5 Days Aberdare National Park and Solio Ranch (Game Reserve) Safari Tour
GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION SAFARIS
www.greatwildebeestmigrationsafaris.com
January 2023
Aberdare National Park and Solio Ranch (Game Reserve) Safari Tour
TOP MAMMALS OF THE SAFARI
- Leopard
- Southern White Rhino
- Beisa Oryx
- Reticulated Giraffe
- Suni
- Ochre Bush Squirrel
- African Elephant
- Giant Forest Hog
TOP BIRDS OF THE SAFARI
- Jackson’s Francolin
- Grey Crowned Crane
- Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
- Common/ Small Buttonquail
- Jackson’s Widowbird
Southern White Rhinos
DAY 1: NAIROBI TO ABERDARE COUNTRY CLUB AND SANCTUARY
Our Aberdare National Park and Solio Ranch (Game Reserve) Safari Tour started in Kenya’s economic and safari capital – Nairobi. Leaving Nairobi after a leisurely breakfast, we made our way North to the beautiful Central Kenya Highlands. We passed through the busy farmland region of Thika, enjoying beautiful pineapple farms along the way. Cruising across the Tana River, Kenya’s largest and longest river (about 1,000 kilometres long) made for some nice scenery too.
We arrived in good time for lunch at the beautiful Aberdare Country Club. Lunch was served at the outdoor terrace, where a pair of Ochre Bush Squirrels entertained us with their antics racing around the flower beds. Other mammals seen at the Aberdare Country Club sanctuary this afternoon included Common Zebra, Common Warthog, Common Impala and Bushbuck.
Some nice birds also complimented our stay here. These included Cape Robin-Chat, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Crowned Hornbill and Violet-backed Starling.
The night was calm, with the occasional sounds of the Southern Tree Hyraxes, Kikuyu Small-eared Greater Galagos and a Spotted Hyena. We also enjoyed two shy Sunis on our way from dinner.
Beisa Oryx with Common Impalas
DAY 2: SOLIO RANCH AND GAME RESERVE – RHINOS AND MT. KENYA
Established in the year 1970, the 45,000-acre Solio Game Reserve (also known as the Solio Ranch or Solio Conservancy) started as a cattle ranch in 1966. It has since grown to become the world’s largest White Rhino sanctuary, with an additional Black Rhino population. Solio Conservancy today holds over 200 rhinos (mixed both Black Rhinos and White Rhinos). This rhino experience was a key target for our Aberdare National Park and Solio Ranch (Game Reserve) Safari Tour.
We had a wonderful time enjoying game drives in this beautiful savannah landscape. We explored vast grassland zones and then ventured into the swamps and riverine woodlands. The majestic Yellow-backed Acacia Trees lining the edges of the Engare Moyok Swamp, hosted a huge array of animals. Mt. Kenya was towering behind us all day, as we enjoyed the Solio Game Reserve; with the peaks peeping through clouds most of the day.
The mammals we enjoyed included countless rhino encounters – with the Southern White Rhinos dominating the population inside the Solio Game Conservancy and Rhino Sanctuary. Other mammals seen included Hilgert’s Vervet Monkey, Thomson’s Gazelle, Common Impala, African Buffalo, Defassa Waterbuck, Olive Baboon, Beisa Oryx, Common Eland, Common Warthog, Slender Mongoose, Reticulated Giraffe and Steenbok.
Birds such as the majestic Grey Crowned Crane, the dazzling Jackson’s Widowbird and the regal Steppe Eagle also warmed up our game drives.
Elephants in the Aberdare National Park
DAY 3: ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK – BEST VIEWS OF MT. KENYA
We woke up to a beautiful morning, spiced up with tunes from the resident White-browed Robin-Chats. Mt. Kenya was in full glory in front of our rooms with her peaks towering into the blue sky. After a leisurely breakfast, it was time to explore deeper into the mighty Aberdare National Park. Much of the day was spent exploring different tracks that transect the beautiful salient area.
