Perched on the Ol Donyo Sabuk Mountains, the indigenous park is found in central Kenya, covering 21 square kilometers squared the mountain peak is 2145 meters above sea level. The park derives its name from the Maa language, Ok Donyo sabuk to mean Big mountain while the kikuyus have called it Kilims Mbogo, to mean “mountain of buffalos.”
The park is located 85 kilometers northeastof Nairobi, 25 kilometers east of Thika town in the eastern province at Machakos district, the mountain is covered by dense montane forest with foothills dominated by buffalos. The panoramic park is home to over 45 species of birds, while the mountain summit offers excellent views of Mount Kenya.
The first white man to settle at the park was Lord Macmillan; everything that happened after his settlement was a result of his influence, when driving to the park, tourists will pass through panoramic fourteen beautifully set waterfalls.
Near the base of the mountain foot lies a musical town known as Donyo sabuk town, this town still retains some of Lord Macmillan treasurous things. Tourists can enjoy music from the box guitars played by boy band groups
What to do at Ol Donyo sabuk national park
Game viewing
The park is one of Kenya’s national park gifted with wildlife; for example, buffalos, lions, leopards, mongoose monkey, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, Sykes monkeys, bush pigs, Kirk’s dik-diks, common duiker, reedbucks, rock hyrax, bush baby, tree squirrels, ground squirrel and many more
Birdwatching
Ol Donyo sabuk national park boasts with 45 species of birds, some of which include the morning dove, white-browed Sparrow Weaver, grey-headed Sparrow Weaver, African hawk eagle, purple-breasted sunbird, African pied wagtail, helmeted guinea fowl, ring-necked dove, grey tit, mousebird, MacKinnon grey shrike, superb starlings and more
Hiking
Hiking in the mountain normally takes about two to three hours; getting to the peak covers 10 kilometers. hikers are required to be accompanied by a game ranger the flora to the too is unspoiled; there also lies two kilometers Lord Macmillan and his wife’s grave.
Nature-guided walks
Tourists can take nature walks to the fourteen waterfalls on Athi river affordable fee to the falls is charged by the Thika town council.
Accommodation
There are various places to stay depending on tourists’ budgets; some of these are jobcsamo house, sabuk guest house, mirema service apartments, safari park hotel and casino, Bethany garden house, balozi home stay and Windsor golf hotel.
Getting there
The park’s entrance is about 2 Kilometers from the park’s gate, 85 kilometers northeastof Nairobi town.
