Exclusive road vehicle and guide · Written itinerary
Leave room for the moments along the way.
Private by designYour party, road vehicle and guide
A route that fitsFocused stays or multi-park journeys
Details agreed firstDates, accommodation and inclusions
A place with its own character
Why choose Aberdare?
Aberdare National Park adds a cool highland chapter to a Kenya itinerary. Forest drives, changing mountain weather and waterfall scenery offer a contrast to the Mara and the Rift Valley lakes.
An overnight visit gives a short introduction. Two nights allow more room for scenery and forest exploring, with longer routes linking Mount Kenya or Ol Pejeta.
Choose your itinerary: The two-day Aberdare itinerary has one night and a scheduled forest, waterfall-viewpoint and high-moorland programme. The four-day Aberdare and Naivasha safari has two Aberdare nights and one at Naivasha. Forest drives and lodge waterhole observation are different experiences; choose the programme shown on the product rather than expecting every activity at every lodge.
Start with a route
Your Aberdare journey starts here.
The safari collection includes dedicated destination stays and multi-park Kenya journeys. Each trip page sets out the daily route, overnight stops and included experiences.
Two days explore the Aberdare highlands through an afternoon waterfall game drive, an overnight waterhole-viewing experience and a final morning forest and highland drive before returning to Nairobi.
Nairobi · Aberdare · Mount Kenya · Ol Pejeta · Nairobi
Five days exploring the Aberdares, Mount Kenya’s highland forest and Ol Pejeta. Two Aberdare nights are followed by one Mount Kenya-region night and one Ol Pejeta night, with a waterfall circuit, included guided forest walk and both Ol…
This four-day private road safari spends two nights in the Aberdares and one at Lake Naivasha. Forest and moorland game drives, waterfalls and waterhole observation form the highland programme. The Naivasha stay includes a boat ride and Crescent…
This 3-day Aberdare and Mount Kenya safari explores one of Kenya's most atmospheric and rarely visited highland ecosystems, searching for rare forest wildlife including the mountain bongo and black leopard among ancient montane forest, dramatic waterfalls, and unique…
Nairobi · Aberdare · Ol Pejeta · Mount Kenya · Nairobi
This four-day highland safari combines an Aberdare forest visit and lodge waterhole viewing with two nights at Ol Pejeta. The conservancy programme includes the northern white rhino visit, Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary and game drives before the final road…
Nairobi · Aberdare · Lake Nakuru · Maasai Mara · Nairobi
A five-day private circuit from Aberdare’s waterhole viewing through Lake Nakuru to the Maasai Mara, with game drives in the lake and savannah habitats before returning to Nairobi.
Nairobi · Samburu · Aberdare · Maasai Mara · Nairobi
Six days travel from Nairobi to Samburu, the Aberdare highlands and the Maasai Mara. Two Samburu nights are followed by one Aberdare waterhole-viewing night and two Mara nights, combining game drives with wildlife observation from the lodge's designated…
Private road safaris use an exclusive vehicle and guide. The itinerary and quotation specify accommodation, park entries, transfers and selected activities.
Want a different pace?
Add a night, change the route or tell us what matters most. Use these itineraries as a starting point for a private trip.
Each destination has its own landscapes, wildlife habitats and activities. Private guiding follows the booked itinerary and the permitted routes.
A little time to notice more.
01
Follow the forest roads
Look for wildlife through dense vegetation and listen for birds. Forest viewing takes patience and differs from a savannah game drive.
02
Make time for waterfalls
Aberdare waterfall circuits link highland scenery with designated viewpoints. Park conditions and authorised access determine the route.
03
Experience the highlands
Open moorland and misty forest create changing photographic conditions. Pack warm layers and a rain shell even on a wider warm-weather safari.
Good to know
Rare bongo or black leopard sightings are not a sensible booking promise. Choose Aberdare for its forest, scenery and the possibility of wildlife.
Choose a base that makes sense
Where you stay shapes your safari.
Camp and lodge location determines access to wildlife areas and the length of transfers. The accommodation booking identifies the property, room category and meal plan.
A forest-focused lodge
Forest lodges place the emphasis on woodland surroundings and wildlife-viewing areas. The booking identifies the exact property and room.
A highland lodge outside the park
Lodges outside Aberdare National Park provide highland accommodation with road transfers to the gate. Park entries and travel time are recorded in the itinerary.
A simple park stay
KWS lists Fishing Lodge on the Aberdare moorlands. Availability, catering and the suitable vehicle need confirmation for your party.
Compare the whole trip.
The safari total covers the items listed in the quotation: accommodation, meals, private transport, guiding, entries, activities and transfers. Rates vary by season, party size and room arrangement.
A little planning goes a long way
Make the journey work for you.
An overnight visit gives a short introduction. Two nights allow more room for scenery and forest exploring, with longer routes linking Mount Kenya or Ol Pejeta.
When to visit
Highland conditions can be cool and wet throughout the year. Road access and visibility matter when planning waterfall and moorland visits.
