Aberdares Mountain Ranges
The local name of Kikuyu is Nyandarua, meaning “the drying hide”. As a result of its distinctive appearance of unending folds in its silhouette. The Kikuyu believed it was one of their “Ngai” God`s resting grounds. In 1884, Joseph Thompson, a British explorer, named it Aberdares. He, therefore, honoured Lord Aberdare, who by then was consequently President of the Royal Geographical Society and Royal Historical Society in Britain.
Location
The Aberdare Range forms a section of the eastern rim of the Great Rift Valley, running roughly north to south. On the west, the range falls steeply into the Kinangop Plateau, finally plunging into the Great Rift Valley. On the east, the range slopes more gently.
Water catchment area
The Aberdares are the water catchment areas for the Sasumua and the Ndakaini dam which provide Nairobi with water. The major rivers from Aberdare Forest are Tana and Athi, which flow into the Indian Ocean. Ewaso Nyiro drains into Lorian Swamp, and the River Malewa drains into Lake Naivasha. The ranges have several tributaries draining into the rivers. The Aberdares are a critical water catchment for the Tana River system, the northern Ewaso Nyiro River, and for Lake Naivasha, and they provide much of the water supply for Nairobi and adjoining districts.
Higher up are several bogs and markings that are the source of the rivers in the moorlands and afro-alpine. The Athi, Lake Naivasha, Tana, and Ewaso Nyiro river basins have their sources in Aberdare Forest Reserve. The River Tana is the largest river in Kenya, supplying water to the Seven Forks hydroelectric power complex. The hydroelectric plant generates over 55% of Kenya’s total electricity output.
Dimensions
Aberdare Ranges Forest is the host for the Aberdare Forest Reserve, which, along with the Kikuyu Escapements, runs 120 km northwards from Nairobi and about 40 km at its widest point. It has a perimeter of 566 km, varying in altitude from 2000m on the forest boundary on the east side the highest at 4,001m at the peak of Oldonyo Lesatima.
The Ranges descend gradually from the peak towards Nyahururu from the northern side, where incised river valleys and volcanic vents are evident. On the southern side, the ranges are steep southwards from IL Kinangop Peak towards the northern part of Murang’a District.
It borders several administrative counties, like Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Murang`a and Kiambu. The range has a maximum elevation slightly higher than 4,000 metres above sea level and is heavily forested. The former name of the range survives in Mount Lesatima (“the mountain of the young bull”), the highest peak in the Aberdare Range. The second-highest peak, at the southern end of the range, is Mount Kinangop at 3,906 metres.
Flora & Fauna
The vegetation varies with altitude. Rich alpine and sub-alpine flora, including species of Senecio spp., Lobelia spp., Erica spp., Helichrysum spp., and tussock grasses. Belts of Arundinaria alpine bamboo, montane rainforest (mainly Juniperus procerus-Podocarpus falcatus-Nuxia on the western and northwestern slopes, Ocotea on the south-east, and mixed Podocarpus latifolius on the east and on Kipipiri. Pockets of Hagenia forest occur in sheltered patches on the rolling moorland.
The National Park lies mainly above the tree line, with some forest and scrub at lower altitudes in the salient near Nyeri. The Aberdares Forest Reserve (103,300 ha) occupies the lower slopes in three main blocks that almost surround the park, with Kipipiri Forest Reserve (5,100 ha) tacked on to the west. The southern boundary of the Aberdares Forest Reserve adjoins the Kikuyu Escarpment Forest.
Aberdare Ranges was named after the president of the Royal Geographical Society by the explorer Joseph Thompson in 1884. The park also has the most magnificent and dramatic waterfalls to be found in Kenya. While traversing the moorland section of the park you get a chance to visit all these wonderful sights on foot and enjoy our packed lunch at the beautiful Queen’s Cave.
