Treasures On The Road To The Aberdares

Say you are going to the beach, ready with your bathing suit, chilled drinks, volley balls…but then you come upon something startlingly breathtaking.

It gently calls to the adventurer in you, seducing all your senses to a standstill. Do you stop to explore? Or do you carry on because you have a destination in mind?

This was our situation, on the road to the Aberdares National Park… After a morning well-spent along the dam in Kinangop, we were itching to explore.

Enter The Aberdare National Park…

The Aberdares National Park is about 2 hours’ drive from Njabini town.

To access the park, drive past Njabini on Thika Gatura Road/C67, towards Engineer, a small town in Nyandarua county. Luckily, it can be easily located on Google Maps.

To be honest, we had no intention of going into the park to begin with. Our ‘mission’ was different. We wanted to experience something new, take ‘uncharted paths’ if you like.

Take The Less Traveled Road…

Kenya’s beauty lies not only in the ‘established’ tourist attractions, which are excellent, but also in its natural forests, small streams, and our people in their daily lives.

It is such gems, on the way to the Aberdares National Park, that held a charming attraction to us.

We felt a lot like ‘tourists’ on that long and narrowly winding road up the Aberdares. Being in no rush, we stopped to check out every captivating feature we encountered.

Photography By: Wanjiku Thuo & Wacu Wamahiu

Enchanting Forest…

The forest was my favorite. The majestic trees towering over us in well-laid rows, that seemed unending, was a sight to behold. It is a feeling I will always cherish. 🙂

I realized, this is how one ought to travel sometimes- in no hurry to reach a given destination. With the freedom to explore whatever you find in your path.

And with such liberties, you might come upon your own unique experiences and stories to tell.

Our trip, fancifully ended at the Park’s gates, where we turned back.

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving~Lao Tzu.

Helpful Tips:

• The entrance fee to the Aberdares National Park is Kshs.350
• Self-catering Cottages and guest-houses are available within the park ranging from Kshs.2, 500 to Kshs.20, 000.
• Stop over and shop on the Nairobi – Naivasha Highway before diverting to Kinangop
• Consider carrying packed lunches and have a picnic in the forest

When’s the last time you went on a trip of discovery without a destination in mind?

Drop a comment in the section below, I would love to hear more! 🙂

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