Location and Description of Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain. It offers easy or challenging ascents with superb scenic beauty. Mount Kenya, at 5,199 m. high, is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa after the Kilimanjaro.

Mount Kenya National Park  was established in 1949 to protect the region surrounding Mount Kenya. Initially is was a forest reserve before being announced as a national park. Currently the national park is within the forest reserve which encircles it. In April 1978 the area was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.The national park and the forest reserve, combined, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Vegetation in Mount Kenya National Park

Part of the Mount Kenya's fascination is the variation in flora and fauna as the altitude changes. The lower slopes are covered with dry upland forest, the true montane forest begins at 2,000 m. is mainly cedar and podo. At 2,500 m. begins a dense belt of of bamboo forest which merges into the upper forest of smaller trees, interspesed with glades. In this area the trees are festooned with high altitude moss.

Wildlife and Game Viewing while on Safari to Mount Kenya National Park

These forest belts in Mount Kenya National Park are host to many different animals and plants with at least 11 unique species. Game to view includes: Black and White Colobus and Sykes monkeys, bushbuck, buffalo, elephant and lower down Olive Baboon, waterbuck, black rhino, black fronted duiker, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cat, bush pig and hyena. More elusive is the bongo, a rare type of forest antelope.

A number of other rare or endangered species can be found here: Sunni Buck, Mt Kenya Mole Shrew, skinks (lizard), and a variety of owls. Occasional sightings have been recorded of albino zebra.