Fees and what is included
Entry fees follow the park or conservancy authority, visitor category, age, travel dates and activities. The safari quotation itemises the entries included in the itinerary.
Park road safaris use an exclusive vehicle and guide. Tour minivans and Land Cruiser 4x4s provide the transport options, with the vehicle matched to the itinerary and party.
Before you decide
A few useful answers.
Share your priorities and we can help you choose a realistic route.
Is Aberdare a good place to look for black leopard?
Rare wildlife is unpredictable and difficult to see in forest. We do not promise black leopard or bongo sightings; plan around the wider highland experience.
How long should I spend in Aberdare?
An overnight visit gives a short introduction. Two nights allow more room for scenery and forest exploring, with longer routes linking Mount Kenya or Ol Pejeta.
Can I combine this with other parks?
Yes. The collection includes multi-destination safaris. Each trip page sets out the daily route, overnight stops and transfers.
Is my safari private?
Your park road safari uses an exclusive vehicle and guide for your own party. Accommodation and separately booked activities can have shared facilities; specialist arrangements are confirmed in the quote.
What do you need for an accurate quote?
Send dates, adults, children’s ages, preferred accommodation, vehicle choice and any activities that matter to you. Mention Aberdare and your available travel days.
From real travellers
The journeys people remember.
Guest feedback about travelling with Rustic Nature Tours. Individual experiences and sightings vary.
4.9
Based on 664 reviews
Erica Anderson
What an amazing tour: we saw an incredible number and variety of animals and got to learn so much from our fantastic guide Kelvin. He was very knowledgable and patient with us andWhat an amazing tour: we saw an incredible number and variety of animals and got to learn so much from our fantastic guide Kelvin. He was very knowledgable and patient with us and he made our experience unforgettable. Could not have asked for a better introduction to Kenya!…
Laura H
Very knowledgeable and friendly
michael graham
Kelvin met us at the airport, took us to our hotel and then picked us up next morning for a 5 day Safari through the Masai Mara. Brilliant experience! Kelvin is knowledgeable,Kelvin met us at the airport, took us to our hotel and then picked us up next morning for a 5 day Safari through the Masai Mara. Brilliant experience! Kelvin is knowledgeable, patient and great fun. Rustic Nature Tours are well organised and quick to respond from my very first enquiry. You won’t be disappointed.…
Peter M
Great experience! Kelvin is an excellent guide and is full of knowledge. He made sure our 3 experiences were to the max. I highly recommend Rustic Nature Tours and I recommendGreat experience! Kelvin is an excellent guide and is full of knowledge. He made sure our 3 experiences were to the max. I highly recommend Rustic Nature Tours and I recommend asking for Kelvin as your guide.…
Ruth
My husband and I completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking atMy husband and I completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking at the lake, three lions slinking past our vehicle as they hunted an impala, a huge crocodile incubating eggs, two white rhinos napping on the side of the road, and so much more. Our guide was happy to provide knowledgeable answers to all of our questions and was amazing at locating wildlife. I absolutely recommend this company.…
Michael G
Rustic Nature Tours were responsive from my very first contact and flexible with what we wanted to do and when. The Safari was excellent and accomodation/food spot on. If someoneRustic Nature Tours were responsive from my very first contact and flexible with what we wanted to do and when. The Safari was excellent and accomodation/food spot on. If someone says they had a better guide than Kelvin, they are making it up! He’s the MAN. We had a blast.…
Fernando Estaragues
It was a really good experience, it's totally recommended, the service of the office guys is good, they answer to you everytime and with a lot of enthusiasm.The truck was reallyIt was a really good experience, it's totally recommended, the service of the office guys is good, they answer to you everytime and with a lot of enthusiasm.The truck was really good with a lot of personalized service.The guide was the best one, fully recommended our guide, Kelvin Ndolo, he drive through all the safari to let us catch some good pictures, the service is really good with him, he was a nice person with a lot of experience, telling you about everything in Kenya in general, nice time with him, helping, giving advices, experienced man.He is el chingon!!In general we can say that we wouldn't be in a better tour and guide for the first experience in Kenya!…
Nicole S
We had a wonderful day exploring Nairobi and learning so much about the history of both the city and Kenya. This private tour was great value, offering pick-up directly from ourWe had a wonderful day exploring Nairobi and learning so much about the history of both the city and Kenya. This private tour was great value, offering pick-up directly from our hotel and a comfortable ride to each site.Our driver/guide, Denish, was fantastic! extremely safe, knowledgeable, and always ready to answer any questions we had. Every guide we met at the individual stops was equally kind and full of insights.Highlights of our day included a delicious lunch, visiting local community shops for souvenirs, and especially the museum and Kobe Tough! It was the perfect blend of culture, history, and city highlights. If you have a day in Nairobi, we highly recommend booking this tour!…
Marc-Antoine Ladouceur
