Central highlands · 3 days · 2 nights · Good year-round
Aberdare & The Ark
The Aberdares are a different Kenya — high, green and forested, cloaked in mist and threaded with waterfalls. This is the home of the tree-hotel: lodges built on stilts above a floodlit waterhole and salt lick, where you watch the forest come to you. Elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, the occasional black rhino and, if you're very lucky, a leopard or the rare bongo antelope drift in through the night — the staff wake you if something special arrives. By day, the moorland and Karuru Falls; by night, a front-row seat to the bush from your bed. It's one of the most atmospheric experiences in the country, and an easy two-night escape from Nairobi.
From $1,550 per person
Specimen itinerary for planning purposes only — not a confirmed booking document.
Logistics & transport
- Pickup
- Confirmed 24 hours before departure on WhatsApp
- Guide language
- As selected at booking
- Group
- Private / small group · max 6 guests
Where you'll stay
Lodging varies by trip — tented camp, safari lodge, beach hotel, or city hotel as your package requires. The property for this package is confirmed in writing after you book — ask us on WhatsApp if you want options before paying.
Included in your package price — exact camp, lodge, or hotel confirmed after booking.
Indicative schedule — day by day
Planned rhythm for your trip — your guide may adjust on the day for conditions, light and wildlife.
Day 1: Nairobi → the highlands
Morning drive north through the Kikuyu highlands and coffee country to the Aberdare foothills near Nyeri, arriving at the country club for lunch. Afternoon at leisure — the gardens, the pool, or a walk with views toward Mount Kenya. Dinner and overnight at the Aberdare Country Club (or similar).
Day 2: Into the forest — the tree-hotel
After a relaxed morning, transfer up into the Aberdare National Park to The Ark, the famous tree-hotel deep in the forest. Check in and settle onto the viewing decks above the floodlit waterhole and salt lick. As the afternoon fades, the forest wildlife arrives to drink — elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, waterbuck — and the show continues all night. A buzzer in your room wakes you for rhino, leopard or bongo. Dinner and overnight at The Ark.
Day 3: Aberdare → Nairobi
A final dawn watch over the waterhole as the mist lifts, breakfast, then the drive back down to Nairobi — or on to Mount Kenya, Ol Pejeta or the Mara if you're continuing your safari. We arrange the onward leg.
Trip inclusions
- 2 nights full-board accommodation
- Aberdare National Park entry fees
- Private 4x4 · experienced English-speaking driver-guide
- Transfer to and from the tree-hotel
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- 24/7 WhatsApp support
Trip exclusions
- International flights
- Kenya eVisa ($51 — we help you apply)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Optional experiences (see below)
- Drinks, tips & personal expenses
Preparation & packing
Before you go
- This section is general Kenya travel guidance — not a substitute for official advice or your doctor.
- We confirm trip-specific details (property, pickup times, park rules) with you on WhatsApp before departure.
- Questions about Aberdare & The Ark? Message us anytime — we'd rather you ask than guess.
Visa & entry
- Most visitors need a Kenya eVisa before travel — apply at evisa.go.ke and check current fees and rules.
- Passport usually needs 6+ months' validity and blank pages — verify with your airline and immigration.
- Keep a printed copy of this itinerary and your eVisa for border control.
Health
- Yellow fever certificate may be required depending on where you are travelling from — check Kenya's latest entry rules.
- Malaria prevention is commonly recommended for safari areas — ask your doctor well before you fly.
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended.
- Bring personal medication in original packaging.
Weather & clothing
- Safari mornings and evenings are often cooler than midday — layers work better than one heavy coat.
- Neutral colours (khaki, olive, beige) are standard for game drives.
- Rain can appear in any season — a light waterproof layer is worth packing.
- We send a short weather note for your dates once your trip is confirmed.
Packing list
- Comfortable closed shoes for walking + sandals for camp or lodge
- Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Binoculars if you have a pair (optional — ask us if you'd like a recommendation)
- Power bank + travel adaptor (Kenya commonly uses Type G plugs, 240V)
- Soft bag often works better than a hard suitcase if your trip includes light-aircraft legs — we'll confirm luggage limits for your routing
- Some cash in USD (clean, newer bills) or KES for tips and small purchases
- Insect repellent
Money & connectivity
- Cards work in Nairobi and at many properties; cash is still useful for tips and markets.
- M-Pesa is widely used in Kenya — we can walk you through it on arrival if helpful.
- Wi‑Fi varies by property (lodge, camp, or hotel) — signal on game drives is usually limited.
- Tipping customs vary by property and guide — we share current guidelines for your trip before you travel.