elephant and baby elephant.

Sun had set and it became pitch dark so flood lights were switched on. Then from another end started emerging more and more babies with the rear end kept by another male elephant.

I am not angry I am calling my family 

Mother and baby responds to call 

My tusks are big, I am young adult 

From our deck we could see and record their drinking water from slush and discarding the mud. Babies being protected by mother by pushing them under their belly. 

All of a sudden a Wild Boar family comes from forest thicket and elephants get alarmed and the patriarch of the brood pushes them to one corner, as if saying this is your limit, do not cross over.

After almost three hours on the watching deck, enjoying the daily life of the wonderful wildlife, we were famished and thus proceeded for dinner.

The dining hall had a great spread of buffet, Vegetarian and non-vegetarian both. The whole area was decorated tastefully with the paintings of the flora and fauna of Kenya and the wodden statues of the animals. The impregnable wall to wards the garden is made of thick glass so that one can enjoy the surroundings and occasional visit of the habitats of jungle. 

Staff polite and courteous, food delicious and yes we got variety of Indian pickles to tickle our taste buds. 

While we were enjoying food a big thud was felt with scraping sound on my left. I stood with startle and to my amazement a huge elephant was hitting his body to glass and scraping his tusks. It looked directly in my eyes. I was scared, thrilled and took out my camera only to to reminded that animals hate flash light, so what ever I could get in that light is here.

We were told that the peels of fruits, vegetables and old fruits and vegetables are usually thrown out near watering hole for elephants and some unused meat for nocturnal animals, so they come for food, luck be elephants /elephant will come in early morning also.

Another thing we were told that in the night if the security sights a big cat sprawling they will ring three bells so that anyone interested can come out and watch quietly, if black Rhino is sighted then two bells and if civet cat then one bell. 

With all food and information in us we crept into bed warmed with hot water bottle and electric blankets.

At almost 11pm bell was stuck one time and while we hurried we were asked to be quite and look at the staircase near store. A shy civet was enjoying food. 

The keepers of the place allowed me one photo with flash when all visitors went off. I was hungry for clear photo this beautiful creature. 

Two bell call came and most preferred not coming out of their cozy beds, but few of us went running to the deck to find huge rock like two Rhinos almost 500 mts from us, but we could not take photos, no flash, dark night and rain. But we enjoyed the rare sight and almost by 2 am fell off to deep slumber.

I new if I want to see birds I have to get up early. So by 6 am I was ready with my camera. It was not sunny but sky had cleared a bit. One could smell the freshness in crisp air and hear birds singing. 

Early bird gets the worm 

I even got to see shy wild cat and along with many other birds gathered to eat food kept for them. 

Hey come food is delicious here 

And we responded to the call 

Taking one morsel for the kids 

Suni

Jackson Francolin 

If I would have asked for stars I think I would have got them that morning. After sighting and phograhimg the shy animals who run away at human sound, I was wishing I get to see the elephant from the glass partition again and yes someone shouted look and everyone forgot about eating, it was huge elephant nothing like we had seen earlier. Same elephant they said, same spot! I said and belive me I did so. I said hello to this elephant and took photo before finishing breakfast. 

We had lunch, fruits packed as we had ordered it while booking the resort. We were to go to Thomson falls and then to equator to have a live session of geography. (I was always poor in geography). It would be very exciting visit but not too hectic we were told. It seems this cutie pie has this small rock perch reserved for itself, when we came it was sunbathing here, when we are leaving resort area it is sun tanning itself on the same spot. 

Aberdare had yet some surprise for us. While we were exiting the National Park area we saw these cute cubs of hyena trying to get some sun bath till clouds would make it wet and cold. 

Wow it is so warm here 

See ya all in Thomson Falls in Nyandarua County.