I booked a four-day trip with Rustic Nature Tour (Safari tour) in Kenya at the very last minute, and they absolutely nailed it. They put together a beautiful itinerary, adapted toI booked a four-day trip with Rustic Nature Tour (Safari tour) in Kenya at the very last minute, and they absolutely nailed it. They put together a beautiful itinerary, adapted to my preferences, at a price that really surprised me, in a good way. My guide was fantastic, not just knowledgeable about wildlife but also about the socialBiophysical environmental, geomorphology and human stories behind the places we visited. Everything just flowed. I couldn’t be happier with the experience and highly recommend them to anyone looking for an authentic Kenyan adventure…
FarAway57601419658
Just completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking at the lake,Just completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking at the lake, three lions slinking past our vehicle as they hunted an impala, a huge crocodile incubating eggs, two white rhinos napping on the side of the road, and so much more. Our guide was happy to provide knowledgeable answers to all of our questions and was amazing at locating wildlife. I absolutely recommend this company.…
Katie Richards-Schuster
Kelvin and Rustic Nature Tours were the absolute best choice for the two day trips we did during our time in Nairobi. We could not have asked for a better experience. The tripsKelvin and Rustic Nature Tours were the absolute best choice for the two day trips we did during our time in Nairobi. We could not have asked for a better experience. The trips were completely seamless. We had terrific communication beforehand in preparation for the experiences, and we felt that all aspects were accounted for. Kelvin was absolutely exceptional as a guide. He was very knowledgeable about the animals, the local history, and the elements of the safari experience. His ability to navigate us to exactly the spots where we could see the most, be the closest, and truly experience all that Kenya has to offer.For the first-day experience, we traveled to Amboseli. People in our group really wanted to see elephants. And elephants we saw! Kelvin helped position the Land Cruiser so that we had multiple herds of elephants (including babies) walk in front of the vehicle, less than 10 feet away!! It was a memorable sight. We also saw lions, zebras, wildebeests, birds (of all kinds), giraffes, and so much more. Kelvin has a college degree in wildlife management, and he is both extraordinarily knowledgeable and professional in the trip. He answered our questions, provided information, and helped us experience the wildlife in the safest manner possible. I would definitely recommend taking the Land Cruiser over the Safari van. The roads in the park are bumpy, and the Land Cruiser ensured a safe, comfortable ride while also getting us into the perfect spot to see the animals. After 4 hours or so in the park, we headed to a beautiful lodge to eat. The food and experience at the lodge were wonderful. After that, we did another drive before leaving to head back to Nairobi. A long but unbelievable day!For the second experience, we headed to Nairobi National Park, then the Sheldrick Elephant Trust, Kobe Beads, lunch, and the Giraffe Center. Again, Kelvin was a masterful guide. In the park, he got us close to hippos, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and even a crocodile- among many other animals. He found the perfect spots and maneuvered the vehicle just right (and sometimes even off the beaten path) to make sure we saw the best views of the animals (again, we recommend the Land Cruiser for the best experience!). After talking with others who took different trips to Nairobi National Park, we realized how special our visit was. Many of them didn’t have Kelvin guiding them and, as a result, missed seeing all that we saw. We can’t emphasize enough how amazing Kelvin is. From there, Kelvin got us to the Elephant Sanctuary. He had the tickets already set, so all we needed to do was walk in, and then he got us to the perfect spot where we could be feet away from baby elephants, a baby rhino, and a baby zebra. Truly spectacular! After that, we visited a local bead factory that is a microenterprise supporting local women. We had a tour, learned about the beading process, and then had the opportunity to visit their shop (no hassling or pressure to buy- but we did get some beautiful items!). Then to a hidden garden for lunch at a local restaurant, and then finally to the giraffes. By the time we got to the giraffes, it was very busy, but again, Kelvin worked his magic to get us through the line quickly (we felt like VIPs!) and to the perfect spot to feed them. He clearly knows the staff, as he was able to get us pictures and even additional food to feed the animals. After a long day, he masterfully navigated traffic (which is no joke) to return us to the hotel.All in all, our time in Kenya would not have been the same without Kelvin and Rustic Nature Tours. We can’t recommend their tours any higher. You will not be disappointed!!!…
Brianna D
Our amazing guide Faith was right on time to pick us up at our hotel. We started the morning with a trip to Kobe Tough where we saw the bead making process. Then we headed to theOur amazing guide Faith was right on time to pick us up at our hotel. We started the morning with a trip to Kobe Tough where we saw the bead making process. Then we headed to the elephant orphanage where Faith knew the whole system and was able to get us up close spots in the “splash zone.” Next up was the giraffe center where we got up close to hand feed giraffes. Faith knew all of the giraffes by name and personality and even took photos on our camera for us. Afterwards we stopped for traditional Kenyan lunch (at your own expense) and we elected to do the Karen Blixen museum for the entrance fee as well. Since it was just me and my husband, Faith even drove us to the local mall before taking us back to the hotel. Overall it was a day well spent with memories to last a lifetime!…