| The Central highlands of Kenya are amazing | | | | mountains have not been tamed into farmland. |
| geography of contrasts. The deep green of | | | | Leopard, buffalo, and elephant inhabit the forests, |
| cultivation farmlands gives way to the purple gray | | | | and on the high misty moorlands are lions and |
| scrub grass of high ranches where cattle, sheep and | | | | antelopes. There are streams and waterfalls, |
| plain game graze. Mountain ranges are covered in | | | | magnificent views, and lots of rain. It is frequently |
| forests with hidden trout streams. These highlands | | | | cold and misty. Four wheel drives are essential. |
| streams flow to swift moving rivers that suddenly | | | | Mt Kenya National park: Mt Kenya is the second |
| burst out and down into dramatic falls of water. | | | | highest mountain in Africa. although it is right on the |
| Other mountains stand stark and dry, broken and | | | | equator , its peaks are snow-covered all year. There |
| weathered into moonscapes and mesas. Climbing a | | | | are four main routes to climb the mountain and few |
| small rise can yield a panoramic vista of plains and | | | | basic cabins and mountain huts you are likely to see |
| plateaus rising to range after range of distant | | | | wild animals and amazing range of unusual vegetation. |
| mountains. In the center, Mt Kenya dominates | | | | The peaks of the mountain are more often than not |
| With a base diameter of more than 150 kilometers | | | | obscured by clouds; your best chance of seeing then |
| and height 5189 meters, Mt Kenya is among the | | | | is in the early morning or just before sunset. |
| world's largest free standing volcanic mountains. The | | | | Meru National park: situated east of Mt Kenya and |
| equator crosses its northern slopes at 33350 meters | | | | over the high Nyamabene hills, this is one of the least |
| with the mountain's twin snowcapped peaks, Batian | | | | visited national parks in Kenya. With its many streams |
| and Nelion, brushing the sky some 17 kilometers | | | | and higher than average rainfall, the park is luxuriant |
| south. Mt Kenya has many moods-wisping clouds can | | | | and bushy. There is long grass, swamp and riverside |
| cloak the peaks in mystery. Thunder and lighting can | | | | forests. Tall distinctive doum palms add an exotic |
| rage. Falling rain can obscure and hide the lower | | | | touch and contorted termite creations dot the |
| slopes with curtains of water. Glinting sunshine can | | | | grasslands. The park is home to many species found |
| illuminate the peaks. | | | | in northern Kenya-reticulate giraffe, gravy zebra and |
| Traveling in the Central Highlands of Kenya | | | | gerenuk. There are also elephants, lions and cheetah, |
| At the equator, slight variations of altitude create | | | | and more than 300 species of birds |
| enormous changes in both climate and landscape. This | | | | There are a number of major vacation tour towns in |
| means that the traveler can enjoy diverse | | | | the Central highlands. |
| experiences and surrounding without having to cover | | | | Nyeri town is the administrative headquarters of |
| great distances. In just a short drive you can pass | | | | Kenya's central province. One of the largest towns in |
| from the cool, misty forest of the Aberdares to the | | | | the central highlands, it has a lively market and |
| dry Laikipia Plateau with its miles of open ranch land. | | | | architectural reminders of colonial days. Nyeri is where |
| When you drive around the western side of the | | | | many of Kenya's most renowned athletes first |
| mountain you are on a long straight road through dry, | | | | trained. |
| flat scrub lands. The road around the eastern side | | | | Nanyuki town is just north of the equator .it is a |
| however, curves and dips in roller-coaster course | | | | social and market center for the ranch lands of the |
| through green farms, red cliffs and rushing waterfalls. | | | | Laikipia Plateau and the lower slopes of Mt Kenya. |
| The great variation in the scenery is also reflected in | | | | Northern of Nanyuki at Timau, there is a trout farm |
| many choices available to the traveler. There is a | | | | Kentrout- good for lunch stop under the trees and |
| great range in the types of places where you can | | | | possible stays overnight. Soon after Timau the road |
| stay, as well as in the kinds of activities and | | | | drops down towards the semi-arid northern deserts |
| experiences you can enjoy. In terms of | | | | which seem to stretch on without end to Lake |
| accommodation there are night game viewing lodges | | | | Turkana. |
| deep in indigenous forests, elegant colonial | | | | Nyahururu town is best known for Thomson's falls |
| country-club type hotels, and huge private ranches | | | | which are formed by the Ewaso River and plunge 72 |
| where you can rid and walk among wild animals. | | | | meters to dense forest below. it is one of the |
| There are even sanctuaries and national reserves | | | | highest towns in Kenya. |
| where you can stay in tents or bandas and go on | | | | Meru town is both an agricultural center and the |
| game drives. You could also plan climbing or fishing | | | | beginning of any visit to the Meru national safari park. |
| trips. | | | | Dense forests surround the town and the high |
| Central Highlands vacation safari sights and spots | | | | altitude means that is often misty. |
| There are three national parks in this region: The | | | | Embu town is the provincial headquarters of Eastern |
| Aberdare National park: the volcanic massif of the | | | | Province and is locates amongst hills on the |
| Aberdare Mountains is part of the eastern side of the | | | | southeastern slopes of Mt Kenya. |
| rift valley. With steep hillsides and thick forests, these | | | | |