We enjoyed many amazing sightings across the day as we drove around Aberdare National Park. Our first exciting mammal was a lone African Buffalo strolling along the road. We later connected with many more along different tracks. We then found our first herd of African Elephants wallowing at a mud puddle, with many young ones. One particular calf was so young, it even struggled to keep up with its mother’s strides. We would later enjoy many more, including a herd outside our beautiful lodge – the Aberdare Ark Lodge.
Other mammals enjoyed today included Defassa Waterbuck, Giant Forest Hog, Common Warthog, Bushbuck, Mt. Kenya Guereza Colobus Monkey, Common (also known as the Bush/ Grey/ Grimm’s) Duiker and Spotted Hyena. We closed the day with a majestic Leopard that crossed the road in front of our vehicle. It went on to sit right next to the road. It then allowed us to get close enough for some world-class views.
The night was very relaxing as we enjoyed sounds of Common Reed Frogs, African Elephants, Spotted Hyenas and Southern Tree Hyraxes.
Giant Forest Hog
DAY 4: ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK – WATERFALLS AND ALPINE MOORLANDS
We had another day on our Aberdare National Park and Solio Ranch (Game Reserve) Safari Tour to enjoy the breathtaking Aberdare National Park, and her amazing scenery. The Aberdare Ranges is an isolated Volcanic Mountain which forms the Eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. This majestic mountain range is over 100 kilometres long and the park forms 767 km2 of land area. The habitat types here include tropical montane forest, rivers, swamps, bamboo forest, moorland grasslands and mountain heather. The two main peaks of the Aberdares are Ol Doinyo Lesatima and Kinangop. Ol Doinyo Lesatima stands at an altitude of 4,001 metres above sea level. The rivers in the park form some amazing waterfalls; such as Karuru Falls, Chania Falls and Gura Falls.
We started the day watching some Bushbucks along the road to our lodge. There were also several troops of Olive Baboons around here. African Buffaloes and African Elephants were enjoying the waterhole outside the Aberdare Ark Lodge, for much of the day. We also encountered another large elephant family just across the Muringato River. Other mammals seen today included Mt. Kenya Kolb’s Monkey, Suni, Ochre Bush Squirrel and Slender-tailed Mongoose.
We then explored the alpine moorlands and bamboo forests of the higher Aberdare slopes. Here we also enjoyed the mountain heather scenery, as we drove along different roads. We visited the breathtaking Chania Falls, one of the waterfalls in the Aberdare National Park’s alpine zone. This waterfall is fed by the Chania River. The route to the Chania Waterfall was lined with beautiful Giant Lobelia plants. Here we got to encounter two Von Hohnel’s Chameleons.
We also enjoyed many birds during our stay in the Aberdare National Park. The included Jackson’s Francolin, Common/ Small Buttonquail, Speke’s Weaver and Silvery-cheeked Hornbill.
Jackson’s Francolin
DAY 5: ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK TO NAIROBI
Today Mt. Kenya was clearly visible at daybreak – a wonderful way to wake up during the Aberdare National Park and Solio Ranch (Game Reserve) Safari Tour. We enjoyed wonderful views of the mountain before settling down for a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, we spent time enjoying herds of African Buffaloes and African Elephants visiting the Aberdare Ark Lodge waterhole. Other animals also kept visiting the waterhole, including Giant Forest Hog, Bushbuck and Common Warthog.
African Spoonbill, Egyptian Goose, Yellow-billed Duck, Grey Crowned Crane, Grey Heron, Blacksmith Plover/ Lapwing and Yellow-billed Stork were among the common birds that visited the waterhole.
Soon, it was time to enjoy another scrumptious lunch. We then started our journey back to Nairobi. On the way out, we enjoyed more wildlife, including a Spotted Hyena sleeping next to the road. We made it to Nairobi in good time, before sunset. This marked the end to our lovely Aberdare National Park and Solio Ranch (Game Reserve) Safari Tour.
African Buffalo with Yellow-billed Oxpeckers
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